Livingstone is to Zambia what the town of Victoria Falls is to Zimbabwe. Formerly known as Maramba, it was the capital of Zambia before it was moved to Lusaka. Livingstone is in the Southern Province of Zambia and is the tourist capital of the country. The falls are on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. For information on the Zimbabwean side (including a comparison of the sides) see Victoria Falls.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
The city of Livingstone, where the bulk of the accommodation, restaurants, nightclubs, etc. are, is relatively small. Most likely, you will be comfortable walking around town. However, if you prefer not to, taxis prowl constantly. Official taxis are ones which are blue and have a red number plate. If you flag a taxi down on your way to the town centre, the driver may ask whether you are booking the taxi or not. If you are booking, you should pay full fare and driver is taking you to your doorstep.
Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most amazing sights in the world. Twice as tall as Niagara Falls, and several times longer, Victoria Falls affords visitors a once-in-a-lifetime sightseeing experience. It might not be the very biggest, but few will debate that it's the most spectacular. If it is the official records you are after, the Victoria Falls is the largest curtain of falling water in the world. Thanks to a well-designed park, visitors can touch the waters of the Zambezi just meters before it plunges over the falls; cross the gorge on a narrow bridge that provides spectacular views; and take thousands of photos - without a single one being redundant. Wet w…
Don't forget the activities at on the other side of the falls. Victoria Falls is becoming an adventurer's paradise. Many "extreme sports" are available, including: White water rafting -- boasting several Class V rapids, the roiling waters south of the falls provide 18 of the world's best rapids literally starting in the gorge of Victoria Falls in the Boiling Pot, right under Victoria Falls Bridge. Several outfitters (Bundu and Safari Par Exellence) have popped up in the past few years to take the courageous down the river. The rafting can be physical. You finish on a lovely sandy beach and then there is a cable car at the end of the day to get you out of the steep gorge.
Considering Livingstone is such a tourist destination, you can be certain that Western-style meals are easy to find -- everything from pizza, to burgers, even burritos! Several of the lodges and accommodations have restaurants and pubs on their grounds. O'Discols Restaurant, near Fawlty Towers Backpackers, is a popular joint that attracts a young crowd.
Every hostel, hotel, and resort in Livingstone features its own bar. If you want to get a cold one, you won't have to look far. There are also a number of nightclubs downtown, where tourists and locals alike dance to local and Western music. Manu local music is from Congo, those artists perform in Congo (DRC) local languages, so many times even local Zambians don't know meaning of the words, but rhythm, twisting and shaking is the issue here. "Stepright which is reputedly a hub of organized crime (though tourists should not have trouble), as well as an open-air club across the road and the bar and grill has a disco later on again next door in the center of town all very good.
Generally, Livingstone is a fairly safe town. They want to continue to attract foreign currency, so they are careful to make travellers feel safe. However, be careful about walking downtown at night, especially if you've been drinking. There are very few street lights, and many of the locals are very poor. Try not to annoy the taxi-drivers, particularly late at night when some have been drinking. It is not generally recommended for tourists to walk the 8 km (5 miles) from Livingstone to Victoria Falls due to a number of reports of crime.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Livingstone typically sees ~25°C daytime highs and 0 rainy days.
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