Sep 25, 2024
A MUST DO!! - My wife and I loved it and we are in our mid 60s and live in the US.
If I could give this an extra credit star, I would. Exhilarating, enjoyable and entertaining!
Sitting on the edge of the falls with a beautiful rainbow below us was an insane feeling.
Not sure what the person was talking about that left a bad review about having to be a good swimmer. My wife is a poor swimmer and there was no issue with her getting to the edge of Devil’s Pool or back from it.
Not that it was easy, but you walk most of it. On the way to the Pool, there is a rope that you hold onto for most of the way. You do have to be wary of the mossy rocks under water. Once in the Pool, you walk and when you are not walking you are able to hold onto rocks as you make your way to the edge!
Onto the guides: they were helpful, knowledgeable and observant.
On the short boat ride to Livingstone Island, the driver-guide knew exactly where the rocks were just under the surface of the water and he navigated the Zambezi River easily. We saw elephants, zebras and hippos on the drives to and from the island which was an added treat.
At Devil’s Pool the guides assisted those who were having a harder time by lending a hand or ushering them through a less dangerous, though slightly longer, route.
Also at the Pool, they kept an eye on everyone and immediately raced in whenever any of the patrons looked like they may need assistance.
We were on the 9:00 AM tour so after being in the Pool, we were led back to Livingstone’s island where we were given a wonderful meal.
Communication could be better with the tour company, but this was the best tour that I’ve ever been on.
All in all, to those of you who are contemplating this tour:
- if you are being picked up in Zimbabwe, you will need to bring your passport.
- If you are being picked up in Zambia, you will not need to bring your passport.
- Be aware that you will probably be picked up earlier than the time noted on the site. Our tour started at 9, but the bus picked us up at 8.
- This is not the US, so a lot of the safety measures that are in place in the states, due to Americans and their lawyers, are not there. Common sense will dictate what you should do. If you have an issue with that, don’t book the tour.
- There is a charge for being picked up and dropped off. If the transportation is not noted in the “included list” on the web page, don’t complain when you have to pay.
Review provided by Viator
Sep 18, 2024
Amazing experience! - This is a must do experience for the sheer thrill alone! Note: It is only possible during low water in the dry season and you must be a competent swimmer. Lying prone with your head over the edge of the falls with the water crashing down is both scary and exhilarating! A once in a lifetime experience!!
Review provided by Viator
Sep 17, 2024
Best part of my trip to zambia - Amazing tour the swim over zambezi was easy, they made sure we were safe at all times. the tour guide did an amazing job taking pictures in pool. They kept all our phones in a waterproof bag so didn’t have to worry about that. Provided towels and a great breakfast. So glad i did it
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 10, 2024
Victoria Falls Devils Pool - This is such a unique experience that can't be replicated anywhere else. The group were great at communicating expectations with us about pickup and shuttle across the better from Zimbabwe to Zambia. We felt completely safe the entire time and the water was refreshing, but not freezing, at such an early hour. Definitely a memory for life.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 9, 2024
Bucket list - Stunning experience, guides were so professional and made us feel very safe and comfortable. The experience is something you can't really explain and definitely a bucket list for anyone. You also get to see the falls from a different perspective ❤️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 1, 2024
Just do it! - Scary, brilliant, exhilarating - but safe! - experience. We walked back and forth (with our guide) and didn't have a meal, making it much more affordable, and the walk was very interesting. Just do it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 3, 2024
Don’t miss doing this ! - Tamuka travel organised the tour for us, but it is run by Tongebezi Lodge. No tour company run the actual experience, merely the transport and booking you in on the day and time requested at booking. Our taxi was 15 minutes late as another couple were not ready for pick up. Also it was an extra $32 for our return transport to the Zambia border where you are taken by another taxi driver to the venue.
At the venue, it is a very slick operation and the guides are really excellent, do tip them!!! We went on the first boat at 07.30. We had water shoes, definitely required as rocks both sharp and very slippery. You can hire them there, but towels are provided, no need to bring one as stated. Waivers to be signed etc but soon your group is assigned a leader who travels with you on the speedboat to Livingston Island, chilly ride at that time of the morning. Easier if you are already changed into swimwear,though basic loo on the island, ones to use are at the Zambia venue before you set off, really clean. Boat journey about ten minutes. You meet the chef and choose your meal option, then take off any clothes apart from swimwear and shoes. Everything put into a box, we had passports and cash and all was there on our return. Towels are taken with you to nearer the falls. Phones are given to the groups leader who keeps them in waterproof bag. You then swim, wade and clamber to Devils pool. Guides hugely helpful, we had a non swimmer in our small group of 4. We all felt very safe and they have a very well organised route. Just do as the guides ask! We had a full rainbow over the falls on our visit. It really is an amazing experience. Your leader takes several photos and video footage of your time in the pool. You do not get to take your own photos until outside the pool. Some people complained the photos were not very good, but we were pleased with ours and thought the venue could quite easily put in a professional photographer and make people buy these and ban mobile phones altogether! You don’t have a huge amount of time in the pool as obviously there is queue of chilly groups perched on rocks waiting their turn, but we did not feel rushed, felt it enough time. It really is an incredible experience…. Don’t miss it!!!! After retracing steps back to island, we were reunited with our towels and more photos by the falls, then a quick change before lovely breakfast with hot drinks and returned to the boat for return journey. Our Tamuka travel taxi was waiting for us right outside the venue for our journey back to Vic Falls
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 27, 2024
Thrill seekers, don’t miss this, no matter what! - I was skeptical that this would be nothing more than a selfie generator for social media obsessed teens. It turned out to be a highlight of our trip. I went with my 18 and 15 year old daughters. From Livingstone Island, you swim across the top of the waterfall (!) over to the Devils Pool and then they help you safely creep up toward the edge while holding your ankles. It sounds insanely dangerous but is completely safe at all times. They take photos with your phone. It’s amazing. Definitely buy the water shoes as the rocks are sharp!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 1, 2024
Wouldn’t do it again - Be sure who you are booking with and that the actual operator is the one handling your booking and transport and that it’s not some sort of scam to get you to pay twice. It’s not safe at all but if you want to do something reckless go for it. There’s no safety rope or anything, just a guy holding you by your feet, you have to be a good swimmer, lots of people booked this not knowing you had to swim out there
Review provided by Viator
Sep 11, 2024
BUYER BEWARE - DO NOT TRUST THIS TOUR COMPANY - DO NOT BOOK THIS!
My wife and I were picked up in Victoria Falls and driven North ro an unknown location in Zimbabwe on the river.
The driver acted like.he did not know what was going on
I checked my map on the cell and saw we were driving away from the Zambia boarder - very concerning and scary for my wife- we were handed off to a tour with no explanation- when asked what was going on I was assured all was fine- the tour company passed us off to some other tour without our permission nor knowledge- we were STUCK and trapped. I had paid the $20/pp US for transport and acquired the proper muti entry Visa for Zimbabwe to Zambia for $100 US - NEVER USED IT.
When we got into the boat for the tour I questioned the guide and through several questions they finally told me that we were not going to Devils Pool on the Zambia side but to Devils Cataract on the Zimbabwe side- I was very MAD I was deceived and ripped off. Traveled all this way - booked well in advance to have the tour company just deceive me and scare my wife!
BUYER BEWARE!
Now I'm out $100 Visa expenses and the $40 transfer fee not to mention my wife and I will probably never get to experience Devils Pool - this really SUCKS!
Review provided by Tripadvisor