The question of whether the Zambian or Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls is better is one that every traveler planning a visit eventually has to face. Both sides offer dramatically different experiences: Zimbabwe delivers the sweeping, cinematic views that appear in postcards, while Zambia offers raw intimacy, thrill-heavy activities and the chance to feel the spray on your skin.

With border crossings now relatively straightforward and a joint KAZA Univisa available for many nationalities, it is increasingly realistic to see both sides in a single trip.

Yet time, budget and personal travel style may still require you to choose. This guide compares the two in detail so you can decide which side is best for you in.

Big-Picture Overview: How the Two Sides Compare

Before diving into specific activities and logistics, it helps to understand how the geography of the waterfall and the development of tourism have shaped each side. Roughly two thirds of the 1.7 kilometer-wide curtain of water can be viewed from Zimbabwe, while Zambia looks onto the remaining western third, particularly the Eastern Cataract and the churning Boiling Pot below the falls.

That imbalance alone goes a long way toward explaining why most guidebooks and local experts still describe Zimbabwe as the better side for classic views, especially when water levels are low.

At the same time, Zambia has developed an identity built around immersive, sometimes extreme encounters with the Zambezi River. Livingstone Island and the famous Devil’s Pool sit squarely on the Zambian side and are accessible only by boat when dry-season water levels allow.

Zambia is also known for stylish riverfront lodges that pair the falls with safaris in nearby parks. While Zimbabwe offers excellent value and walkable access from town to viewpoints, Zambia excels at lodge-based stays where activities and transfers are bundled in seamless packages.

Zimbabwe in a Nutshell

Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls town sits just outside the entrance to Victoria Falls National Park, making it one of Africa’s most compact and convenient tourist hubs. From most hotels and guesthouses you can walk to the park gate, to restaurants and to activity operators.

Once inside the park, a well-maintained path leads to around 15 to 16 official viewpoints along the lip of the gorge, looking directly across at the curtain of water. This configuration means you see a broad, frontal panorama rather than a side-on sliver of the falls.

The Zimbabwean side also has a unique rainforest microclimate created by constant spray. Even late in the dry season, sections such as Main Falls and Devil’s Cataract usually retain strong flow, so visitors are rarely disappointed by a trickle. For travelers who can visit only one side and want to be as certain as possible of a dramatic waterfall, Zimbabwe is still the safer bet across most months of the year.

Zambia in a Nutshell

On the Zambian side, the falls are accessed through Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, reached from the town of Livingstone or directly from nearby riverfront resorts. The network of paths is shorter here and the total visible curtain of water is smaller, but several viewpoints lie astonishingly close to the edge.

Knife Edge Bridge, in particular, can be a soaking, almost disorienting experience when the Zambezi is high. In peak flow months, visitors describe the sense not so much of seeing the falls as being inside them.

When water levels drop from around August, the equation changes again. Much of Zambia’s visible waterfall can dry to bare basalt, but the reward is seasonal access to Livingstone Island and Devil’s Pool, a natural infinity pool that sits right at the lip of the chasm.

These low-water months are when Zambia becomes the essential side for bucket-list thrill seekers and photographers looking for moody, sculptural rock formations in the gorge.

Water Levels and Best Time to Visit Each Side

Water level is the single biggest factor in what you will experience at Victoria Falls, and its impact is not the same on both sides. The Zambezi’s seasonal rise and fall can completely transform viewpoints and activities between January and December. Planning your trip around these cycles matters even more than choosing which country to stay in.

High Water Season: February to May

From about February through May, the river typically runs at or near its peak. On the Zimbabwean side, the full curtain becomes a roaring white wall, and the spray can soar hundreds of meters into the sky.

While this makes for a thunderous, visceral spectacle, it can also limit visibility from some viewpoints. Visitors frequently emerge drenched, and photographers often struggle to keep lenses dry, particularly near Main Falls and Danger Point.

On the Zambian side, high water delivers the most dramatic sense of immersion. Knife Edge Bridge is often enveloped in mist as torrents crash into the gorge just meters away. This is when Zambia best lives up to the saying that it is where you feel the falls, not just see them.

However, the sheer volume of spray may mean fewer clear views into the gorge itself. During these months, Devil’s Pool and Livingstone Island tours remain closed for safety, so Zambia’s iconic dry-season activities are off the table.

Low to Medium Water Season: August to December

As the dry season deepens from August onward, the balance shifts. On the Zimbabwean side, major sections still flow reliably, though the overall volume drops and some flanks become segmented streams.

This can actually be ideal for photography, revealing the basalt cliff face and the structure of the gorge while still offering a strong central cascade. It is also the time when most viewpoints are free of blinding spray, making it easier to linger and frame wide panoramas.

Zambia, by contrast, can see the Eastern Cataract and adjacent sections dwindle or even dry up entirely by October and November. For travelers whose priority is a powerful waterfall, this can be disappointing.

Yet this is exactly when Zambia offers something Zimbabwe cannot: access to Livingstone Island and Devil’s Pool, usually possible from mid to late August through roughly December, with October and November often considered the most reliable months for safe, photogenic conditions. The river is low enough to expose the natural rock lip that forms the pool, but still high enough to maintain a dramatic drop just beyond.

Shoulder Months and Transitional Periods

Between these extremes lie transitional periods in June, July and early January. June and July often still feel like high water, especially at Zimbabwe’s viewpoints, but spray may have eased enough to offer better visibility. On the Zambian side, footpaths and bridges remain wet and atmospheric, yet early-season tours to Livingstone Island sometimes begin operating based on safety assessments and actual flows that year.

In early January, the first meaningful rises following the rains usually force Devil’s Pool to close if it has not already done so, and boat access to Livingstone Island is suspended once guides judge the currents too strong.

This variability is important: while general patterns repeat year after year, exact cut-off dates for activities can shift by several weeks depending on upstream rainfall. Anyone traveling primarily for Devil’s Pool or rafting should always check the latest local advice when planning.

Views, Photo Opportunities and Overall Wow Factor

For many travelers, the primary reason to visit Victoria Falls is the chance to stand at the rim of one of the world’s great waterfalls and take in the view. In this respect, Zimbabwe and Zambia are not equal. Differences in topography, path layout and the angle at which you face the curtain of water all play a role in deciding which side delivers the classic “wow” moment.

Zimbabwe: The Postcard Panorama

Zimbabwe’s main loop path inside Victoria Falls National Park follows the opposite rim of the gorge for roughly two kilometers. Along this route, a series of signed viewpoints offers frontal perspectives of different sections: Devil’s Cataract at the western end, the broad Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow Falls and the far Eastern Cataract. Because the path runs parallel to the waterfall’s length, you can appreciate both its scale and its segmentation in a single visit.

This configuration makes Zimbabwe unquestionably stronger for wide-angle photography and for visitors who want to understand the full geographical layout of the falls at a glance.

Even first-time travelers who might struggle to piece together which section is which from a map can simply follow the path and watch the panorama shift incrementally from one viewpoint to the next. The constant spray that nurtures the rainforest not only adds atmosphere but also provides frequent rainbows when light angles are right, particularly around midday in high-water months.

Zambia: Intimate Angles and Dramatic Close-Ups

The Zambian network of walkways is shorter but often brings you closer to the water. From the entrance to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, paths lead to an array of lookouts that gaze across at the Zimbabwean cliffs and down onto the foaming Boiling Pot below.

Knife Edge Bridge, a narrow pedestrian span across the gorge, is especially memorable. In high water, it can feel as though you are walking through a rainstorm generated purely by the falls beside you.

Photographically, Zambia excels at capturing mist-drenched drama and steep, vertiginous angles into the chasm, especially from vantage points overlooking the Boiling Pot and from seasonal access along the lip near Livingstone Island.

In low-water months, the exposed black rock and sinuous channel of the Zambezi create striking geometric compositions that differ entirely from the front-on curtain shots so common in Zimbabwe. Serious photographers often favor doing both sides, timing Zimbabwe for broad overviews and Zambia for moody detail.

Helicopter and Microlight Flights

Aerial views further blur the border debate, since many helicopter and microlight operators provide flights that circle above both countries. Classic helicopter routes known locally as the Flight of Angels typically include sweeping passes over the main chasm, the upstream river and the downstream gorges.

These flights are available year-round, with high water showing the most explosive spray plumes and low water revealing the serpentine rock architecture of the gorge.

Microlight flights, offered primarily from the Zambian side, are open-air and more exposed to wind and temperature, but they deliver an exceptionally immersive experience. Because aerial operators hold local permits and follow defined corridors, travelers generally choose flights based on convenience from their hotel rather than on which country offers better airspace.

In practical terms, if you stay in Victoria Falls town you are likely to fly with a Zimbabwe-based operator; if you stay around Livingstone, you will likely use a Zambian one, with the visual showpiece very similar in either case.

Signature Activities: What You Can Only Do on Each Side

Beyond viewpoints and photo stops, Victoria Falls has evolved into one of Africa’s most diverse soft-adventure hubs. Several high-profile activities exist only on one side or are logistically much easier from one country. If your priorities include specific experiences, they may decisively steer you toward Zambia or Zimbabwe.

Devil’s Pool and Livingstone Island from Zambia

Devil’s Pool has become the definitive image of Victoria Falls in the social media era. Perched on the very lip of the waterfall on the Zambian side, this natural rock basin allows guided visitors to swim or wade to within a short distance of the drop, with a rock shelf preventing them from being swept over. Access is strictly regulated through licensed boat operators who run seasonal trips to Livingstone Island, which sits just upstream of the precipice.

These tours typically operate for about seven months each year, usually from June through December, with actual swimming in Devil’s Pool often confined to a shorter window from around mid-August to late December when conditions are safest.

Groups are accompanied by experienced guides who direct short swims or wades in relatively calm channels and assist with carefully staged photographs. While the setting is undeniably dramatic, operators emphasize safety protocols and have an excellent record when visitors follow instructions.

White-Water Rafting Below the Falls

White-water rafting on the Zambezi is often ranked among the world’s finest commercial river trips, with a series of Grade 4 and 5 rapids tumbling through the Batoka Gorge downstream of the falls. Launch and take-out points shift with the seasons, and operations can be affected by planned or actual changes to dam projects further downstream. However, in general terms, rafting is offered from both Zimbabwean and Zambian companies, with itineraries that cover overlapping stretches of river.

During higher water, usually from about February through part of winter, companies may limit the sections run for safety, focusing on rapids numbered 10 to 23 rather than the full suite.

In lower water from around August, more rapids become accessible, and some operators offer extended runs. Whether you start your trip in Victoria Falls town or Livingstone, the essence of the experience is similar: steep hikes into and out of the gorge, powerful waves and the humbling sense of being dwarfed by the basalt walls.

Bridge Bungee Jump and High-Wire Thrills

The 111 meter bungee jump from Victoria Falls Bridge, which connects Zambia and Zimbabwe, has long been a fixture on the regional adrenaline circuit. The jump platform sits roughly at the midpoint of the bridge, with arrangements coordinated so that travelers from either side can participate. Operators also offer bridge swings and zipline experiences across the gorge adjacent to the bridge deck.

Each country additionally has exclusive high-wire activities based near its own cliff tops. On the Zimbabwean side, a popular cluster of attractions includes a gorge swing and ziplines that launch from the rim overlooking the Zambezi.

Zambia has its own mix of canopy tours and zipline-style rides along different segments of the gorge. If these specific activities are central to your plans, check which side hosts the variation you want most and factor that into your lodging choice.

Game Drives and Safari Add-ons

Victoria Falls is not just about the waterfall. Both sides provide gateways to wildlife experiences that can extend your trip into a broader safari. From Zimbabwe, the most popular add-on is a visit to Hwange National Park, reachable in several hours by road and renowned for its elephant concentrations and large, open pans. Closer to the falls, Zambezi National Park offers riverine landscapes and a more compact dose of wildlife.

On the Zambian side, Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park protects segments of riverine forest and grassland along the Zambezi. While small, it offers the chance to see white rhino on foot with armed rangers, along with giraffe and antelope.

Many travelers also pair Livingstone with longer Zambian safaris in South Luangwa or the Lower Zambezi, which involve domestic flights but reward with outstanding big-cat sightings and more remote bush camps.

Towns, Atmosphere and Accommodation

Choosing a side is not only a question of water levels and activities. The rhythms of Victoria Falls town and Livingstone, as well as the styles of accommodation on each side, shape the experience in different ways. Some travelers prefer the walkable bustle of Zimbabwe’s compact tourism hub, while others gravitate toward Zambia’s quieter riverfront lodges and slightly more spread-out layout.

Victoria Falls Town in Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls town sits a short drive from the international airport and just a few minutes’ walk or ride from the national park entrance. Its compact grid holds a concentration of hotels, guesthouses, backpacker hostels, restaurants, craft markets and activity booking offices. For independent travelers, this density makes it easy to shop around, compare prices and decide on activities once on the ground.

Accommodation ranges from simple dorms and budget guesthouses through mid-range hotels and safari lodges to classic luxury properties overlooking the gorge or the spray.

Because there are more total beds available, competition often keeps prices reasonable by regional standards, particularly in the mid-range segment. For visitors who value being able to walk to the park gate at sunrise or pop out to a restaurant in the evening, Victoria Falls town is hard to beat.

Livingstone and Zambian Riverfront Lodges

On the Zambian side, the town of Livingstone lies around ten kilometers from the park entrance. It is larger and more dispersed than Victoria Falls town, with a mix of local neighborhoods, historic colonial architecture and modern shopping centers. While there are guesthouses and hostels in the town itself, many leisure travelers choose to stay at lodges and hotels strung out along the Zambezi upriver from the falls, sometimes several kilometers away.

These riverfront properties tend to emphasize tranquil settings, scenic decks and inclusive activity packages that may cover sunset cruises, guided falls visits and wildlife encounters. The trade-off is that you rely more on lodge transfers or taxis to reach the national park or the bridge.

For travelers who prefer a resort-style stay with most logistics handled by the property, this model can be very appealing. Those who prefer to stroll out the gate and find a variety of independent cafes and shops may find it less convenient than Victoria Falls town.

Costs, Park Fees and Value for Money

Costs fluctuate with exchange rates, fuel prices and government policy, but current patterns still reveal some consistent differences. Park entry to view the falls typically costs more in Zimbabwe than in Zambia, reflecting its larger viewing infrastructure and the longer system of footpaths.

On the other hand, Zambia often has higher taxes on certain tourism services, which can elevate the price of some lodges and activities compared with equivalent offerings in Zimbabwe.

For budget and lower mid-range travelers, Zimbabwe frequently emerges as slightly better value overall thanks to a broader spread of competitively priced accommodations and easy, low-cost access from town to the falls. Zambian itineraries at similar comfort levels can come out marginally more expensive once transfers are factored in.

At the high end, both sides offer lavish riverfront lodges and boutique hotels, with rates driven less by national averages than by each property’s brand and included activities.

Borders, Visas and Practical Logistics

One of the major shifts in visiting Victoria Falls over the last decade has been the growing ease of crossing between Zambia and Zimbabwe for tourists. This trend continues, with many nationalities able to obtain a joint KAZA Univisa that covers entry to both countries plus limited day trips into neighboring Botswana. Understanding how this works can free you from feeling you must choose just one side.

The KAZA Univisa and Single-Country Visas

The KAZA Univisa is a multiple-entry visa designed for travelers who want to move back and forth between Zimbabwe and Zambia, and possibly add a day trip to Botswana’s Chobe National Park. Issued on arrival at key border posts and airports for eligible nationalities, it generally costs about the same as or only slightly more than a standard single-country visa.

Once stamped into your passport, it allows you to cross the Victoria Falls Bridge or use local border posts between the two countries without purchasing new visas each time.

Travelers not covered by the Univisa scheme may have to buy separate visas for each country, with costs varying significantly by nationality. In such cases, staying on one side and visiting the other just once or not at all may make more financial sense.

Regardless of your passport, it is always important to check the most recent visa rules from official immigration or consular sources before traveling, as policies can change on relatively short notice.

Crossing the Border at Victoria Falls Bridge

The most iconic way to move between Zambia and Zimbabwe is on foot across Victoria Falls Bridge. Border posts at either end handle immigration formalities, and many visitors choose to walk both for the scenery and for the chance to pause mid-span and look back into the gorge.

The actual crossing time can be under thirty minutes in light traffic, though queues can build during peak holiday periods or if large tour groups arrive simultaneously.

Travelers should carry passports at all times and allow extra time when crossing in order to make scheduled activities. Crossing in daylight is strongly recommended for convenience and safety, particularly for those unfamiliar with the area. Shuttle services and taxis are widely available on both sides to connect hotels, towns and the border posts, and many operators include cross-border transfers when you book activities that take place in the neighboring country.

Health, Safety and Practical Tips

In both countries, the areas around the falls are established tourism zones with experienced operators and generally good safety records. As with any major waterfall and gorge environment, wet paths, sharp rocks and strong currents pose inherent risks, so it is essential to heed local signage and follow guide instructions.

This is particularly true for activities such as Devil’s Pool, rafting and high-wire adventures, where reputable operators maintain equipment and set clear guidelines.

Malaria risk varies seasonally, and many travelers choose to take prophylactic medication when visiting Victoria Falls and surrounding regions, especially during and shortly after the rainy season. Drinking bottled or filtered water, using insect repellent and protecting cameras and electronics from spray with dry bags or rain covers are common-sense measures that will make your visit more comfortable.

Which Side Is Better For You? Scenario-Based Advice

Ultimately, the verdict on Zambia versus Zimbabwe depends less on an abstract ranking and more on your personal travel style, timing and priorities. Both sides are memorable and, for many visitors, the optimal answer is to spend at least one full day on each. If circumstances force you to choose, consider the following scenarios as a decision framework.

If You Want the Classic First-Time Experience

First-time visitors who have dreamed of the great curtain of water since childhood and can travel at almost any time of year will often be happiest basing themselves on the Zimbabwean side.

The extensive network of viewpoints, the consistent flow in most seasons and the convenience of Victoria Falls town combine to deliver a quintessential experience with minimal logistical friction.

From a practical standpoint, this choice also works well for short trips of two to three nights, where you may want to land, walk to the falls, fit in one or two activities such as a helicopter flight or a sunset cruise and then move on to your next destination without handling cross-border transfers or multiple visas.

If You Are Focused on Devil’s Pool and Unique Thrills

Travelers whose primary bucket-list item is swimming at the lip of the falls in Devil’s Pool or standing on Livingstone Island where David Livingstone is said to have first observed the cascade should plan around Zambia in the low-water period.

Ideally, build in at least three nights on the Zambian side between roughly late August and November, with some flexibility in case conditions shift slightly earlier or later than expected in a given year.

While it is possible to stay in Zimbabwe and cross over to Zambia for a Devil’s Pool excursion, overnighting in Livingstone or at a nearby river lodge simplifies logistics and gives you better contingency options if a scheduled tour is postponed by weather. You can still add a day trip to the Zimbabwean viewpoints using the KAZA Univisa or a separate visa if needed.

If You Are Traveling on a Tight Budget

Independent travelers and backpackers often find Zimbabwe marginally easier on the wallet, especially once total costs are calculated for accommodation, in-town transport and repeated visits to the national park over several days. The walkability of Victoria Falls town reduces the need for taxis, and a broad choice of budget lodgings helps keep nightly rates competitive.

This does not mean Zambia is out of reach for budget travelers, but it may require more careful planning to manage the cost of transfers between Livingstone, riverfront lodges and the falls themselves.

Checking current park fees, visa prices and lodge inclusions will help you avoid surprises and determine which side delivers the best value at your particular comfort level.

If You Plan to Combine the Falls with a Longer Safari

For those designing a longer African journey around wildlife as much as waterfalls, the decision may hinge on which country’s safari circuits appeal most. Victoria Falls town offers straightforward overland access to Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park and, via combinations of road and air, to other renowned areas such as Mana Pools. Day trips into Botswana’s Chobe National Park are also easily arranged from Zimbabwe.

From Zambia, Livingstone can be the entry or exit point for more extended safaris in South Luangwa and the Lower Zambezi, which are celebrated for their walking safaris, leopard sightings and atmospheric river camps. Many travelers route themselves in a loop that begins in one country’s wilderness areas, passes through the falls and ends in the other, using the KAZA Univisa or multiple visas to move back and forth as needed.

The Takeaway

Deciding whether the Zambian or Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls is better is less about finding a universal winner and more about matching each side’s strengths to your own priorities. Zimbabwe offers the most comprehensive and consistently impressive views of the falls throughout the year, along with a compact, walkable town and a wide spread of accommodations that often provide strong value.

Zambia delivers unparalleled intimacy, from high-water immersion on Knife Edge Bridge to dry-season access to Livingstone Island and Devil’s Pool, along with elegant riverfront lodges and strong links to some of Africa’s finest safari regions.

If your schedule, budget and visa situation allow, the most rewarding approach remains to see both: spend at least one day walking the rainforest loop in Zimbabwe, and another exploring the trails, bridges and seasonal island experiences in Zambia.

Viewed together, the falls become more than just a single panorama. They reveal themselves as a changing, multi-faceted landscape whose character shifts with every month and every angle. Whether you end up favoring one side or the other, you are likely to leave with the sense that Victoria Falls is greater than the sum of its parts and worth experiencing from both banks of the Zambezi.

FAQ

Q1: Can I visit both Zambia and Zimbabwe sides of Victoria Falls in one day?
Yes, many travelers visit both sides in a single day by crossing the border at Victoria Falls Bridge, especially if they hold the KAZA Univisa that allows multiple entries. You should start early, allow extra time for immigration formalities and focus on key highlights on each side rather than attempting every viewpoint and activity.

Q2: Which side of Victoria Falls is better for views during the dry season?
During the dry months from about August to December, Zimbabwe generally offers better and more reliable views of flowing water. Major sections such as Main Falls usually retain a strong curtain, while parts of the Zambian side can dry up to expose bare rock, especially around October and November.

Q3: When is the best time to visit Devil’s Pool on the Zambian side?
Devil’s Pool is typically accessible when water levels are low enough to expose the protective rock lip but still high enough to maintain a dramatic drop just beyond. In most years, this window falls roughly between mid-August and late December, though exact dates vary with rainfall. Booking early in October or November often provides the best combination of safety, conditions and availability.

Q4: Is it safe to swim in Devil’s Pool?
Devil’s Pool is considered safe for healthy adults when visited on an organized tour with licensed guides who understand the currents and seasonal conditions. Participants are instructed where to swim or wade and how to position themselves for photographs. As with all adventure activities, there is inherent risk, but following guide instructions and using reputable operators significantly reduces that risk.

Q5: Which side is better for families with children?
Families often find Zimbabwe more straightforward, thanks to its extensive but well-maintained paths, predictable viewpoints and compact town layout. However, Zambia can also work well for families, particularly if staying at a riverfront lodge that includes guided visits, boat trips and age-appropriate activities. Young children are usually not permitted on Devil’s Pool tours, so this should not be the sole reason to choose Zambia for a family trip.

Q6: Do I need a guide to visit the viewpoints on either side?
You do not need a guide to walk the main viewing trails on either side, as paths are clearly marked and easy to follow. Many visitors, however, choose to hire local guides for added context on geology, history and wildlife, and to help navigate the best viewpoints under current water conditions. Guided tours are mandatory only for certain activities such as Devil’s Pool, rafting and specific high-wire or game-viewing excursions.

Q7: Which side is more affordable for accommodation and daily expenses?
While prices fluctuate, Zimbabwe often offers a slightly broader range of budget and mid-range accommodations, which can make overall daily costs lower compared with Zambia. Park entry fees and some activities may be cheaper on the Zambian side, but higher taxes on tourism services can offset that. For most travelers, the difference is modest, and specific hotel choices matter more than the country average.

Q8: Can I do a day trip to Chobe National Park from both sides?
Yes, day trips to Botswana’s Chobe National Park, renowned for its elephant herds, can be arranged from both Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe and Livingstone in Zambia. Travel times and logistics are broadly similar, and many operators include cross-border transfers and park fees in their packages. Holding a KAZA Univisa simplifies such outings, as it covers re-entry into Zambia or Zimbabwe after visiting Botswana.

Q9: How long should I plan to stay at Victoria Falls?
A minimum of two full days is recommended if you want to see the falls thoroughly from one side and fit in one or two additional activities such as a sunset cruise or helicopter flight. Three to four days allow a more relaxed pace and make it realistic to explore both Zambia and Zimbabwe, add a rafting trip or a Chobe day safari and still have downtime at your hotel or lodge.

Q10: If I must choose only one side, which should I pick?
If you have to choose just one, Zimbabwe is usually the stronger all-round choice for first-time visitors, especially if you are traveling outside the peak Devil’s Pool window or want the classic panorama. Zambia becomes the better single-country choice if your visit falls squarely in the low-water months and your top priority is Devil’s Pool, Livingstone Island or staying at an upscale riverfront lodge with integrated activities.