Vic falls updated information

Hey,
plannign on going to vic falls in he next few weeks
comming from the zambian side,
ive found info on this forum that was very helpful but it was old and i want to clear a few things

1) ive understood that Zim side is better view.. so is in this time of year?
2) do they still issue a single day entry visa for 10$ if i cross from zambia to zim and dont spend the night? without having to pay for Zam visa again?

3) Devils pool, where is it? which side i mean.. is it safe to go there this time of year? does it cost money? do i have to hire a guide/ go in a group? from where do i do it?
4) bungee jump- on which side is it? there is only 1 company that does it? how much does it cost?

5) budget accomodation on zambia side.. suggestions??
6) getting there from Lusaka.. there is transport everyday? how long does it take?
7)same question- but from Livingstone to Lusaka

Thanks!!

4) Bungee is at the bridge between the borders, can be done easily from both countries, only one company, costs about 140 USD.
5) Jollyboys Backpackers in Livingstone is great, Camping for 6 USD, dorms from 8 USD and up (depending on the size of the dorm).
6 and 7) Buses go every day several times a day. Takes about 5 and a half hour. Mazhandu or something is probably the best company (if you stay at Lusaka/Chachacha Backpackers, they can book it for you). In Livingstone their bookingoffices is a 2 min walk from Jollyboys (and so is their busstop).

#1: the best view is from the air :microlight or helicopter. ;-)
#3: good idea at this time of the year, any hotel, hostel, lodge...will inform you
#6,7: Proflight airlines may still run a promotion: "stand by seat" for $50 (i think) www.proflight-zambia.com

There is no "day" visa into Zim now, full visa is required. Full visa will be required back into Zam, so get a double on entry to Zam for $80US. Bungee is in "no mans land" on the bridge; so you get a "pass" from the immigration at either border, just say you are going to do the jump.
Devils pool is on the Zam side. Accessed from Livingstone Island, when the water is low, around Sept-Dec, There are regular buses Lusaka/Livingstone.
Ivan

1) The view from the Zimbabwe side is much better in the dry season as the volume of water is greater on the zimbabwe side at this time. During the wet season i think it will be spectacular in both sides. The Zimbabwe side is, though, far better presented and enjoyable to walk around, just be prepared to get WET!

2) No, a visa is for single entry only and when I went it was $60 even though I was only in the country for five or six hours. You can get a multi entry visa on Arrival in Zambia or from Livingston if you are already there. It allows you for two exits from the country and in 2007 cost $10 and took about ten minutes.

3) The devils pool/devils armchair is in an area owned by one of the hotels. Zambezi Sun or Royal Zambezi and you have to organise it in advance. From memory it costs about $100 and you have to make your own way to the hotel and everyone meets in the garden by the a jetty. You then get a boat out to dinner on an island before going to the pool. when I did it you had to actually swim across the waterfall which might be a bit scary for inexperienced swimmers. Make sure it is available to do in the wet season though as if the volume of water is too high the pool will not be there. any one of the backpacker places can organise it for you though like I said, you may have to get a taxi from Livingstone to the Hotel at Vic Falls, though it starts late enough to get the free shuttle that all of the backpackers offer. Comiing back you can easily hitch as there is just one road from the falls back to Livingstone.

4) yep, on the bridge between the countries. If you get there early enough you can do it for free as they need to test the ropes each morning but this is pure luck so do not bank on it.

5) Stay at Jollyboys Backpackers in Livingstone. Make sure it is the one behind the museum as there are two and the other is not as fun. They organise all trips, have a cool bar and pool and run free trips daily to the falls.

6) a flight used to cost $90 one way and take an hour but the national airline no longer exists so you will have to check on new carriers such as Proline. There are many buses running between the two but beware that Lusaka Bus Station is absolute mayhem!!! I would guess it takes between six and nine hours for the journey but the buses are usually comfortable and the windows open fully so they are not too hot, just be prepared for nine hours of Zambian cinema!

re devil's pools - I can't comment on visiting at this time of year - but unless it has changed drastically since November 2010 it costs $35 (on top of the $20 entry fee) and you can organise it from the entry point to the park!