Most visitors to Victoria Falls stay on the Zimbabwe side - and for a single-day crossing into Zambia, that remains the practical choice. But if you are here for Devil’s Pool in the October-to-January window, or if you want to explore the Zambia side at a slower pace, spending a night or two in Livingstone changes the experience entirely. You wake up closer to the falls, skip the morning border queue, and have full days rather than squeezed afternoon sessions.
Livingstone has a clear accommodation tier structure: a handful of genuinely excellent riverbank hotels at the top, a mid-range waterfront lodge that punches above its price, and a small budget guesthouse sector for travellers watching costs. Here is what to book at each level.
Luxury: Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara (from USD 400/night)
The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara sits directly on the Zambezi riverbank, roughly 3 km upstream from the falls - close enough that the spray columns are visible on the horizon from the hotel lawns. Zebra and wildebeest wander the property grounds freely; the terrace bar overlooks the river at a width where the current is still calm and visible. This is one of Zambia’s genuinely landmark hotel experiences, and it earns the description.
The hotel is built in a colonial African railway style that references the history of the line that passed through this area in the early 1900s. Rooms are spacious tented suites and pavilions with direct river views; the superior rooms along the waterfront are worth the step-up if you can manage it. The pool terrace and outdoor dining area face the Zambezi directly.
Practical details:
- Rates from approximately USD 400–600 per room per night (varies significantly by season; dry season June–October commands premium rates)
- Complimentary sunset cruise on the Zambezi for guests
- Hotel sits within the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park boundary - wildlife access is immediate and uninstructed
- Preferred access to Livingstone Island and Devil’s Pool tours via the hotel’s activity desk
- Open to non-guests for lunch and sundowner drinks - worth a visit even if staying elsewhere
If you are combining Devil’s Pool with a Victoria Falls trip, booking one night here with early access to the Livingstone Island morning session is the most seamless way to do it.
Mid-Range: The Victoria Falls Waterfront (from USD 60/night)
The Victoria Falls Waterfront is the most popular mid-range choice in Livingstone, and guest ratings consistently reflect that: it holds a Booking.com score of 8.4+ from over 800 reviews, which is unusually strong for this price tier.
The property sits on the northern bank of the Zambezi, about 500 m from the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park entrance gate. This puts you within walking distance of the falls without paying Royal Livingstone prices. Two swimming pools, a large Zambezi-facing deck, restaurant, and a bar round out the facilities. Safari Par Excellence, one of the main activity operators in Livingstone, runs its activity centre on-site - making it easy to book rafting, sunset cruises, and game drives without leaving the property.
Practical details:
- En-suite chalets and lodge rooms, most with pool or garden views
- Rates from approximately USD 60–120 per room per night depending on room type and season
- Free parking; river access available
- On-site activity booking reduces the need for a town taxi for tour logistics
- Well-positioned for an early-morning walk to the national park gate
This is the most efficient choice for visitors who want proximity to the falls, comfortable facilities, and access to activities without the full-service luxury overhead.
Budget: Thorn Tree House
Thorn Tree House is a small guesthouse-style property located off Mosi-oa-Tunya Road, on the Maramba River, roughly five minutes’ drive from the national park entrance. The property has four or five en-suite rooms plus tented chalets, two pools, and a large garden - unusually generous for a budget listing. It rates well on TripAdvisor from repeat visitors.
Practical details:
- Rates vary; the property is best booked via Hotels.com or direct - it does not have a consistent Booking.com presence
- Small, quiet, well-suited to independent travellers and backpackers on a longer trip
- Free Wi-Fi and parking included
- Taxi to the falls gate costs approximately USD 5–8
If you are keeping costs down and primarily visiting for the Zambia-side viewpoints rather than the Devil’s Pool experience, Thorn Tree House is a solid, no-frills option that keeps you close to the action.
What to Know Before Booking
Season matters more in Livingstone than almost anywhere else. The hotel market here is genuinely thin - three or four properties absorb most of the demand in peak season (June to September), and the Royal Livingstone in particular fills up weeks ahead. Book as early as possible for dry-season dates.
Devil’s Pool season determines everything. If you are specifically here for Devil’s Pool - the primary reason visitors extend into a Livingstone overnight - confirm your booking window. The pool is only accessible between approximately October and mid-January, when the Zambezi drops low enough for safe access. Outside that window, the Zambia-side viewpoints and Knife Edge Bridge are still worth a crossing, but the case for a full overnight weakens.
Cross-border logistics. Check our full Livingstone day trip guide from Victoria Falls for detail on the KAZA Univisa, border crossing timing, and the full cost breakdown. If you are doing a single night in Livingstone and returning to Zimbabwe the next day, the KAZA Univisa covers both directions and is worth the USD 50 for the flexibility.
USD cash. Livingstone runs almost entirely on US dollars. Card acceptance is inconsistent outside the larger hotels and restaurants. Carry USD for taxis, market food, and smaller guesthouses. The border crossing has no ATM - bring your currency before you cross.
Choosing Between Livingstone and Victoria Falls Town
For most itineraries - three to seven days combining Hwange, Victoria Falls, and Great Zimbabwe - sleeping in Victoria Falls town (Zimbabwe side) and doing Livingstone as a day trip is the practical default. You avoid a second formal border crossing with luggage, and Victoria Falls town has a wider range of accommodation, restaurants, and activity operators.
Livingstone overnights make most sense when:
- You have booked Devil’s Pool and want a relaxed early departure to Livingstone Island
- You are heading north into Zambia after Victoria Falls (Kafue, South Luangwa) and Livingstone is a logical waypoint
- You want to do a full-day Zambia itinerary - morning Knife Edge, afternoon game drive in Mosi-oa-Tunya, evening river cruise - which runs long for a day trip
In those cases, a single night at the Waterfront Lodge or Royal Livingstone gives you all the time you need without rushing.