David Livingstone arrived in Africa in 1840 at the age of 27 as a missionary and physician. He explored the African interior , particularly the Zambezi River area in 1852 to 1856. It was during this expedition that he became the first European to witness the magnificent Victoria Falls waterfall during early November 1855. The night before the big discovery, David Livingstone and his crew camped upstream from the waterfall on Kalai island. The next morning the locals took him in a traditional canoe down river to show him the "Mosi O Tunya", which meant the smoke that thunders. He first noticed the spray from about 5 miles away, rising 400 meters (1300 feet) into the sky.
(Botswana) (Botswana) (South Africa) (South Africa)
(Click on below links for detailed itineraries, information on accommodation etc)
Start & End: Johannesburg & Pretoria & Nelspruit LT 05 :: 7 Day Victoria Falls & Chobe national park ………………... LT 08 :: 10 Day Kruger park & Chobe & Victoria Falls ……………... LT 25 :: 10 Victoria Falls & Chobe & Kruger park …………………… LT 12 :: 11 Day Victoria Falls & Chobe & Kruger park ……………... LT 13 :: 11 Day Kruger park & Chobe & Victoria Falls ……………... LT 15 :: 12 Day Okavango Delta & Chobe & Victoria Falls ………... LT 16 :: 16 Day Kruger & Okavango Delta & Chobe & Victoria Falls LT 17 :: 16 Day Okavango Delta & Chobe & Victoria Falls & Kruger
Start: Victoria Falls End: Johannesburg & Pretoria LT 18 :: 2 Day Victoria Falls to Johannesburg ……………………….. LT 28 :: 5 Day Victoria Fall to Kruger park …………………………... LT 19 :: 6 Day Victoria Falls to Kruger park …………………………..
Start: Johannesburg & Pretoria End: Victoria Falls LT 20 :: 5 Day Victoria Falls & Chobe national park ………………... LT 21 :: 8 Day Kruger park & Victoria Falls ………………………….. LT 22 :: 9 Day Kruger park & Chobe & Victoria Falls ………………. LT 23 :: 10 Day Okavango Delta & Chobe & Victoria Falls ………… LT 24 :: 14 Day Kruger & Okavango Delta & Victoria Falls …………
David Livingstone wrote in his diary "Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in flight." He then decided that to name the waterfall after Queen Victoria of England, as he thought it would be the greatest honor.
Victoria Falls - one of the seven natural wonders of the world It is well known that the amazing Victoria Falls waterfall is the largest sheet of falling water in the world. How big is the waterfall? Most people are familiar with the Niagara Falls on the border between USA and Canada. Below is a table comparing these two waterfalls.
Victoria Falls
Niagara Falls
Victoria Falls is considerably larger than Niagara Falls.
Tours to Victoria Falls Livingstone Trails is a budget tour operator who has been doing cheaper tours and safaris to Victoria Falls since 1994, making us one of the very first companies to do affordable tours for backpackers, adventure student travel and overlanding safaris from Johannesburg and Pretoria to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
We have done tours to the Zimbabwe and the Zambia side, but recently decided to keep doing the scheduled tours to the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls, for a variety of reasons. Click here to read more.
Have a look (top right) of this page for all the tours that Livingstone Trails offer to Victoria Falls. These tours depart every week.
All tours going to Victoria Falls includes two game drives in 4x4 open sided game viewing vehicles inside Chobe national park (Botswana). Livingstone Trails is the only budget tour company to include two game drives inside Chobe national park, as far as we know. Also included in our tour prices is the entrance fee to Victoria Falls waterfall, as well as a sunset cruise on the Zambezi river (drinks and snacks included). There are national parks on both sides of the river, which means that we often see animals coming to drink.
Optional activities while in Victoria Falls Victoria Falls has been nicknamed the "Adventure capital of the world", due the large variety of adventure, scenic, cultural and wildlife activities that on offer in the area. Obviously we can not include the activities in the tour price, as there are too many and not all clients like the same activities.
Please note that it will be best to book the optional activities while on tour. At present it is only possible to pay cash for activities, due to the financial situation of Zimbabwe. All activities are priced in US$, but you can pay with any major foreign currency, including South African Rand or Botswana Pula.
Livingstone Trails is at present busy mounting safes into all our vehicles, so that clients can take cash on tour. The other option is to draw cash in Kasane (Botswana). You can use Visa electron (only) cards at the ATM's or draw over the counter with your credit card or travelers cheques. From the bank we head straight for the border post, crossing into Zimbabwe. Our first stop in Victoria falls will be at the booking office where we book and pay the optional activities on arrival. This i the same method used for years by many tour operators, without any theft.
In Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) there is a price agreement between companies, meaning that all the companies charge exactly the same price for activities. However, Livingstone Trails book all the optional activities through Shearwater Adventures, for a number of reasons, as below: Shearwater Adventures has all the correct registrations and insurances, such as liability insurance. Shearwater Adventures owns the majority of the activities, or the majority shares of a number of activities operated on the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls. Shearwater Adventures owns a large fleet of vehicles, and will transport our clients to Victoria Falls in the event that one of our vehicles break down on the way to Victoria Falls (within a hundred kilometers). Shearwater adventures owns a well equipped mechanical workshop with qualified mechanics, who will assist us with vehicle repairs while in Victoria Falls, if needed. Shearwater Adventures has helped us in the past by bringing fuel to Kasane in Botswana, when there is no fuel available in the northern parts of Botswana. Shearwater Adventures is a reliable company who honors refunds when there are cancellations (normally due to weather) by them.
Below is a few of the more popular optional activities, booked by past clients. This should help you decide how much money you need for optional activities. Remember, you will book and pay the activities when the tour arrives in Victoria Falls. Your guide will assist you with the booking of these activities.
Click on the below links for more information
Until 31 Dec 2008
Until 31 Dec 2009
White water rafting Full day rafting (Low water) (rapids 1 - 21) Full day rafting (High water) (rapids 11 - 24) One day rafting + overnight (rapids 1 - 21)
When Aug - Jan Jan - Jul Aug - Jan
Price in US$ (2008)
95
95
145
Price in US$ (2009)
110
110
165
National park entrance fee of US$ 10 per person, must be added to above prices
Upper Zambezi canoeing Half day (morning or afternoon) Full day Two day and overnight camping Zambezi wine route (2,5 - 3 hours)
When Every day Every day Every day Every day
Price in US$ (2008)
75
95
240
60
Price in US$ (2009)
90
105
220
80
National park entrance fee of US$ 10 per person, must be added to above prices
When Every day Every day Every day Every day Every day Every day Every day Every day
Price in US$ (2008)
90
130
30
45
60
90
125
45
Price in US$ (2009)
105
145
35
50
75
110
125
50
Jet boat adventures Adventure jet boat - below the falls view Game view jet boat - upper Zambezi river
When Aug - Jan Every day
Price in US$ (2008)
90
45
Price in US$ (2009)
90
55
National park entrance fee of US$ 5 per person, must be added to above prices
Helicopter flights over the waterfall 13 minutes waterfall only 30 minutes game viewing + waterfall
When Every day Every day
Price in US$ (2008)
110
200
Price in US$ (2009)
115
220
National park entrance fee of US$ 5 per person, must be added to above prices
Walk with lions Walk with lions (morning or afternoon) Walk with lions + Elephant back safari
When Every day Every day
Price in US$ (2008)
100
150
Price in US$ (2009)
115
175
Elephant back safaris Elephant back safari (morning or afternoon) Elephant back safari + Walk with lions
When Every day Every day
Price in US$ (2008)
100
150
Price in US$ (2009)
115
175
Game walks & game drives Night drive including a bush dinner Morning game drive in open game vehicles Morning game walk with armed guide
When Every day Every day Every day
Price in US$ (2008)
80
60
60
Price in US$ (2009)
90
75
75
Safari packages / combos Elephant back safari (am) + Walk with lions Elephants (am) + Lions + Game drive Elephants (pm) + Lions + Night game drive
When Every day Every day Every day
Price in US$ (2008)
150
190
205
Price in US$ (2009)
175
215
235
Adventure packages / combos Cruise + 2 of the above adventure activities Any three of above adventure activities Any five of above adventure activities
When Every day Every day Every day
Price in US$ (2008)
195
235
340
Price in US$ (2009)
220
270
390
National park entrance fee may apply as in the above
