Livingstone

Gateway to Victoria Falls Adventure

Livingstone stands as Zambia’s gateway to Victoria Falls, one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls. The town developed around this natural wonder and grew into a hub for travelers seeking adventure on land or river. Here you can walk behind the thundering falls at low tide, ride a boat near the spray or explore nearby wildlife areas by foot. Livingstone balances tourist services with local markets and simple accommodations. Its climate stays warm year-round, making outdoor activities possible in any season without heavy crowds dominating daily life.

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City in Zambia

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 6.1

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	3
Tap water:	3

Read details

5/5

English is the official language and is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, and by tour operators. Communication is easy for English-speaking visitors, though you’ll also hear local languages in markets and neighborhoods.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Livingstone Summary

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World-class for Victoria Falls adventures. See powerful waterfalls, go white-water rafting, take helicopter flights and enjoy safari excursions.

Place score

7.7

Best at:

Natural sites

Guided tours

Waterfalls

Rivers

Wildlife

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

❤️ 9

Couples

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

Zambia – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type D , Type G Type D: Type G: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) £1 ≈ ZMW 26.96
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are becoming more widely accepted in Zambia, especially in larger cities like Lusaka. However, cash is still commonly used in rural areas. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is appreciated in Zambia but not mandatory. A 5-10% tip is common in restaurants, and small tips are welcomed for taxi and hotel services.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally allowed in Zambia, but it is best to consume alcohol in licensed venues or private spaces.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public spaces but is allowed in designated outdoor smoking areas.

Independence Day (24 October)	Commemorates Zambia’s independence from Britain

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 999 (Police), 991 (Ambulance), 993 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Bolt
Other:	Zambia is known for its natural beauty, wildlife, and landmarks like Victoria Falls. It offers a variety of outdoor adventures and cultural experiences.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Livingstone, Zambia

🌦️

Jan

🌦️

Feb

🌦️

Mar

🔥

Apr

☀️

May

☀️

Jun

☀️

Jul

🔥

Aug

🔥

Sep

🔥

Oct

🔥

Nov

🌦️

Dec

High season:	May - Sep.
Shoulder season:	March - April, Oct.
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Water levels at Victoria Falls peak March to May, and the Zambian side is nearly dry from October to December

Devil's Pool and Livingstone Island swims run only when water is low, roughly September to December

White-water rafting on the Zambezi is best August to December and closed at high water

Don't miss

🌊 Witness the thundering Victoria Falls, a natural wonder
🚣‍♂️ Take a thrilling white-water rafting trip on the Zambezi
🦁 Go on a game drive at Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
🏛️ Visit the Livingstone Museum to learn local history
🌅 Sunset cruise on the Zambezi River with scenic views
🛍️ Explore local markets for traditional crafts and souvenirs

You've been here?

Why travel to Livingstone?

Livingstone is the ultimate base for exploring Victoria Falls, one of the world’s natural wonders and for diving into thrilling adventures like whitewater rafting, bungee jumping and microlight flights over the falls. The city itself is relaxed and full of character, with fascinating museums, lively markets and a friendly local vibe. Wildlife lovers can enjoy safaris in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, river cruises and even unique experiences like walking with lions or elephant encounters. Just remember, Livingstone can get very hot in the dry season and while the town is generally safe, it’s important to take standard travel precautions and avoid wandering alone at night.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 The Livingstone Museum
2 Boiling Pot
3 Livingstone Railway Museum
4 Mukuni

🎡Places for activities

1 Devil's Pool
2 Bungee Jumping
3 Gorge Swing

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Boiling Pot
2 Livingstone Island
3 Zambezi
4 Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
5 Batoka Gorge
6 Knife Edge Bridge

🛍️Shopping

1 Maramba Market

🎈Events

Livingstone Cultural & Arts Festival
Victoria Falls Marathon
Zambezi International Regatta
Livingstone Beer Festival
Independence Day Celebrations
Local Food Fairs
Traditional Ceremonies at Mukuni Village
Wildlife Conservation Week
Christmas Street Markets
New Year’s Eve River Cruises

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Plan around Victoria Falls water levels; views change drastically.
Carry USD or pay by card; smaller vendors often prefer cash.
Pack a dry bag or rain cover; waterfall spray soaks you fast.
For a calmer experience, do a sunset cruise upriver on the Zambezi for wildlife spotting.

How to travel to Livingstone

Livingstone is served by Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport with flights from Lusaka, Johannesburg and other regional hubs. Cross-border buses and transfers connect with Zimbabwe and Botswana. Most hotels offer airport pickups and taxis are readily available.

Access summary

From Livingstone Airport (LVI): 15–20 minutes by taxi or hotel shuttle.
From Lusaka: About 1-hour flight or 6–7 hours by bus.
From Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe side): Roughly 30–60 minutes including border crossing.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Livingstone

Livingstone offers a wide range of accommodation: riverside luxury lodges, boutique hotels, guesthouses, backpacker hostels and safari camps. Many places have stunning Zambezi views or direct access to adventure activities. Book ahead in peak season (June–September).

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Radisson Blu Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort

9.1

David Livingstone Safari Lodge

8.7

Avani Victoria Falls Resort

8.4

The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara

8.5

The Nkhosi Livingstone Lodge and Spa

9.1

Protea Hotel Livingstone

8.6

Gloria's Bed and Breakfast

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Livingstone

The city center is compact and easy to explore on foot or by taxi. For trips to Victoria Falls, national parks and outlying lodges, taxis, hotel shuttles and organized tours are the best options. Local minibuses run between key points, but may be crowded.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-58 %

Daily expenses in Livingstone are around 58% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-2 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to ZMW) is 2% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£49	£107	£292
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£29	£72	£198
🍝 Food per day	£17	£30	£77
🚕 Transportation per day	£3	£5	£18

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£11
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£5.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£6.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£5.50
☕ Cappuccino	£3.70
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£0.80

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.70
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£11
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.95

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£3.20
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£14
🤧 Cold medication	£5.50
💇 Basic haircut	£4.70

Safety information overview

General safety

Livingstone is generally safe, but watch for petty theft and avoid walking alone at night. Use official taxis, don’t display valuables and follow local advice. On safari, always listen to your guide and never approach wild animals.

Health & Medical

Medical care is available in town, but facilities are basic compared to major cities. Bring personal medicines and malaria prophylaxis. Drink bottled or filtered water and avoid swimming in rivers due to crocodiles, hippos and waterborne diseases.

Accessibility

Main attractions and hotels are accessible, but some adventure activities and natural sites involve uneven ground or steps. Check with providers for specific needs. Taxis and hotel shuttles can assist with transport.

Tap water

Tap water is not always safe to drink; use bottled or filtered water for drinking and brushing teeth. Refill bottles at your hotel or buy water in shops. Public water points are limited.