Hotel Review: The Victoria Falls Hotel, Zimbabwe

09 October 2016 - 02:00 By Elizabeth Sleith

Elizabeth Sleith finds Zimbabwe’s oldest luxury hotel almost as grand as the Victoria Falls themselves LOCATIONAs one would expect from "Zimbabwe's grandest and oldest luxury hotel", it puts up a good fight in terms of service and amenities, but its finest asset must surely be this: its perch within splashing distance of one of the world's seven natural wonders - those falls.Every guest here gets the benefit of that stupendous, best-in-town view of the gorges, the spray and that fine bridge that marks the short walk to Zambia.STYLEIt's hard to imagine, as you steep in the sun on the giant red-varnished verandah, that these noble buildings began life as housing for workers on the Cape-to-Cairo railway.Built by the British in 1904 and frequented by royals, including Princess Elizabeth in 1947, the hotel now bears its regal history in every corner, from the manicured gardens to the grand lounges with deep armchairs.Along the corridors, fine drawings explore the anatomy of local animals and plants; sombre buck heads gaze down from the walls along a winding staircase; and the canopied king-sized beds in your room will make you feel like a princess (or king) yourself.SERVICEThey've had more than 100 years to perfect it and it shows. Even the uniforms - loose, safari-style suits with red sashes - echo high-mannered times. Much nicer, though, is that the staff all excel at warm welcomes. Special mention to the bartenders, who pour every drink perfectly with a flourish and a smile.full_story_image_hright1THE FOODThere are several options for eating from the fine-dining Livingstone Room to the buffet-style, open-air Jungle Junction, where a free African dance show kicks off a festive mood before dinner every night.Stanley's Terrace, pictured left, has an all-day, light snack menu but it's the high tea served here - a delicate, silver tower of cakes and pastries in front of that grand view - for which it is compulsory to come.story_article_right1ACTIVITIESA desk at the hotel will book a range of excursions, many of which - from bungy jumps to bridge swings to helicopter flips - require your life to flash before your eyes. The more staid visitor might enjoy a fancy dinner ride on the Bushtracks Express steam train or a gin-soaked sunset cruise on the Zambezi.BEST TIME TO GOFebruary to May if your mission is to see the falls at their mightiest. I went in September and even though I'd read that the water was low, the sheer drama of the place still moved me to tears.Plus, those supposedly sad water levels meant I could swim in the Devil's Pool. Right on the lip of the falls, it's a spectacularly petrifying experience and perfectly safe, though you have go to Zambia to do it. Hands down one of my top five travel experiences - and it's open now. FYI.RATESFrom December to June, SADC residents pay from $346 in a double, standard room up to $1720 in the presidential suite, B&B. July-November those same options are $364 and $1,840 respectively.See Victoriafallshotel.com...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.