Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, The Best Safari Lodge in Zimbabwe
Written: Jan 15 '09
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Mugabe may have tried, but even he could not ruin the exclusive lodge.
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: Anyone wanting to experience the fascinating variety of Africa's big game at close quarters will find everything they could possibly want and more at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge.
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| TheSmartTraveler's Full Review: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge |
After flying from Johannesburg, Wendy and I arrived at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge around noon. Exiting the bus, we are greeted by an energetic employee in African garb with a big yell, dance, and waving of his spear.
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge opened in December 1994 and every year since has been voted the "Best Safari Lodge in Zimbabwe" by the local tourism industry. Conde Nest Traveler rated Victoria Falls Safari Lodge as one of Africa'sTop 5 Safari Resorts. It also has received awards as one of the Worlds best kept secrets, and one of the top 101 hotels in the World.
It is located on a plateau that forms the natural boundary to the Zambesi National Park, and because of a watering hole just below the Lodge, attracts a large number of elephants, kudus, buffalos, impalas and other animals. We enjoyed spectacularly breathtaking African sunsets from the lodge.
A complimentary shuttle bus takes guests to Victoria Falls which is located 4 kilometers away, the town center, and other hotels and restaurants 15 minutes before the hour and operates from 7:45am to 9:45pm.
As for the rooms, a great deal of importance has been attached to small details and the use of natural, environmentally friendly materials. Their are 45 Standard Twin Rooms, (10 of which have interconnecting doors), 1 standard Twin Room for people with disabilities. There are also 15 Standard Double Rooms, 5 Deluxe Double Rooms, 6 Split Level Suites with King-size beds. All rooms have a luxury bathtub and separate shower, air conditioning and ceiling fans, room safes, hairdryers, a fully stocked mini bar, a telephone where we could call the United States on a calling card without any crazy fees added on by the hotel, mosquito nets that are opened each night, and all beds are extra long. The rooms front walls have wooden shutters and glass doors which open onto a private balcony. The hotel staff warned us about locking the glass doors so that the monkeys would not come in and go through our luggage, empty the shaving cream, and not have a major party in our room. The toiletries were what we would expect from an accomodation of this class and included insect repellent.
The Lodge also has an internet cafe, Baobab television room, guest library and game room, activities desk with telescope viewing facilities over the waterhole, curio and gift shop, baby sitting facilities, and a swimming pool with sun deck.
There is a watering hole just below the Lodge. We enjoyed fantastic views of the watering hole of impalas, kudus, buffalos, elephants, and other animals from the viewpoint at the Makuwa-Kuwa restaurant and the observation platform at the Buffalo Bar.
We enjoyed a great African meal at one of the restaurants on the grounds, the Boma Place of Eating. When we arrived we were welcomed with a traditional greeting in the local language of Shona and Ndebele. We were then dressed in traditional robes and entered the main restaurant. We participated in a hand washing ceremony before some snacks and drinking traditional beer. The Boma specializes in a wonderful selection of traditional Zimbabwean dishes served on cast iron plates. The Boma specialty of the house is the warthog fillet. This unique restaurant had Shangaan dancers and singers, a local story teller, witchdoctor, and an interactive drumming show that started at 9pm.
Recommended:
Yes
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TheSmartTraveler
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Member: John Isaacs
Location: Miami, Florida
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About Me:
I get the shakes if I don't take at least 5 good trips a year.
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