There are a lot of incredible things to do in Livingstone. Helicopter flights over Victoria Falls. Sunset cruises on the Zambezi. Devil’s Pool. Safari drives.
But walking through the African bush at sunset, coming face-to-face with endangered white rhinos on foot, is something that stays with you forever.
This ended up being one of the genuine highlights of our trip to Zambia.
We booked the experience through Livingstone’s Adventure, a local operator that specialises in Victoria Falls and Livingstone experiences ranging from helicopter flights and river cruises through to safaris, rafting and all adventure activities.
Pick Up From The Royal Livingstone Hotel
We were staying at the beautiful Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara, so Livingstone’s Adventure arranged for a driver to collect us directly from the hotel that afternoon.
From there, we were taken to the company’s activity centre, before jumping into an open-top safari jeep with our guide and heading toward Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, approximately 15-minutes drive away.
Within moments of entering the park, we had our first wildlife encounter - a herd of buffalo grazing through tall green grass beneath a lush palm tree forest. It honestly looked completely different to the buffalo settings we’d experienced in other African national parks. Everything felt greener, more tropical, more vibrant. The late afternoon light filtering through the palms made the whole scene feel almost cinematic.
As we continued deeper into the park, wildlife kept appearing around every corner. Baboons everywhere, monkeys darting through the trees, Impala moving gracefully through the bushland.
Then came one of our favourite little moments of the afternoon. A family of warthogs scattering across the track as our jeep rounded a bend. Watching the tiny piglets sprinting after mum and dad with their little tails sticking straight up was ridiculously cute.
Not long after, we came across several zebra herds peacefully grazing through the open grasslands as the afternoon sun slowly softened overhead.
The Search For The Rhinos
After roughly an hour driving through the park, we still hadn’t located the famous white rhinos that inhabit Mosi-oa-Tunya.
The sun was beginning to sink lower toward the horizon, and we genuinely started wondering whether we were going to find them before darkness set in.
Our guide continued searching, covering huge sections of the park, but still no luck. As the minutes passed, our anticipation grew…but so did the apprehension.
We’d travelled all this way for the chance to witness these incredible animals in the wild, and it suddenly felt very possible that it might not happen.
Then things changed.
While traversing another section of the park, we came across two armed anti-poaching guards patrolling the area.
The Reality Of Rhino Poaching
Rhino poaching remains one of the most devastating wildlife crimes in Africa.
These beautiful animals are hunted and killed purely for their horns, which are trafficked illegally and sold on black markets overseas under completely false beliefs about medicinal value and status symbolism. It’s really cruel and heartbreaking.
At Vacaay, conservation and animal welfare are things we take extremely seriously, so hearing firsthand about the ongoing work being done to protect these endangered animals hit close to home for us.
Today, Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park plays an incredibly important role in rhino conservation within Zambia, with anti-poaching patrols working tirelessly to protect these animals from illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking.
The guards explained that the rhinos had recently moved into another part of the park, and fortunately, they knew exactly where they were. So they climbed into the back of our jeep to guide us toward them, both carrying AK-47s as part of their daily anti-poaching patrol work.
After spending time with them, it became obvious just how much responsibility rests on their shoulders. These guys are out there patrolling huge areas of wilderness, helping ensure future generations still get the chance to see rhinos in the wild.
Honestly, they’re the real heroes of this story.
Walking Toward The Rhinos On Foot
Eventually, our guides successfully tracked the rhinos down.
Rather than approaching too closely in the jeep and risking disturbing them, we parked a fair distance away, climbed out quietly, and formed a single-file line.
Guide at the front. Guide at the back. Our small group in the middle.
Before we started walking, we were given a quick briefing:
Stay quiet.
Do not run if a rhino charges.
Stand your ground.
Do not break the line.
Safe to say, our adrenaline levels immediately increased.
By this point, the sun was getting ready to set, casting this beautiful golden light across the park that somehow made the entire experience feel even more surreal.
We slowly walked through the bush for a few minutes, hearing branches crunch beneath our feet while the park fell almost completely silent around us.
Then the guide suddenly stopped.
And there, less than 10 metres away, stood five huge white rhinos grazing through the grass, occasionally snorting and breathing heavily as the sun dipped lower behind them.
Seeing them this close, on foot, in the wild, was honestly hard to put into words.
These endangered animals were absolutely massive. Thick, powerful bodies, huge horns fully intact. Yet somehow incredibly calm and completely unfazed by our presence. It almost felt like they knew we meant no harm. Perhaps they’ve grown familiar with the presence of the armed guards who protect them every day.
Walking With Rhinos is a True Bucket List Experience
We spent around 20 minutes simply standing there in awe, taking it all in, watching them peacefully graze as the African sun dipped lower behind the trees.
We managed to capture some incredible photos and content for socials, but truthfully, this was one of those experiences where the memories in your head are even better than anything on your camera roll.
Eventually though, it was time to quietly make our way back through the bush, return to the jeep, and exit the park before darkness fully arrived.
Walking with rhinos in Mosi-oa-Tunya ended up being one of the absolute highlights of our Zambia trip. A genuine bucket list experience.
If you’re visiting Livingstone, or even staying across the border in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, we honestly think the rhino walk in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is worth making the trip for.
