livingstone, zambezi river

The David Livingstone Lodge & Spa

The David Livingstone Lodge and Spa, a hotel that David Livingstone would have called home, lies on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River. This colonial styled structure has 72 well appointed rooms and 5 loft suites.

Zambezi Sun

The Zambezi Sun, located on the edge of the eastern cataract of the Victoria Falls, reflects the richness and diversity of the country's heritage; capturing the very soul of Africa - unpretentious, fun and welcomin

Royal Livingstone

The Royal Livingstone is a Sun International hotel. That means you can expect nothing less than the highest level of service and enjoy a myriad of superior activities.

Sussi & Chuma Lodge

Sussi & Chuma is situated on one of the most beautiful parts of the Zambezi on a lush, fast flowing bending river.

USEFUL INFORMATION
Livingstone is two hours ahead of GMT and therefore on the same time zone as South Africa. The local currency in Zambia is the Kwacha. (ZMK). Most hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and the bigger shops will take credit cards. Most of the bigger banks will advance local currency against a credit card. Standard Chartered, Stanbic and Barclays Banks have ATM's which accept Visa cards for cash. It is advisable to travel with US Dollars.
Generally shops open from 08h00 to 17h00 Monday to Saturday. Banks are generally open from 08h30 to 14h30 Monday to Friday. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in Zambia, passengers must be in possession of onward or return tickets and sufficient funds.
Different times of the year will provide completely different experiences of the Falls region. Peak flood season is around March and April and the full power of the falls can be experienced in all its glory. But due to the masses of spray rising from the water the full width of the Falls cannot be seen on foot. The aerial view at this time however is spectacular. The view of the falls gets better and better through the year, but at it's lowest, around November and December the Falls become little rivulets running over the edge and in some places along the 1,7km width no water falls at all. This season's gift is the view of the impressive cliffs that form the Falls wall and the magnitude of the abyss can be fully appreciated. Useful Information

ATTRACTIONS
Livingstone Museum: The Livingstone Museum is the country's biggest and oldest museum, dating back to the 1930's. It has five sections. The Archaeology Gallery, the Ethnography and Art Gallery, the history Gallery, the natural history section and there is also an extensive library with books ranging from archaeology, wildlife and also some of Livingstones journals. The museum is open every day from 09h00 - 16h30 and is on the main road through the centre of town.
Mosi O Tunya National Park is situated along the upper Zambezi stretching from and including the Falls for about 12kms up river. It is only 66 square kilometers but provides a home for numerous antelope species, zebra, giraffe and the recently acquired white rhinos. One can take a pleasant drive around the park in a couple of hours and almost all the species there should be seen at close range. Since there are no predators, they are very relaxed and afford some excellent photo opportunities.
Mukuni Village is an authentic tribal village where thousands of people live and work. In July of each year the Leya people partake in the colorful Lwiindi Ceremony. The local people believe the spirits of their ancestors still dwell in the gorges of the Falls and during the Lwiindi, they offer sacrifices to them for rain. The best place for a wide range of crafts and curios is the Mukuni Victoria Falls Craft Village.
Victoria Falls: Described by the Kololo tribe living in the area in the 1800's as 'Mosi-oa-Tunya' - 'the Smoke that Thunders' and in more modern terms as 'the greatest known curtain of falling water', Victoria Falls are a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the Zambezi River, bordering Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Zambezi River: Africa's fourth largest River system, after the Nile, Zaire and Niger Rivers. It runs through six countries on its journey from central Africa to the Indian Ocean. Enjoy a river cruise along the Zambezi River. It is flanked by the Lower Zambezi National Park on the Zambian side and Mana Pools National Park on the Zimbabwean side. This middle zone supports one of Africas most important wilderness areas.
The Victoria Falls Bridge: was commissioned by Cecil John Rhodes in 1900, The bridge affords a magnificent view both down the gorge on the one side and through to the falls on the other. The immense depth of the gorge can be fully appreciated from this perspective and combined with the sea green river below, the shiny black rock face and lush green foliage, the 360 degree view from the bridge is breathtaking.
Aerial view of the Falls: To fully appreciate the incredible size of the Falls, one must see it from the air. Micro-light and fixed wing flights are available The breathtaking sight of this magnificent natural phenomena, seen in all its glory from the air, is unforgettable.
Walks: On the opposite cliff, facing the falls, you can take a well marked and paved walk through the rain forests. Every so often the path will open out into a clearing for a view of the falls. Further along this path is the Knife Edge Bridge which affords an impressive panorama depending on the time of year. Although less can be seen of the width of the Falls during the wet season, the intense spray provides welcome relief from the heat, During the dry season, be sure to take a walk along the lip of the Falls themselves. Sometimes the water is low enough to walk all the way across to Livingstone Island, the place where David Livingstone had his first glimpse of the Falls. This is surely one of the most magnificent views in the area.
Activities: The falls offer a wide range of activities for the adventorous and also the less adventorous. Popular activities include: White water rafting; Canoeing; Bungi jumping; Gorge swing; Elephant back safaris and interaction; Helicopter flips over the Falls; Microlite; Game drives; River cruises and Steam train journeys. Attractions