Victoria Falls Hotel

• The Victoria Falls Hotel has the best location in town - simply as that
• Colonial grandeur at its best
• Stunning setting for drinks on the terrace
• Choice of restaurants
• Newly refurbished (in part)

The Victoria Falls Hotel, known as the ‘Grand old lady of the Falls’ has the best location in town. It's as simple as that. A leisurely ten-minute walk through these gardens and on the hotel's private path brings you to the Victoria Falls. It lies in the Victoria Falls National Park, a world heritage site. And alongside Ilala Lodge, it is the closest hotel to Victoria Falls. This venerable five star hotel, built in 1904 has been beautifully refurbished. So it combines the charm of the old with the luxury of the new. Soak up the elegant Edwardian ambience as you sip cocktails on the terrace. With its spectacular view of the 'smoke that thunders'. Or pose for photos at the flaghole with its classic view of the Victoria Falls bridge. All around you are lush tropical gardens, with lily ponds and palm trees offering tranquility and seclusion.

Trade-off

However there is a trade-off with the Victoria Falls hotel. You are getting the ambience and grandeur of a five star hotel in an unmatched location. At a price which matches most of the four star lodges in Victoria Falls. Why is this? The reason is that, with the exception of the Stable Wing Rooms, most of the rooms are very old-fashioned. This especially shows in the bathrooms. Thus you need to decide what is important to you? A wonderful 'grande dame' of a hotel or a good bathroom?

Accommodation

The 161 rooms at Victoria Falls Hotel reflect a gracious colonial style with a choice of standard or deluxe rooms, Stable Wing deluxe rooms, executive suites and the Presidential suite. So all tastes and budgets are catered for. With the constraints of an old hotel, the standard and central deluxe rooms are fairly small and simply furnished. However all have air-conditioning, telephone, safe and satellite television. Also there are inter-leading rooms on offer for families. With the central wing deluxe rooms , the size is more or less the same. But they have a better view, overlooking the gardens and towards the Falls. However all these bathrooms are very old-fashioned with a shower over the bath. (However they do offer excellent value for money in the context of a five star hotel.)

A better level of accommodation is offered in Stable Wing deluxe rooms with larger rooms, black-and-white ''art deco'' bathrooms with ball and claw bath and shower. Plus there's a range of additional amenities included in the price. However these rooms do not have any views.

Dining and Facilities

As befits a five star hotel, Victoria Falls Hotel has a choice of dining options. The opulent Livingstone Room offers fine dining, with dancing to a live band. The Jungle Junction is much more relaxed and is justly famous for its extensive breakfast and dinner buffets with entertainment in the evenings. Whilst the Pool Deck offers a range of delicious healthy lunches. But perhaps the most famous is Stanley’s Terrace. This is the rendezvous for African adventurers for over a century. But it still provides the perfect setting for light lunches, afternoon tea and cocktails whilst you drink in the view of the Victoria Falls bridge.

Other facilities at Victoria Falls Hotel include reading in the Bulawayo room or library, relaxing by the swimming pool or playing tennis on the two floodlit courts. There’s a spa offering a range of treatments include the option of an outdoor massage. And a full-equipped gym.