If you are planning to visit Zambia, or possibly just doing some research trust us its gonna be one of your best decision. You have found the right website to help you know everything you’re curious about. Sandwiched by some of Africa’s most verdant countries, Zambia is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United Republic of Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Mozambique to the east, Zimbabwe and Botswana to the south, Namibia and Angola to the west. Right from adventuring across the savannas, watching wildlife, African sunsets – one thing that no travellers would travel back home without visiting here is the Victoria Falls which is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the largest and arguably the most famous waterfall flowing down the Zambezi River. Keep reading our ultimate Victoria Falls Zambia travel guide to know about things to do in Livingstone Zambia and also things to know before you visit Zambia.
Things to know before you visit Zambia : Victoria Falls Zambia travel guide
1. Best time to visit Zambia : Victoria Falls Zambia travel guide
The best time to visit Zambia is during the dry season between June and November. But the peak time to visit Zambia for safari is from June to October, which are the winter months. Devil’s Pool is also accessible during those months when there is no rainfall and water level lowers in the Zambezi River. However, if your main objective is to see Victoria Falls, then December is the ideal time which is the rainy season, hence making it the best time to witness the most spectacular waterfall.
2. Is Zambia safe : Victoria Falls Zambia travel guide
Yes, absolutely. We didn’t feel unsafe or uncomfortable for a single moment. The people are so friendly and polite they helped us with everything possible they could. You might find some local vendors pitching you multiple times to sell their products, avoid them softly just by saying Hakuna(N0) if you don’t wish to buy anything from them and they are not harmful in anyway.
3. Medication you need before travelling to Zambia
As Malaria risk is high in Zambia it is advisable that you start your malaria medication before you travel. However you don’t need a Yellow Fever Certificate to visit Zambia. Make sure to carry mosquito or insect repellent along with you every time and everywhere here.
4. How to get Zambia Visa : Victoria Falls Zambia travel guide
You can apply for a Double Entry Visa that would allow you to enter Zambia two times during the validity of the visa. Zambian entry visas can be obtained online through the Department of Immigration’s E-Service website or upon arrival at any port of entry(varies from nation to nation). Double entry Visa fee is 40 USD. However, you can also apply for multiple entry visa for 150 USD.
US passport holders can purchase the KAZA UniVisa on arrival, which allows you to cross borders Zambia/Zimbabwe and move between both the sides of the falls easily, and also helps you save some money. The KAZA UniVisa costs 50 USD, and you can cross the border as many times as you like, as long as you stay within Zambia and Zimbabwe. You can eventually buy the KAZA UniVisa from the immigration office which are located near the entrance of the V-Falls from either Zambia or Zimbabwe.
SADC passport holders doesn’t require visa to enter Zambia. These countries are; Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
5. Currency in Zambia : Victoria Falls Zambia travel guide
The official currency is the Zambian kwacha (ZMK or ZMW). 1 USD is equivalent to 13.11 ZMK.
6. Language in Zambia : Victoria Falls Zambia travel guide
Nyanja and Bemba are the main local languages in Zambia. However English is the official language which is spoken almost everywhere so communication isn’t a big problem.
7. How to travel around Zambia : Victoria Falls Zambia travel guide
We booked our stay and travel with Victoria Falls guide, and we are so glad that we did it with them. Would highly recommend you to consider this operator for any bookings, reservations and adventures -all you need to do is sit back and relax and leave everything on them.
8. How to reach Livingstone : Victoria Falls Zambia travel guide
We boarded direct flight from Nairobi, Kenya and landed in Lusaka which is the capital. The same day boarded the mini flight (Proflight Zambia) and arrived at Livingstone airport also called Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI) within one hour of flying. You can also check with the available flight options you have, depending on the origin of your departure.
Here is the complete guide of visiting Victoria Falls, Livingstone from Zambia side
Visiting V-Falls was always in our list, but we had to wait for the right time of the year because we were really interested to go for the Devil’s Pool adventure which is one of its kind. Mounting the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls was named by a Scottish explorer David Livingstone, who introduced Victoria Falls to the world, locally known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, which means “the Smoke that Thunders”. Witnessing V-Falls which is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World from the bottom of the gorge, from spray-doused Knife Edge Bridge or from the comfort of microlight flight, it was truly an amazing experience more than we could imagine!
How to reach Victoria Falls
We stayed at Elephant View Lodge and Apartment, and the officials arranged a cab for us( 10 USD one way).The V-Falls was just 15min from our lodge and the best part is that you can see it from both Zambia and Zimbabwe. If you are arriving from Zimbabwe, all you need to do is stamp your passport and make your way to the Victoria Falls bridge and walk across the Zambia side and return back once you’re done.
Note: There are no e-cabs service available in Zambia, so it would be advisable to ask the hotel/resort to arrange a cab for you. We stored the phone number of the driver and gave him a call whenever we wished to travel.
Things to do in Livingstone Zambia
There is something kept in store for everyone here. If you are an adrenaline junkie definitely go for the White Water Rafting, the 111 meter high Bungee, Gorge swings, Zip lines, Microlight flight, Hiking, check out the local wildlife and so much more. Below are the things we couldn’t miss doing and would highly recommend.
1. Go for The Devil’s Pool and Livingstone Island Tour
It was an awesome once in a lifetime experience for us for sure. However this activity is only available from the Zambian side of Victoria Falls. Even you can cross the border from Zimbabwe to Livingstone and experience the same for a day trip too, if interested. If you are brave hearted this immersive adventure experience is definitely meant for you. Just imagine yourself at the edge of the waterfall flowing 650 million litres of water per minute.
We reached Manzi for briefing early in the morning. Trip to the pool is accessible only on guided boat tours operated by Tongabezi Safaris which is the only company that has been issued with an exclusive operators licence to conduct the Livingstone Island and Devil’s swimming pool tours. As it is a protected area only 24 people are allowed at a time.
You can book your own time slots as per your convenience:
- Morning Breezer – 110 USD per person
- Lunch Tour – I75 USD per person
- High Tea -150 USD per person
Note: The 1.5-hour ‘Livingstone Breezer tours leave at 7:30 AM, 9 AM and 10:30 AM respectively. The 2.5-hour Lunch Tour departs at 12:30 PM and 2-hour High Tea tour at 3:30 PM.
There are several off-the-street guides who would offer you the opportunity to do this activity at lower rate, but these guides are not licensed and we would strongly recommend not going with any of them, as safety must be your first priority. Book your trip with Victoria Falls guide.
We boarded a motorboat from the Zambian bank of the Zambezi and reached our destination with experienced guides and instructors. It is mandatory to swim a bit to reach this becalmed Devil’s pool that stands right on the edge. And if you are a non swimmer kindly ask for assistance because crossing the mainstream is really scary and challenging. Again its your personal choice if you just want to go for the Island Tour and don’t wish to swim in the Devil’s pool but the price remains the same. One must be at least 12 years of age to swim in the Devil’s Pool.
Devil’s Pool opening months are usually from mid-August to end December, with access being most reliable in October and November, when the flow is the weakest. The pool is closed to tourists when the water flow is dangerously high, usually from January to August.
2. Board the Microlight Flight over the falls
We took the Microlight flight over Victoria Falls and it was one of the amazing things we have ever experienced. The view from the top is spectacular and indeed magical. Unlike the regular flights, microlights are completely open air flight which gives that adrenaline pump of natural flying, you being the only passenger on board with the captain providing breathtaking aerial views of the “smoke that thunders”. Its a must do!
The Victoria Falls microlight flight takes off from the Batoka Sky “Maramba” Aerodrome just outside Livingstone town and this place was just 10 min away from our hotel. The operators would arrange a pick up and drop off from anywhere in the Victoria Falls city centre and hotels. Microlight flights are scheduled in the morning from 8am to 9.30am and in the afternoon from 3pm to 5pm, which you can choose at your own convenience. You can opt for either 15min(179 USD) or 30min(360 USD) of flying. Book your trip with Victoria Falls guide.
We flew for 15min along the Zambezi and the National Park and had a unique game viewing experience from the top spotting Hippos, Elephants, Zebras and Nile Crocodiles. Once you land you can collect your pictures and videos from the office( pay extra 20 USD for photo and 30 USD for video) as you are not allowed to carry your own gadgets for safety reasons.
Note: Microlight flights might get cancelled due to bad weather conditions, if you are travelling during the rainy season between December – March.
This activity is only available from Livingstone on the Zambian side of V-falls, but you can cross the border from Zimbabwe to Zambia and experience the same. Rest the pictures says it all. It is a once in a lifetime experience that you would never forget.
3. Go for the Helicopter ride over the falls
Surely even this would be a breathtaking experience too. The helicopter takes off from Elephant Hills heli pad, which is just a few kilometres upstream of the Falls. You can even experience the game viewing flight along the Zambezi and the adjoining Zambezi National Park watching hippos, elephants, zebras, crocodile etc. The operators would arrange a pick up and drop off from anywhere in the Victoria Falls city centre and hotels. As we went for microlight flight so excluded this ride from our list. Helicopter ride for 12-13min is 150 USD and for 25min its 284 USD per person. Book your trip with Victoria Falls guide.
4. Take a walking tour of Victoria Falls
Definitely no one would prefer to miss visiting one of the natural wonders of the world. Its a great feeling standing on the edge of the fall getting drenched by the misty spray and gazing at the beautiful rainbow. Did you know that the waterfall cascade 650 million litres of water every minute and the spray from the pounding water rises more than 60 feet into the air before tumbling down to create 24 hours of solid rain, so it is said that it rains at Victoria Falls all day. You can even walk along the concrete paths that have been made till the end of the gorge(have 16 view points), where you will also find flight of stairs going down to a point called the “Chain Walk”. You can even wave at people standing at V-falls in Zimbabwe from there.
You don’t have to pre-book for this tour with any operators. Just enter through the Victoria Falls National Park entrance gate – where you are required to pay 20 USD per person and stay for as long as you want. There are no food joints inside V-falls so pack some eatables if you wish to stay for long.
Also don’t forget to hike (be warned its is a steep climb) till the ‘Boiling Pot’ where the two streams of the Zambezi meet below Danger Point in the Boiling Pot creating a permanent whirlpool, which is also the launching site of white water rafting trips. If you would love to enjoy natures own rain from the Zambezi than April to June would be the best time to visit, however you would miss going for the Devil’s Pool as the water lever rises. So here’s a saying- if you go to Victoria Falls you might get wet! Hahaha…
Tip: Carry raincoats or umbrellas if you don’t wish to get drenched.
5. Go for Zambezi River Cruise
We personally love cruising and would definitely recommend this activity. The Zambezi river cruise gives you an opportunity to experience the beautiful scenery of sunsets, see birds and a wide variety of wildlife( elephants, hippos, crocodiles etc) in their natural habitat in the thrill of darkness and silence sailing about 5 kilometres upstream of the Victoria Falls. Honestly the peace and tranquillity is simply stunning. Book your trip with Victoria Falls guide.
There are variety of cruises available, that includes early morning cruises, lunch cruises, sunset cruises and dinner cruises as well. You can even choose from small private boats to large party boats and per your preference.
- Standard river cruises would cost 40-70 USD
- Upmarket river cruises would cost 55- 85 USD
- Sunset and dinner cruises would cost 75 USD
- Specialised cruises would cost 50-130 USD
6. Visit the Livingstone Museum
The Livingstone Museum, also known as the David Livingstone Memorial Museum is the largest and the oldest of the four national museums in Victoria Falls. It is a multidisciplinary museum of collections that exhibits artifacts which are related to local prehistory including photographs, musical instruments, archaeology, ethnography, mammalogy, ornithology, entomology, ichthyology, herpetology and botany.
It also holds a vast archaeological collection including a cast of the world famous Broken Hills Man’s skull ( the actual skull is kept in the British Museum of London) dating back to the early 20th century. It also holds possessions and memorabilia – including letters and journals – of David Livingstone which are so amazing to watch.
- Opening hours: 09:00hrs-16:30hrs everyday
- Entrance fee: adults- 5 USD and children- 3 USD.
7. Visit the Mukuni Park Curio Market
This local art and curio market is located on the main street of Livingstone which is lined up with many permanent shops/stalls along the walkway. If you wish to buy some souvenirs and take back home some Zambian memories then you’re very likely to find something here for sure.
Envisioning the lovely end to this amazing time at Zambia. So guys hope you find this blog helpful planning yours, and if you have any queries please write it down in the comment section below. We would try to help with the best of our knowledge.
