Things to do in Livingstone
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Livingstone
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
High water. The Falls at maximum power, best February to July for moonbows, but Devil's Pool is closed.
Dry peak season. Clear skies and game concentrating at water, with Chobe peaking August to October.
Low water window when Devil's Pool generally opens, roughly August to January, set by river levels.
Green rainy season. Hot, humid, lush and cheaper, with migratory birds and fewer visitors.
Worst for a first trip: hottest and wettest, Devil's Pool closed, game dispersed and Falls not yet at peak.
What's on
- Mosi Day of Thunder late April
Zambia's biggest music festival at Livingstone Royal Golf Club, with top Zambian acts and thousands attending.
- Vic Falls Carnival late April / early May
Zambia edition at Radisson Blu Mosi-oa-Tunya, with Southern African house, amapiano and pop. Dates vary by year.
- Independence Day 24 October
Traditional dance and town events, alongside the Livingstone International Cultural Arts Festival in peak season.
Best things to do in Livingstone
Victoria Falls
The Zambian side up close: Eastern Cataract, Knife-Edge Bridge and the Boiling Pot descent in one self guided morning.
Livingstone Island
Swim in Devil's Pool at the very lip of the Falls, guided, with a meal on the island Livingstone first saw the Falls from.
Moonbow at Victoria Falls
A pale lunar rainbow in the spray on the three nights around full moon, walked with a guide in near darkness.
Sunset Cruise on the Upper Zambezi
Golden hour on the calm river above the Falls, with hippos, crocodiles and elephants coming down to drink.
Livingstone Museum
Zambia in one building: archaeology, ethnography, independence history and original David Livingstone letters.
Mukuni Village
A working Leya village hosted by a village guide, with homesteads, the chief's palace area, crafts and dancing.
Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
A game drive through riverine woodland ending with a walk, with armed scouts, to within metres of white rhinos.
Victoria Falls Bridge
Cross the 1905 bridge to the Zimbabwe rainforest for the panoramic face on view of the full width of the Falls.
Where to stay in Livingstone
Falls strip, Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
first trip, all-round base
Five minutes on foot from the Falls entrance, with game grazing the lawns and no transport needed for the headline sight.
Upstream Zambezi riverbank, Sichango Road and Tongabezi corridor
luxury, honeymoon and quiet
Intimate lodges on the calm Upper Zambezi with private decks and jetties, and the Falls as a planned excursion.
Livingstone town, Mosi-oa-Tunya Road
value, independence and eating out
Guesthouses and hostels near the museum, cafes and booking desks at half to a quarter of Falls strip prices.
Maramba River area
mid-range nature compromise
Bush lodges on the Maramba River roughly equidistant from town and the Falls, good for families and longer stays.
Think twice about
- Unlit Mosi-oa-Tunya Road and riverbank paths after dark
Hippos graze at night, elephants move along the road corridor and snakes are a reality. Use a shuttle or taxi after sunset.
- Far residential townships such as Dambwa and Libuyu
People's neighbourhoods with no lodge infrastructure, restaurants or activity desks, so every Falls trip needs a taxi.
- Isolated upstream or airport road properties without included transfers
Without transfers, boats and activities built in, taxi costs and lost hours quickly eat the saving on a cheap room.
- Immediately outside the Falls gate and Bridge curio strip
Tout pressure from the curio stalls with none of the lawns, wildlife or private Falls access of the genuine resorts.
Best restaurants in Livingstone
The Royal Livingstone Dining Room
Livingstone's fine dining flagship, plus high tea and sunset drinks on the lawn deck above the river.
Cafe Zambezi
The town's best known independent table: Zambian plates, grilled meats, bream, pizza and dance nights in a courtyard.
Aurum Restaurant
The town's serious curry house, formerly The Golden Leaf, with butter chicken, rogan josh, prawn curries and naan.
Olga's - The Italian Corner
Handmade pasta and pizzas in a garden setting, linked to a local community project and priced like a cafe.
Matebeto Restaurant
A listed local Zambian address for nshima with relishes, ifisashi and grilled Zambezi bream at lunch.
The David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa
Cocktails and bar plates on a lodge deck over the Zambezi, rivalling the top hotel sunset without its dinner bill.
Sea Spice
Falls strip dining at Mosi-oa-Tunya Square that serves guests competently without a trip into town.
Best coffee in Livingstone
Kubu Cafe
The town's best breakfast stop, by the fire station, and an easy start before a Falls morning.
Munali Cafe
The coffee obsessive's pick in town, also listed as Cafe Au Lait, for a careful cup and breakfast.
Outdoor things to do in Livingstone
Zambezi White Water Rafting
Grade IV and V rapids below the Falls in the Batoka Gorge, best and most technical in low water.
Chobe National Park
A full day from Livingstone: riverfront game drive and a Chobe River boat cruise among huge elephant herds.
Flight of Angels
Helicopter or open microlight flights that finally show the full 1.7km curtain and zigzag gorge from above.
Victoria Falls Bungee Jump
Bungee, gorge swing and a 425m zipline from and around the bridge, 111 metres above the Zambezi.
Tiger Fishing on the Upper Zambezi
Guided catch and release fishing for tiger fish from a boat on the Upper Zambezi, best August to November.
Livingstone Royal Golf Club
One of Zambia's oldest courses, an inexpensive 18 hole parkland layout with club hire and a characterful clubhouse.
Elephant Hills Golf Course
Gary Player designed 18 hole championship course across the border, with wildlife wandering the fairways.
Horseback Safari in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
A guided horseback safari in the park, a quiet way to see riverine woodland and game at close range.
Best hotels in Livingstone
The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara
Colonial styled grand hotel inside the park estate, with a lawn to the river and a private path to the Falls.
Tongabezi Lodge
Small romantic lodge upstream with cottages and houses on a bend of the river, and the Livingstone Island operator.
Radisson Blu Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort
Modern large resort opened in 2022 near the Falls, with big pools, a spa and several restaurants.
Avani Victoria Falls Resort
Lively family resort on the Falls estate, with a big pool and the same walk to the Falls at about half the top price.
The David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa
Butler serviced lodge on the Zambezi with a spa, an infinity pool facing the river and its own cruise jetty.
Maramba River Lodge
Tented chalets and family units in bush on the Maramba River, with a pool and a well liked restaurant deck.
Ngoma Zanga Lodge
Small art filled Zambian run lodge in town with a pool, garden and a restaurant locals recommend.
Jollyboys Backpackers
Zambia's first hostel, owner run since 1996, with dorms, privates, camping, a pool and a trusted travel desk.
Is Livingstone expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | ZMW 1,300 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | ZMW 4,000 a person |
| Splurge | ZMW 13,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Livingstone Island: weeks ahead
- Sunset Cruise on the Upper Zambezi: a few days ahead
- Mukuni Village: a few days ahead
- Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park: a few days ahead
- Victoria Falls Bridge: a few days ahead
- The Royal Livingstone Express: weeks ahead
- Zambezi White Water Rafting: a few days ahead
- Chobe National Park: a few days ahead
- Devil's Pool and Livingstone Island: book official Tongabezi and Green Safaris sittings as soon as low water dates are fixed.
- Check the lunar calendar before fixing flights if a moonbow night matters to you.
- Chobe and rafting in peak dry season, July to October: book 2 to 7 days ahead through your lodge.
- Book flights and activities early in your stay so a weather grounded helicopter or microlight can roll to another day.
Is Livingstone safe?
- Never swim or wade in the Zambezi except in Devil's or Angel's Pool with guides, and never walk riverbanks at night.
- Malaria is present year round. Take prophylaxis advice, use repellent and sleep under nets or screening.
- October heat is brutal. Carry water and a hat, and be honest about fitness for gorge climbs and midday walks.
- Keep valuables out of sight in markets and crowds, use lodge safes, and save your lodge number for emergencies.
Livingstone travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- The curio market gauntlet at the Falls gate and bridge, where opening prices are several times the settling price.
- Street money changers at the border. Use banks, ATMs or bureaux in town instead.
- Unofficial guides and free entry resellers at the Falls gate. Entry is paid at the gate and official guides carry ID.
- Zimbabwe day trips sold without the all in border cost. Ask for entries, visas and transfers included.
Getting around Livingstone: public transport and more
- Fly into Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport, LVI. Most lodges arrange transfers, about 20 minutes to town.
- Taxis are plentiful, unmetered and negotiated. Agree the price first. Lodge shuttles beat taxis for the Falls run.
- Walk in town by day only. After dark use a shuttle or taxi because roads are unlit and wildlife moves through.
Who Livingstone suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | OK |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | OK |
Make Livingstone your trip
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