Devil's Pool Swim, Livingstone Island: Victoria Falls Tour

Swim above the falls on a rock ledge where the water is only centimeters deep

Swim in Devil's Pool, a natural rock-ledge pool on the lip of Victoria Falls at Livingstone Island, with a guided tour of the island's history, breakfast, and speedboat transfers. Access is seasonal, available roughly August through December when water levels drop. The activity suits all fitness levels and includes hotel pickup.

The experience

Livingstone Island sits in the Zambezi River where David Livingstone first saw the falls, and a twin-engine speedboat takes you across the fast-moving channels to reach it. Once there, a guide walks you through the island's past (from its ancient use as a sacrificial site to its current World Heritage status), before you get to the main event: swimming in Devil's Pool itself. The pool is a deep natural basin carved by thousands of years of erosion, but what makes it swimmable is a shallow rock ledge right at the lip of the falls where the water is only a few centimeters deep. You wade into that ledge and float above one of Africa's most spectacular sights.

The whole outing runs about 90 minutes from pickup at your hotel. Breakfast is served on the island after the tour, and a speedboat brings you back to the mainland afterward. Access depends entirely on the Zambezi's water level. The pool is only reachable in low water season, roughly from the end of August through December. If you book a different time slot (lunch or high tea instead of breakfast), the meal changes but the swim stays the same.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return transfer.
• speedboat ride to and from Livingstone Island.
• guided tour of the island.
• swimming in Devil's Pool.
• breakfast, lunch or high tea depending on your booking slot.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (12 to 45 years) · Senior (50 to 65 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 8 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Afro Dawn Safaris

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup is included, so you don't need a car or transport arranged separately. The boat departs from a fixed point and returns you to your hotel, which works whether you're staying in Victoria Falls town or Livingstone town. Book the time slot that fits your day: breakfast, lunch or high tea all include the same swim.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

When can I actually swim in Devil's Pool at Livingstone Island?

Devil's Pool is only accessible during low water season, approximately from the end of August through December, when the Zambezi River level drops enough to expose the shallow rock ledge at the falls' lip.

What happens on Livingstone Island during the visit?

A guide leads you through the island's history, from its ancient role as a sacrificial site to its World Heritage designation today, then you swim in Devil's Pool before a meal is served on the island.

How do I get to Livingstone Island and back?

A twin-engine speedboat picks you up from your hotel and takes you across the Zambezi's fast-moving channels to the island. The same boat returns you to the mainland after the activity.

What meal options are available on the island?

Breakfast is the standard option, but you can also book lunch or high tea instead depending on which time slot suits your day.

Is this activity suitable if I'm not very fit?

Yes, the activity is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the swim itself happens in shallow water on a rock ledge, not in deep or fast-moving current.