Depending on your travel plans before or after the wedding (and if you wish to stop in other parts of Africa or Europe on the way), there are a variety of airlines you can take to reach Victoria Falls, including British Airways, United Airlines, and Ethiopian Airlines.
Depending on your travel plans before or after the wedding (and if you wish to stop in other parts of Africa or Europe on the way), there are a variety of airlines you can take to reach Victoria Falls, including British Airways, United Airlines, and Ethiopian Airlines.
Ethiopian doesn't accept flight reservations until 10 months before the departure date (mid-September). Once flights are available, we will receive our promo code from Ethiopian and send it to those who have RSVP'd "Yes."
Ethiopian has similar flights in cost and time from Chicago (ORD) and Dulles (IAD). These are early in the morning and will likely require a flight in (to ORD or IAD) on the previous evening.
The best choice may be whichever flight is cheaper from your local airport (to IAD or ORD), and where you can find an affordable hotel with an airport shuttle.
Ethiopian does fly out from Atlanta as well, but this route usually has a connecting flight and 2 hour layover in IAD. It may be a good option if you prefer to drive to Atlanta instead of flying domestically to IAD or ORD.
ORD/IAD to VFA (19 hours, 15 minutes)
VFA to ORD/IAD (26 hours)
The benefits of flying British Airways include direct flights from Nashville (BNA) to London (LHR), and based on our last search, it is the cheaper option.
This flight is 15 hours longer than the Ethiopian flight (34 hours compared to 19 hours), but it may be easier to depart straight from Nashville instead of Dulles, Chicago, Atlanta, or New York via Ethiopian.
There is an 11-hour layover in London. We spoke to a British Airways representative, and she said US citizens can leave the airport (barring any new COVID-related travel restrictions) without needing a visa, but you will need to go through immigration.
Your checked bags will remain on the flight. She advised returning to the airport 2-3 hours before the next flight to Johannesburg. The Paddington Express is a 15-minute ride to and from the city from Heathrow airport.
This flight does not depart Nashville on Fridays. With this in mind, you may want to consider the Thursday flight to arrive in Victoria Falls on Saturday afternoon. Otherwise, the Saturday flight arrives Monday afternoon, and our first group activity is planned for Monday evening. You would also only have two full days in Victoria Falls if you depart Nashville via British Airways on Saturday.
We understand you may have limited time off, and leaving Thursday may not work. However, if you have the ability to work remotely, you could utilize the 11-hour layover in London to work from the airport if you choose not to leave and visit the city.
Flight Times:
United Airlines is a great option for those who prefer a shorter international flight and don't mind an overnight stay in Johannesburg, South Africa on the way to Victoria Falls.
British Airways and FastJet offer round trip flights from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls that depart at 11:00 AM and arrive by 1:00 PM.
For the return flight, an overnight stay in Johannesburg is not necessary as FastJet and British Airways arrive by 3:30 PM, and the United flight to EWR departs at 8:00 PM.
There are many hotels near the O.R. Tambo Johannesburg Airport including a Marriott and Holiday Inn Express with free airport shuttles. For even more options, Google "hotels near Johannesburg airport."
United offers a 15-hour direct flight that departs from Newark (EWR) at 8:45 PM.
There are a variety of connecting flights you can take to EWR on the same day so you don't have to spend the night there (like you would for the Ethiopian flights) including Nashville (2:10 PM), Orlando (12:25 PM), Charlotte (2:25 PM) Philadelphia (2:50 PM), and IAD (5:20 PM).
EWR to VFA
VFA to EWR
Ethiopian has similar flights in cost and time from Chicago (ORD) and Dulles (IAD). These are early in the morning and will likely require a flight in (to ORD or IAD) on the previous evening.
The best choice may be whichever flight is cheaper from your local airport (to IAD or ORD), and where you can find an affordable hotel with an airport shuttle.
Ethiopian does fly out from Atlanta as well, but this route usually has a connecting flight and 2 hour layover in IAD. It may be a good option if you prefer to drive to Atlanta instead of flying domestically to IAD or ORD.
ORD/IAD to VFA (19 hours, 15 minutes)
VFA to ORD/IAD (26 hours)
The benefits of flying British Airways include direct flights from Nashville (BNA) to London (LHR), and based on our last search, it is the cheaper option.
This flight is 15 hours longer than the Ethiopian flight (34 hours compared to 19 hours), but it may be easier to depart straight from Nashville instead of Dulles, Chicago, Atlanta, or New York via Ethiopian.
There is an 11-hour layover in London. We spoke to a British Airways representative, and she said US citizens can leave the airport (barring any new COVID-related travel restrictions) without needing a visa, but you will need to go through immigration.
Your checked bags will remain on the flight. She advised returning to the airport 2-3 hours before the next flight to Johannesburg. The Paddington Express is a 15-minute ride to and from the city from Heathrow airport.
This flight does not depart Nashville on Fridays. With this in mind, you may want to consider the Thursday flight to arrive in Victoria Falls on Saturday afternoon. Otherwise, the Saturday flight arrives Monday afternoon, and our first group activity is planned for Monday evening. You would also only have two full days in Victoria Falls if you depart Nashville via British Airways on Saturday.
We understand you may have limited time off, and leaving Thursday may not work. However, if you have the ability to work remotely, you could utilize the 11-hour layover in London to work from the airport if you choose not to leave and visit the city.
Flight Times:
The benefits of flying British Airways include direct flights from Nashville (BNA) to London (LHR), and based on our last search, it is the cheaper option.
This flight is 15 hours longer than the Ethiopian flight (34 hours compared to 19 hours), but it may be easier to depart straight from Nashville instead of Dulles, Chicago, Atlanta, or New York via Ethiopian.
There is an 11-hour layover in London. We spoke to a British Airways representative, and she said US citizens can leave the airport (barring any new COVID-related travel restrictions) without needing a visa, but you will need to go through immigration.
Your checked bags will remain on the flight. She advised returning to the airport 2-3 hours before the next flight to Johannesburg. The Paddington Express is a 15-minute ride to and from the city from Heathrow airport.
This flight does not depart Nashville on Fridays. With this in mind, you may want to consider the Thursday flight to arrive in Victoria Falls on Saturday afternoon. Otherwise, the Saturday flight arrives Monday afternoon, and our first group activity is planned for Monday evening. You would also only have two full days in Victoria Falls if you depart Nashville via British Airways on Saturday.
We understand you may have limited time off, and leaving Thursday may not work. However, if you have the ability to work remotely, you could utilize the 11-hour layover in London to work from the airport if you choose not to leave and visit the city.
Flight Times
United Airlines is a great option for those who prefer a shorter international flight and don't mind an overnight stay in Johannesburg, South Africa on the way to Victoria Falls.
British Airways and FastJet offer round trip flights from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls that depart at 11:00 AM and arrive by 1:00 PM.
For the return flight, an overnight stay in Johannesburg is not necessary as FastJet and British Airways arrive by 3:30 PM, and the United flight to EWR departs at 8:00 PM.
There are many hotels near the O.R. Tambo Johannesburg Airport including a Marriott and Holiday Inn Express with free airport shuttles. For even more options, Google "hotels near Johannesburg airport."
United offers a 15-hour direct flight that departs from Newark (EWR) at 8:45 PM.
There are a variety of connecting flights you can take to EWR on the same day so you don't have to spend the night there (like you would for the Ethiopian flights) including Nashville (2:10 PM), Orlando (12:25 PM), Charlotte (2:25 PM) Philadelphia (2:50 PM), and IAD (5:20 PM).
EWR to VFA
VFA to EWR
Ethiopian has similar flights in cost and time from Chicago (ORD) and Dulles (IAD). These are early in the morning and will likely require a flight in (to ORD or IAD) on the previous evening.
The best choice may be whichever flight is cheaper from your local airport (to IAD or ORD), and where you can find an affordable hotel with an airport shuttle.
Ethiopian does fly out from Atlanta as well, but this route usually has a connecting flight and 2 hour layover in IAD. It may be a good option if you prefer to drive to Atlanta instead of flying domestically to IAD or ORD.
ORD/IAD to VFA (19 hours, 15 minutes)
VFA to ORD/IAD (26 hours)
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions about the wedding.
Davis (352-636-4980) & Thabile (615-981-4812)
tdweddingzimbabwe@gmail.com
tdweddingzimbabwe@gmail.com