Livingstone, Zambia

Livingstone, Zambia; a breathtaking explosion of wildlife, culture, and natural beauty in south-central Africa. It’s the perfect travel destination for adventure enthusiasts and casual sightseers alike. Livingstone sits on Zambia’s triple border with Zimbabwe and Botswana, making it a perfect “home base” for exploring this part of the world. With a diverse offering of activities, there is something for just about anyone.

The Basics

How long to stay? This depends on where you are coming from. As I am based in Vancouver, Canada it is a long trip and therefore I would not go for any less than a couple weeks. However, I would say 7 days is enough, give or take a few depending on what you want to do. You can always combine a few additional stops in and around Zambia if you’re looking to make the trek worth it.

How to get there? Flying into Livingstone is not hard, but it will likely take several flights if you’re not already in Africa. The main international flights come in from Nairobi and Johannesburg, with domestic flights from Lusaka also being an option. Obviously, the easiest thing to do is search flights from your location. I flew Vancouver – Paris – Nairobi – Livingstone; it took about 36 hours.

How much will it cost? Again, this depends. Livingstone is very cheap. That being said, there are very nice hotels as well as tourist attractions that are not cheap. My flights were about $1,700 CAD and total spending money was approximately $1,500 for three weeks (not including accommodation – more on that below). The local currency is the Kwacha. While you’re there you can take out money through an ATM or convert cash – USD is the best if you want to bring cash as you will have a hard time converting CAD (not sure about other currencies, but I recommend bringing USD as it was the most accessible to convert and many tourist attractions will accept USD). Always use an official exchange bureau while in Livingstone to avoid falling for any tourist scams.

Where to stay? I went to Livingstone as a volunteer so I stayed at a volunteer house with other people in the same program. If you are just visiting there are hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs to suit your preference. I met people staying at Jollyboys Backpackers, Zinga Backpackers, and Victoria Falls Backpackers Zambia and heard good things. If you want to splurge, Avani Victoria Falls Resort is beautiful.

Tip: You can pay a “day fee” and spend the day at Avani enjoying the pool and amenities without having to sleep there – highly recommend! I can’t remember exactly how much it costs but it’s not much.

When to go? I went in May and found the weather very pleasant. It’s their winter but it was around 30 degrees Celsius every day and it didn’t rain once. Summer in Zambia is very hot so be prepared if you choose to visit then. The other thing to note is the rainy season (November through March). It can rain a lot in these months so I recommend going on either end.

Getting around? The best way to get around is by walking or taking a taxi. There’s no public transport system in Livingstone, however, most things in the city are walking distance. If you need to go farther, taxis are very cheap – most are USD $1 per person per trip in town, it’s more if you go to the falls or outside of town but overall very reasonable prices. Just make sure you’re using an official taxi service to stay safe.

*Views along the Zambezi River while white water rafting*

Is it safe? In short, yes. I went by myself (although I met lots of people there) as a female and genuinely never felt unsafe. Just use common sense, don’t flaunt valuables, and be aware of your surroundings. There is a very low crime rate and everyone I met was super kind. Like everywhere else in the world, things happen, but I have felt less safe in areas of North America than I ever did in Zambia.

Phone coverage? The easiest thing to do is get a local sim card. They are cheap and will allow you to use your phone in and around the city.

The Fun Stuff

Victoria Falls

*Watching the falls after getting soaked*

This is the main attraction. Although they are not the highest or widest waterfall in the world, they’re considered the biggest since they are the “world’s largest sheet of falling water”. You can visit the falls by taking a taxi to the entrance, it’s super easy. Once inside you can explore various paths and trails to see the waterfalls from all angles. I recommend taking the Boiling Point trail down to see the falls from below. While you’re there, prepare to get soaked. You can get a poncho to wear which I did on one visit, but the second time I went we just ran around and got drenched - it was a blast and I recommend embracing it since you’ll likely end up pretty wet anyway.

You can also go visit the falls at night to see the lunar rainbow (or moonbow). It’s exactly what it sounds like - a rainbow at night. It’s caused by the splash from the falls and the light reflecting off the moon. It’s a really fun experience to go into the park at night and see this natural phenomenon. It didn’t really show up in my photos (only had my phone) so give it a google to see what it looks like - or better yet visit and see if with your own eyes!

You can also cross the border into Zimbabwe and see the falls from the other side (the Victoria falls sit on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe). It’s the same process – pay an entry fee and explore the park. However, it’s important to note that if you’re coming from Livingstone you should take a taxi to the border of Zimbabwe and cross by foot. Once on the other side, the entrance is walking distance from the border.

Tip: Don’t convert money at the border. You can use Kwachas or USD there. The Zimbabwean dollar has experienced hyperinflation and it's a common scam to try to get tourists to convert cash on the street.

Tip: You will need to pay for a visa to cross into Zimbabwe. I recommend researching visa requirements based on your passport but for Canada it cost about USD $75 and required no additional application. It was expensive since I only went for the day but in my opinion, well worth it.

Angel’s Pool & Devil’s Pool

This is the only thing I wanted to do that I didn’t get to do because the water levels were still too high and it was not safe. Basically, you get to sit at the edge of the waterfall, in a natural pool of sorts, and hang out. It makes for some pretty cool photos and looked like a lot of fun. If this is offered when you’re there, I recommend doing it. Angels Pool and Devils Pool are basically the same concept, just in different locations and open at different times depending on water level. You MUST do this through an organized trip as you need to know when it’s safe to visit and should always be with a guide to avoid any accidents. Do not attempt to swim anywhere around the falls on your own. There’s also crocodiles and hippos in the river - just mentioning it in case falling over the edge isn’t enough to keep you away!

White Water Rafting on the Zambezi River

*This is me and my friends flipping on the raft*

Livingstone is a great destination if you’re a bit of an adrenaline junky (like me). We went through Maano Adventures and I’d highly recommend them. We were picked up at our accommodation and taken to the Zambezi river for our trip. We spent an entire day rafting and swimming in the river, we even got off at a little beach and swam as well as watched some locals fishing. I found this a really fun way to see more of the scenic landscapes in the area because you go down a good length of the Zambezi River and get to see canyons and cliffs that the river winds through along the way.

I will say that this is not for the faint of heart. We flipped twice while going through the largest rapids and I genuinely feared for my life at one point… but it was also a lot of fun somehow. There are class 3 - 5 rapids on the Zambezi which makes it inherently dangerous. Again, I’m a bit of an adrenaline junky so make sure you’re up for it before booking in.

Note: I would not recommend taking kids or anyone with physical limitations on this as you need to be a strong swimmer and will need to row at times.

Mukuni Village

This was one of my favourite activities and one that I believe is less common for tourists. Mukuni Village is a 700 year old traditional village outside Livingstone. It is home to seven thousand people and is one of the few villages open to tourists. You can take a taxi to get there and a local tour guide will show you around while teaching you about everyday life for the people who still live in these traditional huts. We learned about everyday life, schooling, food, medicine, and traditions of the people there. There is also an opportunity to buy art work and souvenirs from people who work or live there.

I highly recommend visiting as it gives you a better look into what life was (and still is) like for many people in these villages. It opens your eyes to the culture in Zambia and personally this is my favourite thing about travelling, so I absolutely loved it. I did not find the tour very “touristy” and genuinely feel like I learned a lot about the people and culture. I even got to play a round of a traditional game called Mulabalaba with some of the people who live there - spoiler, I lost!

Chobe National Park, Botswana

*Watching elephants after lunch in Chobe*

Although it is not actually in Zambia, Chobe National Park was a clear highlight for me on this trip. Located in neighbouring Botswana, Chobe is home to countless animals and known as one of the best places for a safari. We were picked up in cars and taken to cross the border into Botswana via boat. Once on the other side we travelled in jeeps as well as boat to see animals from land and from the river. We camped in the national park for one night and could hear animals throughout the night. It was very comfortable and I’d call it somewhere between camping and glamping because you’re by no means roughing it! We even had lunch one day parked on the side of the river with views of elephants… you can’t make this stuff up. I want to write a full blog on this safari and will add the link here once that is up.

I did this through a company called Big Sam Hubber and have nothing but good things to say about them. Everything was wonderful and it was easily one of the most incredible two days of my life. I paid about USD $275 and everything was included. I did not spend a single penny on top of this for the safari. They also offer single day tours but personally, I think that camping in the national park is something you cannot pass up. I don’t think there was a single moment that weekend that I wasn’t smiling from ear to ear.

Sunset Cruise

One of the evenings I was there we went on a sunset cruise on the Zambezi river to see the sunset as well as more wildlife. We saw lots of birds, hippos, and crocodiles from the boat. It’s a lot of fun since they have live music, good drinks, snacks and dancing. I unfortunately can’t remember the company I used but I do believe most of them are similar. It was a fun way to spend a Friday night and I’d recommend doing it just for the beautiful views of the Zambezi and surrounding landscape.

Livingstone Museum

The Livingstone Museum was another activity that a lot of people overlook. It’s a simple museum located in the city centre. As I’ve mentioned, I love learning about the history and culture of the places I visit so for me, this was a highlight as well. It’s a very well laid out museum with a good amount of information without being overwhelming. I believe I spent a few hours there and genuinely think I read everything and looked at all the artifacts they had. It’s only USD $5 ($3 for children) and an excellent way to learn more about the city’s history as well as the traditions and culture of Zambia. I loved it and would not miss it if you’re ever in Livingstone. Another bonus is that they had the best (in my opinion) souvenirs and art in the gift shop. I bought my parents a beautiful carving there and it’s by far my favourite thing I bought while in Livingstone.

Maramba Market

The Maramba Market was located near the school I volunteered at so I visited a number of times. It’s a large open air market with food, clothes, arts supplies, and more that many locals shop at. It’s a fun and authentic experience to walk through the market and interact with people who are out and about.

*Wearing a chitenge I purchased at Maramba Market*

There’s a little shop out front where you can buy a chitenge for cheaper than the tourist shops since this is catered towards locals. A chitenge is a traditional Zambian wrap that women wear around their waist as a skirt in everyday life. They are also used to swaddle and carry children, or wrap your hair in. They’re so beautiful and come in several patterns and every colour you can think of. I came home with 5 and have no regrets! We wore them around while in Livingstone and the locals love when you make an effort to embrace their culture.

Watch the Sunset

Everyday the sunset was so beautiful that we’d go to different spots around Livingstone to watch it. Royal Livingstone Hotel has a beautiful view over the Zambezi River where you can get a drink and watch the sunset. There’s also zebra that roam around the hotel so you may see some.

Another fun place is Rapid 7. It’s a lesser known place and you’ll need to take a taxi but it’s so beautiful. We brought some snacks and drinks and hung out while watching the sun light up in bright pinks and oranges. I recommend!

We also went to a treehouse and watched the sunset from there but I would not be able to tell you how to get there! Some of the people I met showed me this place but I don’t know if it’s common or not - maybe ask a cab driver and take a chance on trying to find it!?

Food & Drinks

There’s a few fun restaurants in Livingstone that I recommend.

Mango Tree Cafe has delicious iced coffees, milkshakes, and deserts which are always nice in the hot weather. I heard good things about the food but never actually ate there myself.

Cafe Zambezi has fun drinks and a pool in the back. One night they organized a big barbecue and we all hung out and tried traditional Zambian food. It was a lot of fun and the staff are super friendly.

Fezbar is where we’d end up every weekend to dance. You can get beers for less than USD $1 and the DJ was always eager to take our requests so the music can really be whatever you want - we usually had a pretty random mix of things going on. There’s pool and ping pong as well as an open dance floor and you’ll meet locals there as well.

Other Things I didn’t do

There really is an endless amount of activities in the area. To name a few; bungee jumping, zip-lines, micro flight (a small plan that flies you over the falls - looks epic but also terrifying haha), helicopter rides, gorge swing, and horseback riding. There’s also several “animal interactions” which I personally don’t support because they use captive animals. It’s much more exciting to see them in the wild and animals are not harmed this way, so I would avoid supporting these activities but that’s just my opinion.

The month I spent in Livingstone is an experience I will cherish forever. I met incredible people, stepped (or rather took leaps and bounds) out of my comfort zone, and witnessed sights I genuinely never thought I would see in person. I booked my trip on a bit of a whim and it was easily one of the best things I’ve ever done.

Livingstone is home to beautiful people, diverse wildlife, phenomenal natural landscapes, and a captivating culture. I would go back in a heartbeat and can promise that you will not regret visiting this breathtaking region.

Safe travels,

Maria

I’m not very active on YouTube but here is a little montage of my time in Zambia if you want to watch

The Basics

The Fun Stuff

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