The introduction of a new ‘univisa‘ – one visa for both Zambia and Zimbabwe – has made safaris combining these 2 countries much less hassle.
Arriving at Livingstone airport gave me my first opportunity to take advantage of the new univisa – a joint visa for Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The arrivals hall at Livingstone is brand spanking new and a pleasure to arrive at. Fewer planes arriving means much shorter queues than at Victoria Falls airport on the other side of the Zambezi.
For those interested in such details:
- The cost of the visa is USD50 for UK passport holders, which is less than I paid last year for a Zimbabae visa on its own. This allows you to cross from Zambia to Zimbabwe and cross back again. (for some reason, a colleague arriving at Vic Falls airport was charged USD55.)
- A taxi from the airport to the Zambian border post was USD25.
- The taxi ride across the bridge to the Zimbabwe border post cost me USD5.
- At 10am there were no queues on either the Zambian or the Zimbabwean side and the whole process took about 15 minutes.
- A taxi from the Zimbabwe immigration post into Vic Falls town costs between USD5 – USD10, depending on your bargaining skills.
Kenya Airways
Although I’d be meeting my travelling companions in Victoria Falls, because I was combining travel in both Zambia and Zimbabwe I had opted to fly with Kenya Airways this time. The connections suited my plans, allowing me to fly into Livingstone and out of Lusaka.
A late afternoon arrival into Livingstone, and an element of uncertainty about how long the border crossing could take meant that I had booked myself an overnight in Livingstone before crossing to Victoria Falls.
Chanters Lodge
Chanters Lodge is located about 10 minutes drive from Livingstone airport and comprises 12 rooms in a variety of configurations.
There’s a small swimming pool as well as a bar and restaurant with an excellent choice of dishes.
Richard Chanter, the proprietor, has a long history of hotel management in Kenya and Zambia, ensuring that this lovely little lodge is both efficiently run and very welcoming.