SELECTED ARTICLE FROM OUR SPECIALISTS

Victoria Falls Up and Down

In common with most visitors to Victoria Falls I have in the past just spent one or two days in the area at the beginning or end of a safari in Zambia or Botswana.

As I was travelling to Zimbabwe and was arriving from Nairobi on a direct flight into the new Livingstone airport before trying out the recently introduced, single Kaza uni-visa system to cross the Victoria Falls bridge into Zimbabwe, I had decided I would use this opportunity to spend a bit more time in the area and find out more about the hotels, lodges and exciting activities on both sides of the border both up and downstream.

My first stop was at Waterberry Lodge, located upstream of the falls on the banks of the Zambezi River, always a firm favourite with Safari Club clients. The lodge includes many interesting lodge based activities in its rates, these include visits to the falls, village and school visits, birding walks, boat trips, sundowner cruises and fishing. We knew we were back in Africa as Lions could be heard roaring in the Zambezi National park on the opposite riverbank most mornings.

Whilst there I also took a trip downriver to visit the upmarket Tongabezi Lodge and its sister camp Sindabezi Island. These stylish lodges have a stunning riverside location and with plentiful wildlife around are a great option. Tongabezi also have the concession for Livingstone Island where guests can take tea on the rim of the falls and bathe in a pool on the edge of the precipice.

One day I had lunch at the Victoria Falls Hotel, this a five-star property with a great location very close to the falls. The Victoria Falls Hotel is all you would expect of a five-star hotel with comfortable rooms and excellent service. The highlight for me was enjoying a pot of tea whilst purchase acyclovir canada watching the elephants coming down to the water to drink on the opposite bank of the river.

Crossing into Zimbabwe was a doddle with the new uni-visa system and my first stop in Zimbabwe was at the Gorges Lodge located downstream and with a wonderful position on the edge of the Zambezi Gorge. The lodge is heavily involved with the local community and activities here include visits to community projects. The local villagers have formed a dance troupe who perform at the lodge in the evenings to provide some entertainment. The lodge provides usual visits into Victoria Falls town to see the waterfall and enjoy some of the many activities. Black eagles and other raptors nest on ledges on the edge of the gorge and an unusual activity takes place in the evening when meat is put out for the eagles and guests can watch as the eagles soar spectacularly along the edge of the gorge to take the offerings. All the rooms here have unbelievable views and the recent addition of a small satellite lodge called Little Gorges adds to the accommodation choices.

I also visited the new Zambezi Sands Lodge which is located inside the Zambezi National Park upstream of the falls. This lodge has a superb design with large and very comfortable tented rooms, all having river views. As the lodge is inside a national park the activities here include game viewing in open 4×4 vehicles, guided walks, canoe and boat safaris as well as activities at Victoria Falls town. This superb “all inclusive” lodge is a great place to start or finish a safari in Zimbabwe or neighbouring Botswana, a perfect combination of safari activities and relaxation. We would recommend a minimum of two nights as the lodge is too far from Victoria Falls themselves for an overnight stop.

POSTED BY: on 23/02/2016

phone Just a phone call away to start planning your holiday
01 664 464 228

WHY CHOOSE US

SAFARI CLUB