srocca

Is it safe now for Victoria Falls? Zambia or zimbabwe side? Any hotel recommendations!

Botswana

Try the Rainbow Hotel.

sunscreen202

If you want to treat yourself the place to go is the Royal Livingstone. Expensive but a unique experience. It's on the Zambia side. If you're coming from South Africa the local travel agents have some really good fly-in deals for cheaper hotels.

Gardyloo

Can anyone comment on the Mercure a'Zambezi on the Zim side? We are big fans of the Mercure brand throughout Europe, and have never had any complaints about their quality standards. The VF Mercure looks like a reasonable deal on the web. We've booked in for one night in August (coming from Chobe before a flight from VFA the next day) but if reviews are terrible I suppose we could switch, but probably at a price.

50something

A friend of mine has just returned from a holiday at Vic Falls on the Zimbabwe side and said it was fantastic. Apparently you would not know there were troubles in the rest of the country except that petrol (if you are driving yourself) is scarce. However, even petrol is close by if you drive the short distance to Kasane in Botswana. The hotels at Vic Falls are full of tourists. My own recommendation from previous experience would be the A'Zambezi or Elephant Hills hotels. The Vic Falls hotel is really colonial if you prefer that and adjacent to the falls.

jasher

Hello,

You might want to look into Matetsi Water Lodge on the Zimbabwean side -- it's about $250 ppn, including game drives, river cruises, and FB. Take a look on the CCA website, www.ccafrica.com

Cheers,
Julian

Gardyloo

<i>The hotels at Vic Falls are full of tourists.</i>

Not when we were there a couple of weeks ago. I'd estimate the 'a Zambezi (where we stayed) was 25% occupied tops; some people we met at VFA airport who'd stayed at the Royal Livingstone said it was maybe 40-50% occupied.

We only stayed in Zim for one night so we're certainly no experts, but my impression - gained through talking with whoever I could - was that tourists were relatively scarce, but not as scarce as food in the shops or optimism among the locals. Rather depressing, frankly. Not sure I'd go back until you-know-who has left the scene.

llee_2003

I stayed in Matetsi Safari Lodge last year. It is a very nice lodge, each room has a plunge pool and overlooking the river, beautiful view.

About 45 min from VF and there are shuttle bus everyday to VF.

mkhonzo

If you are heading that way in the nest few months you should stay on the Zim side as the falls from Zambia are a huge dissapointment, the flow is on the southern side of the river with the wall completely exposed in Zambia.

A great hotel is Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, just a few minutes drive from the rainforest. Also if yoou have a tight budget they have a self catering section, which is really great value.

Sarvowinner

Gardyloo
Love your blog. How did you find the A'Zambezi putting aside the other issues?

Sarvowinner

Gardyloo
Just read Blog V2 - seems like it was just OK but negatively coloured by all the other issues.

Gardyloo

Needing maintenance. Great, friendly staff. I'm imagining they're dreading an on-site eval from Accor.

Sarvowinner

Thanks Gardy
Where are you now?

Gardyloo

Got home in Seattle the night before last. Still on Cape Town time (or parts of me anyway.) Am trying to write the next chapters for uploading but pesky things like jobs and credit card bills and sleep - s-l-e-e-p are competing for my limited central nervous system capacity.

Sarvowinner

You must be going through travel withdrawal symptons after such a great holiday. It's OK - we can wait for the reat of your report.
Speaking of sleep - it's 2.00am here&amp; I had better get some.