Great location beside the falls

Just back from a 3 day stay at the Royal Livingstone where we had a great time. The hotel is very good and the setting is fabulous. The sunset from the pool deck is well worth the view.

The food in the hotel is wonderful and the breakfast spread is out of this world. One small point was that the evening menu did not change whilst we were there and this lead us to try eating at the sister hotel (The Zambezi Sun). The food there was just as good, with a better selection.

There is a really good range of activities that can be booked whilst staying here, but this is the only negative point that we encountered. Whilst there is an excellent choice, booking some of the trips was very difficult and the concierge system seemed to be a bit confused. We tried to book 3 seperate trips and every one of them was problematic. If you do want to book any of the activities, please make sure you do so as early as you can. The microlight flight was fantastic.

However on the whole this is a fantastic hotel to spend a few days, especially if you are looking to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Lifetime of memories

Hi I was luckily enough to stay at the Royal Livingstone for 5 days and nights as an award through my work. This is an amazing place to stay, the hotel is very classy and has a real 1920's imperial feel to it. The staff are great and the service is perfect.

However the best thing about this place is the location, you really won't find anywhere better to stay in Zambia. The hotel is on the edge of the Victoria falls which is simply spectacular.

During my stay I flew in a helicopter over the falls which blew my mind, went on safari by river and by land, took a trip to a local village to see how the natives live (very happy and friendly people) and even went across to Botswana to a safari park.

This is an experience of a life time and I can't reccommend it highly enough.

Enjoy

What a sunset !!!!!

Just spend 3 great nights at the Royal Livingstone Hotel, 3rd time there and it was one of our best weekends yet, the rooms are beautiful the staff friendly and the food superb, the river is low at this time of year but the falls stay beautiful as you see them better with-out all the spray, you still get very wet though. Sunset on the deck is a must (we saw elephants and hippo's while sipping a sundowner) and dinner unforgettable. This is the best time of year for rafting, and you must bungi at least once. Do the river safari and have fun. You do PAY for all this, but it well worth the money spent, you only live once and this is a must if you can. As to some of the other reviews on this page, does anyone leave US$ 4000 lying around in the room??, if we go to the US and Europe we lock valuables away in a safe why wouldn't you do it here. (Common knowledge). People working in hotels get low wages, why tempt them? As to the food, we have had bad and great food all over the world, but this place has some of the best we've ever tasted and it has to travel a long way just to get there. I have learned that one bad experience doesn't make a place bad. Have fun guys!!!

Truely Memorable Experience

We spent two nights in early Juky 2005 at this hotel where you receive individual attention to register whilst you sip iced tea. This hotel offer one the closest you can get to a 'colonial' experience today in Africa. The facilities are modern and yet give that authentic African feel. The unique location enables one to hear and see the mighty Zambezi flowing on meters away from the bedroom patio. The breakfast is sumptuous and you are spoilt for choice. The Falls is only a walking distance away and the whole walk about can last from 30 mins to at least 3 hours. You can book the 'must do' helicopter ride from the hotel.

Beyond Any Expectations

Spent a night at the Royal Livingstone on my way back from South Africa.

Expensive by any measure -- prices are similar to Aruba.

Very luxurios. Located in a game park with giraffes and monkeys wondering around. 10 minute walk from the Victoria Falls. Very safe -- it turned out that Zambia in general is much safer than Zimbabwe or South Africa. Very courteous staff. The main restaurant is pretty good, not the best though.

When I asked the concierge to organize a private tour to the Zimbabwean side of the Falls, she arranged it within minutes. By the way, the trip to the Zimbabwean side was very worthwhile. It takes 10 minutes to clear the Zambian customs, then another 10 minutes to buy a visa to enter Zimbabwe - but it's very easily done -- they need your dollars! Cost $30 to get a visa to Zimbabwe. All in all, they try to meet your every request -- imaginable or unimaginable. The Livingstone airport is unexpectedly well-maintained as well.

Would rank it nothing but Excellent. Don't forget your anti-malaria pills though.

Luxury and Beautiful Location to view Victoria Falls

I am taken a back by the reviews posted here. I understand people were robbed- but unfortunately that happens all over africa- and anyone that goes there should know that. You have to lock everything away and be very careful. I have been to this hotel 3 times and believe it to be the best in that area. The decking at the front of the propery down by the river is brilliant at sunset- with vic falls in the back and the sound of hippos.

We loved the rooms, the facilities, the location. The only thing u have to be warned is that u definitely need malaria tablets and drink lots of water. Apart from that- u need to be careful with ur possessions- like anywhere in africa. Please dont be put off-i love it there. If its too expensive go next door to the zambezi sun.

Robbed at the Royal Livingstone

We were robbed by the staff, over $4000.00 US dollars and the Hotel did nothing! Claimed it is a police matter, and even though we found out the names of the staff members who did it, all the Royal Livingston did was tell us that they would take appropriate disciplinary measures. They're lawyers have contacted us and declare that the Hotel has no Liability. Definitely do not go here unless you want to get ripped off and have no recourse. I am a world business traveler and this is the worst hotel I have ever stayed in!

Enjoying living in Livingstone

My partner and I stayed for two nights in March. After the ordeal of a $55.00 visa fee on entry in Zimbabwe (Tip for british passport holders fly into Livingstone if poss as the visa fee is waived if your name is on a tour op or hotel manifesto whereas Victoria Falls airport stings you for $55) and then clearing immigration in Zambia we were ready for a bit of pampering. The Royal Livingstone delivered from arrival. A member of staff sat us down on the chairs in the lounge went through formalities all with the aid of a welcome iced tea and we were taken to our rooms on a golf buggy as the property is quite large. The rooms were a bit small and the bathroom could have done with a refurbishment but all in all the experience was very good. The costs of food and drink were exorbitant, having just left the relatively cheap prices of South Africa, so take lots of dollars! The monkeys had more enjoyment out of our balcony than we did and we woke up both mornings to find monkey mess!!! The setting of this hotel is perfect, on the banks of the Zambezi river. Access to the falls is via the sister hotel, The Zambezi Sun which was nowhere near as nice, but fine if on a budget. A hotel car took us from our hotel and then it is literally a 5 min walk to the amazing Victoria Falls. Another tip is to bring a raincoat or hire one from the men at the start of the trail as you get very wet,especially on the bridge! All in all for clients looking for peace and relaxation with other activities to while the day away go to this hotel and chill out as it really is lovely.

Service was NOT Five Star

Beautiful property, but the service is what you find at a one star property.

We ordered champagne one night. It took 45 min to get it and when we did there wan't one bubble in the glass. Sent it back and it took another 20 minutes. Still had to pay for both glasses.

At dinner ordered a filet medium rare. Received a well done steak. Relaxing evening with my wife was ruined as she ate her meal. Finished, as I began my meal of another over cooked filet. Not what you would expect for an expensive meal.

There are employees everywhere on the property, although there doesn't seem to be anyone around when you need something.

Opulent Luxury

We stayed at the Royal Livingstone for 3 nights in February and it was fantastic. The hotel is like something out of colonial times with high tea served on the terrace and each room having access to a butler. The Hotel along with its sister hotel the Zambezi Sun (which is a 10 minute walk away) are located within a national park and there are monkeys, baboons and zebra just wandering past the rooms. The falls are a further 2 minutes past the Zambezi Sun and are incredible, we took a helicopter ride over the falls to fully appreciate them.

Each of the rooms are simply and tastefully decorated and overlook the Zambezi river. We watched hippo swimming at nearby Livingstone island one evening.

The hotel is not cheap and the Zambezi Sun looks perfectly nice (better than the 3 star rating) so unless you want to treat yourself the Zambezi is nice enough but for a truly decadent experience you cant beat the Royal Livingstobe.