A Cross-Examination of Top Holiday Accommodations in Livingstone, Zambia, and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Spend Christmas and New Year’s at Victoria Falls, one of Africa’s top tourist destinations and one of the world’s most magnificent waterfalls. Victoria Falls is situated on the Zambezi River, Africa’s fourth-largest river, which also serves as the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. While the spray and mist from the falling water are rising to a height of over 400 metres and can be seen from a distance of 50 kilometres, the noise of Victoria Falls can be heard from 40 kilometres away. It makes sense why the local tribes used to refer to the waterfall as “The smoke that thunders,” Mosi-o-Tunya.

So a visit this festive season is worthwhile if you are up for it. However, making an accommodation decision can be difficult. There are countless variables to take into account, such as cost, location, amenities, reviews, and so forth. Some travellers find the process of selecting a hotel or lodge to be so overwhelming that they leave it up to their travel agent. But all it takes is a little bit of research to ensure a stay in a location that is ideal for you. You must first determine what you want before searching for it. In this StarInsights report, we cross-examine the top accommodation options in Livingstone, Zambia, and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, based on publicly available data from Google Seller Ratings and its aggregated rating and review system.

Industry Overview Safari, Victoria Falls Hotels, Livingstone Accommodation, Zimbabwe

Due to its size, romance, and strategic location, the renowned Victoria Falls is one of the most sought-after travel destinations in Africa. Also, one of the natural wonders of the world, located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. There has been an unending debate as to which side the falls can be greatly viewed from. In general, the views of the falls are better from the Zimbabwean side. But you can also visit Livingstone Island for a view and explore Devil’s Pool or Angel’s Pool on the Zambian side.

Year after year, tourists throng to the magnificent falls to get a glimpse of the grand scale of nature in this region of the world. For that reason, accommodation choices are plentiful on both sides of the Victoria Falls. The river and falls can be seen from a number of hotels, resorts, and lodges that are situated close to the waterfalls. Backpackers and tourists looking for the most affordable options can also find campgrounds and hostels. The majority of additional lodging facilities are located along the river’s banks 10 to 15 kilometres upstream of the Falls.

When choosing accommodation, location should typically be one of the most crucial considerations. It’s great if the place is inexpensive or has fantastic amenities, but if it’s located hundreds of miles away from the main attractions you want to see, it then becomes an issue. In this case, therefore, reading reviews is a great way to find out more information about accommodation establishments and determine whether it’s right for you.

Because of competition in the technology age, an end user has countless options from which to choose. One can read the reviews left by other travellers who have stayed at a particular hotel before making a decision. Since the hotel management has no direct control over the reviews and testimonials, there is a space for complete honesty and transparency in the reviews posted on various travel websites.

It is important to know about these accommodation places and how they function, and so, using ratings and reviews given by customers on Google Maps, eKomi conducted a study on the best and most rated staying places in Livingstone, Zambia, and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, as seen in the tables below.

Comparison of the top-rated accommodation establishments in Livingstone and Victoria Falls

Hotel (Vitoria Falls)	Rating	Reviews	Hotel (Livingstone)	Rating	Reviews
Pioneers Lodge	4.8	50	Taita Falcon Lodge	4.6	36
Nkosi Guest Lodge	4.8	38	The Nkhosi Livingstone Lodge and Spa	4.6	9
Victoria Falls Backpackers Lodge	4.1	240	aha The David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa	4.5	838
Palm River Hotel	4.7	86	Protea Hotel by Marriott Livingstone	4.3	790
Victoria Falls River Lodge	4.7	86	Fawlty Towers	4.2	286
Zambezi Boutique Guesthouse	4.7	25	Ngoma Zanga Lodge	4.2	182
The Victoria Falls Hotel	4.6	1592	Kamunjila Lodge	4.2	52
Ilala Lodge Hotel	4.6	665	Nshima Towers Lodge	4.1	21
Victoria Falls Safari Club	4.6	434	Olga’s – The Italian Corner	4.0	550
Batonka Guest Lodge	4.7	240	Cafe Zambezi House of Africa	4.0	283
Mbano Manor Hotel – Victoria Falls	4.6	85	Pumulani Lodge Livingstone	3.9	82

As of this day, Pioneers Lodge and Nkosi Guest Lodge are the top-rated in Victoria Falls both with a stable 4.8 stars, however the number of reviews separate the two 50 and 38 respectively. On the other hand, the top-rated accommodation establishments in Livingstone are also a tie between Taita Falcon Lodge and The Nkhosi Livingstone Lodge and Spa both with 4.6-star ratings but with slightly lower reviews. Nevertheless, kudos to these hotels for making it to the top spot in a very competitive industry.

Reviews are also quite significant to a business as they work in tandem with ratings and in the long run, they boost customer satisfaction and sales. eKomi understands the importance of reviews and so, we completed the StarInsights assessment by putting together a list of the top ten most reviewed hotels in both Livingstone and Victoria Falls.

Comparison of the most reviewed accommodation establishments in Livingstone and Victoria Falls

Hotel (Vitoria Falls)	Reviews	Hotel (Livingstone)	Reviews
The Victoria Falls Hotel	1592	New Fairmount Hotel	1099
The Kingdom Hotel	1472	aha The David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa	838
Azambezi River Lodge	1433	Protea Hotel by Marriott Livingstone	790
Elephant Hills Hotel	1433	Chrismar Hotel Livingstone	347
Victoria Falls Waterfront	711	Fawlty Towers	286
Ilala Lodge Hotel	665	Cafe Zambezi House of Africa	283
Cresta Sprayview	576	Kaazmein Lodge	281
Shearwater Explorers Village	562	Oriental Swan Hotel	194
Victoria Falls Safari Club	434	Zambezi Junction Lodge & Serengeti Restaurant	167
N1 Hotel & Campsite Victoria Falls	425	Gloria’s Bed and Breakfast	111
Victoria Falls Rainbow Hotel	382	Okavango Lodge	94

In terms of the number of reviews, overall The Victoria Falls Hotel overshadow all accommodation places both in Victoria Falls and Livingstone with an alarming, 1592 reviews, followed by the Kingdom Hotel with 1472 reviews and in third place Elephant Hills Hotel and Azambezi River Lodge could not be separated as both have the same number of reviews i.e. 1433 reviews. New Fairmount Hotel also has an impressive, 1099 reviews, but they are only top of the Livingstone list.

Great job to the CEOs and teams of the listed accommodation places. It is truly commendable that these establishments were able to attract welcoming reviews in such a grinding and fierce industry, as this analysis is entirely based on reviews from satisfied clients. These CEOs understand what it means to care for their customers and satisfactorily provide customer service with an unforgettable customer experience that meets or exceeds expectations.

Conclusion: Vic Falls, River Lodge, Safari Lodge, Livingstone Town

So there you have it, a few of the key distinctions between the two nations. Victoria Falls from both countries is obviously the best option if you have the time, resources, and opportunity to do so, as you will gain a unique perspective from each and learn about different viewpoints, sun angles, etc. Any hotels that surpass these in the coming days will be reflected in the following eKomi report because this industry is very fast-paced and changing on a daily basis, especially in the two countries in question.

Overall, this report offered a convincing insight into the significance of business acumen and investment in online self-promotion. We at eKomi can assist you in obtaining favourable Google Reviews and marketing your accommodation businesses. You are therefore welcome to request a free consultation to learn more.