Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs W from Dorset

"From the welcome at the door of the hotel by Duli, the bell captain, to our departure for Botswana everything at Victoria Falls Hotel was well-organised and charming. The whole hotel is furnished and decorated in a comfortable Edwardian colonial style with lots of quiet and cool seating areas, ceiling fans making a light breeze and fascinating period pictures and cartoons in the corridors. The style seems to be more British than anywhere found in Britain, albeit in deepest Africa. The smiling, polite and friendly staff couldn't do enough for us- always a friendly African-style greeting.

Our room was Central Deluxe, well-located and quiet (except for air conditioning which was a noisy wall-mounted unit). Some of the bathroom fittings and decor are a little tired but this added to the charm of staying in the past.

There are three choices for dining. The dress code in the Livingstone Restaurant is shirt and trousers - no shorts, t-shirts or jeans but they do not require ties and jackets or black tie as some other travellers expected. We enjoyed the 7 course tasting menu which was very reasonably priced and expertly served.

High tea on the Spencer Terrace is a real treat with great views of the bridge between Zimbabwe and Zambia and the spray from the falls. It's a huge meal with sandwiches, cakes and scones with jam and cream - very British. They also serve light meals including burgers, salads, pasta dishes, sandwiches at lunch-time and evening. Everything was very reasonably priced.

The Jungle Junction is an outside restaurant where you get breakfast every day (breakfast is included in the room price). There is a great choice for breakfast with freshly cooked eggs and hot and cold food, fruit, bread, cereals, etc. In the evening the restaurant is open from 7 pm with a show at 7.30 to 8.15. The dinner menu is buffet style but we enjoyed excellent beef sirloin and quite a varied choice. The show was carried out with energy but was a bit disappointing.

The hotel grounds are extensive and attractive with wildlife wandering around including vervet monkeys, a family of banded mongoose and warthogs. The hotel has a private gate and track down to the Victoria Falls park entrance which is quite a short-cut. We were accompanied by a security guard from the hotel who advised on politely turning down offers from itinerant vendors and gave re-assurance about animals - there were fresh elephant droppings on the track but we did not see any.

The small town of Victoria Falls is a short walk from the hotel but there's not much there apart from a few gift shops, banks and tourist agencies.

We would definitely return and stay again at the Victoria Falls Hotel."

"The staff greet you at every arrival and activity at Muchenje with sincerity and warmth. It's a great experience after a long drive to be welcomed as if in someone's home.

The activities were well-organised and explained with plenty of options including a full day trip to the Eastern side of Chobe Park, a boat trip on the Chobe river in the lodges own small boat, a picnic lunch and a game drive back through the park to the Western entrance at Ngoma. This was great day out with lots of varied activity including great viewing of elephants, hippopotamus, buffalo and crocodiles along the Chobe river. It's a tiring day but well worth it.

Morning game drives leave early (at 5.30) after a wake up at 5 am and tea (or coffee) and toast at 5.15 to make the most of the early morning light at the park before returning to the lodge for a full breakfast at 9.30.

On return from the afternoon game drives or trips Shadow, the barman made welcome drinks and a great range of tasty, home-made snacks were available on the bar.

Dining is communal style at a big table and some of the staff, guides and management join guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner and to chat about the days events. When we stayed there were only a few other guests at the lodge but even if it was full there would be plenty of room in the communal area and around the pool, viewing platform and fire-pit to relax. We tended to go to bed early because of the early starts.

The lodge has a very attractive design with three open sides. The chalet bedrooms have thatched roofs and are good-looking with views through the trees over the Chobe River flood plain below. The rooms are attractively decorated - we had a huge king size bed and were surprised to find quiet and effective air-conditioning. Elephants were wandering around the grounds at night but there are always security staff present to assist you to your chalet and scare away the wildlife if required.

We would recommend this very friendly place located outside the main park."

"Flying in on a small-plane is a something of an experience. Unlike others we had a longish trip from Kasane but we were on our own for the first part of the flight and the pilot asked us if we wanted to take the direct route or follow the Chobe river and fly low to see the game - guess what we chose!

After landing at the air strip we were met by the guides from the camp and taken by Land-Rover along the dirt roads for about 30 minutes with lots of game viewing en-route. We arrived late morning so we were taking direct to the camp for lunch but other guests who had arrived on the afternoon flight from Maun had gone directly on an afternoon game drive ("from London to Leopards in less than 24 hours"). The last part of the trip is by motor boat as Little Vumbura is on an island. Or arrival at the camp there is a great welcome with cool wet towels and welcome drinks from smiling staff and a super lunch.

Our room could hardly be described as a tent. For sure it had canvas style walls and roof but inside with varnished wooden floor, a huge king-size bed, desk and comfy chairs, en-suite shower room and toilet it looked like a huge stylish hotel room but with great views over the delta. We had a shaded balcony with a sofa and loose chairs and a great view of Kudu grazing just below.

Game viewing is great at Little Vumbura. Each guide is typically allocated two couples but some take larger groups if they arrive together. On our last day we were out on our own with the guide as the other couple had left for their next camp. The concession includes other camps ant Vumbura North and South and so game viewing is shared with others but the guides have strict instructions not to have more than 3 vehicles at each sighting. Regular communication on radio aids tracking of game and we were able to see a lion kill and great extended viewing of a leopard and her cub as well as lots of elephant, giraffes, impala plus wildebeest and buffalo. Altogether the guide identified 60 different birds.

We were lucky to be there for the Monday Boma meal with entertainment by the camp staff. The show was great and they clearly love doing the show even if some are a little shy. The fire and food cooked over open fires was great - tasty and a huge variety, including local dishes to try. Other dinners were also taken communal style with a buffet - ladies first please. There was a good choice of food, manly international style with good flavours and lots of vegetables and garnishes to accompany meats and fish and a vegetarian option.

Breakfast is taken before the morning game drive at 6.30 with a good choice. After the game drive brunch is served with a good range including freshly-cooked eggs. High tea is taken before the afternoon game drive at 4.30 pm but we were glad to take rest and perhaps have a sleep in the heat of the day (especially hot in October while we were there).

The staff at Little Vumbura are super-friendly and we were sad to leave. Most guests only stay for 3 days but you feel that the staff could be your friends for ever, even if they greet the next guests with the same enthusiasm soon after you leave."