Victoria Falls Safari Suites: Our full report

The Victoria Falls Safari Suites are situated on a ridge about a 15-minute drive from the Victoria Falls.

No one from Expert Africa has stayed here yet but we did spend an afternoon looking around in some detail in October 2016. Finished to a high specification, the self-contained suites are set in lawns which are commonly grazed by warthog, bushbuck, baboons and impala.

The six modern Safari Suites stand detached from one another, in a line, with views onto the surrounding bush. Four of the suites have two bedrooms, the remainder have three, but otherwise there is no difference between them. Each suite is fully air-conditioned, and all have fans, too. There is WiFi throughout.

Guests entering the Safari Suites are met by a large, open-plan lounge area with sliding doors leading out onto a patio. On one wall is a 46-inch LCD TV complete with satellite channels. At the rear is a kitchen counter with a built in minibar and a tea- and coffee-making station, which includes a Nespresso machine. A popcorn-making machine and an iPod docking station are particularly great for those travelling with children, as is the small (22-inch) TV monitor in an adjacent room with all the connections needed for linking up to a PlayStation or Xbox (though you’ll have to provide the hardware yourself). This room also contains a small sofa-bed, which is suitable for an extra (small) child.

Out on the patio a parasol shades a table and chairs, with enough seating for six or eight people depending on the size of the suite. We noticed that although you could see the neighbouring suite (about 10m away), the accommodation felt well spaced out.

All of the suites have large en-suite master bedrooms upstairs and either one or two en-suite bedrooms downstairs. The master bedrooms face onto the bush and towards the sunset. All the bedrooms are furnished with two three-quarter size beds, which can be pushed together to form king-size units if desired, and all have mosquito nets.

Each of the en-suite bathrooms has white walls and light brown tiling, with a white ceramic basin positioned on top of marble units and a toilet in the corner. The master bathroom has both a bath and a sizeable shower, but there’s just a shower in the other rooms. As you’d expect from an upmarket place like Victoria Falls Safari Suites, complimentary toiletries are provided.

Victoria Falls Safari Suites are situated in the same grounds as Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and were built at the same time as the adjacent Victoria Falls Safari Club. As such, activities at the Safari Suites follow a similar pattern to those from its sister properties. The grounds around the Safari Suites feature several nature trails, and guided walks can be organised at reception.

Guests staying at the Suites may use the activities centre at the Safari Lodge, where you can book excursions such as helicopter rides, white-water rafting and bungee jumping. Safari Suites guests also have use of the complimentary shuttle bus that runs hourly between the Victoria Falls rainforest entrance gate, the village market and the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Safari Club and Safari Suites.

An extra attraction at the Safari Lodge is the daily ‘Vulture Culture’ exhibition, when the local vulture population descends on the lodge. Every day at 1.00pm, staff lay out meat for the vultures, which are sometimes accompanied by jackals or hyenas.

Our view

Modern in design, the two- and three-bedroom suites at Victoria Falls Safari Suites are very well appointed with thoughtful touches and, by safari standards, a lot of mod cons. They are a fantastic option within easy reach of the Victoria Falls for a group of friends or a family who wish to be a little self-sufficient, while retaining the option of being catered for when they wish.

Amanda Bond

Zimbabwe expert

Geographics

Location: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Ideal length of stay: We’d recommend a stay of two to three nights at Victoria Falls Safari Suites, depending on how many activities you wish to take part in while at the Falls.
Directions: Victoria Falls Safari Suites are accessible by road from Victoria Falls Airport, which is about half-an-hour away. Guests coming from Botswana can travel from Kazangula by road too, taking about an hour-and-a-quarter.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Bed & Breakfast
Food quality: We understand that breakfast for guests at the Safari Suites is served at the MaKuwa-Kuwa Restaurant at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. Those preferring a continental breakfast can organise for a basket of goodies to be delivered to their suite in the morning rather than having to walk up to the restaurant.

Lunch and dinner are available from the same restaurant, or from the open-plan Buffalo Bar with views over the waterhole in front of the Safari Lodge.
Dining style: Individual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service: Room service is not possible but a breakfast basket can be organised to be delivered to your room on request.
Drinks included: There is a complimentary mini bar stocked with wine, beers, soft drink and water in every Suite. Drinks purchased from the bar are not included in the nightly rate.

Special interests

Family holidays: About 15 minutes’ drive from the iconic Falls, Victoria Falls Safari Suites offers plenty of private space in its suites, perfect for children. The large range of activities here should also help to keep the whole family entertained on your Zimbabwe safari.; See ideas for Family holidays in Zimbabwe

Children

Attitude towards children: Children of all ages are permitted at Victoria Falls Safari Suites.
Property’s age restrictions: No age restriction
Special activities & services: Babysitters can be organised on request and with prior arrangement. Please ask us if this is something you would like to consider or discuss with the receptionist when you check in. Note that these babysitters will almost certainly not be trained or qualified to European or US levels of childcare.
Equipment: None
Generally recommended for children: The Safari Suites have been designed with families and groups of friends in mind and we think there would be enough to keep young families entertained.
Notes: This is a wilderness area and there is big game around, so we’d always urge caution when staying here with children.

Communications

Power supply notes: A back-up generator is available should there be a power outage.
Communications: There are phones in each of the suites and there is good mobile reception as well as complimentary and reliable WiFi available throughout.
TV & radio: Each Suite has a TV, WiFi throughout and an iPod docking station.
Water supply: Mains
Water supply notes: Bottled water is provided in all of the suites for guest’s to use. There is no need to drink the tap water, although we are informed it’s perfectly safe to do so.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: Yes
Medical care: The closest doctor can be found in Victoria Falls Town, with any more serious issues being referred to Harare or even Jo’burg if necessary.
Dangerous animals: Moderate Risk
Security measures: Guards patrol the whole property day and night and a guard stands on the entrance gate around the clock too.
Fire safety: Fire extinguishers are positioned around the suites and each room contains instructions on what to do and where to go in the event of a fire.

Activities

4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Canoeing
Cultural excursion
Elephant encounter
Helicopter
Kayaking
Microlight
White-water rafting

Extras

Disabled access: On Request
Laundry facilities: A complimentary laundry service is provided for guests of the Safari Suites. Clothes are usually returned within 24 hours.
Money: Each of the Safari Suites has an electronic safe.
Accepted payment on location: American Express, MasterCard and Visa are all accepted at Victoria Falls Safari Suites.