Reviews of Victoria Falls Hotel
Wildlife sightings and reviews
166 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Victoria Falls Hotel and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
Wildlife sightings by our travellers
Starting in Jun-2019, 28 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Victoria Falls Hotel.
Leopard
0% success
Elephant
39% success
Buffalo
4% success
Zebra
0% success
Mr & Mrs B
Northants
"Very comfortable colonial hotel."
1 night Arrived 19 Sep 2012
"Comfortable hotel with warm courteous staff.
The food in the Jungle Junction restaurant is buffet style with a wide choice of food. Not clear when the entertainment commenced so didn't see that." See all these reviews: 10n in Zimbabwe
The food in the Jungle Junction restaurant is buffet style with a wide choice of food. Not clear when the entertainment commenced so didn't see that." See all these reviews: 10n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Average
Facilities:
Average
Mrs N
Much Hadham
"Victoria Falls Hotel"
2 nights Arrived 16 Sep 2012
"It was a bit of a shock on the senses after the last 8 days in the bush, but it was what was needed.
It was comfortable, and excellent for relaxing. Also, it was a short walk to the Falls, which was perfect. We enjoyed our stay, but were pleased we went after our camp experience rather than before like some of the other guests we met in the Camps.
The only thing that wasn't perfect was our pick-up to take us to the airport was late, and we felt that the Wilderness team were not nearly as efficient or friendly as everyone else we met - perhaps that was because they were less involved with our trip." See all these reviews: 8n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
It was comfortable, and excellent for relaxing. Also, it was a short walk to the Falls, which was perfect. We enjoyed our stay, but were pleased we went after our camp experience rather than before like some of the other guests we met in the Camps.
The only thing that wasn't perfect was our pick-up to take us to the airport was late, and we felt that the Wilderness team were not nearly as efficient or friendly as everyone else we met - perhaps that was because they were less involved with our trip." See all these reviews: 8n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Uli
Germany
"Perfekt start of a wonderful safari"
2 nights Arrived 30 Jul 2012
"We started our safari to Zimbabwe/Botswana at Victoria Falls Hotel (2 nights) - the perfect place to relax after an exhausting flight from Europe via Johannesburg!
When you enter the hotel you feel like being in the 19th century (with the medal decorated uniformed doorman at the entrance!) and it's a kind of irritating to stay at such a place of luxury in a country like Zimbabwe.
The rooms are good, the food good to excellent (you can choose between 3 restaurants form casual outdoor buffet to luxury gourmet), they have a nice pool and a large garden (with regular visiting of warthogs!) but the best of all is the view: You sit on the terrace or the outside stairs and have an unrestricted view at the Rainbow Bridge and the mist of the falls (the falls you can't see directly). And if you get up not to late (about 06:45) you can observe a spectacular sunrise.
There are a lot of activities you can do around there: from scenic flights over the falls (disturbing: you can hear the helicopters from 08:00 to sunset), bungee jump, boat cruise or whitewater rafting on the Zambezi river, walks with elephants or lions or you just make (what we did!) a nice 10 minute walk from the hotel to the Rainbow Bride and the Victoria Falls National Park and enjoy this miracle of nature by foot!" See all these reviews: 12n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
When you enter the hotel you feel like being in the 19th century (with the medal decorated uniformed doorman at the entrance!) and it's a kind of irritating to stay at such a place of luxury in a country like Zimbabwe.
The rooms are good, the food good to excellent (you can choose between 3 restaurants form casual outdoor buffet to luxury gourmet), they have a nice pool and a large garden (with regular visiting of warthogs!) but the best of all is the view: You sit on the terrace or the outside stairs and have an unrestricted view at the Rainbow Bridge and the mist of the falls (the falls you can't see directly). And if you get up not to late (about 06:45) you can observe a spectacular sunrise.
There are a lot of activities you can do around there: from scenic flights over the falls (disturbing: you can hear the helicopters from 08:00 to sunset), bungee jump, boat cruise or whitewater rafting on the Zambezi river, walks with elephants or lions or you just make (what we did!) a nice 10 minute walk from the hotel to the Rainbow Bride and the Victoria Falls National Park and enjoy this miracle of nature by foot!" See all these reviews: 12n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr S & Ms Y
London
"Victoria Falls Hotel review"
2 nights Arrived 15 Jul 2012
"We really enjoyed our stay. The hotel has lots of character, the grounds are well-maintained and peaceful, and the staff could not be more accommodating. The rooms are comfortable and in keeping with the character of the hotel. We ate at the Jungle Junction the first night, which is a buffet with a good variety of options and we enjoyed the cultural dancing that takes place every night. We had the 7 course menu at the Livingstone Room the second night - we thought it was excellent value and liked the live music. The location is so convenient, just minutes from the Falls and affording views of the bridge from the terrace. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend this hotel."
See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Mr & Mrs O
Dorset
"Quintessentially British!"
2 nights Arrived 5 Jun 2012
"The Victoria Falls Hotel transports you back to an era where opulence and grandeur were the minimum standards that would be expected by any discerning traveller. This is not a modern hotel with generic images on the wall, and contemporary fixtures and fittings. Instead, it is full of character and features (including the resident Warthog who help to keep the grass trimmed) - an incredibly striking building set in lovely grounds, and with an unparalleled location. It was clean and comfortable - the staff were lovely, and when service was a little slow on occasions, we simply relaxed and enjoyed the views.
We stayed 2 nights at the hotel, and it was the perfect place to access the Falls, just a short 10 minute walk away. We chose not to eat in the formal Dining Room, and instead ate at the more relaxed buffet area, and enjoyed the display of traditional African Dances that was staged in the evening. The food was good (it was a buffet menu for both Breakfast and Dinner, with plenty of options) - and there was a good selection of wines and cocktails as well." See all these reviews: 10n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
We stayed 2 nights at the hotel, and it was the perfect place to access the Falls, just a short 10 minute walk away. We chose not to eat in the formal Dining Room, and instead ate at the more relaxed buffet area, and enjoyed the display of traditional African Dances that was staged in the evening. The food was good (it was a buffet menu for both Breakfast and Dinner, with plenty of options) - and there was a good selection of wines and cocktails as well." See all these reviews: 10n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr T & Mr L
Amsterdam
"Iconic Hotel overlooking the Victoria Falls"
2 nights Arrived 29 May 2012
"I have long wanted to stay at the Vic Falls having been there many times when I was younger and quite unable to pay for more than a beer on the terrace (and not even that sometimes).
So it was good to get the chance to stay and the experience lived up to expectations although the hotel was somewhat shabby. Staff were super-friendly and the food was good.
The terrace is one if the nicest places to sit and chill in the area. We "wasted" a complete afternoon drinking wine and watching the warthogs and vervet monkeys
One word of warning. The hotel is older (of course) but has very limited facilities for the mobility-impaired and the suites (which we had booked to allow more space) were up a sweeping flight of stairs without any lift. My mum wasn't able to manage the stairs and we had to move her to a much less-attractive room but one that she was at least able to get in and out of. Even then there were challenges with the new room (high bathtub etc). But in the circumstances, it worked out and the hotel did the best they could." See all these reviews: 6n in Zimbabwe
So it was good to get the chance to stay and the experience lived up to expectations although the hotel was somewhat shabby. Staff were super-friendly and the food was good.
The terrace is one if the nicest places to sit and chill in the area. We "wasted" a complete afternoon drinking wine and watching the warthogs and vervet monkeys
One word of warning. The hotel is older (of course) but has very limited facilities for the mobility-impaired and the suites (which we had booked to allow more space) were up a sweeping flight of stairs without any lift. My mum wasn't able to manage the stairs and we had to move her to a much less-attractive room but one that she was at least able to get in and out of. Even then there were challenges with the new room (high bathtub etc). But in the circumstances, it worked out and the hotel did the best they could." See all these reviews: 6n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Average
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mrs M
Virginia
"A Return to the Colonial Era"
2 nights Arrived 20 May 2012
"We enjoyed the old world colonial atmosphere and the beautiful lawn and views of the mist from the falls. It was also nice to be able to walk to different viewing locations from the hotel. A few more tourist police might be helpful as they are very effective in discouraging panhandlers.
The banquet/food manager was very helpful in setting us up for breakfast when we arrived later than regular serving hours one morning. Also the bartenders were most accommodating in preparing an "American" martini to suit our taste.
It is very helpful to be able to arrange side trips through the two tourist companies on site." See all these reviews: 12n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
The banquet/food manager was very helpful in setting us up for breakfast when we arrived later than regular serving hours one morning. Also the bartenders were most accommodating in preparing an "American" martini to suit our taste.
It is very helpful to be able to arrange side trips through the two tourist companies on site." See all these reviews: 12n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs B
Hampton
"A fabulous surprise at Vic Falls Hotel"
1 night Arrived 12 Apr 2012
"We have a lovely welcome and fabulous room here.
We were disappointed with the food-a bbq by the pool with live music and dancing. The dancing etc was good but a little tired and the food was definitely below what could be expected in a hotel of that standing." See all these reviews: 7n in Zimbabwe
We were disappointed with the food-a bbq by the pool with live music and dancing. The dancing etc was good but a little tired and the food was definitely below what could be expected in a hotel of that standing." See all these reviews: 7n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Poor
Facilities:
Good
Ms O
Vancouver
"Victoria Falls Hotel review"
2 nights Arrived 25 Mar 2012
"Loved the Vic Falls Hotel. Classic colonial grandeur next door to one of the wonders of the world. The breakfast buffet was excellent and drinks on the terrace looking over the bridge and the falls mist cant be beat. We did the formal dinner on our last night and it was excellent, but it was a little sad to see how few patrons they had.
The town of Vic Falls was an interesting place to spend a couple of days, but it's clear the locals are in tough economic times. Whenever we left the grounds people tried, persistently but politely, to sell us curios and even wanted to trade for articles of clothing and shoes. That said there was an active tourist policy force in evidence who helped to keep the hawkers manageable.
Also had a nice dinner at a restaurant in town (near the hotel, just across the tracks) called Mama Africa's. It was the one time we were able to try local cuisine on our trip." See all these reviews: 12n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
The town of Vic Falls was an interesting place to spend a couple of days, but it's clear the locals are in tough economic times. Whenever we left the grounds people tried, persistently but politely, to sell us curios and even wanted to trade for articles of clothing and shoes. That said there was an active tourist policy force in evidence who helped to keep the hawkers manageable.
Also had a nice dinner at a restaurant in town (near the hotel, just across the tracks) called Mama Africa's. It was the one time we were able to try local cuisine on our trip." See all these reviews: 12n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs C
Northants
"Victoria Falls Hotel review"
1 night Arrived 3 Jan 2012
"Worth paying the extra for this hotel, location & grounds fantastic. Knocked the socks off Ilala Lodge, with hindsight would have tried to book this for whole stay. Couldn't fault it. Friendly staff.
Smallish room, but we weren't in it much." See all these reviews: 8n in Namibia; 3n in Zimbabwe
Smallish room, but we weren't in it much." See all these reviews: 8n in Namibia; 3n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
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