Royal Livingstone

The celebrated hotel chain Sun International put together an astounding collection of first-class hotels in southern Africa which was branded “Route of the African Sun”. The superb Royal Livingstone is generally considered the collection’s flagship.

Side by side with its three-star sister hotel Zambezi Sun, the five-star Royal Livingstone is located on the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls. The aspiring resort hotel strikes the perfect balance between thundering adventure and paradisiacal peace and quiet.

Having opened as recently as 2001, the Royal Livingstone, incidentally also a member of the elite chain Leading Hotels of the World, is set amidst the 69 square kilometre large Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River. Translated, the national park’s name means thundering smoke.

The Royal Livingstone has secured a prime location upriver of the falls and the mighty Batoka Gorge. The acacia lined shore sports magnificent views of the churning Zambezi River – the hotel offers a wildly romantic African experience infused with elegant luxury.

Recalling the old days of daring expeditions, the dominating design style is centred on the colonial era. Consequently, the rooms are grouped in small two-level buildings, following the design of a typical colonial estate. Incidentally, the Royal Livingstone owes its name to David Livingstone, the first European to discover the Victoria Falls in 1855.

It goes without saying that the five star hotel features a beautifully set swimming pool – pure bliss on a hot summer’s day. Decorated in ochre colours and protected by a gorgeous thatched roof, the Travellers Bar and Lounge is the perfect backdrop for a glass of aged port wine or a gentleman’s cigar.

The aspiring a-la-carte restaurant has earned a reputation for its haute cuisine that extends far beyond the falls. However, our favourite spot would have to be the delightful sundeck poised just above the river. It affords a magnificent view underlined by the distant roar of the falls. Indulge in this idyllic setting, a sundowner in hand, the day fading to night through a spectacular display of colours.