Cheap Flights to Livingstone in December
Fares shown are modelled estimates, not live quotes.
Weather & Crowds in December
Wet season in full swing; Falls volume rising dramatically and the roar returns. A smaller wave of visitors arrives for Christmas holidays, pushing prices up despite the rain.
Livingstone in December
Wet season with Christmas holiday prices — a strange combination of low-season weather and high-season lodge rates driven by the holiday crowd. The Falls recharge dramatically through December; by month's end the roar is back. If traveling over Christmas week, book 4-5 months ahead. The week between Christmas and New Year sees the most American visitors of any wet-season period.
Prices shown are estimates. Search Google Flights for current options and pricing.
Quick Reference
Daily Budget in Livingstone
$18 dorm bed at Jollyboys, $15 food (local nshima lunch at K60 + street food), $7 transport (taxis around town), $25 one activity (Falls entry $20 or a short zip-line)
$130 mid-range lodge room, $40 food (breakfast included + dinner at Olga's or Fez), $10 taxis, $20 sundowner cruise or entry fees
$350 Royal Livingstone or Tongabezi lodge, $80 private guided game drive or helicopter flight, $60 fine dining, $60 spa or premium activities like Devil's Pool access
Book the Devil's Pool experience directly through Tongabezi Lodge rather than through a third-party activity operator — Tongabezi manages the licensed access to the natural rock pool at the very lip of Victoria Falls on Livingstone Island, and booking directly (about $165/person including boat transfer and Falls entry) gets you a smaller group, a better briefing, and a Zambian guide who's swum that pool 2,000 times. The downstream operators sell the same experience at similar prices but with larger groups. Go in September or October when the water level is lowest and the pool is calmest — swimming 10 feet from the edge of the world's largest waterfall is genuinely the most surreal thing you'll do in Africa.
Where to Stay
The stretch of road running from central Livingstone toward the Falls is where the top-end lodges concentrate — Royal Livingstone Hotel sits literally on the Zambezi riverbank with zebras grazing the lawn, and Avani Victoria Falls Resort is steps from the Falls entry gate. If budget allows, staying here eliminates taxi costs and puts you on the river for sundowners every evening. Rates run $200–500/night.
The colonial downtown around Mosi-oa-Tunya Road and Akapelwa Street has the Fairmount Hotel, a handful of guesthouses in the $60–120/night range, and all the practical infrastructure — ATMs, the Shoprite supermarket, the Zambia National Tourist Board office, and the train station. Fez Bar and Olga's Italian Corner are walkable, and it's a short $4 taxi ride to the Falls. Noisy and lively but authentic Zambia.
A cluster of backpacker lodges and activity operators sits about 3km north of town along the river, anchored by Jollyboys Backpackers and Maramba River Lodge. Dormitory beds run $15–20/night and private rooms $50–80. This area is where the 20-something overland truck crowd congregates — it's social, safe, and within walking distance of several activities booking desks. Grab dinner at the Waterfront Restaurant for a riverside meal under $25.
Events & Festivals
The Lozi people's royal ceremony marking the Barotse floodplain flooding in western Zambia — the Litunga (king) paddles his royal barge from the flooded plain to higher ground, accompanied by 100+ paddlers and thousands of spectators. It's technically held in Mongu (5 hours from Livingstone) but tour operators run dedicated Kuomboka packages from Livingstone and it's the most spectacular traditional ceremony in Zambia. The date shifts yearly based on flood levels.
A three-day street festival held in late July featuring live music, food stalls, cultural performances, and local craft markets centered on the town center. It coincides with peak dry season and draws both locals and tourists; accommodation gets tighter than usual so book a week ahead. Good gateway to meeting Zambians outside the tourist bubble.
An increasingly popular trail and road running event with courses ranging from 21km to 100km through the bush and along the Zambezi gorge — some routes cross into Zimbabwe. Attracts serious runners from across Africa and a growing contingent of American ultrarunners; spectating is free and the atmosphere at the finish line is genuinely electric.
Other Good Times to Visit Livingstone
Frequently Asked Questions
Is December a good time to visit Livingstone?
How much do flights to Livingstone cost in December?
What's the weather like in Livingstone in December?
How far in advance should I book flights to Livingstone in December?
Save a price alert for Livingstone
Fare reviews and notifications for Livingstone are paused while the fare feed moves to a new provider. You can save the route now.
Your saved route will be waiting when fare reviews resume.
Create a price alert