Joanna James
Ranked among Zambia’s most popular travel hotspots, Livingstone is not only home to Victoria Falls but also some of the country’s best national parks. Here’s a rundown of adventure activities travellers can experience during a stay in this dynamic holiday destination.
Wildlife enthusiasts touring Livingstone will find that the most satisfying safari experience accessible in the area takes place within the leafy confines of the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Just 12km away from Zambezi River, the wildlife reserve is not only home to crocodiles, hippos and elephants but also the Big 5. The national park’s most unique animal encounters, however, involve the endangered white rhinos, protected by a group of special rangers. Travellers can accompany the rangers to enjoy sightings of these majestic creatures who are fast disappearing from Africa’s wildernesses.
Tourists with a penchant for off-road excursions on rugged terrains can’t afford to miss Livingstone’s quad biking tours. Covering the breathtaking landscapes surrounding the Bakota Gorge and Livingstone’s more rural precincts, this four-wheel ride can be the adventure of a lifetime for those who have never had the privilege of exploring pastoral Zambia. While quad bike expeditions travel across local villages and bush tracks, travellers can also choose the route and the areas of Livingstone they wish to explore.
Those who do not have any white-water rafting experience can enjoy the beauty of Victoria Falls and the Zambezi River on a hike down to the gorge. Once travellers reach the base of the falls, they will be ferried underneath the water jets gushing down from Victoria Falls on a raft where they can enjoy a swim with the rockface towering above them.
Boarding special boats designed to cross rapids with ease, this Zambezi River safari is not for the faint of heart. With the ability to enjoy the thrills of a white-water rafting experience sans the risk, these boating tours not only cover the frothy and fast-moving portions of this legendary river but also its slow and meandering portions. Offering morning and sunset cruises, this boating excursion takes visitors upstream to explore some of the scenic channels and islands occupying the Zambezi River. Tourists based at Anantara Stanley & Livingstone Victoria Falls who may prefer a less daring excursion can alternatively sign up for a more luxurious sunset cruise. Navigating the quieter channels of the Zambezi River and discovering local wildlife, nature lovers will find that this cruise is one of the most rewarding things to do. Victoria Falls river float tours are also accessible all year round but are best enjoyed during the low season between August and December due to the low water levels.
While helicopter rides across Victoria Falls may not be within everyone’s budget, this aerial tour lets visitors gaze upon the epic cascade from a truly unique vantage point. These 30-minute flights are also filmed so that travellers can relive their tour experience.
Home to some of the world’s most challenging rapids, white-water rafting on the Zambezi is strictly reserved for seasoned rafters.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
