Devil's Pool at Victoria Falls: tours, prices and seasons

Devil's Pool

Photo: Google Maps

Type

Tourist attraction

Address

Zambia, Livingstone Island

Area

Zambian side of the falls

Entry fee

Livingstone Island tour rates include park fees.⁶

With children

The minimum age to swim in any pool on Livingstone Island trips is 12, and all children must be with a responsible adult.⁸The minimum age to visit Livingstone Island is 8.⁸Children pay full adult rates.⁶

Google rating

4.6 (136 reviews) on Google Maps, checked October 2026

On the map

Open in Google Maps

Opening hours on Google Maps, checked October 2026

Day	Hours
Monday	06:15–15:30
Tuesday	06:15–15:30
Wednesday	06:15–15:30
Thursday	06:15–15:30
Friday	06:15–15:30
Saturday	06:15–15:30
Sunday	06:15–15:30

What you do on Livingstone Island

Livingstone Island trips let you stand, swim and dine on the edge of Victoria Falls². The swim is in the pool right on the lip of the falls.

The island has its own story. David Livingstone viewed the falls from it on 16 November 1855¹.

The operator also sells private dining on the island, pitched for proposals, honeymoons, anniversaries and birthdays².

What’s the difference between Angel’s Pool and Devil’s Pool?

The difference is the water level. Angel’s Pool is the high-water pool, usually open January to late August⁴. The other pool takes over as the river drops, and operators disagree a little on when it opens:

Source	Usual opening season
devilspool.net (operator)	mid-August to late December3
Livingstone Island (operator)	late August to late December4
Wild Horizons (operator)	mid-September to December5

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

The operator says the island is open 11 to 12 months of the year⁴, so outside the lip pool’s window, Angel’s Pool is the usual swim. If the pool on the edge is the whole point of your trip, aim for mid-September to December⁵, which every operator’s dates cover.

Tour times and departures

Livingstone Island runs the Breezer, Lunch and High Tea tours, each at set times. The morning Breezer leaves at 07:30, 09:00 and 10:30⁶ (checked October 2026).

Google Maps lists the pool as open Mon–Sun 06:15–15:30⁷. The operator’s departure times are what you actually book.

How much does a Livingstone Island trip cost?

A Breezer trip booked direct costs US$149 in green season and US$159⁶ in high season (checked October 2026). Rates include park fees⁶, so you don’t pay the Zambian-side park’s US$20⁹ admission on top.

Which rate you pay depends on the date:

Rate season	Dates
Green season	6 January to 30 June, and 1 to 15 December6
High season	1 to 5 January, 1 July to 30 November, and 16 to 31 December6

How do you get there from Victoria Falls town?

From Victoria Falls town you cross the border into Zambia, check in at the launch site and take a short boat ride to the island. A tour with transfers handles the border for you; without one, plan the crossing yourself.

1. 1

   Cross the border into Zambia

   The Victoria Falls Border Post has been open 24 hours a day since November 2025. Wild Horizons puts formalities at 30 minutes to 1 hour.

2. 2

   Get to the meeting point

   Tamuka Travel's tour takes you by minibus across the border to the Royal Livingstone Hotel meeting point. From Livingstone town, a taxi to the falls usually costs US$10 each way.

3. 3

   Check in at the launch site

   Arrive at the Livingstone Island Launch Site at least 30 minutes before departure. Life jackets are mandatory on the boat.

4. 4

   Boat to Livingstone Island

   The operator puts the ride at 10 minutes; Tamuka Travel says about 5 minutes.

For the town you’ll be leaving from, see more on Victoria Falls town. If you’d rather base yourself on the Zambian bank, the Livingstone guide covers staying there.

Age limits, fitness and safety

Livingstone Island suits visitors who are reasonably fit and confident near water, and the age limits are firm. Here’s what the operator sets out:

• The minimum age to visit the island is 8⁸.
• The minimum age to swim in any pool is 12, and all children must be with a responsible adult⁸.
• Parents or guardians must sign a waiver confirming their child’s age and swimming ability⁸.
• Swimming and walking need a moderate level of fitness and confidence near water⁸.
• The island terrain can be uneven and slippery⁸.
• Guests with medical conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes are assessed before departure⁸.

Tamuka Travel says you don’t need to be a strong swimmer¹⁰ because the current is slow. The CDC advises travellers to Zimbabwe not to swim in fresh, unchlorinated water such as lakes, ponds or rivers¹¹, so weigh that before you get in.

Booking a tour from Victoria Falls town

Tamuka Travel’s trip includes hotel transfers from Victoria Falls town, and its minibus takes you across the border to the Royal Livingstone Hotel meeting point¹⁰. Booking direct with Livingstone Island costs less (see the price table above), but then the border and the transfer are yours to sort.

Tour · 3 hours

From Victoria Falls: Livingstone Island Tour & Devils Pool

4.6 (282 reviews) on GetYourGuide, checked October 2026

Free cancellation · Pickup included

FromUS$230

See dates on GetYourGuide

Nearby on both sides of the falls

A Livingstone Island trip pairs well with a walk on the Zambian side or a look at the Zimbabwean side on the same trip. A few places close by:

• Zambian-side park: admission is US$20, and the ticket is valid for multiple entries on the same day⁹. Travel Butlers says this side shows 25%¹² of the falls, the Eastern Cataract.
• Livingstone Museum: in Livingstone town, about 10 km⁹ from the falls; see the Zambia’s oldest history museum guide.
• The Big Tree: an ancient baobab on the Zimbabwe side, estimated at 2000 years old¹³; read the Victoria Falls baobab tree guide.
• Statue of David Livingstone: on the Zimbabwean side, facing Devil’s Cataract on the western bank¹⁴.

For everything else around the falls, head to the things to do page.