Things to do
Cultural Tours
Best Time to Visit

BAOBAB trips to the Victoria Falls/Livingstone area can be arranged on a tailor-made. Please examine the accommodation guide for a choice of fabulous lodges with guideline prices and sample itineraries and then contact us for a precise quote for your chosen holiday (or for further assistance to help you make up your mind!!).

Accommodation in the Livingstone & Victoria Falls area

Victoria Falls is almost twice the size of Niagara Falls with a million litres of water per second plunging over its towering cliffs even during low water periods. David Livingstone named the falls in honour of Queen Victoria when he came upon the awesome sight in 1855, but the local name for the Falls Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders) is more appropriate. The plume of spray ejected into the air is visible from 80km distance, the noise becomes deafening as the falls are approached and once you arrive it is impossible to stay dry as you face the curtain of cascading water.

Below the falls the Zambezi tumbles away into the rocks and rapids of Bakota Gorge. A world of adventure opens up with white-water rafting, canoeing, bungee jumping and helicopter flights all widely available. The area also offers a fascinating insight into the world of colonial Africa and provides a number of safari options.

Things to do
The Livingstone and Victoria Falls area offers a range of activities including:

Victoria Falls: Walks are available along the cliffside opposite the falls and the river bank upstream of the falls. The entrance gate to the falls is open every day. During full moon the gate stays open until 21.00 hrs allowing the unique sight of the ‘lunar rainbow’. Raincoats can be hired at the entrance.

Mosi-ao-Tunya National Park: The National Park, which houses the falls, also offers traditional African safari options. Although not as impressive in terms of game as the South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi National Parks, this area does boast a population of Black Rhino, which are absent from the rest of Zambia. Game drives and walking safaris are available.

Whitewater Rafting: Not for the faint hearted! Many of the rapids downstream of the falls are graded 4 and 5 (grade 6 is commercially impossible to traverse) and are amongst the world's most challenging. Full and half day trips are available with about 24 km being traversed in a full day.

Canoeing: Canoe trips are on offer upstream from the falls. Although there are a few minor rapids, the focus is much more on the wildlife and wonderful scenery.

Bungee Jumping: The Victoria Falls bridge spans the gorge between Zambia and Zimbabwe and offers one of the world’s highest bungee jumps (111m).

Gorge Swing, Abseiling & High Wiring: The Zambezi Swing is becoming more famous as a less extreme sport than bungee jumping. It involves swinging from the cliffs of the gorge on a 50m rope. Abseiling offers a slower descent into the gorge.

The Flight of Angels: One of the most popular ways to appreciate the sheer size of Victoria Falls is from the air. Short flights (15-30 mins) are available by helicopter, light plane or microlight. A more expensive, but more relaxing option is hot air balloon.

River Cruises: A variety of vessels offer cruises on the Zambezi upstream of the falls. Cruises are usually timed to coincide with breakfast, lunch or tea, but the most popular remains the ‘sundowner’ cruise, which offers the chance to watch the sun set from the river with a cold drink in your hand.

Horse Riding: Horse riding safaris operate in the national park area with rides lasting from as little as one hour up to a full day with meals provided.

Elephant Riding: Elephant riding safaris operate in the national park area, where young orphan elephants have been trained after being rescued from the wild. This offers an excellent opportunity to get close to the wildlife whilst learning about conservation issues.

Cultural Tours

Livingstone Museum: Livingstone is a fascinating town steeped in colonial history. The museum in the town centre has a collection of archaeological and cultural artefacts including some of David Livingstone’s original journals.

Mikuni Village: This traditional African village has stood for 700 years and opens its doors to tourists wishing to view the traditional African way of life. The tour starts beneath a giant tree where David Livingstone presented himself to the village chief. As the first white man ever seen by the locals he was initially mistaken for a ghost and forced to wait under the tree.

Crafts and Curios: There are a number of excellent craft and curio shops in Livingstone selling items from all over the continent. Items can be purchased from the many shops on the high street in Livingstone or for the more adventurous bargains can be bartered for at Mikuni Village market.

Best Time to Visit

The climate in the Livingstone area follows the same pattern as the rest of Zambia with a long dry season between April and November and rains during the remainder of the year. In general the Livingstone area does not get as swelteringly hot as the Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa in the peak of the dry season. It has a higher elevation, which keeps the area cooler with peak temperatures below 35 degrees.

It is well worth considering a visit to Victoria Falls during Zambia’s Green Season. Although there may be a risk of short intense rainfall, the river water levels will be high and the Falls will be at their most dramatic. Peak temperatures will still reach the mid-twenties, so this time of year can be warm and wet although Livingstone receives less rainfall that the north of the country during the Green Season.