Zambezi Dusk suits families who want a small, safe-feeling base on the river with the logistics already handled. Meals, selected drinks, airport transfers, two guided boat safaris a day from the lodge and two daily activities from the guided list are in the rate, so you are not pricing every outing in front of the children. Victoria Falls is about 30 minutes away by road.
Keeping everyone together
Families have three kinds of room to choose from at the lodge: the Zambezi Dusk Villa, the Superior Zambezi Chalets and luxury safari tents. The villa is the obvious choice if you want everyone under one roof. With older children, a chalet for the parents and a tent for the teenagers can work well.
We don't publish bed counts or room layouts on this page. They depend on how the lodge sets up for your family, so give the lodge your numbers and ages when you enquire.
What a family day looks like
The rhythm of a safari lodge suits children better than you might expect, because the busy hours are early and late and the middle of the day is for the pool.
- Early morning: boat safari from the lodge while it is cool. Hippos and crocodiles are very likely on this stretch of river; elephants often come down to drink in the dry months.
- Late morning: a trip out, or nothing at all.
- Midday: lunch and the pool.
- Late afternoon: the second boat safari, ending at sunset.
Because the boat leaves from the lodge, there are no long game drives with a bored five-year-old in the back. That alone is a good reason to stay on the river rather than in town.
Trips worth taking with children
- Victoria Falls. The Zambian side has paths along the edge of the gorge. Hold small hands on wet paths, and expect to get soaked from March to May.
- Local market visits. A good way for children to see Livingstone as it is, not as a set of attractions.
- Walking with rhinos in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Operators set a minimum age, usually somewhere between 12 and 15, so it is one for teenagers.
- A Chobe day trip into Botswana. Huge elephant herds in the dry season, but a long day with a border crossing at each end.
These are run by partner operators and arranged by the lodge. Not all are included in the rate, so ask which are covered for your dates.
Ages and limits
Some of the famous activities around Livingstone are not for children. The bungee jump at the Victoria Falls Bridge has a minimum age of 14 and a minimum weight of 40 kg. Rafting operators also set teenage minimums. If you have a mix of ages, plan one big activity for the older children while the younger ones stay on the river with a parent.
Health and practicalities
Livingstone is in a malaria area. Every room has mosquito nets and repellent, and the lodge has a 24-hour emergency contact, but talk to a travel clinic about antimalarials for each child well before you travel. Long sleeves at dusk help more than any spray.
The hottest months, September to November, regularly pass 35°C. Small children cope better in June to August, when days are warm and dry and nights are cool. School holidays in July and August line up neatly with that.
For packing and more on travelling with young children, read safari with children in Livingstone and the lodge packing list.
Paying
Bookings are confirmed on full prepayment within three days of booking. Carry some US dollars or kwacha in small notes for tips and market stalls; cards can be limited outside town.