Livingstone is the Zambian gateway to Victoria Falls, the largest sheet of falling water in the world, which David Livingstone named after Queen Victoria. The Zambezi spreads out across a wide basalt plateau and plunges more than 100 metres into a narrow gorge, sending spray hundreds of metres into the air. The local name, Mosi-oa-Tunya, means The Smoke That Thunders.
From the Zambian side you can stand on the Knife-Edge Bridge, almost within touching distance of the falls, and in the low-water season, from about mid-August to mid-January, swim in Devil's Pool, a natural rock pool on the very lip of the drop. The area also offers white-water rafting, bungee jumping, a helicopter flight over the falls and gentle sunset cruises on the upper Zambezi.
Livingstone is also a pleasant colonial town with good lodges and the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, where you can walk with white rhino. We usually suggest two or three nights, and the Zimbabwe side offers the other classic views of the falls.
Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park has white rhino, giraffe, zebra, warthog, impala and monkeys, and the upper Zambezi has hippos, crocodiles and a wealth of birds. Elephants sometimes cross the river. The gorge is a nesting site for Taita falcons and black storks.
Chance of seeing
Our estimate for a stay of two or three nights with a good guide. Wildlife is wild, so nothing is promised.
The Falls are 1.7 kilometres wide, and the Zambezi plunges into the Batoka Gorge, with rainforest clinging to the cliffs opposite. Rainbows are common, and moonbows can be seen on full-moon nights.
Activities here
Livingstone has hot, wet summers, with daytime temperatures of 30°C to 35°C, and dry, warm winters with cool nights. The rains fall from November to March, and October is the hottest month.
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31 | 20 | 170 |
| Feb | 30 | 20 | 150 |
| Mar | 31 | 19 | 80 |
| Apr | 31 | 16 | 25 |
| May | 29 | 11 | 5 |
| Jun | 26 | 8 | 0 |
| Jul | 26 | 8 | 0 |
| Aug | 29 | 10 | 0 |
| Sep | 33 | 15 | 2 |
| Oct | 35 | 19 | 15 |
| Nov | 34 | 20 | 70 |
| Dec | 32 | 20 | 140 |
Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.
May to October is dry. The Falls are slightly lower but still impressive, the spray is lighter, and the views of the gorge are clearer. Devil’s Pool is open from mid-August to mid-January, depending on river levels.
November to April is wet and hot. The Falls are at full flow from February to May, with so much spray that viewpoints can be hard to see, but the sound and power are astonishing.
March to July is the best time to see the Falls at full flow, though the spray is heaviest in April and May. August to January is best for Devil’s Pool and the lower-water views of the gorge. Livingstone is a good stop at any time of year.
Best time to visit Mar to Oct
Livingstone’s Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport has flights from Lusaka, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Addis Ababa. It is 10 minutes from the town and about 15 minutes from the Falls. Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe is an hour away by road including the border.
Many nationalities are exempt from a Zambian visa for stays of up to 90 days, and others can buy a single-entry visa on arrival or apply for an e-visa, currently about US$50. The KAZA UniVisa, about US$50, allows travel between Zambia and Zimbabwe and day trips to Chobe. Park fees are included in our safaris. Please check the rules for your passport.
Livingstone is a malaria area, with the highest risk from November to May, so please take advice. Wear non-slip shoes at the Falls and carry a waterproof layer. Bilharzia is a risk in some stretches of water, so swim only where your guide advises.
National ParkSouth Luangwa National ParkLeopards and walking safaris
National ParkKafue National ParkVast, wild and rarely visited
National ParkLower Zambezi National ParkCanoeing past elephants
City & TownLusakaCapital and gatewayOur take
“Our take”
Give the Falls two nights. Visit in the morning, and take a sunset cruise on the Zambezi in the evening.
Safaris from
US$1,692 per person
Plan your time in Livingstone and Victoria Falls
Every safari we run is private and built around you. Tell us your dates and what you hope to see, and we will shape the route, the lodges and the permits.
Made to measure
Tell us how you like to travel and we will build a private journey around it: the right lodges, the right pace and the permits already in hand.
Start planningCookies
Essential cookies keep this site working. With your permission we also remember the safaris and places you have viewed. You can change your mind any time from Cookie settings in the footer.
