The Victoria Falls Hotel

We called in for afternoon tea to the lovely Victoria Falls Hotel. We knew what we wanted so when we sat down we ordered our afternoon teas. We noticed a lot of people had a glass of bubbly with their afternoon tea. When the waiter arrived with the placemats we asked him about a glass of bubbly and he advised it would be another 12USD each. Another guest having heard our conversation told us they only paid 5USD for bubbly with their afternoon tea. We asked for a menu to check this out and found it was indeed correct. We stopped our waiter as he passed our table (at this point we were still waiting for our afternoon tea to arrive). We asked him if our afternoon tea could include bubbly as per the menu which stated an extra 5USD each and were told as we had not requested this at the time of ordering it would now be an extra 12USD each. I said it would have been helpful when taking the order if he had asked if we wanted our afternoon tea with or without bubbly. We were told the order we made did not include bubbly so we could not now add it on. When he finally brought our afternoon tea I asked if he would query this with the manager as it should be simple to add the drinks to our order. He spoke to the manager who said it was not possible to add the bubbly after the order had been taken by the waiter.
The Victoria Falls Hotel is very nice and very popular but if I had been the manager I would have kept my guests happy by adding the glasses onto the order or voiding the original order and creating another to include the glasses of bubbly. I could understand if we asked after the tea arrived but we asked within a few minutes of ordering. I don't think customer satisfaction can be important to them ..... possibly because they are popular and don't need to go over and above. We had a great six week holiday in Zimbabwe and surrounding countries (would definitely recommend) with some great food and fantastic memories ..... .unfortunately when we talk about our lovely week at Victoria Falls the hotel always gets a mention!

Wide and nutritious breakfast.

Could only afford lunch at this iconic establishment. Staff very friendly and efficient.
A great deal of history in the corridors and in the Bulawayo Room.

Great stuff. Freedom and
Tap welcomed me to the terrace each afternoon where I enjoyed excellent food. Wine, outstanding views of the Zambezi River and bridge, the mist of Victoria Falls, and very pleasant service and conversation. This was definitely where to enjoy my 4 night stay at Victoria Falls!!

Lovely historic property with original features and many photos and paintings depicting the early times and construction of the bridge as well as royal visits
Lovely immaculate grounds Swimming pool area Very polite staff Good food

Iconic hotel conveniently located in Victoria falls . The hotel has retained its former charm, every room has something different to offer. The garden is wonderful and the view on the bridge with the smokes emanating from the Falls is magical

We booked two nights at this hotel at the end of an almost three week trip through South Africa and Zimbabwe. We wish we had booked a longer stay. It is not hard to understand why the Queen Mother considered this to be her favourite place on earth. Everything from the accommodation to the food to the staff was 5 star.

The Victoria Falls Hotel was such a memorable and unique place to stay during our trip. There is something incredibly special about being able to stay at a property with so much history and character while still feeling comfortable and well cared for. From the moment we arrived, the hotel felt timeless — elegant, peaceful, and full of old-world charm that you simply don’t find very often anymore.

My dad and I stayed here as part of our journey through Southern and East Africa, and it was the perfect complement to the more immersive safari camps and lodges we experienced along the way. The grounds are absolutely beautiful, meticulously maintained, and offer stunning views toward the Victoria Falls Bridge and the mist rising from the falls in the distance. Walking through the property truly feels like stepping into another era.

One of the things we appreciated most was the atmosphere. There is such a calm and classic feeling throughout the hotel, whether you’re having drinks on the terrace at sunset, or simply wandering through the historic hallways and reading about the hotel’s past.

The location is also unbeatable. Being able to easily access Victoria Falls and explore the surrounding area made everything very convenient while still allowing the hotel to feel like a peaceful retreat away from the crowds.

We stayed for 1 night and were able to do the falls walk (we just walked on the road to the entrance and gave ourselves a self guided tour), and we did a helicopter tour in the morning before leaving. Which was amazing- we even saw elephants, giraffes and zebra from above!

The service throughout our stay was warm, professional, and welcoming. Everyone we encountered made us feel genuinely cared for, and the staff clearly take great pride in maintaining the legacy and experience of such an iconic property.

What makes the Victoria Falls Hotel so special is that it doesn’t try to be ultra-modern or overly flashy. Instead, it fully embraces its history, elegance, and sense of place — and that is exactly why it stands out. It felt authentic, refined, and deeply connected to the incredible destination around it.

Looking back on our trip, staying here with my dad added such a meaningful layer to the overall experience. It was relaxing, beautiful, and full of character — the kind of place that becomes part of the story of your journey rather than just a place to sleep.

This is a beautiful hotel with an outstanding view of the Victoria Falls Bridge from its terrace. It has a lovely ambience exuding an air old fashioned and gracious luxury. The room was beautiful, high ceilinged, quiet, spacious and very comfortable. The staff couldn't be more helpful or friendly. We enjoyed the "high tea" in the afternoon watching the rainbows over the Falls bridge. Dinner on the terrace was magical too. All in all one of the nicest places we've stayed.

We really enjoyed our stay at the hotel. Within walking distance of Victoria Falls and we are really glad we have been able to experience the ambience and decor of the hotel. Like going back in time.
We felt very relaxed.

Excellent

Amazing staff. Thank you for making our stay so special.

Srangrila!

Everything Nothing

We did not stay at the hotel, however came past to see the view and have a beer. Landed up staying for a late lunch, and it was superb.

strange that they don't offer vegan meals as a 5-star hotel, but we just ask to remove any cheese or buttermilk from the meals chosen.

The service is first rate and the hotel itself is accommodating and welcoming. The view is worth it all!