The Amazing Devil’s Pool

Livingstone Island is only a short swim away from Devil's Pool, which is situated in the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls.

Livingstone Island, which can be reached from the Zambian side of the Falls via speedboat in 5 minutes, is named for the Scottish explorer Dr. David Livingstone. In a dug-out canoe, he was propelled through rapids that were quite fast in the direction of the noise and rising cloud of mist suspended above a cliff that the entire Zambezi River crashed over. On the edge of the chasm, on what was previously known as "Goat Island," the Makololo paddlers expertly managed to land him. On November 16, 1855, after taking a few steps through a little rainforest, he came face to face with one of the most breathtaking vistas on earth, which he dubbed the Victoria Falls after his Queen.

A professional skipper picks up passengers in a twin-engine boat nowadays and follows Livingstone's route to the island to provide the finest possible view of the Falls. All excursions to the island must take place during the "low water" season, which typically lasts from mid-July to the end of January. Visits during high tide are not possible because the island is constantly being sprayed or rained on by the Falls.

Adventuresome swimmers can splash around in relative safety only a few centimeters from where the water crashes over the Falls when the river flow drops to a specific level, typically between September and December. This occurs when a rock barrier creates an eddy with a weak stream.

To get to the pool, one must first navigate a rocky path and take a quick dip in the Zambezi. Once there, the brave ones dive in, only to be forced over the brink by the river's fury. The waters of the Zambezi smash over the cliffs a few feet away as they come to a stop at the granite lip, often known as the "Devil's Armchair." In attendance are guides who will watch out for you and prevent you from going too far.