2 Best Hotels in Livingstone, Zambia

The vibe of California and Marrakesh in the '60s and '70s is alive and well at this collection of thatch huts and campsites along the banks of the Zambezi, 52 km (32 miles) upstream of the Falls. Accommodations are basic but somehow quite perfect, each with gorgeous river views, and there are hot showers and flush toilets. The kitchen is the heart of the island, and the emphasis is on wholesome organic food. Vegetarian diners are always catered to, and coffee is taken fabulously seriously. Whether you are taken for a swim in a shallow section of small rapids naturally protected from crocodiles or hippos, or on a sunrise canoe trip, every day will hold natural wonder. Warning: "island time" operates here and anything goes, so the staid or conservative are likely to find it unsuitable. 

KaingU Safari Lodge is a small camp comprised of a family house with two bedrooms and six classic en suite safari tents. The tents are raised on rosewood decks to provide ideal views over the myriad channels and islands formed by the Kafue River. It's also very remote—situated in the southern reaches of the Kafue National Park. The thatched main building has a lounge, bar, and dining room, where the hosted dinner conversations cover all topics. Two activities are included every day, and the selection ranges from chilled-out river safaris to serious birding excursions. The natural splendor of deepest Zambia takes precedence—at this camp even the swimming pool is a wholly natural Jacuzzi in the rapids of the Kafue!