20 FAMOUS Waterfalls in Africa You Have to See to Believe

It wasn’t a simple task to narrow down the best waterfalls in Africa, but after spending over a year traveling this amazing continent we knew we had to put together our favorite Africa waterfalls, including the highest waterfall in Africa, and largest, and most famous!

Africa is a huge continent, so it’s unlikely you would be able to visit all of these, but they are all meant to be added to the Africa bucket list.

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Famous Waterfalls in Africa to Visit

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Murchison Falls

• Location: Masindi, Uganda
• Cost: Foreign non-nationals must pay $40 USD to enter the park. Additional services like vehicle entry, parking, and experiences such as safaris are an extra cost.
• Be Sure to: Try a riverboat safari for the chance to see hippos, buffalo, crocodiles, and other African animals in their natural habitat.

Murchison Falls is an amazing waterfall between two lakes in western Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park. Water from the Victoria Nile rushes at incredible speed through a narrow gap before falling over 140 feet into a 33-foot wide gorge below. It’s one of the best stops to make if you’re self driving Uganda or after going gorilla trekking in Uganda.

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Cascades D’Akchour

• Location: Near Chefchaouen, Morocco
• Cost: 25 dirhams for a ‘grand taxi’ from the city, which will drop you at the carpark.
• Helpful Info: The hike from the carpark is a little over two hours but it’s clearly marked and non-strenuous. There is a little waterfall about one hour into the hike where you can rest before continuing.

Located in the Rif Mountains just an hour northeast of the beautiful blue town of Chefchaouen, the Cascades D’Akchour is a beautiful waterfall set in a magical, mossy forest. The beautiful trail follows a gently trickling river and passes several smaller cascades along the way.

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Lumangwe Falls

• Location: Chimpempe, Zambia
• Cost: 328 ZMK entry
• You Can Camp Here: This is a great spot for camping and new facilities have recently been built to accommodate travelers wishing to camp on the banks. 

Easily one of the best waterfalls in Africa! Located on the Kalungwishi River, Lumangwe Falls is a stunning cataract waterfall in northern Zambia. The water falls from a height of 130 feet, and these African falls span 525 feet in width. The best viewpoints are from the upper cliff at the riverbank or from a high cliff directly opposite the falls.

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Ouzoud Falls

• Location: Tanaghmeilt, Azzilal, Morocco
• Cost: Entrance is free but partaking in any guided services will cost anywhere from 20 to 150 dirham. 
• Be Sure To: Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, including the region’s Barbary monkeys.

The beautiful Ouzoud Falls are among the most amazing waterfalls in Africa and at 330 feet high they are among the tallest. Its name comes from the Berber for ‘grinding grain’, due to the ancient mills still nearby to this day. There are beautiful walks along the upper cliffs and you can swim in the pools below. 

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Blue Nile Falls

• Location: Tissisat, Ethiopia
• Cost: 50 birr per adult
• Be Sure to Check Out: Don’t miss the 17th century stone bridge, built in the Portuguese style and the oldest of its kind in the country.

The Blue Nile Falls pours from the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia. These African falls are almost 140 feet high and originally came from four streams that combined during the rainy season. There is a hydroelectric dam to control much of the power but these beautiful falls are still a sight to behold during the wet season, August through September.

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Tugela Falls

• Location: Royal Natal National Park, South Africa
• Cost: R 75 for the falls, and R 45 for the entrance into the national park. 
• Hike: The best view of the falls is via the difficult Sentinel Trail or through the easier route through Tugela Gorge which lands you at the foot of the falls. 

It’s not a well known South Africa fact that they hold the highest waterfall in Africa. At 3110 feet high, Tugela Falls in South Africa are the second tallest falls in the world, and the highest waterfall in Africa. Tugela Falls consists of five individual cascades. The water flow is seasonal and can dry up entirely in particularly dry seasons, but during peak rainy season, the flow is impressive. 

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Kalambo Falls

• Location: Zambia-Tanzania border
• Cost: 15 kwacha for non-residents
• Tip: Check out Lake Tanganyika on your return hike (steep, and best for experienced hikers). 

This is a waterfall shared by Zambia and Tanzania, landing right on the border. It is the second tallest free-falling waterfall in Africa at 725 feet high. During the dry season when the water stream is reduced to a small trickle, it’s possible to stand with one foot in each country. To see the Africa waterfall in high flow visit in May or June. The site is remote, so an early start is best to beat the heat on your way there.

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Kalandula Falls

• Location: Malanje Province, Angola
• Cost: Free, but tour guides may cost extra. 
• Travel Tip: For beautiful sunrise and sunset views, book your stay at Pousada de Calandula, the clifftop hotel. 

This 344 feet high waterfall is located on the Lucala River in northern Angola. At 1,300 feet wide it’s one of the larger falls by volume in Africa. Its cliff sits at the edge of a lush forest and the many individual cascades give it an impressive spray, especially during the rainy season; this is also when you can swim in the pools below.

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Maletsunyane Falls, Lesotho

• Location: Lesotho, south of Semonkong city
• Cost: None, though hired trekking services may cost extra.
• Cool Experience: The Semonkong Lodge offers pony treks and group hikes where you can find the best vantage points.

The stunning Maletsunyane Falls are a 630 feet waterfall in Lesotho, and one of the best places to visit in Africa. The Maletsunyane River barrels off of lush green cliffs above. The underlying basalt stone is from the Triassic Jurassic period and the rock appears to dip in a natural V. According to local legend, the roaring sound of the falls comes from the wails of the souls who perished at the falls.  

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Wli Falls (locally named Agumatsa Waterfall)

• Location: Hohoe, Volta Region, Ghana
• Cost: None
• Don’t Forget: A pair of safari binoculars and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife in the form of tropical birds, butterflies, fruit bats, and baboons.

At 260 feet high this is the tallest waterfall in Ghana. It has an upper and lower cascade and is surrounded by the Agumatsa Wildlife Sanctuary. There are natural pools at the bottom of both falls where you can swim. You can either hike the lower, easier trail or take the more challenging trail to the top of the falls. Peak rainy season is the best time to visit, though it can be unsafe to navigate due to slippery terrain.

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Victoria Falls

• Location: On the Zambia-Zimbabwe border. Livingstone in Zambia and Victoria Falls Town in Zimbabwe
• Cost: $50 USD
• Good to Know: If you’re on the Zambia side, you can swim in “Devil’s Pool”, a natural infinity pool set high up with breathtaking views of the falls. However the waterfalls are stronger on the Zambia side, meaning the view is better from Zimbabwe.

You’ve likely heard of this waterfall in Africa! Victoria Falls is one of the seven wonders of the natural world, so you know it’s one of the most amazing waterfalls in Africa. At over a mile wide, it is the world’s biggest continuous sheet of falling water and the continent’s most famous waterfall.

At 1708 meters wide it’s the largest waterfall in Africa. During the rainy season is the best time to visit, as the amount of water falling over the edge every second is beyond impressive. 

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Sipi Falls

• Location: Kapchorwa Province, Uganda
• Cost: None
• Go on a Tour: The area surrounding Sipi Falls is known for growing Arabica coffee. There are tours available of the coffee farms, with tastings included, and proceeds contribute to community projects.

Sipi Falls is located in Uganda and consists of three very tall individual cascades, the tallest of which towers at 328 feet high. The falls are at the edge of Mount Elgon National Park.

There is a seven km loop trail that will take you close to each fall. If you plan to hike Mount Elgon, this is a good place to start, and there are many accommodation options along the route. 

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Lofoi Falls

• Location: Kundelungu National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Cost: Transportation may cost extra, but the falls themselves do not have an entrance fee.
• Interesting to Know: Nearby Likasi was, and remains, a hub for mining and the area still has cobalt, radium, uranium, and copper mines. There is even an abandoned gold mine where some artisanal miners still work. 

With a total freefall height of 1,115 feet, it’s no wonder that Lofoi Falls is one of the most amazing waterfalls in Africa. It’s among the tallest in Central Africa, and though its water depletes during the dry season, it is very impressive during the wet season when it rushes over the cliff edge into a deep gorge below.

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Ntumbachushi Falls

• Location: Luapula Province, Zambia 
• Cost: None
• Swimming: Some of the upper pools are great for swimming and this part of the country gets very hot, so it’s a great way to cool off.

Ntumbachushi Falls are a beautiful series of leveled falls and pools, located in Zambia in the province of Luapula. The site is extremely picturesque and easy to access, making it a great place to camp and hike.

The waters of the falls were said to be bathing sites for future chiefs before ascending to their thrones, to cleanse any bad luck. The walkways in the area are well developed, so the falls are easily accessed by taxi and then on foot. 

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Howick Falls

• Location: Howick, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
• Cost: None
• It’s a Great Day Trip: The falls themselves are only minutes away from the city of Howick, so this is a great half-day trip if you’re staying in Howick.

Howick Falls is an amazing waterfall in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. The total height sits at around 310 feet, with an impressive single chute of water that falls from the Umgeni River.

The falls are rich in local legends dating back tens of thousands of years, including that only traditional South African healers can safely approach the falls, and another that the Inkanyamba, a giant serpent-like creature, lurks in the deep basin at the base of the falls. 

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Epupa Falls

• Location: On the border of Namibia and Angola
• Cost: Entrance to the falls is free but entry to the Sundowner viewpoint costs $10 NAD.
• It’s an Adventure: Epupa Falls is far from just about anything, but if you have the time it’s worth adding to your Namibia road trip.

The Epupa Falls are a large series of waterfalls flowing from the Cunene River on the Namibian-Angolan border and one of the best things to do in Namibia. The river is 1,600 feet wide and its many waterfalls drop between unique looking rock formations of the cliff. The area has an incredibly rich diversity of flora, including fig trees and baobabs, many of which sit on the high rocks between waterfalls.

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Lisbon Falls

• Location: Mpumalanga, South Africa
• Cost: None
• Travel Tip: The falls are near the town of Graskop in an area known for its natural wonders. In the area beyond the falls, there are Bourke’s Luck Potholes (rock formations with erosion holes and water pools) and the Three Rondavels, round, beehive-shaped mountain ‘peaks’. All are fun stops on a South African road trip.

These amazing waterfalls in Africa are located in Mpumalanga, South Africa along the Panorama Route, it’s one of the most famous waterfalls in Africa. They stand at an impressive 308 feet high and split into two separate cascades that pour into Lisbon Creek below. 

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Gurara Waterfalls

• Location: Niger State, North Central Nigeria
• Cost: 500 Naira 
• When to Go: The water tends to be a little brown during the rainy season and is clearest during the dry months from November to March.

The Gurara Waterfalls are a series of low sitting, tiered falls whose water cascades into natural pools below. The site is rich with historical folklore and local legends, including being named for two African deities. The falls are easily accessible and you can get pretty close if you’re prepared to scramble over some rocks (wear shoes with grip for this).

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Tamarind Falls

• Location: Mauritius
• Cost: No entrance fee but transportation costs will vary.
• Pamper Yourself: Some of these pools contain garra rufa (famously known as the ‘fish pedicure’) in their natural habitat. Get a pedicure while you swim!

Tamarind Falls are a series of seven individual cascades on the Tamarin River in southwest Mauritius, a small island east of Madagascar. They are located in a remote area but because of this, the natural surroundings are largely unspoilt.

The area has several other waterfalls, canyons, safe cliff jumping, natural pools, and lush vegetation, making the entire region feel like a tropical dream.

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Kongou Falls

• Location: Ivindo National Park, Gabon
• Cost: None for entrance to the falls but a guide is necessary and costs will vary. 
• Keep an eye out for African animals: During your voyage to reach the falls, keep an eye out for a diverse array of wildlife, such as parrots, gorillas, chimpanzees, and elephants that inhabit the region.

Kongou Falls has some of the strongest-flowing waters in the world. These falls cover a lot of ground over three kilometers wide. Their remote location is an adventurer’s dream, as the falls’ site is accessible only via a three-and-a-half-hour pirogue (canoe) journey along the river that follows a dense rainforest.

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Waterfalls in Africa Map

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