The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has increased daily conservation and park entrance fees at Victoria Falls and other major attractions with immediate effect.
The increase follows the country’s introduction of value-added tax (VAT) on tourism services, which has now been applied to park entry fees.
According to New Zimbabwe, the revised charges were revealed in ZimParks’ 2026 tariff schedule with higher rates across local, SADC and international visitor categories.
Under the new tariffs, international day visitors entering the Victoria Falls Rainforest through the main gate will pay US$58. Those using the VIP gate will be charged US$174 (up from US$150). Rainforest moonlight viewing for international visitors will cost US$116 compared with the previous US$100.
The authority previously increased international entrance fees from US$30 to US$50, making the latest adjustment a further rise in the cost of accessing one of Zimbabwe’s flagship attractions.
ZimParks has increased conservation fees at other major parks including Mana Pools, Sapi and Chewore across all categories. Local visitors will pay US$8, SADC tourists US$18 and international visitors US$24.
Speaking to Tourism Update, Kumbi Chiweshe, Chairman of the Zimbabwe Tour Operators Association (ZTOA), said operators will need to adjust packaging and pricing following the increases.
“Victoria Falls remains one of the world’s most iconic natural attractions and continues to anchor Zimbabwe’s tourism offering. While the recent fee adjustments require operators to recalibrate pricing structures, our members are experienced in structuring multi-country itineraries and managing cost variables across the region.”
He expects most operators to incorporate the revised fees transparently into packages, reassess commission structures where necessary and focus on value-driven positioning rather than price-driven competition. “Competitiveness is therefore determined by overall experience, accessibility, service standards and destination appeal, not entry fees alone.”
On feedback from the trade, Chiweshe said fee changes naturally prompted questions from international partners. “Feedback from our members indicates increased requests for clarity and advance notice on pricing adjustments, sensitivity from certain source markets that are already navigating global economic pressures and continued strong demand for Victoria Falls as a bucket list destination.”
Although there is no “wholesale substitution away from Victoria Falls”, he said “predictability and consistency in pricing remain important factors in long-term itinerary planning”.
With VAT now applied to park fees, ZTOA is advising members to quote clearly and transparently, ensure VAT components are itemised where required and communicate proactively with trade partners to avoid confusion at point of sale.
“Transparency and predictability are critical in international contracting cycles, which often run 12 to 18 months in advance,” said Chiweshe, adding that ZTOA is engaging with ZimParks and authorities to improve consultation and advance notice of pricing changes while supporting conservation funding and tourism competitiveness.
