Zambia vs Zimbabwe for Victoria Falls in August 2008?
Oct 28th, 2007, 01:19 PM
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Zambia vs Zimbabwe for Victoria Falls in August 2008?
My husband and I are debating between staying in Zambia or Zimbabwe for our 2 night trip to Vic Falls in August 2008. Any recommendations? What about the safety in one country vs the other? Where do you recommend that we stay? Thanks!
Oct 28th, 2007, 01:50 PM
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I'd pick Zim over Zam as the falls usually have more water on the Zim side. Both Vic Falls and Livingstone are relatively safe tourist destinations. I stayed at Ilala Lodge on the Zim side and enjoyed it.
Oct 28th, 2007, 05:05 PM
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Yes. If you are interested, check out www.ilalalodge.com they have a cruise and activity section on their webpage.
Oct 28th, 2007, 05:12 PM
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Hi matnikstym,
It does seem as if the Zimbabwe side is better for viewing the falls with what I have been reading--especially since we will be going in August in the dry season. My concern now is the safety of going to the Zimbabwe side. What do you think? Have you been to both---when were you there? Should we fly into the Vic Falls airport vs Livingstone? I would think yes but wanted to ask. Do you know anything about the Vic Falls Hotel and/or the Vic Falls Safari Lodge vs Ilala? Thanks!
It does seem as if the Zimbabwe side is better for viewing the falls with what I have been reading--especially since we will be going in August in the dry season. My concern now is the safety of going to the Zimbabwe side. What do you think? Have you been to both---when were you there? Should we fly into the Vic Falls airport vs Livingstone? I would think yes but wanted to ask. Do you know anything about the Vic Falls Hotel and/or the Vic Falls Safari Lodge vs Ilala? Thanks!
Oct 28th, 2007, 06:21 PM
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The Victoria Falls hotel is old colonial in style, very atmospheric. I would imagine it's more expensive than Ilala but not sure (we didn't stay there, only had lunch, but I would have preferred to stay on the Zim side instead of making a day trip there from Zam in Sept.).
Safety is always a personal matter; it depends on your level of skittishness. Zimbabwe is having lots of political problems right now--and serious food and gas shortages--but in a tourist town like Vic Falls is shouldn't affect you unless there's a coup, or it's election time. Also, you may have to pay cash for many things in US dollars or Euros.
If you search Victoria Falls on this site you should get lots of helpful opinions.
Leslie
Safety is always a personal matter; it depends on your level of skittishness. Zimbabwe is having lots of political problems right now--and serious food and gas shortages--but in a tourist town like Vic Falls is shouldn't affect you unless there's a coup, or it's election time. Also, you may have to pay cash for many things in US dollars or Euros.
If you search Victoria Falls on this site you should get lots of helpful opinions.
Leslie
Oct 28th, 2007, 06:34 PM
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enlehman- I was in Vic Falls last year and stayed at both Ilala and the Victoria Falls Hotel and preferred Ilala. The VF Hotel is nice, but "stuffy" where the Ilala is more relaxed and cheaper, but still clean and nicely equipped. (air, nice towels, comfortable beds and pillows etc.) The rooms open up to a lawn which usually has some animals walking around. The VF had baboons on their grounds and an occasional warthog. Liked the food much better at Ilala too. Haven't been to the VF Safari Lodge, but it's not walking distance to the falls like the other two. I think it's gotten some good reviews though.
The election is scheduled for March, so I wouldn't let that bother you. If you fly into Zambia, you will have to pay a $100 Visa fee, Zim is $30.00. Zam offers a visa waiver, but think it's for a stay of longer than 2 nights. I'd fly into VF, it's a nice airport and easy in and out. Both areas are tourist areas and "safe" but be alert and don't go walking at night.
As Leslie said, bring foreign currency.
The election is scheduled for March, so I wouldn't let that bother you. If you fly into Zambia, you will have to pay a $100 Visa fee, Zim is $30.00. Zam offers a visa waiver, but think it's for a stay of longer than 2 nights. I'd fly into VF, it's a nice airport and easy in and out. Both areas are tourist areas and "safe" but be alert and don't go walking at night.
As Leslie said, bring foreign currency.
Oct 29th, 2007, 02:10 PM
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Thanks matnikstym. It seems as if the Zimbabwe side is better according to the reviews. This last leg of our trip has been the hardest to plan and seems to be costing a large fortune for just going for 2 nights---I am talking about the roundtrip airfare from JNB to either Vic Falls or Livingstone (a whopping $550 per person roundtrip) and then spendng $500+ a night on a room. Seems kind of pricey to see the falls, but I know that I cannot pass up seeing them while I am in S. Africa. Any recommendations on what company to use for the sunset cruises? What activities would you recommend for the 2 nights/1.5 days that we will be there? We are 31 years old. Thanks!
Oct 29th, 2007, 04:06 PM
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The sunset cruise I took in 2006 was considerably shorter than in 2000...probably because of the fuel shortages, which continue to worsen. The cruise is basically a "booze cruise" on the Zambezi River above the Falls. You'll probably see a few hippos and elephants, but you might enjoy another activity better, such as canoeing on the river, or taking a flight above the Falls. The desk at your hotel can arrange activities for you. I've stayed at both the VF Hotel and Ilala and would probably choose Ilala again. Take a walk through the VF Hotel, though. It's a beautiful property with a good view of the bridge.
Oct 29th, 2007, 04:40 PM
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We stayed at the Vic Falls Hotel this June. We did the helicopter ride over the falls. The view is really amazing. Great for Photography. Try to do the ride either late in the day or earlier morning. We also did the half-day high wire. I have no idea why? If you like that kind of zipline height thing it is pretty impressive. we thought about the bungee but there would have been no way I would have voluntarily jumped off the bridge. Having seen the falls from both sides now, the view from Zim is much better. We never felt unsafe walking around the streets during the day.
Kim
Kim
Oct 29th, 2007, 05:19 PM
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Yes, it's expensive to get there. Don't think we paid that much at Ilala last year. I used www.safpar.com for activities. They can arrange most anything including transportation to/from airport. I'm not an andrenaline junky, so only did the lion encounter. A lot of people do the rafting, helicopter and bungee jumping, seems to be the most popular activities. I wanted to do the zipline but ran out of time. The sunset cruise is just a booze cruise, but what the heck, you're on the Zambezi!
If you must see the falls, then go. They were magnificent to see, though unless I had to transit through VF, once was enough.
If you must see the falls, then go. They were magnificent to see, though unless I had to transit through VF, once was enough.
Oct 29th, 2007, 05:35 PM
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Hi matnikstym-
Thank you so much for your replies. They are so helpful. I tried booking Ilala and they are not fully available the nights that we are going. I have an e-mail into them to see if they offer a waiting list. I have reserved a room at the VF Hotel just in case the Ilala does not come through. As far as booking activities, should I do them in advance? Can I do them through the hotel or was your experience booking with safpar so great that you would use them again? As far as the activities go, we are adventurous but are not doing bungee jumping. Since my husband gets seasick, I am hoping that alot of alcohol will tide him over while on the sunset cruise--drinking will be a must on that activity! I have read other peoples travel blogs and many have said that seeing the falls once was enough. Even though it is so expensive to get there, I feel in my heart that this is the only time in our lives that we will visit South Africa---that is whay I do not want to pass it up! Thanks!
Thank you so much for your replies. They are so helpful. I tried booking Ilala and they are not fully available the nights that we are going. I have an e-mail into them to see if they offer a waiting list. I have reserved a room at the VF Hotel just in case the Ilala does not come through. As far as booking activities, should I do them in advance? Can I do them through the hotel or was your experience booking with safpar so great that you would use them again? As far as the activities go, we are adventurous but are not doing bungee jumping. Since my husband gets seasick, I am hoping that alot of alcohol will tide him over while on the sunset cruise--drinking will be a must on that activity!
I have read other peoples travel blogs and many have said that seeing the falls once was enough. Even though it is so expensive to get there, I feel in my heart that this is the only time in our lives that we will visit South Africa---that is whay I do not want to pass it up! Thanks!
Oct 29th, 2007, 05:56 PM
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IF you are on the Zambia side the day of the full moon, or the day b4 or after, you can go to the falls and see Lunar rainbows (moon bows) between 19.00 and 24.00 hrs. You will need to make arrangements in advance.
http://tinyurl.com/9ggvb
http://tinyurl.com/9ggvb
Oct 29th, 2007, 06:05 PM
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You're welcome enlehman. Don't worry, the river cruise is very calm so your husband should be o.k. You might check the Kingdom Hotel also, much cheaper than the VF. I wasn't impressed with the VF Hotel, and wish I'd stayed elsewhere. (stayed at Ilala on arrival to Zim and VF on departure from Zim) It's a beautiful hotel, next door to the VF hotel. (you can read reviews on Trip Advisor)
I'd book activities ahead of time, and yes I was quite impressed with safpar and would highly recommend them and would use them again.
P.S. Most people who think it's their trip of a lifetime to Africa end up going back...many times! BEWARE!
I'd book activities ahead of time, and yes I was quite impressed with safpar and would highly recommend them and would use them again.
P.S. Most people who think it's their trip of a lifetime to Africa end up going back...many times! BEWARE!
Oct 30th, 2007, 03:50 PM
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I've stayed at Victoria Falls Hotel once and Ilala twice. I liked them both, but Ilala is more in my price range. The falls are an easy walk from either, but nothing is closer than Victorial Falls Hotel.
Oct 30th, 2007, 04:02 PM
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I have found a rate for the VF Hotel for $275 a night including breakfast on the LHW website. I thought that was reasonable considering that the Zambia side was running $525-825 per night to stay in the Zambezi Sun and Royal Livingstone. The Ilala was only slightly cheaper than the VF Hotel, but does not have the availability for the dates that we are going. If anyone has stayed at VF Hoetl, please advice on the new wing (Stables Wing) vs the older wing. Thanks!
