A Visit to The Devil's Pool, Victoria Falls & All You Need to Know

A natural infinity pool sitting on top of one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls with unimaginable views. Yes I was able to experience this and it was my favorite travel experience to date. The soothing boat ride to Livingstone Island and swimming in the Zambezi River to get to this natural phenomenon while looking over what felt like the edge of the world. The Devil’s Pool is one for the books if you’re into thrills. If you’re interested on how I did this, continue reading.

Getting Here:

I reached Livingstone, Zambia by flying in from Cape Town, South Africa. US Citizens need a visa to enter Zambia. I purchased mine at the Livingstone airport for $50USD. The ‘Kaza’ visa allows you entry into Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. You should either have US dollars or Euros to purchase your visa. They also accept credit cards but sometimes the machines are down and only cash will be accepted. In order to do the Devil’s Pool excursion you must organize it thorough Tongabezi Lodge regardless of which hotel you are staying in. You will be able to organize it through your hotel or a tour company and it’s highly recommended to book at least a week or more in advance.

When to Visit:

Zambia has a rainy season and a dry season. The Devil’s Pool is closed between the months of February and June due to water levels being too high. It’s only available for swimming during dry season which is from the months of August to January when water levels are lower. Ideally the best time to visit the pool is from September to November. I visited during the first week of November and it was perfect.

What to Bring:

Swimwear: This is the most obvious of course. You can also bring a change of clothes as there are lockers to store your bags and small changing rooms.
Cameras: Carry a waterproof camera such as a GoPro or a water proof case for your phone. But if you don’t have one it’s fine. One of the guides carry a water proof bag with your camera and/or cell phone for photos.
Water Shoes: Please bring water shoes. I forgot to buy some and instantly regretted it. The rocks are sharp and slippery so normal flip flops will not cover it here. I learned the hard way.
Cash: You should carry around $100-$150USD to be safe.
Passport: As the Devil’s Pool is in Zambia, carry your passport in case you plan to cross into Zimbabwe.
Drones: They are NOT allowed at the falls unless you have a license.

Safety:

I know this is probably the first thing on your mind “Umm, Dev will I die?” The answer is no. The Devil’s Pool is very exhilarating but I never felt like I was in danger. My only “issue” was the rocks being sharp and that could’ve been avoided with some good water shoes. Keep in mind I am an adventure traveler who is always looking for my next thrill. I love being thousands of feet in the air and looking down so this was up my alley. After speaking to the guides and doing my own research, no one has ever died at the Devil’s Pool. However, I would say that if you are afraid of heights and water, I do not recommend this activity for you. You sit on the edge of the waterfall and it appears to be a very long way down. There is also a guide who is with you the whole time so I was never really alone. Keep in mind that upon arrival, you must sign a waiver to do the excursion. So you can use your own discretion on if it’s for you.

You Must Swim:

A very important fact is that you must know how to swim to visit the Devil’s Pool. After you arrive on Livingstone Island by boat, you have to swim to get to the Devil’s Pool. The distance is about 50 meters which is equivalent to the size of an olympic swimming pool. The water will go from shallow, to deep, back to shallow again. So why can’t you just walk? Well, the rocks are way too sharp and slippery. I’m a semi decent swimmer who actually tried to simply walk on the rocks and ended up hurting my foot while doing so. The guides were also very strict with people knowing how to swim. I saw them turn someone away once they saw she couldn’t.

No Diving/Jumping:

You might’ve seen some popular videos online of people diving into the Devil’s Pool which made me more excited to visit. Unfortunately, the rules have changed and diving is no longer allowed due to injuries that occurred over the years.

Booking, Cost and What’s Included:

As stated above, the only way to see the Devil’s Pool is booking the Livingstone Island tour through Tongabezi Lodge. Regardless of where you stay or who you book through, they will have to go through them anyway. You CANNOT do this excursion on your own. The excursion has different costs based on what you choose. You can opt for breakfast for $105 USD, lunch for $170USD and high tea for $145USD.

Each excursion comes with a boat ride to Livingstone Island, two experienced guides, lockers to store your valuables, food and drinks (including alcohol). Upon arrival, you are greeted with a welcome drink and the cook asks for your food preferences (vegetarian, pescatarian, etc). I was lucky enough to do both the breakfast and lunch slots. I would say the morning is best if you want to have a better chance of seeing the rainbows but note that this slot was more crowded. The afternoon slot didn’t have as clear of a sky but felt more intimate with less people. Each time the food and drinks were amazing.

Being in the Water:

Surprisingly the water was not cold. It was the perfect temperature to cool off from the Zambian sun. There are fish in the water that will bite at your feet and legs. It’s not unbearably painful, but it is a pinching that you will feel. Note: The Devils pool is about 15 feet deep so you cannot stand straight up in here but there are rocks to hold on to and a guide who stays in the water the entire time with you.

Photo Ops:

Although the guides are not professional photographers, they do their best to help with photos and videos. You will have time to take group photos as well as solo photos but keep in mind you are on a strict time frame. All of my photos were taken by my guide with little to no coaching from me. While swimming across the river it’s best to carry light equipment if possible. For me, I kept my GoPro while I was swimming in the river and gave my actual camera and iPhone to the guide to carry in a wet bag. The falls are nicknamed “The Smoke That Thunders”. So there will be a lot of water spraying in the air. Keep this in mind when it’s time for photos.

Other Ways to Visit:

For those of you who can’t swim but still want to have some sort of experience similar to the Devil’s pool, there is the option to sit in what is known as Angel’s Pool. It’s just before the Devil’s pool and doesn’t require any swimming to get to. Another way to experience Victoria Falls is to do bungee jumping off of the Victoria Falls Bridge, zip lining, a private helicopter ride (serious views for this one) or gorge swinging.

Wrap Up:

The Devil’s Pool is for the adrenaline junkies that crave their next rush. It’s more mental than it is physical and I would highly recommend it if you love the water and thrilling views.

My trip to the Devil’s Pool was sponsored by Tongabezi Lodge but all words, opinions and photography are my own.