Most visitors reach Livingstone by flying in through Johannesburg, either directly to Livingstone's own airport or to Victoria Falls Airport across the border in Zimbabwe. A smaller number fly in from Lusaka, drive the 470 km from the capital, or come overland from Botswana. There are no direct flights from Europe or North America at the time of writing (November 2026).
Flying into Livingstone
Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport (code LVI) lies just outside Livingstone, a short drive from the town centre and roughly 20 minutes from the falls. It is small, quick to get through, and the obvious choice if you are staying on the Zambian side.
At the time of writing, scheduled flights to Livingstone include:
- Johannesburg, with Airlink. This is the main international link and the route most people from Europe, the UK and the US use.
- Lusaka, with Proflight Zambia and other domestic carriers.
- Cape Town and Nairobi, on less frequent services that have changed in recent years.
Schedules and carriers change from season to season, so check the airlines' own sites rather than relying on lists online. The Johannesburg flight takes about an hour and 40 minutes.
Arrival
You collect your bags, clear immigration and customs, and are out within half an hour on a quiet day. Visas, including the KAZA UniVisa, are issued at the airport. See the KAZA UniVisa guide for what to ask for and how to pay.
Most lodges arrange airport transfers, and some include them in the rate. Taxis wait outside, but agree a price before you get in. There is no public transport worth relying on from the airport.
Flying into Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) is about 20 km south of Victoria Falls town and has more international routes than Livingstone, including direct services from Johannesburg and from hubs elsewhere in Africa such as Nairobi and Addis Ababa. That can mean a better connection or a cheaper fare.
The catch is the border. To stay in Livingstone after landing at Victoria Falls you need to:
- Enter Zimbabwe (with a Zimbabwe visa or a KAZA UniVisa).
- Drive about 20 km to the Victoria Falls Bridge.
- Exit Zimbabwe, cross the bridge, and enter Zambia.
- Drive the last 10 km or so into Livingstone, or further to a lodge upstream.
Allow at least an hour for this, more at busy times. Zimbabwe moved its Victoria Falls border post to 24-hour operation in November 2025, but check the Zambian side's hours if you land late. Lodges and transfer companies run this route daily and can handle the paperwork with you.
Flying via Lusaka
If you are arriving on a long-haul carrier into Lusaka's Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, a domestic connection to Livingstone takes about an hour and a quarter. Leave a generous gap between flights. Domestic schedules in Zambia are prone to change at short notice, and a missed connection can mean a night in Lusaka.
By road from Lusaka
The road from Lusaka to Livingstone is about 470 km, through Mazabuka, Monze and Choma. By car it takes six to seven hours with stops. The surface varies: some stretches have been rebuilt, others are potholed, and trucks are a constant. The main risk is driving after dark, when unlit vehicles, livestock and pedestrians are on the road. Set off early.
Several coach companies run between Lusaka and Livingstone daily. Expect seven to eight hours. Buy tickets a day ahead at the bus station or through the company's office, and choose a morning departure.
From Botswana
The Kazungula Bridge, opened in 2021, links Botswana and Zambia across the Zambezi about 60–70 km west of Livingstone by road. Kasane, the gateway to Chobe National Park, is about 80 km from Livingstone by road, roughly an hour and a quarter's drive plus the border.
The Kazungula One Stop Border Post was reported to move to 24-hour operation in February 2026. Even so, plan to cross in daylight. If you are coming from a safari in Chobe or the Okavango, this is a straightforward way in. Kasane also has its own airport, with flights from Johannesburg and from elsewhere in Botswana. The Victoria Falls and Chobe 5-day itinerary uses this crossing.
From Namibia
Drivers coming from the Caprivi Strip (Zambezi Region) in Namibia can cross into Zambia at Katima Mulilo, then drive about 200 km east to Livingstone, or go via Kazungula and Botswana. Both routes involve more border paperwork if you are driving a hire car, so check what your rental company permits.
Driving a hire car across borders
Hire cars from South Africa, Botswana and Namibia can usually cross into Zambia with a letter of authority from the rental company. Expect to pay road tax, a carbon tax and third-party insurance at the Zambian border. These fees are charged in kwacha or US dollars and change from time to time. Carry the vehicle's registration papers, and have your driving licence and, if required, an international driving permit.
Getting around once you are there
Livingstone is spread out. The falls are about 10 km south of the town centre, and many lodges are on the river upstream along the Kazungula Road. Most visitors use their lodge's transfers or taxis, or book activities with a pick-up included. Walking along the main roads after dark is not a good idea.
For where to stay once you arrive, see where to stay in Livingstone. For the money you will need at the airport and border, see money and payments in Zambia.
Which route to choose
- Staying in Livingstone, flying from overseas: connect in Johannesburg to Livingstone. One immigration queue, a short transfer.
- Staying in Victoria Falls town: fly into Victoria Falls Airport.
- Better fare or connection into Victoria Falls: fly there and cross the bridge, as long as you have the right visa.
- Combining with a safari in Botswana: fly into Kasane or Victoria Falls, and cross at Kazungula.
- Already in Zambia: fly or drive from Lusaka.
