Reviews of Victoria Falls Hotel
Wildlife sightings and reviews
164 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 S & Mrs S
UK
"Victoria Falls Hotel review"
2 nights Arrived 1 Oct 2019
"Hotel is as I remember it from over 15 years ago. Great service and staff. A dated but charming building in a colonial style.
Unfortunately what had changed was that each day from around 8.30 am and pretty much all day the peace was disturbed by the constant sound of circling helicopters. A great shame.
The spa and gym facilities are basic" See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana; 5n in South Africa; 2n in Zimbabwe
Unfortunately what had changed was that each day from around 8.30 am and pretty much all day the peace was disturbed by the constant sound of circling helicopters. A great shame.
The spa and gym facilities are basic" See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana; 5n in South Africa; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mrs JD
W London
"Victoria Falls Hotel review"
3 nights Arrived 23 Sep 2019
"On arrival, we decided to upgrade to a better room----they were almost full to bursting, but the Operations Manager on duty, worked his socks off to accommodate our request--which he managed to do and the room was great"
See all these reviews: 8n in Zambia; 6n in Mozambique; 3n in Namibia; 3n in Zimbabwe; 1n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report
FunOnly
Calgary
"Frayed Victorian Grandeur"
2 nights Arrived 20 Sep 2019
"The Victoria Falls Hotel is a classic Victorian Colonial Hotel in a park like setting. The public areas are grand but the furniture looks tired and the rooms need a refurbishing. Air-conditioning was marginal and loud. In our digital age there are limited plugs and no USB charging outlets in the room, bedside lamps with charging outlets and USB ports would be a wonderful addition.
The staff were excellent, in particular the head bellman with his pith helmet and white uniform covered in pins from locations around the world! There is still an air of Victorian splendor and formality at the hotel.
There is a formal dining room but we did dine, as there is a formal dress code, people on safari only have a duffle bag with 20 lbs. which leaves no room for formal wear! The hotel should relax the dress code two or three nights a week to accommodate those guests. Fortunately there is an outdoor dining room overlooking the river valley was the highlight but watch out for the cheeky monkeys that try to steal table scraps!
Contrary to the information on their website the hotel does not have a view of the falls, one only sees the mist rising, and there is no direct access to the park associated with the falls. The only animals seen on the hotel grounds were the monkeys and tame warthogs." See all these reviews: 7n in Namibia; 7n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
The staff were excellent, in particular the head bellman with his pith helmet and white uniform covered in pins from locations around the world! There is still an air of Victorian splendor and formality at the hotel.
There is a formal dining room but we did dine, as there is a formal dress code, people on safari only have a duffle bag with 20 lbs. which leaves no room for formal wear! The hotel should relax the dress code two or three nights a week to accommodate those guests. Fortunately there is an outdoor dining room overlooking the river valley was the highlight but watch out for the cheeky monkeys that try to steal table scraps!
Contrary to the information on their website the hotel does not have a view of the falls, one only sees the mist rising, and there is no direct access to the park associated with the falls. The only animals seen on the hotel grounds were the monkeys and tame warthogs." See all these reviews: 7n in Namibia; 7n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Dr D
Salisbury
"Colonial era luxury at Vic Falls Hotel"
2 nights Arrived 19 Sep 2019
"Great stay in a wonderful, colonial era hotel; like straying into an Agatha Christie thriller 'Death at Victoria Falls'."
See all these reviews: 11n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
Donna & Steve
USA
"From another era"
2 nights Arrived 13 Sep 2019
"Victoria Falls Hotel appeals to many people but it wasn't necessarily my style, which I realized when the desk clerk told us about the formal dress code for one of the restaurants!
The location had a very nice view of the bridge, although we were disappointed that the walking path to the bridge was closed. The veranda restaurant is where we generally ate. The desk clerk was marginally helpful but the activities desk clerk was fabulous. Each evening we were inundated with smoke and I'm not sure where it came from but it made it hard for me to breathe even with the A/C on and a towel covering the gap under the door.
Also, we weren't picked up for our safari transfer until 11:20 and we weren't allowed to have a late check out. So it was not the greatest having to hang around the lobby for almost 1 1/2 hours waiting. If I went back to Vic Falls, I'd stay in a small, boutique lodge.
It was very fun to watch the baboons, mongoose and warthogs playing on the grass." See all these reviews: 3n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe; 1n in South Africa
The location had a very nice view of the bridge, although we were disappointed that the walking path to the bridge was closed. The veranda restaurant is where we generally ate. The desk clerk was marginally helpful but the activities desk clerk was fabulous. Each evening we were inundated with smoke and I'm not sure where it came from but it made it hard for me to breathe even with the A/C on and a towel covering the gap under the door.
Also, we weren't picked up for our safari transfer until 11:20 and we weren't allowed to have a late check out. So it was not the greatest having to hang around the lobby for almost 1 1/2 hours waiting. If I went back to Vic Falls, I'd stay in a small, boutique lodge.
It was very fun to watch the baboons, mongoose and warthogs playing on the grass." See all these reviews: 3n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe; 1n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Average
TheOldGeezer
Stafford
"Victoria Falls Hotel"
3 nights Arrived 31 Aug 2019
"Talk about a step back into a Bygone Era.!!!
Staff were great, very attentive & helpful but not in your face.
Rooms perhaps a wee bit dated to say the least, but the location overlooking Vic Falls Bridge breath taking to say the least.
Food was variable, we thought the Stanley Terrace Restaurant was good but not so impressed with Jungle Junction where we thought the Buffet was average & over priced; we didn't frequent the "Fancy Restaurant" - The Livingstone Room but I dont think we were alone there.
Entering & Leaving Zimbabwe was a night mare due to the various Customs Officers on duty who seemed to take a pleasure in Refusing Kaza Visas at will.!!!!!
Our son did the Micro light flight in Zambia / Bungee Jump from the Bridge & Devils Pool Trip. Fantastic Experience although perhaps more background to Livingstone Island would have been good.
Water Levels very low so spectacle diminished slightly.
A visit to the Micro Brewery - - The River Brewing Company a must do if you like your Ales.
Victoria Falls in general shabby & frequented everywhere by guys selling "Tat" unfortunately." See all these reviews: 4n in Mozambique; 3n in Zimbabwe; 1n in South Africa
Staff were great, very attentive & helpful but not in your face.
Rooms perhaps a wee bit dated to say the least, but the location overlooking Vic Falls Bridge breath taking to say the least.
Food was variable, we thought the Stanley Terrace Restaurant was good but not so impressed with Jungle Junction where we thought the Buffet was average & over priced; we didn't frequent the "Fancy Restaurant" - The Livingstone Room but I dont think we were alone there.
Entering & Leaving Zimbabwe was a night mare due to the various Customs Officers on duty who seemed to take a pleasure in Refusing Kaza Visas at will.!!!!!
Our son did the Micro light flight in Zambia / Bungee Jump from the Bridge & Devils Pool Trip. Fantastic Experience although perhaps more background to Livingstone Island would have been good.
Water Levels very low so spectacle diminished slightly.
A visit to the Micro Brewery - - The River Brewing Company a must do if you like your Ales.
Victoria Falls in general shabby & frequented everywhere by guys selling "Tat" unfortunately." See all these reviews: 4n in Mozambique; 3n in Zimbabwe; 1n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs BW
The Sands
"Great stay at the Vic Falls Hotel"
3 nights Arrived 9 Aug 2019
"After 2 weeks driving around Namibia it was wonderful to relax at the Vic Falls Hotel and wash the dust out of our ears.
Wonderful stay at the grand old dame which really does take one back in time.
Cannot fault it except for the cost which is pretty eye watering having come from from Namibia which was was extremely good value." See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia; 3n in Zimbabwe
Wonderful stay at the grand old dame which really does take one back in time.
Cannot fault it except for the cost which is pretty eye watering having come from from Namibia which was was extremely good value." See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia; 3n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr D.
Libertyville
"Victoria Falls Hotel review"
2 nights Arrived 29 Jul 2019
"The service at this hotel was excellent. We particularly enjoyed the evening show the hotel puts on every night with the buffet dinner. Many activities are on offer in the area, and we booked a sunset dinner cruise and helicopter ride ourselves. The only negative was the 15-20 minute walk to the Falls by road/path via the town. The shorter direct route was closed. The walk offered little or no shade, and the street vendors were plentiful and persistent. Safety here was always a concern for us.
Although the view of the Falls is more extensive from the Zimbabwean side, we were surprised by how little time it took to see all the viewpoints. We spent longer on the Zambian side of the Falls and enjoyed it more. Crossing the bridge by foot is very tricky with 2 immigration stops in each direction." See all these reviews: 11n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Although the view of the Falls is more extensive from the Zimbabwean side, we were surprised by how little time it took to see all the viewpoints. We spent longer on the Zambian side of the Falls and enjoyed it more. Crossing the bridge by foot is very tricky with 2 immigration stops in each direction." See all these reviews: 11n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report
Mrs S.
Worthing
"Victoria Falls Hotel review"
3 nights Arrived 22 Jul 2019
"wonderful hotel, wonderful staff, wonderful time"
See all these reviews: 8n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs M
Weymouth
"Colonial style but bedrooms were dated"
1 night Arrived 5 Jul 2019
"A very impressive hotel built in the Colonial style, the public rooms look amazing with a wealth of historical information and photographs, but the bedrooms are rather dated.
Great view down to the bridge over the Zambezi. Food was good with plenty of choice.
We were there for only one night before an early morning departure, the hotel seems to cater for the masses and is not a place we would have wanted to stay for longer" See all these reviews: 17n in Kenya; 9n in Zimbabwe; 6n in Tanzania; 5n in Botswana; 5n in Zambia
Great view down to the bridge over the Zambezi. Food was good with plenty of choice.
We were there for only one night before an early morning departure, the hotel seems to cater for the masses and is not a place we would have wanted to stay for longer" See all these reviews: 17n in Kenya; 9n in Zimbabwe; 6n in Tanzania; 5n in Botswana; 5n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Good
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