plan a stay in victoria falls
ZIMBABWE vs ZAMBIA
First off is to decide which side of the Falls you want to stay.
Will you choose Victoria Falls Zimbabwe or Livingstone Zambia?
Below we give you our take on the difference between the two.
VICTORIA FALLS – ZIMBABWE
Victoria Falls s an easy to navigate tourist town and if you stay “in town” you could take a slow meander that included the shops, the entrance to the Victoria Falls rainforest and places to stop and have something to drink or eat.
There are lodges that are further out of the centre of town like The Elephant Hills Hotel, a’Zambezi River Lodge or The Palm Hotel but they all have regular bus transfers to town and the Rainforest entrance so if having “a wander around” is what you like then just take an in-house transfer to town and off you go.
Hotels in town include the ever popular Victoria Falls Hotel, Ilala Lodge and the newly built Waterfalls Lodge amongst others
Livingstone – Zambia
In general the accommodation options in Livingstone are spread out along the Zambezi, with the town centre some way away from the main hotels like the Royal Livingstone, Avani, Victoria Falls Waterfront etc. There are some hotels closer to town like the Protea for instance but on the whole you need a transfer whether a taxi or organized transfer to get from one place to another.
There are a lot of lodges and hotels directly on the Zambezi River all with gorgeous views; some closer to the centre of town than others. This makes for a more insular lodge experience where the emphasis is on enjoying amazing views of Zimbabwe’s Zambezi National Park, amazing food and hospitality and then adding any of the many adventure activities that are on offer as you want to.
Options to decide on
What is mandatory in your stay?
MORE TO THINK ABOUT
Victoria Falls is not just about seeing The Victoria Falls. Keep these points in mind when making your decision about how long and where to stay.
• It’s a top adventure destination. Adrenaline activities galore.
• It’s a wildlife destination where elephants can literally roam the streets. If you haven’t had time to go on safari , do it here – either with a day trip to Chobe or a game drive in the Zambezi National Park
• The Zambezi River alone makes for many attractions:
River cruises from budget to luxury, breakfast, lunch or dinner cruises – even a private cruise if you prefer. They are the quintessential Victoria Falls activity and a perfect moment to create and remember.
Fishing for the renown Tigerfish can be arranged in either Zimbabwe or Zambia with a private guide
Birding. Over 400 species occur in the area. We arrange bird cruises or drives.
History: Victoria Falls has an interesting history which can be enjoyed by way of a guided Bridge Tour which explains more about the construction and the why it came about, a guided (or not) tour of the David Livingstone museum in Livingstone, Tour of the Victoria Falls is a great way to learn of the formation of the Falls, its cultural history and geography and an in depth talk on David Livingstone can be arranged on request.
• Culture: Visit a local village and witness daily life, enjoy a meal in the private home of a local family which will contribute directly to the family coffers, eat out at a restaurant offering local dishes, take a stroll through the Victoria Falls Hotel to enjoy the etchings, paintings and 100 year+ Edwardian style of the oldest hotel in Victoria Falls. The bustling Dambwe and Maramba markets in Livingstone are an excellent place to buy some local chitenge fabric, locally crafted curio or buy local produce.