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.
WHAT IS MANDATORY IN YOUR STAY?
OPTIONS TO DECIDE ON
MORE TO THINK ABOUT
a Victoria Falls holiday is not just about seeing The Victoria Falls.
Keep these points in mind when making your decision about how long , where to stay and what to include.
ACTIVITIES: Vic Falls is a top adventure destination. Activities galore from heart racing adrenaline to thrilling but innocuous. Have a look on our activities page for the run down
WILDLIFE: 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 Tiger fish 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.
add a safari to your stay
Victoria Falls is the epicenter of loads of great safari destinations
Victoria Falls is the epicenter of some of the greatest safari destinations in Southern Africa. Here are a few suggestions
SAFARIS FOR TIME STRAPPED TRAVELLERS
A safari in Chobe is the best and easiest way to see great game. It’s easy to get to – an easy road transfer, no light aircraft flights needed. There a number of choices to suit nearly all budgets.
A stay in Hwange would also be a great safari choice. Not as close to Victoria Falls as Chobe but if budget allows, we would suggest either flying Vic Falls Hwange Vic Falls or a one-way road transfer (approx. 3 ½ hours from Vic Falls to a lodge) with a light aircraft flight back from Hwange to Victoria Falls so that you may catch a connecting commercial flight to your next destination.
Another great idea to consider is staying a night or two at a hotel or guest house in Victoria Falls and then a couple nights on the Zambezi River with the game rich Zambezi National Park.
SAFARI IDEAS FOR SEASONED TRAVELLERS
May want to visit the slightly more remote areas of the Central Kalahari (Botswana) , Mana Pools, Matusadona (Zimbabwe) or Kafue and Lower Zambezi (Zambia), however this adds to the cost due to the remoteness and distance from Victoria Falls that require light aircraft flights and longer transfers.
BUCKET LIST SAFARI OPTIONS
If ticking travel boxes is important then a stay the Okavango Delta is definitely a destination to include before or after a stay in Vic Falls. Okavango camps range from upper mid-range to premium and require light aircraft transfers.
ADVENTURE SAFARI IDEAS
If you are wanting a bit of “Real Africa” consider a mobile safari. This can be as basic as sleeping in dome-tents and helping out with camp activities or an “Out of Africa” luxury safari with proper beds and en-suite bathroom facilities.
Back to basics adrenaline adventure options include canoeing safaris (overnight or multiday) and multiday white water rafting trips while sleeping on a secure platform in a comfortable real bed under the southern stars may be just the thrill to add the cherry on top of your African holiday.