The world famous Victoria Falls in Zambia

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A trip through Zambia means adventure, nature and beauty. In this country you will find amazing landscapes, friendly people and wildlife parks that are among the best in Africa... And of course here you find the world famous Victoria Falls (Vic Falls) which is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world for a reason. It is absolutely magnificent to see!

Traveling around Zambia is not easy due to the lack of infrastructure, but you get a lot in return. Here you will find the 'real' Africa, if there is such a thing. No fewer than eighteen national parks are fighting for your attention and they all have their own appeal. In the south you will find the main attraction of the country: a water curtain of more than 1700 meters (5577 ft) wide and 128 meters (420 ft) high. Every minute 500 million liters of water fall over the rock wall at Vicc falls. There are several hiking trails with a view of the waterfall and beautiful rainbows that can be seen regularly. The continuously descending mist has created a small tropical rain forest with lush vegetation. The falls are less than 8 kilometer (5 miles) from Livingstone.



The first Westerner to see and publicize the falls was Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingstone on November 17, 1855. "No other view in England can surpass the beauty of this" and "Such lovely images the angels must have gazed at with admiration during their flights," he later wrote. He was so impressed that he named them after Queen Victoria of Great Britain. The waterfall is actually called Mosi-oa-Tunya, it means "The smoke that thunders". The falls are located in the Zambezi, on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. They are much less visited in Zambia than in neighboring Zimbabwe.

Some practical tips

• In the middle of the afternoon it becomes less crowded and at the end of the afternoon you can see a beautiful sunset.
• Bring a rain cape if you don't want to get wet (or your equipment). The misting of the waterfall sometimes causes a complete rain shower. They can also be rented on site.
  

Livingstone Island

In a canoe David Livingstone and his helpers arrived at "Goat Island" where he saw the falls for the first time, when the water is low (mid July to the end of January) it is possible to walk to the island with a guide, from the edge you have a magnificent view of the waterfall and the deep gorge. Devil's Pool is a small swimming pool on the edge of the waterfall. For a real adrenaline kick.

Where to stay

There are a few places to stay in the world that just blow you away. The Royal Livingstone is one of those places. The property is located next to the Zambezi river and you can still see the "smoke" off the Falls across the river. It is also free to access the Falls if you are a guest at the hotel whenever you like. The property has a herd of Zebra, Giraffe and Impala plus a troupe of Baboons that wander around the property. If you are lucky you can even see Hippo's in the river.

Picture by booking.com

The Royal Livingston is also proudly proving that authentic luxury can be enriched by adopting a mindful and holistic approach to the day-to-day operations. Livingstone is home to around 300 smallholder farmers traditionally relying on roadside stand sales. By launching a biweekly Smallholder Farmers’ Market at the hotel’s warehouse, The Royal Livingstone essentially cut out the middleman by guaranteeing to buy all of the crop directly from the smallholders, at a fair price.

Picture by booking.com

The Hotel has also stepped up by creating a space for women to empower themselves through sustainable farming. With the many options of products the competition levels are high and with the support of the Royal Livingstone they are now thriving. For example the Maramba Women’s Mushroom Farm that grows mushrooms which inspires world-class chefs. The farm was saved from closure by investment from The Royal Livingstone Hotel. The farm’s reach extends beyond specialist agriculture, by providing education, medication and support services to residents affected by HIV/AIDS. As a result of this initiative, 15 women are enabled to take care of 160 orphans, widows and vulnerable adults. We love it.

Other activities

A lot of (sports) activities are offered in Livingstone. Abseiling, gorge swinging, bungee jumping from the super high Victoria Falls Bridge, bike tour or elephant ride through the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, horseback riding along the banks of the Zambezi river, quad biking, river safari with a quiet boat, river boarding, tandem kayaking with an experienced kayak-er, jet boating, canoeing and whitewater rafting.

Best time to visit

After the rainy season around April and May, the Zambezi River reaches its highest level making the waterfall the strongest and most spectacular, lots of spray (drifting water clouds) and beautiful rainbows. The water decreases between June and August. Around November and December the river is at its lowest and you can get a good view of the waterfall and the deep abyss. Click here for more climate information in Livingstone.