Victoria Falls Hotels
Heading to Victoria Falls, with three hotels in the African Sun family on offer, I felt spoilt for choice. On this occasion I opted for the timeless elegance of their flagship, The Victoria Falls Hotel. Arriving at reception I was instantly transported back to a time when attention to detail and a calm manner came naturally. I could glimpse lush green lawns across the terrace where a few people relaxed, chatting in the late afternoon sun. Having heard that the Stanley Terrace has been a rendezvous for adventurers in Africa for over a century I was keen to take in my surroundings. Yet, everything here is done leisurely.
On arriving at my room I was greeted by a smart gentleman who explained where the bar fridge, trouser press, hairdryer and even satellite television could be found. I may have arrived back in times of Edwardian elegance, but I had all the modern day amenities with me. A library and reading room are all part of this tranquil atmosphere and after taking a swim in the hotel’s magnificent pool; I treated myself to a foot massage.
I’d been told that if the leisurely pace of The Victoria Falls Hotel gets a little too stifling, a whole world of adrenalin can be found on the Zambezi itself. The Kingdom is the closest hotel to the Falls and specifically caters for those with a sense of adventure. With its stunning architecture, this reflection of the ancient Kingdom of Munhumutapa makes you feel like you’ve entered the set of an Indiana Jones movie. From white-water rafting, to zip wires and bungee jumping, there’s no excuse for hiding away in a good book. This is, after all, the home of ‘the Smoke that Thunders’ and what better way to experience it than to be in or over it!
If it’s wildlife that gets your adrenalin pumping, staying at another of the Victoria Falls hotels you’ll have the animals at your door! The Elephant Hills Resort is named as such due to the passage of elephants through the resort. Whilst the gardeners at The Victoria Falls hotel, routinely chase away the baboons, here the elephants are permitted to wander through the championship golf course! I took one evening to experience the different atmosphere of this resort. A little flutter in the casino followed by some friendly banter of big five sightings at the lively Mapopoma Bar.
