Livingstone airport, officially Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport (code LVI), is a small, modern terminal about 5 km from Livingstone town centre and roughly 15 to 20 km by road from Victoria Falls. On a quiet day you can be through immigration, customs and out of the door in half an hour. When two flights land together, it takes longer.
The airport at a glance
The terminal, runway and apron were rebuilt between 2011 and 2017, and the building is far bigger than the traffic it handles. It sits at about 990 m above sea level on the north-west side of town. Flights at the time of writing (late 2026) come from Johannesburg, Lusaka, Cape Town, Nairobi and a few smaller regional points; see flights to Livingstone for the routes.
There are no jet bridges. You walk across the apron from the aircraft, so have a hat to hand if you are landing in the hot months between September and November.
Arrival step by step
1. Health check
If you are arriving from a country with yellow fever risk, or have transited through one for more than 12 hours, you may be asked for a yellow fever certificate. Rules vary with your route, so check with a travel clinic before you go. Most visitors from Europe via Johannesburg are not asked.
2. Immigration
You fill in an arrival form (often handed out on the plane, otherwise at the desks) and queue for passport control.
- Visa-free passports, including British ones at the time of writing, get a stamp and go. Officers may ask for your return ticket and where you are staying.
- Visas on arrival are issued at the same desks. If you plan to cross into Zimbabwe, ask for the KAZA UniVisa by name, or you may be given a Zambia-only visa by default. The Zambia visa guide explains who needs what.
Pay in US dollars cash: clean, recent notes in small denominations. Card machines exist but should not be relied on.
3. Baggage and customs
Bags arrive on a single belt. Customs is usually a walk-through, with occasional bag scans. Drones need permission in advance in Zambia; do not bring one without checking the current rules, or it may be held at the airport.
Money on arrival
Bring enough US dollars for any visa fee, a tip for the porter or driver, and your first day. There have been bureaux and cash machines at the airport at various times, but they are not always open or working. Plenty of places in Livingstone take dollars, and ATMs in town dispense kwacha. The money and payments guide covers what to carry.
Phones and wifi
Do not count on wifi in the terminal. Local SIM cards are easy to buy in town with your passport. If you need data the moment you land, set up an eSIM before you fly.
Getting from the airport
Lodge transfers. Most lodges and many guesthouses meet their guests at arrivals with a name board. Lodges such as Zambezi Dusk include airport transfers in the stay, so send your flight details ahead and someone will be waiting.
Taxis. Taxis wait outside the terminal. Agree the fare before you load your bags, and confirm whether it is in kwacha or dollars. Ask your accommodation in advance what a fair price is; it gives you a number to work from.
Car hire. A few rental companies have desks or meet-and-greet arrangements. Book ahead, because walk-up availability is limited.
There is no airport bus. Approximate drive times from the airport:
| To | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Livingstone town centre | about 5 km | 10 minutes |
| Victoria Falls (Zambian entrance) | about 15–20 km | 20–25 minutes |
| Victoria Falls border post | about 15–20 km | 20–25 minutes |
| Riverside lodges upstream | varies | 15–40 minutes |
Departing
Get there two hours before an international flight. Check-in is quick when it is quiet but there is only so much space, and security and emigration can back up when Johannesburg and Lusaka flights leave close together.
Departure taxes are normally included in your ticket. Keep a few dollars or kwacha for a drink, but do not plan on serious shopping; the terminal shops are limited. Buy crafts in town or at the markets instead.
If you entered on a KAZA UniVisa and spent time in Zimbabwe, make sure your passport has the right exit and entry stamps. Missing stamps cause awkward questions at emigration.
Livingstone or Victoria Falls Airport?
Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe, 18 km south of Victoria Falls town, has more routes. If you are staying in Zambia, landing there means a Zimbabwe visa, two border posts and a longer drive. The border crossing guide explains that crossing in detail.
