Livingstone Island is a rocky, wooded island on the very edge of Victoria Falls, reached by a short boat ride from the Zambian bank. The tour takes you across, walks you to the lip of the falls, offers a swim in whichever rock pool the river allows that month, and feeds you. At the time of writing it runs most of the year, costs roughly US$150–200 per person, and takes visitors from age 8, with swimming from age 12.
What the tour actually involves
You check in at the Livingstone Island launch site on the Zambian bank, upstream of the falls near the large riverside hotels. The operator asks you to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. After a safety briefing and a life jacket, a motorboat takes you about 10 minutes across the top of the river to the island.
On the island a guide walks you over basalt and through scrubby riverine bush to the edge of the gorge. From here you look straight down the First Gorge, across the curtain of water, and along to the Zimbabwean side. This is the spot where David Livingstone first saw the falls in November 1855, and the guides cover that history on the walk.
Depending on the month, you then get the chance to swim (see below) before sitting down to a meal at a table under the trees. Valuables other than your phone or camera are locked in a trunk on arrival, and the guides will often take photos for you on the rocks where it isn't safe to hold your own.
Group sizes are capped at 32 guests per session.
The three main sessions
The operator, Green Safaris, runs several departures a day. The three most people book are:
- Morning breezer: the early boat, with breakfast. Cooler, with softer light on the water.
- Lunch: a mid-day trip with a sit-down lunch. The hottest slot from September to November.
- High tea: an afternoon session with tea and cakes, often around 15:30. Warm late-afternoon light.
Exact times move with the season and are confirmed when you book. There is also a walking safari, which reaches the island on foot from the Zambian bank with a short boat hop, from 1 September to late December, and a small private dining option for up to six people.
Which pool, which month
The swim is the part people ask about most, and it changes with the water level:
| Months (approximate) | What is open |
|---|---|
| January to late August | Angel's Pool, a ledge on the edge of the gorge used when the river is high |
| Late August to late December | Devil's Pool, the sheltered rock pool on the lip of the falls |
| Later in the dry season | Rock Pool, a quieter basin among the basalt |
All three depend on daily conditions, and guides decide each morning whether swimming goes ahead. Devil's Pool has its own page with more detail on the swim itself: Devil's Pool season and safety.
When the Zambezi is at its fullest, usually somewhere between March and May, the island is drenched in spray and the current is too strong for safe boat crossings. Tours can be suspended for a few weeks. If your trip falls in that window, have a back-up plan. Our page on the best time to visit Victoria Falls covers the flood cycle month by month.
Who can go
- Age: minimum 8 to visit the island, 12 to swim, at the time of writing.
- Fitness: you need to walk over uneven, often wet rock. Moderate fitness and steady feet are enough.
- Health: guests with conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes are assessed before departure, and guides can advise you not to swim.
- Non-swimmers: you can still do the tour. Swimming near the edge requires some confidence in water.
What to wear and bring
- Swimwear under your clothes if there is any chance of a swim.
- Shoes that grip on wet rock. Water shoes can be hired at the launch site for about US$2 a pair.
- A light rain jacket from about February to July, when the spray is heavy. The operator hands out raincoats in the wettest months.
- Something warm from June to August, when early mornings on the river are cool.
- Sunscreen, a hat and insect repellent the rest of the year. October and November regularly reach the mid-30s °C.
Phones and cameras will get wet in high water. A cheap waterproof pouch is a good idea.
Prices and booking
Published 2026 rates for the three main sessions run from roughly US$150 for the breakfast trip to about US$200 for lunch, with high tea in between. Some dates carry a high-season supplement and transfers are usually extra. These figures change, so confirm a current price when you book.
Sessions sell out in the Devil's Pool months, especially September to November. Booking a few weeks ahead is sensible then; a few days is often enough in the quieter months.
The Livingstone Island fee is separate from the Victoria Falls entry fee on the Zambian side. If you want to walk the falls trail as well, see our guide to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.
Fitting it into a trip
The island takes about two to three hours including the boat, so it pairs easily with the falls walk in the morning and a sunset cruise on the Zambezi later. Guests at Zambezi Dusk, upstream on the Kazungula Road, can have the trip arranged through the lodge with partner operators; it is about 30 minutes by road to the falls. For a fuller plan, see our three-day Livingstone itinerary.
