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Photo: Thewholeworldisaplayground

Where is Devil’s Pool located?

Devil’s Pool is a natural pool of water that’s situated atop Victoria Falls, renowned for being among the largest waterfalls in the world. Right on the edge of this massive waterfall, a calm pool of water forms. This is known as the Devil’s Pool Victoria Falls. And daring visitors can actually swim in this pool straddling the edge of Victoria Falls, Roamingaroundtheworld.com reported.

Devil’s Pool Victoria Falls is located in sub-Saharan Africa. It’s in the Zambezi River, along the Zambia-Zimbabwe border.

Devil’s Pool is a death-defying feat that even the most casual of thrill-seekers must add to their travel bucket list.

Devil’s Pool Victoria Falls Deaths – Has Anyone Died Going Over Victoria Falls?

In 2009, a brave Zimbabwean tour guide was presumed dead after plunging 90m into the Victoria Falls while trying to rescue a tourist, police said.

The unnamed man was working for a South African tour company, Sunway Safaris, said Victoriafalls-guide.net.

The man was accompanying several western tourists on the Zambian side of the world's largest waterfall. Here, tourists swim dangerously close to the tipping point of the falls, only prevented from falling by a slippery, submerged lip of rock.

Only the brave attempt a swim in the aptly named Devil's Pool - and tour guides are tasked with ensuring their safety.

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Photo: Travellingtheworldsolo

It was in fulfilling this duty that the tragic tour guide dived into the water to rescue stranded tourists.

A witness told the Sunday Mail: "The tour guide quickly grabbed the tourist’s hand and successfully pulled him back into the pool but in the process, he slipped and fell into the gorge down below."

Horrified tourists on either side of the falls witnessed the incident. Chief Inspector Chisoni, in charge of the Victoria Falls Police Station (Zambia), said the tour guide is believed to have driven the tourists from South Africa.

Since this report - findings have confirmed that it did not occur at Devils Pool, it actually occurred away from the area and by an unofficial operator.

The trip is hugely popular, and no-one has ever been swept over the Falls on these tours - in fact no-one is known to have ever died at the Devil's Pool.

Is Devil’s Pool Scary?

You’re literally on the edge of one of the largest waterfalls in the world. So, no, Devil’s Pool is not scary – it’s absolutely terrifying! Yet it’s still an exhilarating thrill that is a lot of fun.

If the fear of going over the edge and the thought of crocs in the water aren’t enough to completely freak you out, there’s also another unexpected surprise in Devil’s Pool. There are fish that bite you during your dip in Devil’s Pool. It’s not enough to draw blood, but it will definitely make you jump a bit. So just be forewarned and don’t be startled enough to jump over the edge.

But yes, Devil’s Pool is indeed scary. Or, at least we thought so. Everyone judges the fear factor of this experience differs from one another. Yet we think most sane people would agree that Devil’s Pool is a frightening experience. Even with this extreme fear factor, Devil’s Pool can also be an awesome thrill!

Devil's Pool trip where clients are taken by boat to Livingstone Island from the Zambian side of the river. Here, water levels allowing, tourists are able to safely swim in the Devil's Pool, under the close supervision of trained guides. The trip is hugely popular, and no-one has ever been swept over the Falls on these tours - in fact, no-one is known to have ever died at the Devil's Pool.

Before Tongabezi launched their Livingstone Island tours many tourists would undertake 'unofficial' (and illegal) trips along the crest line of the Falls, which at low water are bare for much of the length and gives access to the various dive and swim pools along the lip. In 2009 a guide sadly died saving a tourist - however, this accident did not happen at the Devil's Pool as is often claimed in online news reports. The client slipped while leaping across a small water channel on the edge of the Falls and the guide saved him, and unfortunately in the process slipped into the water and was swept over the edge.

Have there been any Devil’s Pool Victoria Falls accidents?

Yes, there have been accidents at Devil’s Pool.

Most Devil’s Pool accidents have been from people slipping on wet rocks, causing minor injuries. Be careful on these rocks! Don’t let your guard down just because you’re not right on the edge of the waterfall.

As if the threat of falling off this enormous waterfall wasn’t enough, you also must consider the risk of running into a hippo or crocodile in Devil’s Pool. Yes, there are also hippos and crocodiles in the waters atop Victoria Falls.

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Photo: Drinkteatravel

Guides do check for crocodiles before entering the water. “Our guide told us he’s never seen any crocodiles in Devil’s Pool itself, but the Zambezi most definitely is their habitat. The waters here are fairly shallow and I’d like to think that such a large creature like a croc or hippo would be clearly evident. So we don’t view this as too big of a risk. Yet finding dangerous wildlife here is not outside the realm of possibility. We spotted some hippos during the short boat ride to Devil’s Pool”, a review told Roamingaroundtheworld.com.

What are the best months to visit Devil’s Pool?

The only way to access Devil’s Pool is seasonal boat tours to Livingstone Island. These operate for seven months of the year, i.e. June to December. They include an optional dip in the pool, but only when the Zambezi is low enough to swim there safely. This is usually from mid-August to the end of December, with access being most reliable in October and November when the flow is weakest. Be aware, however, that seasonal levels vary from one year to the next, depending on how much and when it rained further upstream. The pool is closed to tourists when the flow is dangerously high, usually from 1 January to sometime in August, according to Safaribookings.

When’s the best time of day to visit Devil’s Pool?

Visits to Devil’s Pool are restricted to boat tours to Livingstone Island operated by Tongabezi Safaris. These leave five times daily in season (June to December). The 1.5-hour ‘Livingstone Breezer’ tours leave at 7:30 AM, 9 AM, and 10:30 AM. There is also a 2.5-hour Lunch Tour that departs at 12:30 PM and a 2-hour High Tea tour at 3:30 PM. The riverine scenery is most photogenic in the early morning or late afternoon, which ties in with the 7:30 AM and 3:30 PM departures. Swimming is perhaps more pleasant in the heat of the day, which links with tours departing at 9 AM, 10:30 AM, and 12:30 PM.

Do you need to be fit to reach Devil’s Pool?

No. But you should ideally be able to swim. Medium to strong swimmers head to the Devil’s Pool from Livingstone Island, swimming upstream for a short distance then back downstream into the pool itself. Weak swimmers can wade from the island to the pool, provided they don’t mind being submerged waist-deep. In both instances, experienced guides are there to instruct and, if necessary, assist. There’s nothing preventing non-swimmers from wading across either, but they are at slightly greater risk.

How much does Devil’s Pool, Victoria Falls cost?

The 1.5-hour ‘Livingstone Breezer’ tours cost US$110 per person. Lunch Tours costs US$175 per person and High Tea tours US$150 per person.

Can you visit Devil’s Pool from the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls?

No problem! Any tour operator or hotel on the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls can book you onto a day tour to Livingstone Island and Devil’s Pool. It is also advisable to arrange transport to the Zambian launch point. Most visitors to Zambia require a visa, which can be obtained on arrival at the border. Don’t forget your passport and leave in plenty of time to complete border formalities.

Is Devil’s Pool Victoria Falls Safe?

Questions about Devil’s Pool Victoria Falls deaths and safety is usually the first thing everyone asks about this crazy adventure.

So is Devil’s Pool Victoria Falls safe? The answer is a matter of opinion. Devil’s Pool can be a relatively safe experience overall, a review said to Roamingaroundtheworld.com.

Devil’s Pool is certainly not without some significant risks that adventure-seekers should be aware of.

In Devil’s Pool itself, there is a rock lip that protrudes upward which keeps you from falling over the edge. Under the low water conditions that you’re permitted to enter Devil’s Pool, you would have to make a concerted effort to actually go up and over that rock that’s naturally keeping you in. This rock lip seemed thick and sturdy.

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Photo: Pinterest

Before getting to Devil’s Pool Zambia, you must take a short swim in the Zambezi River right above Victoria Falls, from Livingston Island to Devil’s Pool. Many people don’t realize this.

You cross a portion of the Zambezi River by swimming partially up-current for the first half of the swim. For the latter half, you transition to swimming across and down current. There are guides that will instruct you. The current wasn’t strong at all, but there was a current nonetheless. This swim through the Zambezi takes place in what we estimate to be about 50 to 100 meters from the edge of Victoria Falls.

Weaker swimmers are accommodated by wading through the water. Here, the water is about stomach-deep, depending on the water levels. Guides assist by holding hands, only if needed.

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