The Royal Livingstone is a grand hotel in a prime location on the banks of the Zambezi. It’s so close to the Victoria Falls that you can hear the thundering water and see the top of them from the gardens, along with the fine spray they create.
The hotel’s interiors feature iron chandeliers, polished floors, lavish flower arrangements and gilt mirrors, furthering the feeling of colonial grandeur. On the sweeping lawn, zebra, warthog and impala can often be seen grazing and a large swimming pool slopes down to the river. The stylish sunset bar is built on stilts over the river and is a scenic spot to enjoy cocktails as the sun sets.
This hotel stands out due to its prime location for visiting Victoria Falls. One of our favorite things to do here is to sit in the garden listening to the cascading water and watching the rising mist.
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Photos of Royal Livingstone Hotel
Rooms
Rooms and suites are arranged in attractive white houses, all of which face the river. Offering a simple but tasteful decor, they’re divided into seven categories and include air conditioning, Wi-Fi, satellite TVs, safes, hair dryers, minibars and tea/coffee making facilities, as well as en suite bathrooms and insect repellent devices.
Luxury King and Twin rooms have spacious verandas, while Luxury Corner King and Twin rooms have private enclosed patios accessed via sliding doors and can sleep extra guests in their lounge area. Luxury Suites are double the size, featuring a dressing area, lounge, veranda and wet bar, while the Presidential Suite offers further space and has housed heads of state and celebrities.
Location
Royal Livingstone is a 1 hour 40 minute flight from Johannesburg, situated on the banks of the Zambezi River and overlooking Victoria Falls, which is just a 15-minute walk from the property. The Mosi-oa-Tunya National Wildlife Park is only a few minutes away and home to a variety of wildlife, including elephant, giraffe, warthogs, buffalo, antelope and birdlife.
Food and drink
The dining room serves à la carte African, European and Indian cuisine, with seating on the veranda overlooking the river. For a more romantic dining experience, Monkey Tree offers candlelit dinners beneath the trees, or for something unique, guests can dine on an old-fashioned steam train, The Royal Livingstone Express. High Tea is available daily, while the Royal Livingstone Lounge offers light snacks and drinks accompanied by live music.
Families
Some of the rooms have space for an additional guest to sleep in the lounge area, and most rooms are able to interconnect to accommodate families.
Facilities and activities
On site there’s a pool, fitness center and spa, with hammocks set up along the river for further relaxation. The hotel has a private entrance to Victoria Falls, which can be visited as often as you like. There are three scenic walking trails through the Victoria Falls National Park, while the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Wildlife Park is also a short distance away, offering excellent game viewing.
Accessibility
There are two paraplegic accessible rooms at the property — one with a king sized bed and the other with twin beds. They both offer features such as shower stools, grab rails, lower light switches, air conditioning controls and closet rails, as well as lower beds. A golf buggy drives all guests to their rooms on arrival.
Local excursions
The hotel’s activity desk can help to arrange various excursions and activities in the surrounding area, including jet boat rides, abseiling, bungee jumps, microlight flights, sunset river cruises, helicopter rides over the falls and trips to Devil’s Pool, which is right on the edge of the falls. You could also visit Livingstone Craft Market or the Livingstone Museum to learn more about the local area.
Tour ideas in Victoria Falls
Our itineraries are there to spark ideas for how you could include a stay at Royal Livingstone Hotel as part of your trip. Treat them simply as suggestions, because every aspect of the trip we create for you will be yours to define.
Alternative places to stay nearby
Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favorite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can't be bettered.
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Avani Victoria Falls Resort
Victoria Falls -
Royal Chundu River Lodge
Victoria Falls -
Responsible ChoiceWe've hand-selected a range of tours and stays across the world that go above and beyond to be a force for good by supporting local businesses, educating staff, challenging local norms, or promoting conservation and biodiversity efforts. Your Responsible Choice helps increase the positive impact of your trip.
Sindabezi Island Lodge
Victoria Falls -
Sussi Lodge
Victoria Falls
Experiences while staying here
The following activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences of the area where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can also suggest outdoor pursuits and activities, such as cooking classes, that will introduce you to the traditions of the area's inhabitants.
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Livingstone Island Excursion Livingstone Island Excursion
Livingstone Island Excursion
You are taken by boat to the island on the edge of Victoria Falls and taken on a brief history tour before swimming across a channel, crossing a rocky outcrop and jumping into a rock pool.
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Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi
Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi
The cruises are shaded and gently make their way upstream toward the National Park, usually accompanied by a brief talk about the river and its wildlife by your skipper.
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Victoria Falls Helicopter Flight Victoria Falls Helicopter Flight
Victoria Falls Helicopter Flight
Flying lower than a conventional aircraft, you will fly a complete circuit over the Falls in both directions, giving you spectacular views of the Falls.
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Victoria Falls and nearby places
- The Kafue National Park 180 miles away
- Lusaka 236 miles away
- The Lower Zambezi National Park 307 miles away
- South Luangwa National Park 499 miles away
- Bangweulu Wetlands 528 miles away
- North Luangwa National Park 591 miles away
- Shiwa Ngandu 610 miles away