The legend goes that in 1841 a young man disembarked from a ship in Algoa Bay, quite unnoticed among traders and immigrants. He had recently qualified as a doctor and held a diploma in divinity. With the few provisions he owned, he loaded an ox wagon and set off, walking beside the wagon for a 1000 kilometres into the darkest African interior. Thirty-three years later, a national hero, Dr David Livingstone would be buried in Westminster Abbey, in England.
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It was the very same David Livingstone who, in November 1855, was the first European to glimpse Victoria Falls from Livingstone Island, located on the tip of the falls on the Zambian side. The locals referred to these falls as Mosi-Oa-Tunya,(the smoke that thunders) but Livingstone named this marvellous discovery Victoria Falls in honour of his Queen in England. Today the Victoria Falls is recognised as one of the seven natural wonders of the world and has been declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
And it is within 500 metres from the world famous Victoria Falls that Sun International's 5-star Royal Livingstone Hotel has been positioned - capturing a bygone era.
Inspired by the grand estate houses still found in Zambia, the architecture of the Royal Livingstone encapsulates the unique spirit of the region - with large shaded verandas and deep, relaxing internal spaces cooled by swirling fans transporting guests right back to the indolent splendour of the colonial years.
One of the highlights of being a guest at the Royal Livingstone was being able to enjoy sundowners on the wooden sundeck/bar-cum lounge situated on the banks of the Zambezi River. Each evening we would literally park off on the sundeck, cocktail in hand, and accompanied by the familiar grunts of the hippos in the river and the cries of the Fish Eagle on their hunt for fish, we witnessed some of the most spectacular African sunsets that one could ever wish for.
Even more stunning was waking up early one morning and sitting outside on the patio of our suite watching an elephant wade across from one bank of the river to the other side.
We were very fortunate during our stay at the Royal Livingstone to see many of the elephants wander through the 46-hectare Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Wildlife Park, in which the hotel is situated.
Another highlight we enjoyed was partaking in the hotel's high tea ritual in the afternoons, which were held in the ideally positioned bar and lounge area under an open-thatch roof. Delicious cakes and sandwiches are served on an Edwardian tier at your table or you could help yourself to as much as you could eat from the table indoors.
The restaurant at the Royal Livingstone opens onto spacious verandas furnished with deep planters' chairs - and the meals served in the ŕ la carte restaurant, whether it be breakfast or dinner, were exquisitely prepared. In addition to the high standards of service which one would expect from a 5-star establishment, what really appealed to me was how friendly and efficient the waiters were.
This five-star hotel, with its unsurpassed views of the Victoria Falls, offers the ultimate African encounter - which can be enjoyed again and again…
Not to be missed: The African Queen Sundowner Cruise , which departs at around 5pm and slowly cruises the Zambezi River for two hours, taking in magnificent views of the African sunset. Inclusive in the price of a ticket are snacks and as much as you want to drink, whether it be alcohol or softdrinks.
For further information on The African Queen cruise as well as for conducted tours within the Livingstone region contact Bushtracks Africa on 260 3 323232 or visit their website on www.bushtracksafrica.com
They offer elephant back safaris, Chobe day trips, and cultural experiences to extreme activities like jet boating and white water rafting in the Zambezi Gorge.
For further information on the Royal Livingstone Hotel contact Sun International Dreams on 011 217 5555 or visit their website www.sunint.com.
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