Reviews of Avani Victoria Falls
Wildlife sightings and reviews
236 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Avani Victoria Falls and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
Wildlife sightings by our travellers
Starting in May-2018, 38 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Avani Victoria Falls.
Zebra
92% success
Elephant
47% success
Hippo
42% success
White Rhino
21% success
Ms L
Leeds
"Average stay in a rather corporate hotel"
2 nights Arrived 21 Sep 2015
"We wished we had booked the Royal Livingstone Hotel. The Royal Livingstone is the sister hotel to the Zambezi Sun and there is a free shuttle between them.
As soon as we arrived we realised that the Zambezi Sun had a rather corporate feel to it. The bars and rooms are all inward looking to the inner garden area and so we could have been anywhere in the world. The Royal Livingstone on the other hand has wonderful views over the Zambezi River where we saw our first hippo whilst having a gin and tonic in the riverside bar, wonderful. I realise this is a review of the Zambezi Sun but unless your budget is really tight than I think the Royal Livingstone is worth the extra cost just so you can have breakfast with that wonderful view of the Zambezi.
We tried to change our booking but unfortunately all the rooms in the Royal Livingstone were fully booked. We had dinner there and it was wonderful." See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia; 7n in Botswana; 2n in Zambia; 2n in South Africa
As soon as we arrived we realised that the Zambezi Sun had a rather corporate feel to it. The bars and rooms are all inward looking to the inner garden area and so we could have been anywhere in the world. The Royal Livingstone on the other hand has wonderful views over the Zambezi River where we saw our first hippo whilst having a gin and tonic in the riverside bar, wonderful. I realise this is a review of the Zambezi Sun but unless your budget is really tight than I think the Royal Livingstone is worth the extra cost just so you can have breakfast with that wonderful view of the Zambezi.
We tried to change our booking but unfortunately all the rooms in the Royal Livingstone were fully booked. We had dinner there and it was wonderful." See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia; 7n in Botswana; 2n in Zambia; 2n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Average
Service:
Average
Activities:
Average
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Average
Facilities:
Average
The B family
Leics.
"Zambezi Sun. (Avani)"
2 nights Arrived 30 Aug 2015
"Fantastic position to the falls. A large and less intimate hotel but with plenty of space and a lovely pool to relax after the 5 AM starts!!"
See all these reviews: 10n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr T & Mrs G
UK
"Zambezi Sun review"
1 night Arrived 22 Aug 2015
"Please see the review of our first 3 nights at Zambezi Sun - now taken over by a new company and called Avani Resort."
See all these reviews: 4n in Zambia; 2n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Mr T & Mrs G
UK
"A 3 night stay followed by 1 night later"
3 nights Arrived 17 Aug 2015
"We were picked up promptly at Livingstone airport and the driver gave us a good introduction to Zambia on our drive to the hotel. We were greeted by a quartet of lads in costume singing and dancing to new arrivals. This gave a great atmosphere to start with! We enjoyed watching the zebras and impala roaming the grounds in amongst the iron work animal statues dotted around the grounds.
Our rooms were clean and very well decorated. Good facilities. During our single day/night, stay, the electric power frequently went off but was indicative of the whole area - not just the hotel - but quickly restored.
Breakfast was good with a wide choice and good friendly service.
The pool was cleaned each morning and checked regularly during the day as leaves etc kept floating into the water. There were frequent checks." See all these reviews: 4n in Zambia; 2n in Namibia
Our rooms were clean and very well decorated. Good facilities. During our single day/night, stay, the electric power frequently went off but was indicative of the whole area - not just the hotel - but quickly restored.
Breakfast was good with a wide choice and good friendly service.
The pool was cleaned each morning and checked regularly during the day as leaves etc kept floating into the water. There were frequent checks." See all these reviews: 4n in Zambia; 2n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Average
Facilities:
Good
Mr g
Illinois, USA
"met expectations"
2 nights Arrived 13 Aug 2015
"selected hotel for its proximity to Victoria Falls ( although views of Falls from hotel property were somewhat limited). An unexpected benefit was the fact that the hotel was located within a National Park and there was abundant wildlife that were cited while walking thru the very spacious grounds of the hotel and its "sister hotel" located nearby.
Wildlife cited while strolling included baboon families (en route to Victoria Falls viewing area), zebra, giraffe and impalas. A member of the grounds staff was extremely helpful in walking us to the area where the zebra and giraffe were grazing.
The entire hotel staff ( reception staff, security people, grounds staff, wait staff) were extremely friendly, helpful when needing assistance, and appeared sincere in their efforts to provide outstanding service to the hotel guests. Hotel rooms were clean, and while not luxurious, were very adequate and met our expectations. The breakfast provided as part of the room cost very extensive and food quality was good/excellent.
We had a late evening snack (no dinners because of other scheduled activities outside the hotel property) at poolside which was good/excellent. We had a snack at the pool one afternoon--service was a little slow but this was only a very minor inconvenience." See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana; 2n in Zambia
Wildlife cited while strolling included baboon families (en route to Victoria Falls viewing area), zebra, giraffe and impalas. A member of the grounds staff was extremely helpful in walking us to the area where the zebra and giraffe were grazing.
The entire hotel staff ( reception staff, security people, grounds staff, wait staff) were extremely friendly, helpful when needing assistance, and appeared sincere in their efforts to provide outstanding service to the hotel guests. Hotel rooms were clean, and while not luxurious, were very adequate and met our expectations. The breakfast provided as part of the room cost very extensive and food quality was good/excellent.
We had a late evening snack (no dinners because of other scheduled activities outside the hotel property) at poolside which was good/excellent. We had a snack at the pool one afternoon--service was a little slow but this was only a very minor inconvenience." See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana; 2n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr P
France
"Zambezi Sun + Royal Livingstone"
4 nights Arrived 3 Aug 2015
"Although we had initially booked the Zambezi Sun, we were lucky enough to be upgraded to the Royal Livingstone. The location of the 2 hotels is perfect for being close to the Falls & all activities.
The service is also very good in both hotels. However if you plan to spend sometime at the hotel, then the RL has perfect river views. The whole frontage of the hotel (restaurant, bar, pool) & all the rooms are directly overlooking the Zambezi river. You can see Hippos in the river & Elephants crossing from the other side, inside the grounds of the hotel Zebra, Giraffe & Impala are also roaming free.
This is definitely worth paying the extra for." See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia
The service is also very good in both hotels. However if you plan to spend sometime at the hotel, then the RL has perfect river views. The whole frontage of the hotel (restaurant, bar, pool) & all the rooms are directly overlooking the Zambezi river. You can see Hippos in the river & Elephants crossing from the other side, inside the grounds of the hotel Zebra, Giraffe & Impala are also roaming free.
This is definitely worth paying the extra for." See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs C
Golden CO
"Location Ideal for an Overnight Stay"
1 night Arrived 8 Jul 2015
"Victoria Falls are magnificent. Pictures, postcards, and even documentaries do not adequately capture the grandeur of the falls that you experience being there getting drenched in the mist blowing up from the gorge, the continuous deep reverberating thunder felt throughout your entire body.
The falls are just a short, safe walk from the Zambezi Sun property. Otherwise, the western resort style hotel is nothing special. In all fairness, though, my style is more adventurous, preferring remote bush camps. The Zambezi Sun was clean and the rooms were brightly decorated, the breakfast was good, and the staff was helpful." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia; 7n in Tanzania; 6n in Botswana; 3n in Zanzibar; 2n in South Africa
The falls are just a short, safe walk from the Zambezi Sun property. Otherwise, the western resort style hotel is nothing special. In all fairness, though, my style is more adventurous, preferring remote bush camps. The Zambezi Sun was clean and the rooms were brightly decorated, the breakfast was good, and the staff was helpful." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia; 7n in Tanzania; 6n in Botswana; 3n in Zanzibar; 2n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr P
California
"Zambezi"
2 nights Arrived 7 Jun 2015
"GREAT location, terrific accommodations, and the staff were exceptional"
See all these reviews: 2n in Namibia; 2n in Botswana; 2n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs M
Victoria
"Location, location in comfort."
1 night Arrived 1 Jun 2015
"A very comfortable reasonably priced hotel right beside Vic Falls - with Falls access included in the room charges. What more needs be said?
Whilst in Livingstone, these travellers enjoyed a scenic helicopter flight over Victoria Falls and the Batoka Gorge. Here's what they said about it:
15 minutes circling Vic Falls was topped by riding the rapids in the gorges below the Falls at less than two metres above water level!" See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia; 3n in Namibia
Whilst in Livingstone, these travellers enjoyed a scenic helicopter flight over Victoria Falls and the Batoka Gorge. Here's what they said about it:
15 minutes circling Vic Falls was topped by riding the rapids in the gorges below the Falls at less than two metres above water level!" See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia; 3n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Average
Facilities:
Good
Mr D & Ms C
Canada
"Great location at the falls"
3 nights Arrived 30 May 2015
"A very convenient location for us to do all our activities in Livingstone. Visiting the falls from here is an added bonus.
If you like Zebras this is the place to stay. Only drawback is very mediocre food." See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia; 7n in Zambia
If you like Zebras this is the place to stay. Only drawback is very mediocre food." See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia; 7n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Average
Facilities:
Excellent
Holiday styles & special interests in Zambia
From birdwatching breaks to walking holidays, find great ideas for your trip in Zambia.
Other lodges in Livingstone & Victoria Falls
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Royal Livingstone Hotel
Conveniently located just a short walk from the Zambia. side of the Victoria Falls, the colonial-style Royal Livingstone has beautiful grounds and small but quite luxurious rooms.
Tongabezi
Secluded on the banks of the Zambezi, less than 20km from the Victoria Falls, Tongabezi is one of the most exclusive lodges in Zambia.
Waterberry Lodge
Offering great value for money and within easy reach of the Victoria Falls, Waterberry is a small, family-friendly lodge on the banks of the Zambezi River.
Islands of Siankaba
In a lovely location on the Zambezi upriver of the Victoria Falls, Islands of Siankaba provides a tranquil setting to relax at the start or end of a safari to Botswana or Zambia.
Toka Leya Camp
The new Toka Leya Camp stands beside the Zambezi inside Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park – so wildlife often passes through. It's a comfortable tented camp which has great service and includes a range of activities.
The River Club
The River Club, near Zambia's town of Livingstone and the Victoria Falls, overlooks the Zambezi River.
Sindabezi
Sindabezi, near Zambia's town of Livingstone and the Victoria Falls, is an island in the middle of the Zambezi River
Thorntree River Lodge
Rebuilt in 2017, Thorntree River Lodge is one of the best riverside lodges in Livingstone, with a strong sense of the environment and straightforward access to the Falls.
David Livingstone Lodge
The four-star David Livingstone Safari Lodge is in a lovely spot on the edge of the Zambezi River in Zambia, close to the Victoria Falls.
Tangala House
Tangala House, the family home near Zambia's town of Livingstone and the Victoria Falls
Sussi & Chuma
Sussi & Chuma combines a luxurious, laid-back camp with a good location on the Zambezi River, with quick access to the Victoria Falls.
