Livingstone

Main street, Livingstone

Livingstone is to Zambia what the town of Victoria Falls is to Zimbabwe. Formerly known as Maramba, it was the capital of Zambia before it was moved to Lusaka. Livingstone is in the Southern Province of Zambia and is the tourist capital of the country.

The falls are on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. For information on the Zimbabwean side (including a comparison of the sides) see Victoria Falls.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI  ^IATA). Livingstone's own airport, flights arrive daily.  
• FlySafair a low-cost airline flies between Livingstone and Johannesburg. Airlink and CemAir also has flights to Johannesburg South Africa. Zambia airways flies beteen Livingstone and Johannesburg and Lusaka
• Kenya Airways flies from Livingstone to Nairobi and Capetown 3 times a week.
• ProFlight Zambia flies between Livingstone and other destinations in Zambia and has several flights between Livingstone and Lusaka each day.

The Livingstone International Airport was renamed Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport - he was an integral part of Zambia's independence movement.

You can also fly into Victoria Falls (VFA ^IATA), Livingstone's sister city, on the Zimbabwe side of the border.

By train

There is the once-weekly Zambezi train from Kitwe via Lusaka, operated by Zambia Railways. Journey time from Lusaka is around 12 hours with departures every Wednesday. Sleeper class fare is 145 kwacha. and the economy seat fare is 75 kwacha. There is also, a third-class only train which connects with Mulobezi once a week. Victoria Falls, just across the border in Zimbabwe, is the terminus for overnight trains from Harare and Bulawayo.

The small 2 Livingstone railway station is just south of city centre.

By bus

New Livingstone Inter-city bus terminus. Relatively comfortable luxury buses travel between Lusaka and Livingstone, for around 250-350 kwacha (July 2022), tickets may be purchased in advance at the bus terminal in Lusaka. The most reliable bus operator is Power tools, which costs 350 kwacha and takes 7-9 hours. Reserve tickets in advance from the inter-city bus terminus. There are busses leaving every hour, there are no overnight busses anymore as there were accidents. Either ask the bus driver to help you find a taxi or wait on the bus with the other passengers until daylight. Other bus companies also operates this route. These buses transport you in 6 hours to downtown Livingstone (total distance 470 km). It is also possible to catch a minibus from Lusaka, for about the same price. Uncomfortable things with these buses are that most of them have five seat on row, so space per passenger is not too much.

• International buses: There are bus lines with buses to/from the Livingstone inter-city bus terminus from Windhoek, Namibia via Katima Mulilo and Francistown, Botswana via Kasane.

By car

If you are aching to rent a car and drive yourself around Zambia, this might be the trip for you. The roads between Livingstone and Lusaka are among the country's best, and the trip involves only one left turn.

For the international driver, roads lead into Livingstone from Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe). You can buy a temp. import permit at your port of entry, for 1 month, 3 months or longer. Also a Zambian third party insurance is mandatory, next to reflective stickers or reflectors at the front of your vehicle (white) and at the back (red). Dimensions must be 5 x 5 cm, however rectangular is permitted as well.

By taxi

If coming from Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), you can cross the border on foot, but you will need to get a blue taxis into Livingstone town. They charge about 10 USD for the trip. Minibuses charge about 5000 kwacha. Taxis are waiting just the border post.

If you are taking the ferry from Botswana to Kazungula, shared taxis wait some 200 metres from immigration. They leave when full, and cost 35 kwacha per person to Livingstone.

Get around

The city of Livingstone -- where the bulk of the accommodation, restaurants, nightclubs, etc. are -- is relatively small. Most likely, you will be comfortable walking around town. However, if you prefer not to, taxis prowl constantly. Official taxis are ones which are blue and have a red number plate. If you flag a taxi down on your way to the town centre, the driver may ask whether you are booking the taxi or not. If you are booking, you should pay full fare and driver is taking you to your doorstep. If you don't book, it means that you pay only for one seat and the driver can pick up other passengers who are going in the same direction.

The city sits about 6 miles/10 km from the falls, making it long enough to not want to walk. The going rate for a taxi is U.S. $10 in each direction between the town and the falls. However, if you are prepared to haggle you may get a lower price. Journeys to 5-star hotels tend to cost substantially more than the average journey but are still relatively inexpensive. If the hotel or guesthouse is arranging the taxi for you to the Falls, the price might be higher than what you can get when negotiating with the driver directly. The middle man needs money too!

See

Consider hiring a raincoat before you walk through the park

Victoria Falls Park

Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most amazing sights in the world. Twice as tall as Niagara Falls, and several times longer, Victoria Falls affords visitors a once-in-a-lifetime sightseeing experience. It might not be the very biggest, but few will debate that it's the most spectacular. If it is the official records you are after, the Victoria Falls is the largest curtain of falling water in the world.

Thanks to a well-designed park, visitors can touch the waters of the Zambezi just meters before it plunges over the falls; cross the gorge on a narrow bridge that provides spectacular views; and take thousands of photos - without a single one being redundant.

Wet weather gear is for hire as you enter the park. Turn left to walk in front of the gorge and see the water, take the track to the right to see the water just before it drops. Consider possibly doing the walk upriver first, as it may be less appealing when you are already soaking wet. Think about how you are going to keep your camera dry.

An admission fee of US$20 is payable as you enter the park. Bring cash as their network is frequently claimed to be down, rendering credit cards useless. The ticket is valid for multiple entries on the same day. There is limited food or drink inside the park. There is a small stand that sells bottled water and cold drinks. There are a couple of food stalls near the curio markets.

During a full moon, the park is additionally open 8-10 pm ($25) and offers an incredible view of a night rainbow over the falls.

Other sights

• 1 Livingstone Museum, Plot 567 Mosi-o-tunya Rd, ☏ +260 213 324 429. Has a natural history section, as well as an area describing the independence of Zambia from (naturally) a very Zambian perspective. There is a curio shop in the museum, and many touts out the front. A curious piece of information is that Zambians did not have access to a wheel until Europeans brought one in the 19th century. Entrance US$5 for non-Zambians. (updated Jan 2021)
• 2 Maramba Cultural Museum. Showcasing traditional Zambian culture and art. (updated Jan 2021)
• 3 Zambia Railway Museum, 726 Limulunga Rd, ☏ +260 213 325 523. Dedicated to Zambia's railway heritage. (updated Jan 2021)

Do

Don't forget the activities at on the other side of the falls.

Adventure activities

Victoria Falls is becoming an adventurer's paradise. Many "extreme sports" are available, including:

• White water rafting -- boasting several Class V rapids, the roiling waters south of the falls provide 18 of the world's best rapids literally starting in the gorge of Victoria Falls in the Boiling Pot, right under Victoria Falls Bridge. Several outfitters (Bundu and Safari Par Exellence) have popped up in the past few years to take the courageous down the river. The rafting can be physical. You finish on a lovely sandy beach and then there is a cable car at the end of the day to get you out of the steep gorge. The cost is well worth it (US$155 for a full day) and includes lunch, dinner and refreshments.
• You can body board the first few rapids (if you can't swim fairly well, you won't get the most out of it)
• Bungi jumping from the bridge spanning Zambia and Zimbabwe is very popular. The location affords a spectacular view of the Falls -- behind you, on the Zam side -- and the Victoria Hotel -- in front of you, on the Zim side. The cost is US$120 per jump or there is the Big Air Combo for US$155 where dare devils can do one bungee, one bridge swing and one zip line.
• The Zambezi Swing For US$95, this South African group lets you abseil, rap jump, do a zip line, and -- the highlight -- a gorge swing. While bungi jumping is over in a few minutes, these guys let you play all day.
• Livingstone Island a trip to Livingstone Island is unmissable. An island in the Zambezi River, 2 or 3 feet from the top of the Victoria Falls on the Zambian side. Trips leave from the Royal Livingstone Hotel and cost about US$98 including breakfast. You will have the opportunity to stand in shallow water, 2 inches (literally) from where the water gushes over the edge of the falls, and swim in Devil's Pool, a reasonable current-free pool a couple of feet from the top of the falls, close enough to lean over the edge. This makes fantastic photo opportunities with a permanent rainbow from the mist of the falls behind you. Livingstone island itself opens during July when the water levels and currents drop to make the transport safe. Devil's Pool opens a few weeks later. Book with a reputable company as this is a dangerous activity and unregistered access to the island is illegal (ask at your hotel or hostel).
• Batoka Sky and United Air Charters offer helicopter pleasure flights over the Falls, for US$140 per person for a 15-min flight. This is a spectacular way to see the falls and strongly recommended. A 30 minute flight for US$280 is also possible, combining the magnificent view of the falls with flight over the gorge and game viewing over Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Just as important, however, it's a neat way to get to see the Zambezi River -- look for alligators attacking prey! -- and to see exactly how the River has moved over time. It's truly awesome to see how nature has carved away at the landscape.
• Another company offers microflight rides over the falls. This provides a much closer view of the falls than the helicopter ride, but it does not give you as broad of a view. The microflight do not fly on windy days. Prices are US$135 for 15 min or US$270 for 30 min.
• Another must is the elephant back safari run by Elephant Trails, a truly spiritual experience.
• It's possible to walk with several young lions in a park in Zimbabwe. It costs US$160 and is well worth the expense. Inquire at your hostel or hotel. Also consider how habituating these lions to humans helps them in the long run.
• Several companies provide a sunset booze cruise on the Zambezi, above the Falls. For US$45-75, depending on your choice of boat and time of day, you get a two-hour cruise, all the drinks you can throw back, a little game-viewing, and a braai (BBQ) afterwards. The trip can be really crazy or really mellow, depending on who's scheduled on your trip.
• Then there is Jet Extreme, wherein you fly across the class five rapids of the Zambezi River for US$95, the tickets can be booked at any of the back packers. The trip also involves an hour and half drive through the bush and a vertical climb down in a cable car about 220 m. The thrill of coming to a spinning halt from 80 km/h (50 mph) to 0 in a second is too good to miss. Remember the famous words go Andy go.
• Livingsone Performing Arts Foundation (LiPAF) (Dancing Around Zambia) (Showing at the Wasawange Hotel), ☏ +260 977378778. A dynamic tapestry of music, dance and song celebrating the mystical and ceremonial fabric of Zambia's diverse culture US$25 per person. 
• African Queen River Safari with Livingstone's Adventure. 
• Finally, there are several national parks nearby, many of which are well-worth the visit. Livingstone, has the well known Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park which has the only White Rhinos in Zambia. The numbers have since been increasing with the blessings of two newly born babies within Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park bringing the total number to seven rhinos thus 2 male adults, 3 female adults and 2 babies in 2010/2011. These rhinos are very healthy and under heavy guard 24/7.
• Take a tour with the Royal Livingstone Express offering excursions by a colonial era steam train.

Buy

Livingstone provides an inexhaustible supply of curio vendors, women selling fabrics, boys selling cool drinks, girls selling jewellery, and so on. There main curio markets are near town, and near the entrance to the falls. The range of merchandise is about the same at both, as are the prices. The range of goods apart from souvenirs, curios and other locally made products for the tourist market is poor to non-existent.

Although there are some vendors who will follow you to try and sell their wares, they sellers are nowhere near as common or as aggressive as in neighbouring Zimbabwe. They mostly are near the falls, the markets, and the museum, and you can generally walk the streets through town without being accosted by touts.

You could easily spend all your money here. Be aware, though, that since this is a popular stop for tourists unfamiliar with bargaining, prices might be somewhat higher here than in other places. A savvy bargainer, however, can still strike gold although indistinguishable souvenirs are much cheaper outside Livingstone (on the roads to Lusaka for example).

If you bungee jump, raft the Zambezi, or do any of the other "extreme activities," you've got to buy the t-shirt. It is a badge of honour in Africa, and a great way to tell others how tough you are. You can also buy photos and often videos of the extreme activities... try to get a look at the photos or video before buying (this is certainly possible with the bungi). Whilst the bungi videos are sometimes not videoshop quality you WILL be able to show your friends how great you are - to accompanying music.

Many of the activities you pay for will be done so in dollars and only in cash, so make sure you bring plenty with you. If you pay with local Kwacha they will charge you more than you would pay in dollars.

Banks, ATMS, and currency exchange

There are ATMs in the town centre and in the shopping centre on the way to the falls, and at the Livingstone airport. The ATMs only give money in local currency. You cannot change kwacha to dollars in Zimbabwe: ensure you exchange all your kwatcha before leaving. This can prove hard, as exchange bureaus in Livingstone seem reluctant to part with their dollars.

• 1 Currency exchange office, Mosi-oa-tunya Road (Next to Fawlty Towers Backpackers). 24 hours. Has good buy and sell rates. (updated Aug 2016)
• Stanbic Bank, Mosi-oa-tunya Road (In the Shoprite shopping mall). 24 hours. Has a Visa card and Master card ATM. (updated May 2015)
• Standard Chartered Bank, Mosi-oq-Tunya Road. Has a Master card and Visa card ATM. (updated Mar 2016)
• Atles Mara, mosi-oa-tunya. 24 hour atm. mastercard visa card atm. (updated Aug 2023)
• FNB First National Bank (Mosi-oa-tunya). 24 hours atm.. mastercard visa card atm. (updated Aug 2023)

Shopping

• Shoprite Supermaket, Mosi-oa-Tunya Sq and one at Kapondo street. 8am-8pm. Large South African supermarket chain with wider variety of goods. (updated Apr 2023)
• Super Spar Supermarket, Falls park shopping mall, ☏ +260-213-322715. (updated Jun 2023)
• Falls Park shopping center. Many shops with a book world and Link Pharmacy. (updated Jun 2023)
• Pep store, Mosi-oa-Tunya road. Clothing. (updated Jun 2023)
• Choppies Supermarket, Plot no. 1386/19 Kafubu Road. 8am-8pm. large supermarket. (updated Mar 2023)

Eat

Considering Livingstone is such a tourist destination, you can be certain that Western-style meals are easy to find -- everything from pizza, to burgers, even burritos! Several of the lodges and accommodations have restaurants and pubs on their grounds.

• O'Discols Restaurant, near Fawlty Towers Backpackers, is a popular joint that attracts a young crowd. It features al fresco dining that receives mixed reviews.
• The Funky Munky is just down the street from Jollyboys Backpackers, this is an excellent take away with some very nice pizzas.
• Pub and Grill in town opposite the main banks, an American-style restaurant with good food in plentiful servings
• Chanters Lodge - just outside the centre of town, Chanters offers the best pepper steak in town. Chanters can also cater too those wishing to taste an authentic Zambia meal.
• Sunrise in Kutaway - this street is better known as "second class" from times when African and Asian people were allowed to trade only on that area, not on the main road! - is run by local people and offers the most "Zambian" dining experience in fairly clean and cozy place between the buildings. entry can be easily missed, but it is in the middle of Kutaway on the left hand side when coming from the direction of the town. Even many taxi drivers don't know this place.
• Armadillo Oriental & Grills is centrally positioned on Mosi O Tunya Road and offers a range of Oriental and Continental dishes.
• Crocodile Cafe - Enjoy pastries or an al fresco light meal at this coffee shop, part of the Zambezi Sun.
• Kalai Restaurant at the David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa offers contemporary cuisine in a traditional setting.
• Kaazmein Lodge Restaurant serves a variety of à la carte and buffet dishes cooked up its experienced chefs. Guests can eat on the ground floor or upstairs where they can enjoy panoramic views.
• Aunty Nancy Restaurant
• Ngolide Indian Restaurant - this restaurant offers a range of authentic Indian and Continental dishes.
• Olga's: The Italian Corner. Inexpensive and delicious Italian restaurant behind the Catholic church that serves incredible authentic pizzas and pasta. The place was opened up by Italians and the profits go to a local NGO that works with "at risk" youth. This place probably has the best food in Livingstone and undoubtedly the best Italian. Prices are up to $8 for a pizza or pasta. Free WiFi and a gift shop where you can browse crafts made by the program participants. 
• Rhapsody's Livingstone – part of the Rhapsody's Flavour of Life group, this restaurant offers gourmet cuisine in stylish surroundings.
• The Waterfront has a bar and restaurant with views over the river.
• Wasawange Lodge has a bar and restaurant.
• Wonder Bake Take Away and Restaurant.
• Zig Zag Coffee House. Has an extensive breakfast menu and also serves lunch and dinner. 

Drink

Every hostel, hotel, and resort in Livingstone features its own bar. If you want to get a cold one, you won't have to look far. There are also a number of nightclubs downtown, where tourists and locals alike dance to local and Western music. Manu local music is from Congo, those artists perform in Congo (DRC) local languages, so many times even local Zambians don't know meaning of the words, but rhythm, twisting and shaking is the issue here.

"Stepright which is reputedly a hub of organized crime (though tourists should not have trouble), as well as an open-air club across the road and the bar and grill has a disco later on again next door in the center of town all very good. There is also a casino a short taxi-ride away where the drinks were slightly more expensive.

• Hippos - the bar attached to Fawlty towers is the most common spot where tourists hang out, but many locals socialize there also.

• Chez nTemba - typical Zambian nightclub. Open daily. One of the few places there is a door charge and the drink is slightly more expensive.

• Rhapsody in new shopping center, Fallspark (locally known better as "spar" according to the supermarket which is in there)is upper-class bar/restaurant.

Sleep

There are a number of places to sleep in Livingstone. Budget here means under $20/night, mid-range between $20 and $200/night and splurge over $200/night.

Budget

• Fawlty Towers. With a terrific pool, in downtown Livingstone, it is possible to camp by the pool if there are no rooms (or you're really short on cash) and it offers free pancakes (crepes) every day at 3PM, as well as a bar and comfy lounge area with a TV, the staff are very helpful and will make phone calls for you to help book trips and activities. Every day at 10AM they give a free ride to Vic Falls in their van. Free tea and coffee. Dorm $12, double room $55-85. (updated Jun 2023)
• Jollyboys Backpackers. Has a small campsite as well as dorm beds for $10/night and up and private rooms with either shared or en suite bathrooms. It features a pool and a roofed viewing platform which lets you see the steam from the falls on a good day. There are also hammocks and mango trees if you feel like just lazing around. The bar serves breakfast and home cooked meals throughout the day, or a self-catering kitchen is also available. The well traveled staff can help answer questions and book activities. WiFi is available for purchase. There's a free shuttle to the falls every morning at 10AM. $12. 
• Jollyboys Camp. Geared for a quieter crowd and tends to get a lot of families, school groups and mission groups. It is located about a 10 minute walk from the centre of town. Camp sites are available and dorm beds start at $12/night. Private rooms with shared or en suite bathrooms are also available. There's a playground for kids, a pool, and a campfire area. The bar serves breakfast and basic meals, and there's an open-air self-catering kitchen. The front desk can book activities. WiFi is available for purchase. There's a free shuttle to the falls each morning at 11AM. This is the quieter family-friendly version of Jollyboys Backpackers in town. 
• Zinga Backpackers, 25 Magoye road, ☏ +260 95-5964231. camping and dorm beds. has free WIFI. a bit far from down town. $8/$11. (updated Apr 2015)

Mid-range

• Tree-tops features treehouses on stilts, overlooking the Zambezi.
• Chanters Lodge super quiet lodge just off Obote Avenue.
• Waterberry Lodge. About 15 km from the falls and 28 km from Livingstone, on the banks of the Zambezi river. All huts have garden view. Price from US$80/pp. 
• Zig Zag Guesthouse. Has en suite rooms starting at $50 USD per night. Breakfast is included. Free WiFi and airport pickups are available. 
• Olga's Accommodation. Coming soon. Run by the same organization as Olga's: The Italian Corner restaurant. 
• Kozo Lodge Livingstone., Kabila street Notbroad. Check-in: noon, check-out: 10AM. double room with own bathroom and breakfast. $27.. (updated Jun 2015)

Splurge

• 1 The Royal Livingstone, ☏ +260 21 3321122. Located by the banks of the Zambezi with the water rushing past in front of the lawns. Restaurant and bar open right over the water. Distant views to the mist of the falls. While not as historical as other luxury hotels across the bridge in Zimbabwe, the Royal Livingstone offers breathtaking views and high end luxury. There are five giraffes and numerous zebras and impalas that freely walk the grounds of the hotel.
• The Zambezi Sun. Between the Royal Livingstone and the Falls, in the same hotel complex as the Royal Livingstone, offers a number of restaurants and accommodation types. A free shuttle runs between the Zambezi Sun and the Royal Livingstone. 
• The River Club on the Zambezi River is 18 km upstream of the Falls on the River.
• Stanley Safari Lodge. Overlooking the Zambezi, the Falls and the Elephant Drinking Place. Very luxurious. 
• David Livingstone Safari Lodge. The banks of the mighty Zambezi have welcomed a breathtaking two-story 77-roomed hotel, comprising 72 river facing rooms and 5 luxurious suites. Historical English elements reflect in lofty scale with the rawness of texture, stone, wood and earth, contrasting with the richness of exotic gold, bronze, copper and ivory, once traded through ancient Arab routes. Price from US$150/pp. 
• Royal Chundu Lodge, ☏ +260 213 327 060, lodge@royalchundu.com. Opened in 2010 to five star standards. It is 50 km upstream from the Falls, away from the noise and hubbub of the Falls and Livingstone. There is one lodge with ten suites on stilts in the river, and one, which is 3 km upstream on a private island with four villas and its own private staff complement, boats, 15 km of navigable private river at over 1 km wide. 

Stay safe

Generally, Livingstone is a fairly safe town. They want to continue to attract foreign currency, so they are careful to make travellers feel safe. However, be careful about walking downtown at night, especially if you've been drinking. There are very few street lights, and many of the locals are very poor. Try not to annoy the taxi-drivers, particularly late at night when some have been drinking. It is not generally recommended for tourists to walk the 8 km (5 miles) from Livingstone to Victoria Falls due to a number of reports of crime. The times of year in which bull elephants in musk are another reason for not walking; they become very irritable and aggressive, and are not shy about humans.

Increasing numbers of Zimbabweans are leaving their country. Zambia, especially Livingstone on the border, receives its share of Zimbabwean refugees, many of whom are poor and desperate. There have been some attacks, and some Zambians accuse Zimbabweans being behind them.

Rafting can be dangerous anywhere in the world, and Livingstone is no exception. Make sure you raft with an experienced and genuine guide. Ask around your hotel or resort about a potential guide's reputation: some are not genuine guides. They will either take your money and leave, or worse, lead you on a bogus rafting experience that may endanger your life. Although this is a demanding river, there is no reason why anyone can't partake in a rafting trip, provided they go with experienced guides and a reputable company. Make sure your safety equipment and gear is in good repair and that you secure it properly.

You need to be very careful while exchanging currency to kwachas - touts will approach with better exchange rates and fool an unsuspecting tourist by clever tricks of hand - it is best to use the government bureau for exchanging your currency. Even the post office at Livingstone can be change currency.

Go next

You can catch a bus in Livingstone to the Lusaka airport or alternatively, You can catch a bus in Livingstone that will take you through the desolate Southern Province to the Zambia-Namibia border. (If the bus breaks down, be prepared to wait; bring water and a snack. However, for the independent traveler, this is the fastest, cheapest, most memorable way to Namibia.) The bus will drop you in Sesheke, a small, dusty village on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River.

After crossing the Zambezi River by ferry or dugout canoe (!), you'll be in Katimi Mulilo, on the eastern tip of the Caprivi Strip.