The best hotels in Livingstone

Fawlty Towers is a long-standing backpacker favourite sitting right in the heart of Livingstone town, close to the main market and local restaurants. The rooms are basic but clean, and the dorms are well maintained for the price. The communal area buzzes with travelers swapping Victoria Falls tips, and the staff arrange affordable activities and transfers. A decent outdoor pool makes the heat manageable. Good for solo travelers watching their budget.

Jollyboys sits on Kanyanta Road near the Livingstone Museum and pulls in a steady crowd of budget travelers passing through Zambia. Private rooms are small but comfortable, and the dorms are among the cleanest at this price point in town. The shaded garden bar is a genuine highlight and serves cold beers at local prices. Staff are helpful and honest about which tours and operators are worth the money. Excellent base for visiting the Falls on a shoestring.

The Waterfront sits directly on the Zambezi River bank about 1.5 kilometres upstream from Victoria Falls, and the location is genuinely hard to beat. Rooms in the chalets face the river and you can watch hippos from the deck at sunrise. The on-site activity centre books everything from white-water rafting to sunset cruises without the markup of town agents. Food at the restaurant is solid and portions are generous. The path to the Falls entrance is walkable from here in under 20 minutes.

Chanters is a small, independently run lodge tucked along Mimosa Drive in a quieter residential pocket of Livingstone. The owners have been here for decades and that shows in the personal service and local knowledge on offer. Rooms are decorated with local fabrics and artwork, giving the place real character compared to the cookie-cutter options in town. The pool garden is a pleasant place to recover after a day at the Falls or a white-water session. Breakfast is freshly cooked and included in the rate.

The Protea sits along Mosi-oa-Tunya Road, the main corridor between Livingstone town and the Victoria Falls entry gate, so logistics are straightforward. Rooms are consistent with the Marriott brand, air-conditioned, and reliably clean with proper blackout curtains. The pool area is well maintained and the bar stocks a decent selection of local and imported drinks. It works well for business travelers who need reliable wifi and conference facilities. Not the most atmospheric option but dependable across the board.

Avani is one of the best-known hotels in Livingstone and sits practically on the doorstep of the Victoria Falls National Park entrance. The grounds are spacious and well landscaped, and several resident warthogs wander the paths between the rooms. The large pool complex is one of the better ones in town and popular with families. Rooms are modern and comfortable without being over-designed. The location means you can visit the Falls at sunrise before any other tourists arrive, which is worth booking for alone.

Ngolide Lodge sits along Sichango Road close to the Zambezi and offers one of the quieter upscale experiences available in Livingstone. The thatched chalets are spacious and decorated with a mix of African craft and clean, modern furnishings. The small size of the property means service is attentive and consistent, which couples particularly appreciate. Sundowner drinks on the river deck with hippos audible in the distance make for a memorable evening. Food quality here is among the best in Livingstone for the price.

The David Livingstone Safari Lodge is built on the Zambezi bank with direct river views from most of the rooms and common areas. The colonial-style architecture is polished but not overdone, and the overall feel is calm and well managed. The infinity pool overlooking the river is a genuine standout and one of the most photographed spots in Livingstone. Guides on site are knowledgeable and can arrange private game walks and bespoke Victoria Falls experiences. Breakfast buffet is extensive and the quality of the evening meals matches the setting.

Tongabezi is located about 20 kilometres upriver from Victoria Falls on a private stretch of the Zambezi and operates at a genuinely high level. The open-fronted river houses and tree cottages have no fourth wall facing the water, so you sleep with the sounds of the Zambezi and the bush directly around you. Staff ratios are exceptional and the experience is personalised from arrival to departure. Dining is served at different river locations each night, which alone justifies the rate. This is one of the most celebrated lodges in southern Africa and the reputation is earned.

The River Club sits on a private Zambezi frontage upstream from Livingstone and delivers a refined, colonial-era atmosphere without feeling dated or stuffy. The cottages are beautifully furnished with antiques and four-poster beds, and each has a private veranda facing the river. Guest numbers are kept deliberately low, which means the service and attention to detail are consistently excellent. Guided Victoria Falls tours, canoe excursions, and private sundowner cruises are all included in the rate. The croquet lawn and library add genuine character to an already special property.