Background
A’Zambezi River Lodge is one of two Rainbow Tourism Group hotels in Victoria Falls – the other is the 3-star Victoria Falls Rainbow Hotel, about two kilometres from this riverfront property. The group has five other properties in four Zimbabwean provinces, as well as one hotel in each of Zambia and Mozambique.
Where is tt?
The only Victoria Falls hotel on the banks of the Zambezi River, A’Zambezi is 25 kilometres from the Victoria Falls Airport, a drive that takes about 25 minutes, and five kilometres from the town’s rainforest. The hotel runs a complimentary shuttle bus to and from town at set times, and will organise an airport transfer on request.
Room Facilities
The hotel has 87 rooms, including two Queen Suites and two Luxury King Suites. The rooms curve around the pool area in two rows – three blocks offer a view of the river, while the remaining two blocks have garden views. My twin room was snug, but not uncomfortably small. It offered up all the aspects of a 4-star establishment – crisp white linen on a comfy bed, air-conditioning, satellite TV, desk and tea-and-coffee station. Room service is available for in-room dining, and laundry and pressing services are on offer. There is free Wi-Fi in the rooms. I found it difficult to connect outside of the common areas, although my partner did not. The bathroom had both a shower and a bathtub. Outside my room’s sliding door I found a pair of lawn chairs and a table overlooking the rolling lawn that separates the rooms from the pool and restaurant. The key card operated the room’s lights and air-con, for energy saving purposes, but it did mean the room taking a while to cool down once I returned.
Restaurants & Bars
The open-air Amulonga restaurant serves both a buffet and a la carte menu, with live entertainment in the evenings. It offers a good selection of vegetarian dishes, but I found the peppered beef, served with vegetables and sadza (cooked cornmeal), to be absolutely delicious – tender, moist and full of flavour. While the dinner buffet offers the regular selection of meat, veggies, salads and desserts, you’ll also find kapenta (small fish) and Mopani worms for a splash of local flavour. For breakfast, the buffet opens at 06h30 with hot and cold offerings, including cold meats, cheese, fruit, yoghurt, cereal, eggs, bacon, sausages, omelettes and muffins. I opted for an omelette, which was made fresh while I waited and was very satisfying. The restaurant extends to an airy bar with TV sets broadcasting sports channels for enthusiasts. Comfortable couches allow for relaxed conversation while sipping a cocktail, or you could choose a table looking out over the river for spectacular views while enjoying a light meal. There is also the option of dining around the pool.
Business & Meeting Facilities
There are two rooms available for conferences and meetings. The Conference room can accommodate up to 120 guests with a cocktail layout, while the Reading Room’s capacity extends to 50. Both rooms are fully-equipped for the business of meetings and conferences. There is a computer station near reception for anyone without their own machine who needs to work. The hotel offers forex facilities for guests who require local currency – the U.S. dollar.
Leisure Facilities
Being on the riverbank, the hotel is a launch point for many of the river cruises along the Zambezi. The jetties can be accessed by a short walk from your room, or the tour operator will collect you from reception. The activities desk will assist you in booking a number of leisure activities around town – Vic Falls is known for its abundance of activities, including the famous bungee jump from the Victoria Falls Bridge, game drives, white water river rafting, boat cruises, elephant safaris and helicopter flips.
Verdict
A beautiful setting, comfortable accommodation, friendly and helpful staff, tasty food and easy access to town all work to make this hotel a great option for Vic Falls visitors.
Kate Kennedy
Contact
Address: 308 Parkway Drive, Victoria Falls
T: +263 4 757 098
E: reservations@azambeziriverlodge.com
W: azambeziriverlodge.com