Arriving At The Royal Livingstone Feels Like Stepping Into Another Era
The moment we arrived at the Royal Livingstone by Anantara in Victoria Falls, Zambia, it was obvious this wasn’t just another luxury hotel.
Before we’d even properly checked in, zebras were grazing on the lawns directly in front of us while giraffes wandered through the property in the background.
Not in a zoo-style “animal experience” way either.
Just casually. Like it was completely normal.
That’s the thing about the Royal Livingstone. Wildlife isn’t an attraction here. It’s simply part of everyday life.
Set right on the edge of Victoria Falls in Zambia, the hotel blends old-world colonial elegance with one of the most surreal natural settings anywhere in Africa. Think polished timber, wide verandas, crisp white architecture, manicured lawns, vintage safari romance and the kind of atmosphere that makes you slow down the second you arrive.
It genuinely feels timeless.
The Location Is Almost Impossible To Beat
There are very few hotels in the world where you can wake up, walk through beautifully maintained gardens filled with giraffes and zebras, and then arrive at one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World within minutes.
But that’s exactly what staying here feels like.
The Royal Livingstone sits directly beside Victoria Falls, and guests have private access to the walking paths surrounding the falls themselves.
No long transfers. No tour buses.
Just a short stroll from your room to one of the most powerful waterfalls on Earth.
For anyone searching for the best luxury hotel near Victoria Falls, it’s honestly hard to imagine a better location.
Zebras And Giraffes Everywhere
The wildlife completely exceeded expectations.
Yes, we expected to maybe see a zebra or two at some stage.
We didn’t expect giraffes wandering past the hotel entrance.
Or zebras casually surrounding the pool.
Or waking up and seeing wildlife directly outside our room almost every single day.
The zebras and giraffes are unquestionably the stars of the property, while monkeys, impala and mongoose roam around in the background throughout the day as well.
Then somehow, the experience became even more surreal.
During our stay, a baby zebra was born on the property. For the first few days she stayed hidden close to her mother, before finally making her public debut around the hotel grounds.
Within minutes she became the most famous guest at the hotel.
She sprinted around the pool full of energy, ran circles around the lawns and even playfully approached guests sunbaking nearby before darting away again.
Honestly, it was one of the coolest hotel moments we’ve ever experienced anywhere in the world.
The Design And Atmosphere Are Absolutely Stunning
This is easily one of the most beautiful hotels we’ve stayed at.
Everything about the property feels elegant without ever feeling pretentious.
The design leans heavily into classic colonial-style African luxury, with a timeless heritage feel throughout the entire resort. Wide shaded terraces, old-world furnishings, riverfront lawns, polished wood interiors and soft lighting create an atmosphere that feels incredibly refined while still warm and relaxed.
It has that rare ability to feel both grand and intimate at the same time.
The pool area especially became one of our favourite places to spend time. Beautifully designed, peaceful, incredibly scenic and filled with travelers from all over the world sharing safari stories over cocktails throughout the afternoon.
The service around the pool was exceptional all week as well, particularly from Wezi, whose warmth and professionalism elevated the entire experience.
Drinks At The Travellers Bar Are A Must
One of the unexpected highlights of the hotel was spending evenings at the Travellers Bar.
Anyone familiar with the iconic Long Bar at Raffles Singapore will immediately understand the atmosphere here.
Dark timber finishes, old-world charm, polished elegance and that same timeless “golden age of travel” energy.
It’s the kind of place where you naturally end up staying longer than planned.
After long days exploring Victoria Falls or heading out on safari experiences, coming back for drinks here each evening became part of the ritual.
The Food Was Genuinely Outstanding
Hotel buffets can be hit and miss.
This one was unbelievable.
The breakfast buffet at the Royal Livingstone was honestly one of the best we’ve had anywhere in the world. Fresh omelettes, incredible bacon, tropical fruits, fresh juices, green juices, healthy smoothies, pastries and desserts that somehow made breakfast feel dangerous.
The cinnamon scrolls alone deserved their own review.
Dinner at the Old Drift Restaurant was equally impressive.
The BBQ buffet featured grilled pork chops, roast beef, village chicken, lemon rice, endless sides and seriously good desserts every single night.
Special mention also goes to Phyllis from Old Drift Restaurant, whose warmth and friendliness made every dinner feel genuinely welcoming.
The entire food and beverage operation throughout the hotel was exceptional and clearly very well run by Food & Beverage Manager Ankur.
The Boma Dinner Experience Is Worth Doing
One night during our stay we also experienced the famous Boma Dinner in Livingstone, and it absolutely lived up to the hype.
Traditional dancers, drumming performances, live music and an enormous African feast featuring warthog stew, oxtail, buffalo, chargrilled kudu skewers and BBQ crocodile — which surprisingly ended up being one of the standout dishes of the night.
All paired with a few cold Mosi lagers, Zambia’s iconic local beer.
Touristy? A little.
Worth doing anyway? Absolutely.
The Executive Zambezi River Rooms Were Incredible
We stayed in one of the newly refurbished Executive Zambezi River Rooms, and the room itself perfectly matched the elegance of the rest of the property.
Beautiful finishes, an incredibly comfortable bed, luxurious bathroom, romantic evening turndown service and peaceful riverfront surroundings made it somewhere we genuinely looked forward to returning to each day.
It felt luxurious in a very classic, understated way rather than overly flashy.
Exactly how a hotel like this should feel.
Final Thoughts On The Royal Livingstone Zambia
Some hotels are simply places to sleep while you explore a destination.
The Royal Livingstone becomes part of the destination itself.
Between the giraffes wandering the grounds, sunset drinks at the Travellers Bar, poolside afternoons beside roaming zebras and being able to walk directly to Victoria Falls, the entire experience felt genuinely unforgettable.
There’s a reason this hotel is considered one of the most iconic luxury stays in Zambia.
And after spending time here, it’s very easy to understand why.
