Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara

Stunning property right on the Zambezi! It was so incredible to see giraffes, zebras, and monkeys on the grounds. We loved listening to the hippos and trying to spot them. Beautiful rooms and very attentive staff. Loved the pool, the observation deck bar area, and the colonial indoor bar. Solid breakfast. It was so nice to have the concierge tour booking counter - Made it very easy to book excursions! Two elements of the hotel are not congruent with the rest of the luxurious experience: 1- the food quality is not great 2- the music sounds like something you’d expect to be playing over a gym loudspeaker, not at a 5-star hotel. It cheapens the experience!

By far the best hotel I have stayed in Africa, from the time we arrived till the time we left, we were treated like royalty. Service was beyond efficient , food was amazing .Tour providers were so helpful and we were happy we chose Vic falls as a holiday destination. The beautiful views of zebras and giraffe walking past our room and at breakfast, as well as the mist from the falls was breathtaking. we also enjoyed the spa as well as we overlooked the River. I cant fault this hotel at all . EVERY single person we encountered was friendly and polite. World Class service! Hotel was always neat and clean, rooms were immaculate, the use of the App whilst on the resort was so efficient , I would just ask a question and someone would be at my door in less than 10 minutes with whatever I requested. It was a really good way of communication instead of calling reception all the time. If we were late for a tour , there was a buggy waiting for us outside our room. Everything was thought out prior.||amazing stay, would do it again, Made my 40th Birthday memorable.

Best. Resort. Ever. We stayed here for 3 nights and wish we could’ve stayed longer because of how amazing this place was! The staff were some of the most welcoming people on the planet as every morning when yo walk by them, they’ll greet you with a good morning and most of the time, small chat on what you’re going to do for the day or if your rooms are fine. The breakfast was also amazing as the food is freshly made and also, order the eggs Benedict at the egg counter as it’s amazing! We tried two restaurants here, The Old Drift and Kubu. The first time we ate at the Old Drift, all of our dishes were too salty but the second time we tried, the chef took our feedback on as the food was superb! Kubu was also a great restaurant but I’ve left that in a separate review for the restaurants. However, the main attraction of this resort are the animals which were incredible to see as they’re so accustomed to humans where they don’t flee when we walk along the paths. We can’t get too near to them though but still a good distance. Overall, it’s a magnificent experience and I wish to come back here one day when I visit Zambia again.

What an incredible and unique hotel this is – it is an absolute “must” if you come to Zambia. We arrived to be serenaded by the Welcome Committee beating their drums and singing their Welcome song, but our eyes were drawn to the giraffe and zebra which were all around the grounds gently nibbling at the trees and grass – it is a breath-taking and awe-inspiring surreal first impression that does not leave you the entire time you are there. There is no hotel like this in the world, where wildlife are free to eat and roam without any interference within the grounds and where you do not feel the slightest bit nervous of them or afraid for them. The rooms are spacious with fully equipped bathrooms and we had upgraded to a room with a garden room at the back – an ideal place from which to view the grounds and animals and the incredible Zambesi River which flows along the entire back of the hotel, and also to take in the stunning sunsets each night, whilst to the left the magnificent “smoke” and “thunder” of the Falls can be seen and heard. It is a real bonus to be able to go into the National Park free of charge whenever you wish to appreciate fully this incredible Natural Wonder. The staff are so smiley and friendly, and we have a special shout out to our butler, Christine, our breakfast waitress, Elizabeth, and the resident sommelier, Peace who all went over and above to look after us. But, each and every person working there is fantastic, friendly and helpful. The food and drinks were faultless. We would rate this hotel 100/10 – it was a simply awesome experience staying here!

The facilities and rooms are old—you'll notice many cracks and accumulated dirt in the corners and inside the walls. Some small electrical items don't work properly. For example, the light in my wardrobe stayed on all the time, whether the door was open or closed. The bulb in my shower didn’t work at all, and the shower head in the bathtub was missing. Some things are just broken, especially decorative items. Everything about the place tells you it’s very old. Maybe that’s the hotel’s theme? I’m not sure. However, the staff were very, very friendly and attentive—just consistently slow. Whenever you order something, be prepared to wait at least 10 minutes, or even longer. But this is Africa, and I was told people here don’t rush, so you should expect it. The staff also make many mistakes during checkout. For example, they might add someone else's charges to your bill or even charge you twice. I’m not sure if it’s a scam or just poor organization, but there’s almost always someone arguing at the reception about billing issues. My bill was fine, but one of my friends was pressured into paying for someone else’s bill. The waterfalls are within walking distance—literally just five minutes away. The animals roaming the hotel grounds are incredibly beautiful. But remember, they are wild and should never be approached under any circumstances. Another thing I appreciated is that the hotel has its own water purification plant on-site, so all the tap water is safe to drink. The gym is very small and has outdated equipment. But they host an amazing African dance show every Friday—or maybe even more often, I'm not sure. Watching it gave me a mental “orgasm”; it was definitely the best part of the hotel experience.

We have never been to South Africa before and went with a group. Our rooms were upgraded and so we were very surprised! All the staff were super friendly and meals were great! The falls are walking distance and there are lots of animals on the property. Going to the falls wear clothes and shoes that can get soaked! The vendors in the falls area are very pushy and would recommend giving only exact change. Overall a very nice experience!

The Royal Livingstone is a unique experience. If money is not an issue for you—it's a must-stay. We were treated like royalty. All the activities are close by and the hotel goes out of its way to make sure every thing you do requires zero work and confirmation on your part. Truly the best hospitality I've ever experienced.

My husband and I spent 4 nights here in April 2025 at the end of an amazing first visit to Africa. What a perfect way to end our holiday. The location is amazing as it is right next to the Zambezi River. You can watch the sunset from the river bank. It is a short walk to the Zambia side of the Falls and your stay includes unlimited entries into the National Park so you can view the Falls as many times as you like without having to pay each time. It is a short taxi ride to the border to go to the Zimbabwe side of the Falls or to visit the Victoria Falls township. We easily did day trips to Botswana and the Rhino Walk. The buffet breakfast had a wonderful selection. The staff were excellent - a particular special thanks to Namu (?) at reception, one of the waitresses Priscilla and Betty (and all of the housekeeping team) for your wonderful care, hospitality and friendliness. The zebras, giraffes and other animals in the grounds added to the unique experience.