Fly Cape Town to Livingstone Direct

I am so chuffed that Zambezi Airlines have decided to start operating direct non-stop flights from Cape Town to Livingstone. As a Capetonian, the last time I flew the route I first had to fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg, then spend a night there, before catching a 1time flight from Johannesburg to Livingstone.

From the 30th June 2011 it’ll be an easy hop with Zambezi Airlines from CPT to Livingstone. Their flights leave at 08h00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, arriving in Livingstone at 11h10. And if you’re interested in going to Lusaka, there’s an onwards flight which arrives there at 12h55. Zambezi Airlines are also planning to offer a coach service between Livingstone and Victoria Falls (let’s face it, that’s where 90% of the passengers are heading), but if you want to do a self drive, there are a lot of 4×4 rental options available from all airports. They’re also setting up an agreement with Pro flight Zambia, to allow connections to be sold to other Zambian tourist destinations.

Victoria Falls is, in my opinion, the most amazing natural attraction in southern Africa. We went during the rainy season, and never in my life have I before experienced water coming at me from below and from above simultaneously (the water jets up from the force of the falls, and then falls again as rain). Next time I want to go in the dry season (April to October), and canoe with a guide to Livingstone Island in the middle of the falls (best to stay at the Royal Livingstone for that experience) and swim in the devil’s pool, right next to the falls. I want to time it for full moon, so that I can see a lunar rainbow through the falls. If you haven’t done it before, definitely do the helicopter flip over the falls – it was the highlight of my last trip there, with unsurpassed views of the Falls and its surroundings.

Other things to try doing are:

Bungy jump over the Zambezi

Visit the crocodile ranch

Horse riding

Elephant safari

White water rafting on the Zambezi

microlight flight over the falls

Zambezi River cruise at sunset

We stayed at the Kingdom Hotel on the Zimbabwean side, which offered good value for money and is pretty close to the Falls. Other good spots are the Zambesi Sun Hotel, the Royal Livingstone and the Victoria Falls Hotel (with a classic view of the Falls).

And if you’re not in Cape Town, there are also flight options from Johannesburg to either Livingstone (BA, SAA, Zambian Airlines or 1time) or Victoria Falls (BA and SAA); and even from Nelspruit to Livingstone with Airlink. For flights from outside South Africa, I recommend British Airways or Cheap Tickets @ CheapOair and cheapoair.ca (as it connects to both Livingstone and Victoria Falls Airport from Johannesburg).