Devil’s Pool is a natural rock pool on the lip of Victoria Falls, positioned so that swimmers can look directly over the 108-metre drop into the gorge below. A submerged rock barrier - created over millennia by erosion - holds the pool in place at the very edge of Livingstone Island. During the dry season, when the Zambezi drops enough that the barrier is effective, guided tours take small groups out to swim in it.
It is one of the most photographed experiences in southern Africa, and one that genuinely delivers on the photographs.
What Devil’s Pool Actually Is
The pool forms where a natural rock shelf creates a break in the falls on the Zambia side. During high water (roughly January to July), the Zambezi overwhelms the barrier and the pool becomes inaccessible - and lethal. As the river drops through August and September, a calm body of water approximately 6 metres by 4 metres forms behind the rock wall. At its deepest it reaches about 1.5 metres.
Guides wade in with guests, position them against the rock wall, and allow swimmers to look directly over the edge. The drop below is real. The sensation of peering over 108 metres of open air while partially submerged is something that photographs suggest but do not fully convey.
Angel’s Pool - a shallower, wider pool a short distance back from the edge - is also accessible on the same tour. Your guide determines which pool conditions allow on the day. In the weeks on either side of the main season, Angel’s Pool may be accessible when Devil’s Pool is not.
Getting There from Zimbabwe
Devil’s Pool sits on the Zambia side, so visiting requires crossing the border into Livingstone. From Victoria Falls town, the border at Victoria Falls Bridge is a 5-minute drive. The crossing itself typically takes 20–40 minutes. A KAZA Univisa (USD 50 as of 2026) covers both Zimbabwe and Zambia and allows multiple crossings - the most practical option for anyone doing activities on both sides.
Tours depart from the Royal Livingstone Hotel jetty, approximately 1 km from the Zambia border post. The boat crossing to Livingstone Island takes around 5 minutes.
From Victoria Falls town (Zimbabwe side):
- Cross the border to Zambia - taxi from VF town to the bridge costs approximately USD 5–8
- Clear Zambian immigration (KAZA Univisa or visa on arrival)
- Taxi or transfer to the Royal Livingstone Hotel jetty - approximately USD 10–15 from the border
- Board the boat to Livingstone Island
Total time from Victoria Falls town to being on Livingstone Island: approximately 1.5–2 hours.
Several operators run combined day trips from the Zimbabwe side that handle transfers and border logistics - see the booking section below. For a full day covering Devil’s Pool plus the Zambian falls viewpoints and Livingstone dining, see the Livingstone day trip from Victoria Falls itinerary.
Tour Formats and Prices
All Livingstone Island tours are operated through the Royal Livingstone Hotel and Royal Chundu (they hold the concession). There are three sessions daily during the season:
| Session | Includes | Price (per person, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Breakfast on Livingstone Island | USD 145–175 |
| Lunch | Buffet lunch on the island | USD 165–200 |
| High Tea | Afternoon tea and pastries | USD 165–195 |
Prices include the boat transfer, guide, meal, and time in the pool. They do not include the KAZA Univisa or transport to the jetty.
Groups are small - typically 8–12 people per session. Your guide leads the walk across Livingstone Island (about 10 minutes over rocks and bush) to the pool itself, enters the water first, then brings guests in one or two at a time.
Time actually spent in the pool is approximately 20–30 minutes.
Best Season
September and October are the peak months. By September the water is low enough that the rock barrier is fully effective, visibility into the gorge is excellent, and the falls still carry enough volume to be dramatic from inside the pool. By late October the Zambezi continues to drop - still safe but the falls feel less powerful.
Mid-August is the opening window. Water is still relatively high and conditions are assessed daily - some early-August tours are cancelled. Confirm with your operator before booking.
November to mid-December is the tail end of the season. Water begins rising again. The pool usually remains open into early December but closures become more frequent.
During the closed season (January to July), do not attempt to access the pool independently. The current above the falls is fast and the rock wall that creates the safe zone is submerged and ineffective.
What to Bring
- Swimwear and a towel - both essential
- Water shoes or sandals with straps (the walk across Livingstone Island is over bare rock)
- A waterproof phone case or leave your phone with the guide - the boat and island walk are wet
- Sunscreen (apply before arrival - no time to apply on the island)
- Your passport (required to cross into Zambia)
Leave valuables at your hotel. The island has no lockers.
Booking
GetYourGuide lists verified Devil’s Pool tour options including the Livingstone Island breakfast, lunch, and high tea sessions. Most listings include free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure - important given that water-level cancellations are possible in the shoulder season.
For the specific Livingstone Island experience with breakfast, see: Devil’s Pool / Angel’s Pool - Livingstone Island
Book at least 48 hours in advance in peak season (September–October). Same-day bookings are sometimes available in November. If you have a specific date fixed, booking a week out is safer - sessions fill from lodge guests first.
Devil’s Pool vs Other Victoria Falls Activities
Devil’s Pool is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it is not for everyone. If you are uncomfortable in water, nervous at heights, or visiting outside the dry season, the following activities offer comparable intensity without the swimming component:
- Victoria Falls helicopter tour - aerial perspective of the same edge from above, available year-round
- White water rafting on the Zambezi - 23 rapids in Batoka Gorge, available most of the year (closes during peak flood)
- Victoria Falls Bridge bungee jump - 111-metre freefall from the bridge, available year-round
For the full overview of Victoria Falls activities, see our Victoria Falls adventure guide.
Devil’s Pool is a genuine natural phenomenon that happens to be accessible to tourists - it was not engineered or artificially maintained. The rock wall that makes it safe has been there longer than the name given to it. Swimming in it is an exercise in trusting both geology and the guides who have led thousands of guests to the edge and back. The photographs look implausible. In person, they make sense.