I'm flying to Victoria Falls from Johannesburg with my dad in mid December. Can we see the falls by ourselves or should we book a tour from Sydney (where we live) or Johannesburg? Also any hotel recommandations for both cities would be very helpful.
Thanks in advance,
Luna
From Livingstone you can take a taxi to the falls, I'm afraid I can't remember the price. If you want to do it even cheaper you can take a minibus. When you're at the falls you can just walk around by yourself, you don't need a tour.
No tour needed. Also see it from both sides (Zimbabwe and Zambia). Walk across the bridge / border. Visa fees will apply.
Also consider a flight over it (helicopter or plane or microlight), as its pretty difficult to see it all from the ground.
And then there's the bungee-jumping or white water rafting. Bunjeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...!
Thanks for the info! Also how many days do you think we should stay? And is it better to stay in livingstone or Victoria falls town?
Impossible to say how long for without knowing why you are going; where else you are going, etc etc.
You might be passing through and using this as a brief stop, or it may be the highlight of your travelling life!!
It's about 10 years since I was there, and things have changed and are changing. I can't advise, but I can say that the view from the Vic Falls Hotel is worth the price of afternoon tea.
Plenty of choice on both sides of the river.
I just returned from a trip to Livingstone, Zambia where we stayed. We flew in from Johannesburg and I got a VOA at Livingstone airport. I got a double-entry visa (for US) since I had planned to see the falls from the Zimbabwe side as well.. We walked down the road from the Zambian side to Zimbabwe. It cost $30 for a VOA, and another $30 to enter the falls in Zimbabwe. There is no need for a tour. The trails are self-guided. The walk takes about 20-30 minutes from the falls in Zambia to reach front gate at Zimbabwe. We also stopped to see a couple of people bungee jump off the bridge that connects both countries. Pretty exciting.
We stayed at Jollyboys Backpackers in Livingstone. There are lots of other places in town, but this one fit our budget, and fprovided free airport pick up and free transport to the falls. A taxi ride will cost about 30,000 kwacha. You can share the ride and split the cost between 4 people, as we did. Usually there are others waiting to get a ride back to town, so sharing is easy.
Like travelmaven we stayed at Jolly Boys in our tent on the grounds in 2007 since we are rock bottom budget travelers, and would do so again. Nice tropical garden with pub and restaurant. Rooms are basic, its a busy place with international backpackers staying two nights and moving on.
Over the years we have traveled to 48 countries, some numerous times, and have had awesome experiences. But none can top the one arranged by Jollyboys: swimming at the edge of Victoria Falls. Clearly this was a peak life experience.
You may not be able to do this in December because of water levels. We did it in October when the Zambesi was a very low flow.
If this is your first trip to Africa, you may want to take a tour of Victoria Falls. Your hotel or backpackers in Livingstone or Victoria Falls can arrange it for you.
Malone - I regret not going to the Devil's Pool while in Zambia. One of the guys at Jollyboys mentioned it to us, but my bf did not want to do it. The water levels were good, as we too were there late last month. Plus, the trip would have only cost us $40 US. I paid much more walking across and entering the falls on the Zimbabwe side. Thanks for reinforcing my gut instincts that that is the things to do. However, I guess I really wanted to experience the falls for the first time the way that we did. We saw people on the other side going in the pool and were clearly regretful. Next time though......
travelmaven, we follow gut instincts a great deal and are most always rewarded, and sometimes that means not doing something. Getting out to Livingstone Island is a little dicey. The prop boats they used could loose a propeller, and in worst case, over the falls you go!
And yes, this is reason enough to go back to the area. "Any excuse will do!"
Cost us $35 US in 2007, but still a great deal.
Here is link for pics of our experience there:
www.traveljournals.net/stories/9806.html
Happy travels all!
Hi lunabela2, quick question what is your budget?
There are quite a few places to stay from Jollyboys (which is very affordable) to the Royal Livingstone (expensive but HEAVEN!)
I wouldn't stay to long, it's beautiful and wonderful to see, but once you have seen it, it's done!
Accommodation for Johannesburg: Stay as close to the airport as possible the airport shuttles ranges from R300 to R500 per person. Find out from O.R Tambo airport if there is an hotel (I think the Holliday Inn is walking distance).