The Victoria Falls Hotel

Established in 1904 and popularly known as the 'Grand Old Lady of the Falls', The Victoria Falls Hotel is set in lush tropical gardens with magnificent views down to the Victoria Falls Bridge and the spray that rises from the falls themselves. An atmospheric five-star hotel, just ten minutes’ walk from the falls via a private pathway, it is easy to see why it has been a favourite of visitors for so long.

The Victoria Falls Hotel, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, was expertly renovated in 2013, combining the charm of the old world with the convenience of the new. The ambience of the hotel is steeped in history with portraits of colonial explorers and royal visitors, and corridors lined with sable, eland and kudu horns. Sitting on Stanley’s Terrace, warthogs digging in the lawn below, and the roar of the falls in the background, it is easy to imagine you have stepped into a past era.

All of the 161 rooms and suites at the Victoria Falls Hotel are en-suite and air-conditioned. As you would expect of a building of this age, all are unique in shape and size, from cosy Standard Rooms, to the more contemporary Signature Stable Wing Rooms, up to the unashamedly luxurious Suites. You’ll find silk hangings, wooden and wicker furniture and vast Edwardian baths, many of which are claw footed. All rooms have satellite television, and a number are inter-leading with private connecting doorways, perfect for families.

The Victoria Falls Hotel offers a range of excellent dining options. The opulent Livingstone Room offers formal dining, with an a la carte menu and award-winning wine list, Jungle Junction with its delicious African buffets and nightly local entertainment, and Stanley’s Terrace with its famous High Tea experience. The swimming pool is a great spot to relax during the heat of the day, with a lunch time barbecue and salad bar often set up under the shade of the trees.

Two tennis courts, and a spa complete the world class facilities, and the hotel’s prime location, just a 10 minute stroll away from Victoria Falls, ensure that access is quick and effortless. Other activities include game-drives and bush walks in the nearby Zambezi National Park, unique art-safaris, cruises on the Zambezi River and vintage steam train excursions. For those in search of an adrenalin buzz, bungee jumping and white water rafting, heli-flips and micro-lighting are all a possibility.

Waking up to the sound of “the smoke that thunders”, seeing the sun rise beneath the mist of one of the seven natural wonders of the world and the lunar rainbow at night, all the while soaking up the history and ambience of a bygone era, is more than unforgettable – it is unique.