Take a step back in history to the Royal Livingston hotel on the mighty Zambezi River next to Victoria Falls. This 173 room recreation of colonial spender is designed to take you back to a time when people dressed for dinner, and the lady’s took afternoon tea. Today you can enjoy the luxury while sitting on your veranda watching a rainbow form in the mist, as over a 150 million gallons of water a minute tumble more than 300 feet into the gorge below.
The Livingston Royal Colonial has everything the discerning travel would come to expect from a five star resort from your own personal butler to one of the best dining experiences in Africa while you watch zebras stroll around the hotels lawns. Visit the hotels bar with its rich woodwork reminiscent of the finest gentleman’s clubs on the Pall Mall in London before retiring to bed to dream about the adventures that lie ahead tomorrow.
History of Victoria Falls
While working as a missionary in Africa Dr. David Livingston heard about the Mosi oa Tunya, “The smoke that thunders “and set off on a canoe expedition in 1855 down the Zambezi River to find out for himself what the natives were talking about. As they got closer to the falls Livingston could hear the mighty roar, and see the columns of spray rising up into the air. The natives took him to an island that was in the middle of the falls where he said later when asked: “The whole scene was extremely beautiful; the banks and islands dotted over the river are adorned with sylvan vegetation of great variety of colour and form…no one can imagine the beauty of the view from anything witnessed in England. “It has never been seen before by European eyes, but scenes so wonderful must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight”. On being the first European to ever see what is now called one of the Seven Wonders of the World Livingston named the falls Victoria in honour of the queen.
What to see and do
For the thrill seekers there is plenty to do at the falls that keep the adrenalin flowing, such as taking a boat ride from Livingstone Island, and then swimming to “The Devils Pool” where you can gaze over the falls without the water carrying you over.
Kayak the white-water rapids of the Zambezi, or take an inflatable raft ride down the mighty river.
Bungee jump over 300 feet from the Victoria Falls Bridge, or fly in a micro-light to see the falls up close. You can even ride on top of an African elephant through the bush.
If all this sounds like too much fun a dinner cruise above the falls on the African Queen may be more the pace you are looking for. One thing is for certain though there are plenty of things to keep you occupied while staying at one of Africa’s most exclusive hotels.
Getting to Zambia
Most tourists arrive in Livingstone after flying in from either Cape Town or Johannesburg in South Africa, and almost everyone requires a visa with a single entry visa costing $50.