Top 10 Luxury Hotels In And Around Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, which means “The Smoke that Thunders” in the Lozi language, is one of the world’s most famous and magnificent waterfalls. It is located in southern Africa on the Zambezi River, between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Scottish explorer David Livingstone, the first European to see the falls in 1855, named them after Queen Victoria.
Victoria Falls is 1.7 kilometers (1.1 miles) wide and 108 meters (354 feet) tall, making it the world’s largest sheet of falling water. While it is neither the tallest or broadest waterfall, the combination of its width and height creates an unforgettable spectacle.
Victoria Falls is definiltey one of the highlights of any Southern African trip and can be combined into a number of safari itineraries that include South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe & Zambia. Besides the beautiful and breath taking sights of the Victoria Falls there are a plethora of activities to excite and entertain visitors to the area. Some of these activities include, guided tours, helicopter rides, white-water rafting, bungee jumping, zip-lining, game-viewing, canoe trips, sundown cruises, island getaways, bird watching, cultural trips, dancing and lots more. Travelers can even take day trips to the famous Chobe Game Reserve in Botswana.
There are some amazing accommodation options for those wanting to experience the more luxurious side of Africa and the falls. Below we have listed 10 of our favourite luxury hotels around Victoria Falls.
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The Royal Livingstone Hotel (Zambia)
The Royal Livingstone Hotel is a magnificent 5-star hotel on the banks of Zambia’s Zambezi River, near to the Victoria Falls.
The hotel is named after the explorer David Livingstone and is designed to replicate a bygone era’s colonial splendour. It has stunning architecture, rich planted gardens, and breathtaking views of the river and surrounding landscape. The hotel is highly sought after for its UNESCO World Heritage location, fine dining, adventurous outdoor activities, and warm hospitality. It is located on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River. Relax in exquisite safari flair just steps from one of the World’s Seven Natural Wonders. Views of the Zambezi River and the savannah stretch from every balcony while you rest in style.
The Royal Livingstone Hotel has 173 rooms and suites, each with a private balcony overlooking the Zambezi River. The rooms have modern conveniences such as air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms, satellite television, and free Wi-Fi.
The Royal Livingstone Dining Room, which serves a mix of local and foreign cuisine in a classy environment, is one of the hotel’s dining options. The Travellers Bar, where visitors may enjoy a drink while appreciating the river views, and the Sun Deck, a popular place for watching the sunset over the Zambezi, are both available at the hotel.
The Royal Livingstone Hotel provides a unique blend of colonial charm, modern luxury, and easy access to the Victoria Falls and other attractions
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The Victoria Falls Hotel (Zimbabwe)
The Victoria Falls Hotel, sometimes known as “the grand old lady of the falls,” is a historic 5-star hotel in Zimbabwe with views of the Victoria Falls Bridge and the gorges below. The hotel, which was built in 1904, is one of the oldest and most famous in Africa, with a rich history and magnificent colonial architecture.
The hotel has 161 rooms and suites, all of which are elegantly equipped and styled in a traditional Edwardian manner. Many of the hotel’s rooms have views of the verdant gardens, the Victoria Falls Bridge, or the gorges.
It can be tough to decide where to eat when staying at the Victoria Falls Hotel due to its many delicious options. The Livingstone Room serves a combination of local and foreign cuisine in an exquisite environment. The Jungle Junction restaurant offers a more casual dining experience with buffet-style meals and live entertainment, and Stanley’s Terrace, with its breathtaking views of the Victoria Falls Bridge and the gorges, is a popular site for afternoon tea or sundowners.
The Victoria Falls Hotel is known for its exceptional service, historic charm, and prime location, making it a popular choice for travelers visiting the Victoria Falls area.
High Tea At The Victoria Falls Hotel
High tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel is a pleasant and sophisticated experience that harkens back to the colonial era. It is held on the hotel’s iconic Stanley’s Terrace, which offers stunning views of the Victoria Falls Bridge, gorges, and falls spray.
High tea is served in the late afternoon, allowing guests to take in the scenery and the warm glow of the setting sun. The experience includes a variety of fine teas and coffees, as well as finger sandwiches, pastries, cakes, and scones served with clotted cream and preserves.
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The Stanley and Livingstone Boutique Hotel (Zimbabwe)
Stanley & Livingstone offers you to explore or simply unwind in one of the continent’s most renowned destinations, surrounded by the serenity of Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve and conveniently positioned just 15 minutes from the Falls itself.
Victoria Falls is yours to discover when you stay at Stanley & Livingstone, and it’s a great place to stop if you’re on an exciting Southern African trip. The thoughtful amenities, attentive service, and outstanding food at the hotel enhance your experience by ensuring you are properly taken care of – a characteristic of Stanley & Livingstone. It is up to you to pick how much or how little you want to see and do.
Their MORE Family Concierge team can help you with complimentary hotel transfers to connect you to Victoria Falls, while wildlife safaris are available on the reserve.
Despite their modern conveniences, the 16 Suites capture the elegance of a bygone century. Their new design is a relaxed take on colonial elegance, encouraging you to make yourself at home.
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Matetsi Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
Matetsi Victoria Falls is a luxury lodge on a private wildlife concession along the banks of Zimbabwe’s Zambezi River, approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) upstream from the famed Victoria Falls. The resort is located on a 15,000-hectare (37,000-acre) private reserve, offering guests an exclusive and immersive African safari experience paired with the region’s spectacular natural beauty.
Matetsi River Lodge and Matetsi River House are the lodge’s two intimate camps. Matetsi River Lodge has 18 luxury suites, including two family suites, and Matetsi River House is a four-bedroom exclusive-use house ideal for families or groups of friends. The rooms are meant to blend in with the surroundings and provide breathtaking views of the Zambezi River.
Children of all ages are welcome.
Visitors are welcome to dine in their restaurant for brunches, long relaxing lunches, afternoon teas on the patio, and candlelit dinners. The à la carte menus feature regional flavours and innovative twists on old favourites, and kids will love their own delicious choices to chose from.
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Tongabezi Lodge (Zambia)
This award-winning eco-lodge in Zambia embraces the serenity of its secluded setting on the Zambezi River’s banks.
Relax just 12 kilometers upstream of Victoria Falls, combining romance and elegance with a dash of adventure. Tongabezi’s cheerful staff welcomes guests to a variety of Homes and Cottages, each with décor meticulously selected from Africa. Immerse yourself in nature while enjoying one-of-a-kind meals and river activities.
Tongabezi Lodge started from humble beginning with tents and bucket showers, but now it is listed as one of the top 20 Hotels in the World by Conde Nast.
The lodge features five River Cottages, four Houses, and three Family Houses that emphasize originality and exclusivity, making it extremely crucial to select a room that best reflects the Tongabezi experience you desire.
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Thorntree River Lodge (Zambia)
Thorntree River Lodge is a beautiful and environmentally conscious lodge located in Zambia’s Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, not far from the majestic Victoria Falls. The lodge’s outstanding location on the banks of the Zambezi River makes for an unforgettable African experience.
Thorntree River Lodge has nine well-appointed and generous suites, each designed to provide comfort while blending in with the natural surroundings. The suites have en-suite bathrooms, indoor and outdoor showers, private plunge pools, and outdoor living areas with river views. The lodge’s design integrates sustainable materials and techniques, resulting in a low environmental impact.
The lodge has a shared infinity pool overlooking the river and a spa with a variety of revitalizing treatments for those wishing to unwind. The dedicated and knowledgeable personnel at Thorntree River Lodge provide individualized service, according to each guest’s needs and preferences.
The lodge can also arrange activities such as guided rainforest walks, bungee jumping, and helicopter flips over ‘The Smoke that Thunders’ for visitors.
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Royal Chundu (Zambia)
Royal Chundu is an award-winning luxury lodge on the banks of Zambia’s Zambezi River, some 60 kilometers (37 miles) upstream from the world-famous Victoria Falls. The lodge is divided into two independent properties: the River Lodge and the Island Lodge, each of which provides a distinct and private experience of the African wilderness.
- River Lodge has ten spacious and elegantly decorated riverfront suites. Each suite features en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, mosquito netting, and private terraces overlooking the Zambezi River in a blend of traditional African and contemporary decor. The River Lodge has a communal dining area, lounge, bar, and a riverfront infinity pool where guests may relax and take in the scenery.
- Located on a private island in the Zambezi River, Island Lodge provides a more quiet and intimate experience. The lodge is made up of four big and opulent villas, each with en-suite bathrooms, outdoor showers, private plunge pools, and terraces with stunning river views. Guests can also enjoy the Island Lodge’s communal lounge, dining room, and bar.
Royal Chundu’s dining experience is a culinary delight, with a strong emphasis on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and a fusion of traditional Zambian and international cuisine. Guests can dine in the main dining areas or choose more intimate dining experiences like romantic dinners on the riverbank or private picnics on secluded islands.
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The Elephant Camp (Zimbabwe)
The Elephant Camp is a luxury tented camp in Zimbabwe’s 4500-acre Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve, just outside Victoria Falls. The camp is well-known for its emphasis on wildlife conservation, particularly its work with elephants through the Wild Horizons Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Elephant Camp is one of Zimbabwe’s top luxury lodges, located within the Victoria Falls National Park and overlooks the Zambezi Gorges with a spectacular view of the Victoria Falls spray.
The Elephant Camp has 12 deluxe tented suites, giving guests an intimate and exclusive experience. Each suite is intended for comfort and elegance, with en-suite bathrooms that include a freestanding bathtub and separate shower, air conditioning, a private plunge pool, and an outside sitting space with spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.
With a big lounge, bar, and dining area, the main lodge area provides a comfortable and stylish setting for meals and relaxing. The Elephant Camp’s food is based on fresh, locally sourced products and combines African and foreign flavors. Visitors can eat in the main dining room or choose private dining experiences such as romantic dinners under the stars.
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Victoria Falls River Lodge (Zimbabwe)
Victoria Falls River Lodge is a luxury tented camp located in Zimbabwe’s Zambezi National Park, right upstream from the famed Victoria Falls. The lodge’s ideal location on the Zambezi River’s banks provides guests with a memorable and immersive experience in the African environment.
The resort has 13 well-appointed luxury tents, including eight river-facing tents and five family tents, all of which have been designed to blend in with the natural surroundings. The tents are spacious and comfortable, with en-suite toilets, air conditioning, mosquito nets, and private terraces overlooking the Zambezi River.
The Victoria Falls River Lodge also offers the option of staying in their Island Treehouses located on Kandahar Island, in the middle of the Zambezi River. Kandahar Island is only accessible by boat from the mainland, providing guests with a truly exclusive and intimate experience.
The Island Treehouses are intended to provide guests with an intimate and unique experience while immersed in the splendor of the African environment. These treehouses are elevated on stilts and fit in with their surroundings, offering a sense of privacy and absorption in nature.
Each treehouse is stylishly built, with en-suite bathrooms with freestanding bathtubs and outdoor showers, air conditioning, mosquito netting, and private decks with plunge pools. The decks provide spectacular views of the Zambezi River and surrounding scenery, allowing guests to witness local wildlife from the luxury of their treehouse.
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Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (Zimbabwe)
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge is a well-known lodge located just 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from Zimbabwe’s magnificent Victoria Falls. The resort, located on a plateau overlooking the Zambezi National Park, offers guests a unique blend of luxury and a truly African safari experience.
This resort offers a number of accommodation options from standard rooms to an ultra luxury experience. So depending on the kind of experience you are looking for depends on which hotel you should stay at. The Victoria Falls Safari Lodge is split into the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Victoria Falls Safari Suites, Victoria Falls Safari Club & Lokuthula Lodges.
Victoria Falls Safari Suites & Victoria Falls Safari Club fit into its more luxurious offerings.
The lodge has 72 well-appointed rooms, including standard rooms, suites, and deluxe rooms, each with a private balcony overlooking the surrounding landscape and wildlife. With thatched roofs, traditional yet comfortable furnishings, en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, and mosquito nets, the rooms are designed to convey an African appeal.
The Victoria Falls Safari Suites are made up of six separate suites, each with two or three bedrooms, a spacious lounge, a fully equipped kitchen, and a private terrace. The suites are tastefully decorated with modern furnishings and African-inspired décor. Each bedroom has an en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, and mosquito nets, ensuring that guests have a comfortable and relaxing stay.
The Victoria Falls Safari Club has 20 premium club rooms and suites, all of which are stylishly decorated with a mix of modern and African-inspired décor. The rooms have private balconies, en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, minibars, mosquito nets, and views of the surrounding forest and the lodge’s unique waterhole, which attracts a variety of species.
All guests at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge resort can experience the estate’s unique attractions, such as the onsite waterhole, which attracts a variety of animals, and the Vulture Cultural Experience, an opportunity to watch a supplementary feeding program for the area’s endangered vultures. The Victoria Falls Lodge estate has a number of dining options including the MaKuwa-Kuwa Restaurant, The Boma – Dinner & Drum Show, and The Buffalo Bar.
Visitors staying at the Victoria Falls Safari Club enjoy exclusive access to a central structure that houses a lounge, eating room, and bar. To enhance the opulent experience, personalised butler service and complimentary afternoon tea, pastries, cocktails, and canapés are given.
The Lokuthula Lodges offer a lower budget self catering experience.
