VICTORIA FALLS
Victoria Falls is one of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders.
The world-renowned landmark offers a wide variety of activities from white water rafting, to shopping, to zip-lines from the cliffs above the Zambezi. Overfly these glorious Falls before landing. On a one-night stopover you will just have time to visit the Falls before returning to the airport and flying to your next destination. Two nights offers many more options, and is recommended. White water rafting generally takes a whole day. (Bungee Jumping, also an option here, takes seconds!) From your hotel you can walk to the edge of the Falls. There are many craft shops to visit. Also, you can bargain directly with artisans on the street. You can canoe on the Zambezi or take a river cruise and have drinks as the sun goes down.
Straddling the mighty Zambezi River, the Falls are called Musi-o-Tunya ("Smoke that Thunders") by the local Kololo people. They are almost twice as deep and wide as Niagara Falls and at peak they flow at 145 million gallons of water a minute.
On the ZAMBIAN side of the river you can stay at the Royal Livingstone Hotel (5-Star) http://www.royal-livingstone-hotel.com or at its sister accommodation just next door, The Zambezi Sun (3-Star). https://www.sunsafaris.com/safari/zambia/victoria-falls/zambezi-sun.html
There are other extremely nice lodges on the Zambian side of the river located 30 – 40 minutes drive outside of Livingstone. A vehicle from the lodge will pick you up at Livingstone Airport and drive you there. As they are out of town they are not ideal for a one-night stop. Among them are the Tongabezi Lodge https://greensafaris.com/tongabezi/ , and Toke Leya https://www.wildernessdestinations.com/africa/zambia/mosi-oa-tunya-national-park/toka-leya-camp
On the ZIMBABWE side, we recommend the classic Victoria Falls Hotel. Established in 1904, the Hotel has been through plush and lean times from colonial days to the Rhodesian War and Zimbabwean independence in 1980 and the rule of President Robert Mugabe. The Hotel has been refurbished several times and it’s standards for elegance and style are intact today.
VICTORIA FALLS HOTEL, Victoria Falls
The historic Victoria Falls Hotel, popularly known as “the Grand Old Lady of the Falls”, is situated in the Victoria Falls National Park, a world heritage site. The Edwardian-style hotel, built in 1904, was recently refurbished and is set in lush tropical gardens with lily ponds, broad lawns, palm trees and shrubbery. The Falls are just a ten-minute walk away using the hotel’s private pathway. Its opulent Livingstone Room is known for fine dining and dancing and the Stanley Terrace, with its clear view of the Victoria Falls Bridge, connecting Zimbabwe and Zambia, is renowned for its cocktails and afternoon teas. Enjoy an afternoon walk to the falls and the pleasure of a high tea or cocktails on the veranda. Other activities include white water rafting, zip line, bungee jumping, a river cruise and shopping for curios. https://www.victoriafallshotel.com/
Another hotel, located in the town of Victoria Falls is the Ilala Lodge. https://www.ilalalodge.com/