Food & Cuisine in Victoria Falls

Food info sections | Eating locally

The food and cuisine in Victoria Falls is not only influenced by the local dishes but also by the cuisines of the world. As Victoria Falls is a very popular destination with international travellers flocking to see this wonder of the world, the locals try to make sure that they can cater to their international market, while still having a selection of foods the local enjoy. The staple food of Zimbabwe is called 'sadza' which is a cornmeal based dish and it is eaten with different relishes.

Some words that you might use to impress the locals when ordering is 'Sadza re masikati' for lunch and 'Sadza re manheru' for dinner!

The Victoria Falls Restaurant Guide below provides some information on the local cuisine as well as some nice places where you can eat out in Victoria Falls after enjoying a day of shopping.

Victoria Falls Restaurant Guide

Zimbabwean Cuisine

Zimbabwean cuisine is very interesting. Sadza, nhedzi soup and bota are some of the signature dishes of this cuisine. Nhedzi soup is made from wild mushrooms. Dishes with dried fish, meat of the crocodile, kudu or impala and other beef preparations also figure predominantly in the diet of the Zimbabweans. Christmas is an important occasion and the women prepare special dishes for a lavish feast. The main dish of this feast is rice with chicken and cabbage salad.

Zimbabweans have bota for breakfast. 'Bota' is a white porridge made with cornmeal, peanut butter, milk and sometimes jam. Lunch and dinner always includes sadza, which is the staple dish of Zimbabwe and can be termed a mealie meal. Sadza used to be made from millet, but today it is made out of maize. Maize balls are dipped in sauce or gravy and served with vegetables like spinach and beans or with roasted, grilled or stewed meat - meat of the warthog, crocodile tail or ostrich. The other side dishes of sadza include 'mopane worms' (a species of caterpillar that is edible), nyama, kapenta, delele, choumolier and sugar beans. Some Zimbabweans like to have their sadza with lacto (curdled milk). But rest assured that most restaurants serve international cuisines apart from the local fare.

Mazoe, Chibuku and Whawha are the popular drinks of Zimbabwe. Mazoe is a variation of orange juice, Chibuku is a milky local beer and Whawha is the traditional beer fermented from maize.

The Victoria Falls Hotel on the Zimbabwean side of the Falls is one of the placed you might want to consider while booking your accommodation in Victoria Falls . If the tariff is beyond your budget, then sip a drink or have a lunch there, if only to soak in the colonial ambience of the place.

Many hotels have their own private paths leading up to the Falls. The Kingdom in the Zimbabwean quarter, and the Royal Livingstone and the Zambezi Sun on the Zambian section are three good hotels from where tourists can walk leisurely to the Falls.

Restaurants in Victoria Falls

Mama Africa serves traditional African food with a twist in an unusual ambience. Tourists can enjoy both pub meals and regular meals and the dress code is casual.

Kasibi on Elephants Hills serves snacks, breakfast and lunch.

The restaurant at the Victoria Falls Hotel, The Terrace, serves breakfast, snacks and high tea.

In-da-belly serves lunch and dinner and has a nice all around menu, try the crocodile kababs or burgers.

The Boma offers a totally African experience, complete with the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of Africa, with its warm and hospitable people thrown in. It is a thatched restaurant that is open to the skies but sheltered at some places by the Gusu forest. A roaring fire livens the atmosphere and sets the tone for an enjoyable evening in this award winning restaurant.

Chicken Inn, Pizza Inn, Creamy Inn if you want a fast take-away on your way to the falls you can stop there and enjoy a really nice pizza, burger & chips at really affordable prices.

Heafelis if you want a nice fresh homemade doughnut or just have a sweet tooth, that is the place to go.

River Cafe need a light lunch or snack pop in there and have a rest while doing so.

Garden Island for some light meals at affordable prices.