Victoria Falls, Today
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe is a city built on tourism. The existence of Vic Falls is solely due to its proximity to Mosi-Oa-Tunya (the local name for the waterfall, meaning ‘the smoke that thunders’) to accommodate the nearly one million visitors this Natural Wonder of the World attracts each year (pre-Covid).
Victoria Falls, as seen from a helicopter - HIGHLY recommended!
I was excited to visit Vic Falls for the first time in four years, but also a bit anxious about what I might find. How had this mini-metropolis, so reliant on tourism, coped over the past 15 months? Would the town have the same pulse and spirit that I remember from my previous visits? Had the talented craftsmen abandoned the city due to the lack of tourists to purchase their handmade crafts?
When I arrived, I barely recognized the place… incredibly this was not due to desolation and despair, it was because so many new shops, restaurants and even a microbrewery had opened in the years since my last visit. Times are tough for anyone in the travel industry and the community of Victoria Falls is no different, but I can assure you they are prepared and excited for tourists to return. In an effort to encourage tourism, the Zimbabwean government made the decision to vaccinate the entire town as a priority – that’s right, nearly 100% of the Victoria Falls population is vaccinated.
Until such time that tourism approaches its normal levels, there are some restaurants that will remain closed, and you may see slightly fewer craftsmen peddling their wares, but everyone in town is eager to welcome you to their little slice of paradise with open arms. We met so many locals that were elated to see tourists start to trickle in. We shared stories with waiters, shop owners, and bartenders; there is so much that they could complain about but in true Zimbabwean fashion each wore a massive smile and spoke of the good times yet to come. Not only was it a great time to visit for these types of interactions but visiting the Falls without the normal crowds is an incredibly special experience that will likely (hopefully!) never be possible again. My wife and I visited Victoria Falls National Park to see the Falls twice during our stay (once in the morning and once in the late afternoon - better for rainbows) and other than one group of people that snuck away from their meetings in town to catch a glimpse of the waterfall, we could count the number of people we came across on one hand!
The most encouraging thing that I saw during our visit was the continued development despite the hard times. In addition to the new cafes and shops that were built long before the world knew where Wuhan was, there is new and continued development going on in the area preparing for the inevitable renaissance that will be here before you know it. In fact the core purpose for my visit was to see the newest property to come to the market in Victoria Falls – Palm River Hotel. Opening later this year, the 73 room 4* deluxe hotel is now the premier property in Vic Falls! Sitting on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River just 4 km from town (free shuttles will bring guests to/from popular spots in town, approx 7-8 minutes) Palm River has a beautiful Queenslander architectural style that is unique to the area, and features stunning local art and interior design at every turn. The open air lounge and restaurant look out onto the well-manicured grounds and the Zambezi River. The rooms are spacious and beautifully appointed, each featuring a private veranda with unobstructed river views.
During our time in Victoria Falls I had the opportunity to see most of the properties that cater to the North American market and can say without hesitation that Palm River is at the top of the lot. For additional information on this brand-new hotel please check out their website or drop me an email.