What it is
The Zambezi drops about 100 m into a narrow gorge along a front roughly 1,700 m wide. Around three-quarters of that face is on the Zimbabwean side, and a footpath through spray-fed rainforest runs along the facing cliff with a series of viewpoints looking straight at it. The town of Victoria Falls is a ten-minute walk from the gate.
Why go
This is where you see the falls as a whole. From Zambia you stand on top of them; from Zimbabwe you stand across from them, which is the photograph most people have in their heads. This side also keeps water over a far longer stretch of the year, so in October and November, when the Zambian side has thinned to streaks, there is still a waterfall here to look at.
When to go
March to May for maximum flow, which is spectacular and frequently invisible, because the spray rises hundreds of metres and drenches everything including your camera. September to December is low water: less noise, much more rock, clear views down into the gorge, and the main season for white-water rafting below the falls. June to August is the middle ground and the safest single choice. You can walk across the bridge to the Zambian side, but take your passport and sort the visa out beforehand.
Most people stay 2-3 nights.