The Edge of Everything

There is a moment in the Devil’s Pool experience when you understand, with complete clarity, exactly where you are. You are lying in a natural rock pool, the warm Zambezi rushing past you, and the edge is right there – half a metre away, the entire river tumbling into a void 108 metres deep. The spray rises around you. The sound is overwhelming. And you are completely, inexplicably, perfectly fine.

This is Devil’s Pool. It is, without exaggeration, one of the most extraordinary places a human being can choose to be.

Livingstone Island

Devil’s Pool is accessed via Livingstone Island – the flat granite outcrop in the middle of the Zambezi River on the Zambian side, right on the lip of Victoria Falls. This is the island from which David Livingstone first gazed at the falls in 1855 and wrote about them in his journals. Standing on it, surrounded by the roar of falling water and the rising spray, his awe becomes entirely comprehensible.

Access to the island is by a short guided boat crossing from the Zambian riverbank. Your guide has made this crossing many times and knows the water, the currents, and the rocks.

The Experience

Once on the island, you are guided to the pool’s edge by experienced local guides who have spent years learning every rock, every current, and every condition of the water at this point on the river. The swim itself involves crossing a short stretch of fast-moving water to reach the pool – this is assisted by your guides and is safe under the right conditions – before settling into the natural basin and inching to the edge for photographs that will confuse everyone who sees them.

The guides are skilled, attentive, and genuinely proud of what they share with visitors. They have brought thousands of people to this edge and back without incident. You are in expert hands.

Seasonality – When It’s Available

Devil’s Pool is only accessible during periods of lower water flow. Swimming at the edge of a major waterfall requires the river to be calm enough to manage safely.

• September to December – the primary season. Water levels drop as the dry season progresses, making the pool accessible and the experience most dramatic
• June to July – a secondary window when water levels are appropriate
• January to May – not available. High water from the rainy season makes the pool inaccessible and the crossing unsafe
• August – borderline; depends on current water levels. Contact us to confirm availability

What’s Included

• Return hotel transfers within Victoria Falls
• Boat crossing to Livingstone Island
• Guided experience at Devil’s Pool with experienced local guides
• Entry to Livingstone Island
• Refreshments on the island

Good to Know

• Duration: approximately 3 hours including transfers
• This experience is on the Zambian side – a Zambia visa or KAZA Univisa is required for most nationalities ($50 KAZA Univisa covers both Zambia and Zimbabwe)
• Minimum age: the experience requires the ability to swim and follow guide instructions. Children must be strong, confident swimmers
• Wear a swimsuit under your clothing. Bring a towel, sunscreen, and water shoes or sandals that can get wet
• Leave valuables at your hotel – everything on the island will get wet
• A waterproof camera or sealed phone case is essential for photographs
• This is a physically active experience on uneven, wet rock – guests with mobility limitations should contact us before booking