Useful Information

• Money

  The Zambian currency is known as kwacha and is not generally available for purchase in Europe or the US. The most useful currency to bring is US dollars, although South African Rand, Euro, and GB Pounds will also be acceptable. Most tourist businesses and some other businesses in Livingstone will accept these other currencies. With US dollars, make sure you bring new notes – the ones with “big heads”. Zambian banks don’t accept the old notes with small heads and so you’ll find that you can’t spend them anywhere. There are several banks here with ATMs; mostly only accept Visa credit cards but one now takes Mastercard/Maestro. ATMs provide Zambian kwacha only. Some but not all businesses accept credit cards, the most popular being Visa. Amex and travellers cheques are not widely accepted and often debit cards don’t work. There is often an additional charge for using credit cards. US Dollars can sometimes be obtained from the local bureaux de change but it is unwise to rely on this.

• Health

  Livingstone is in an area which has malaria all year so it is recommended that you use prophylactic medicine and mosquito repellent. All our beds are “4-poster” (even the singles) and have individual draped mosquito nets. There are 4 pharmacies in town and you will be able to get hold of most over-the-counter and prescription medicines that you might need. Medical care can be accessed at a few private clinics; you should make sure your travel insurance covers medical expenses and evacuation. Zig Zag has its own borehole so our water is safe but generally the best advice is to stick to bottled water and question the source of ice cubes if you are eating elsewhere.

• Travel

  British Airways, South African Airlines and 1Time fly to Livingstone from Johannesburg in South Africa. Proflight flies from Lusaka to Livingstone. If you want a cheaper option from Lusaka the next best option is the bus. Mazhandu Family Bus Services and Shalom buses offer reasonably reliable services. Trains are notoriously unsafe and unreliable. If you are driving from Lusaka, the road is generally good but there are bad parts between Kafue and Mazabuka. You don’t need a 4x4 for this journey. Onward journeys to Kasane in Botswana and Katima Mulilo in Namibia (and 2x a week to Windhoek) are easy to arrange by local bus or the tourism transfer companies.

• Shopping

  Livingstone has 2 main supermarkets, several pharmacies, clothes stores and shoe shops. Known brand toiletries are available though the range is a bit limited.

• When to See the Falls

  The volume of water varies dramatically throughout the year. In March, April & May the volume of water is greatest. Sometimes you will be unable to see much of the falls due to the dense spray. June and July still have plenty of water but the volume has decreased somewhat so your view might be better. From then the river drops until the rains start again. In September – December the water level is low. While there is not the full-on waterfall experience of earlier in the year, the advantages are that you will be able to walk (with care) across the top of the Falls, swim in the Devil’s Pool at the edge of the Falls and get a great sense of the geological scale and structure of the Falls and how they have developed over millienia. If you come at full moon time when there is a good volume of water you will be able to see the lunar rainbow or “moonbow” at night.

• Weather

  The main points to note about Livingstone weather are that the rainy season begins around October time and can carry on until March or even April. It is unusual for rains to last all day every day, but not unheard of. The warmest months are September to January so some months will be hot and dry, and others hot and wet. From April the average temperature lowers and at night it can be quite cool. In June and July the evenings are quite chilly and a couple of warm layers and closed shoes are required, but the days are temperate and quite pleasant.