Safety & Health at Victoria Falls: Livingstone, Zambia

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Is Victoria Falls Safe?

On the whole, you’ll find Livingstone, Zambia to be as safe as any other city in Africa. Vic Falls thrives off of tourism, so you’ll find plenty of tourists at every major attraction in town. Even the solo traveler won’t feel alone. However, you may want to be aware of a few situations that may make you slightly uncomfortable.

Street Vendor Persuasion

Walking along the road from Victoria Falls to the Zambian Border Post, over the bridge and into and through Zambia you’ll be approached by street vendors to buy things. Most of their goods are products you wouldn’t want: necklaces, copper bracelets and other assorted figurines. Some will try to sell you Zimbabwean dollars – which I believe is illegal. They’re persistent and will walk right alongside of you into your personal space. Walking alone along the long border, I didn’t particularly care for these lone encounters.

Most of these individuals are harmless and just trying to feed their family, but your instincts will tell you this just doesn’t feel right. Graciously, repeatedly, decline their souvenirs and they’ll move on.

Can I Have a…

I was at the Livingstone Museum and like the falls, was approached and asked to buy some items I didn’t want. Some individuals asked what I had in backpack and if they could borrow a pen. I can’t quite understand why they would ask a question like that – unless they wanted to scope out what valuables I had, by either my answering them, or their peering into my bag as I searched for a pen.

Each situation I described above could have been inconsequential, but having been mugged once before (in Boston), I’m much more observant to human behavior and always trying to anticipate what could happen – even if it doesn’t. At worst, each of these two events were annoying more than anything else.

So what tips do you have to stay safe?

The tips below aren’t unique to Livingstone, but rather, they are advisable  when traveling to any international destination:

1. Don’t travel alone (a tip I acknowledge I didn’t follow on this trip)
2. Avoid overt displays of wealth; flashing cameras, camcorders, etc.
3. Use the hotel safe for any valuables, including your passport
4. Check with the U.S. Department of State for any travel advisories and warnings
5. Bring a local cell phone with you to make emergency calls
6. Always tell the front desk where you are going and when you expect to return
7. Divide up your cash and credit cards so in case they are lost (or stolen), you have backups

Do you have any tips to add to the list? Comment with your best practices.

What about personal health?

Zambia doesn’t have any special health advisories that were of concern to me on this trip. Check the Centers for Disease Control for travelers for country-specific information. I didn’t take malaria medicine for this trip, nor did I drink tap water.

This adventure to Victoria Falls was sponsored by Chanters Lodge, Livingstone. Click the photo to book your Victoria Falls accommodation.

I’ll see you out there…! Because it’s no fun being alone.

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