Online Reporter
Sifelani Tsiko
Fact Check Editor
Victoria Falls, the country’s main tourist attraction, has been ranked as one of the top 10 bucket list experiences for US tourists in 2026, according to a new study by Icelandair.
A new survey conducted by Icelandair, the flag carrier of Iceland, revealed that Victoria Falls is one of the most popular bucket-list destinations for US tourists in 2026, with many of them keen to experience its impressive natural beauty and numerous nearby attractions.
Top attractions at the falls include cruise boat tours, aerial panoramic views and experiencing the power of the falls from various vantage points.
For a more adventurous experience, visitors often want to try ziplining or boat rides through the rapids along the Zambezi River.
“Ranking at number seven in the list compiled by the Icelandair study is to visit Victoria Falls in Zambia and Zimbabwe. This is the world’s largest waterfall in terms of boasting the biggest single sheet of falling water, as opposed to being the tallest or widest waterfall,” Icelandair said in an online report.
“At the waterfall, tourists can see where the Zambezi River flows over a cliff into what is known as the Boiling Pot before flowing through several gorges.”
Around 61 percent of US adults are expected to pour more money into travel in 2026 than they did this year, a study by Icelandair also revealed.
It further found that 43 percent of Americans plan to tick off at least one bucket-list experience.
The research found a clear move towards US travellers wanting to prioritise the Victoria Falls among other nature experiences like the Northern Lights, the Grand Canyon, the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China.
Zimbabwe has a number of National Parks that are popular for spotting big game and other animals as well as beautiful landscapes dotted across the country.
Tourists can view large populations of elephants, lions, buffaloes, hippos and rhinos among other animals.
The Victoria Falls Rainforest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a major drawcard for tourists and adventure seekers.
A total of 47 633 international tourists visited the Victoria Falls rain forest during the first quarter of 2025, marking a significant rise from the 44 110 visitors recorded over the same period last year, according to Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).
Most of the tourists were from European countries, particularly the United Kingdom, Ireland and Germany.
The existence of dedicated tour packages, expansion of the Victoria Falls Airport and introduction of new flight routes boosted the flow of tourists to the falls.
Zimbabwe’s airports are attracting more global airlines and have recorded an over 10 percent rise in passenger traffic.
According to the Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ), the country’s ports of entry handled over 1.8 million passengers in the first eight months of this year, compared to 1.6 million passengers during the same period last year.
There are more than 20 international airlines that fly into the country.
