Things to do in Livingstone

Livingstone sits about ten kilometres from Victoria Falls itself, close enough to visit on foot from some riverside lodges. The airport is five kilometres from the centre. The Zambezi's border with Zimbabwe, and with Botswana a little further west, both start near here.

The town at Victoria Falls' Zambian edge

• Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. The Zambian side of the falls, plus a small game area right in town.
• The Victoria Falls Bridge. The historic crossing to Zimbabwe, walkable for anyone with the right paperwork.
• Mukuni Village. A Leya community near the falls, open to visitors on organised tours.
• The Zambezi riverfront. Sunset cruise departure points and most of the rafting put-ins.

What changes with the season

The falls themselves change more than almost anywhere else on this list. From March to May they run at full flood, a wall of spray visible for kilometres. By October the Zambian side can run dry.

Low water, roughly August to December, opens the full rafting run and the walk to Devil's Pool. A day trip across the border reaches Chobe National Park in Botswana, via the Kazungula crossing about an hour away. It's a long day, but a popular one.

Practical

• Weather. Hot October (up to 36C), cooler dry season May-August (18-27C), and a hot, wet November-March; the most comfortable months fall May-July.
• Getting around. The airport is five kilometres from town, about a ten-minute taxi ride costing roughly 7USD; town to the falls runs about 12USD.
• Entrance fees. The Zambian side of the falls costs 20USD for international visitors, against 50USD on the Zimbabwean side, a common reason people choose this bank.
• Border crossing. Bring a passport and, depending on nationality, a visa fee for Zimbabwe or Botswana day trips across the bridge or at Kazungula.