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Where to stay in Livingstone
Livingstone is the Zambian town closest to Victoria Falls, about 10 kilometres from the falls and the border with Zimbabwe. You can stay in town, which has restaurants and cheaper lodges, or along the Zambezi River upstream, where lodges and camps look over the water and wildlife.
Livingstone town
The town has backpacker lodges, guesthouses and mid-range hotels, plus the Livingstone Museum, cafes and adventure operators. Taxis take you to the falls in about 15 minutes. It is practical, but you will not see the river from your room.
Zambezi riverfront
Upstream of the falls, lodges and hotels line the Zambezi, some next to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Sunset cruises leave from nearby jetties, and you may see hippos and elephants from the deck. Transfers take you to the falls.
At the falls
A small number of hotels sit right beside the falls inside the national park, with walking access to the viewpoints and the spray. They are expensive, but you can visit the falls early in the morning or at full moon without driving.
One thing to think about
If you plan to visit both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides, check visa rules before you go; the KAZA UNIVISA has covered both countries at times, but availability changes. In the low-water months the Zambian side of the falls can be almost dry.
Once you have a bed
The things that sell out first in Livingstone are the small-group tours and the skip-the-line tickets.
Common questions
Which side of Victoria Falls is better, Zambia or Zimbabwe?
The Zimbabwean side has more viewpoints facing the main falls and the best views in the dry months. The Zambian side lets you get close to the edge, walk the Knife-Edge Bridge and, when water is low, swim at Devil's Pool on Livingstone Island. Many visitors see both.
When is the best time to see Victoria Falls?
The water is highest from about March to May, when the spray is enormous and you will get soaked but views can be misty. From about August to December the flow drops, views are clearer on the Zimbabwe side and activities like Devil's Pool become possible.
What activities can I do in Livingstone?
Popular activities include sunset cruises on the Zambezi, white-water rafting below the falls, the bungee jump from the Victoria Falls Bridge, helicopter flights, walking safaris to see rhinos in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and a day trip to Chobe in Botswana.
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