Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel (Victoria Falls)

The Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel welcomes guests (of all ages). Two sets of these Suites are inter-leading (7 & 8 and 9 & 10). Each of these includes a triple suite. Perfect for families of up to 5 people.

As a family owned and managed hotel, this is a welcoming environment for families of all sizes and generations. Flexibility around accommodations, meals, and activities keeps everyone happy. Including the children who; fizzing with the thrill of discovering a new place; need a little extra freedom to play, explore, and just be kids.
Inter-leading garden Suites give your family its own space to settle in. While still enjoying the main hotel’s attentive service and hospitality. Meaning you can completely unwind. Outings, exploring, and pampering with in-room spa treatments, to dining (children have their own full menus), and treats. Everything is taken care of.
Therefore, your family can enjoy maximum stress-free quality time.

The Mack & Madi children’s program keeps young guests (5 to 11 years) entertained. Various adventures, sports, and arts & crafts are offered. This gives adult family members time to relax. Parents can join in the fun or sneak a little me time. On arrival, kids will be surprised with a backpack welcome gift, including a puzzle and storybook. The hotel has coloring-in pages, crayons and colored pencils, and homemade play dough too for keeping them occupied between adventures. Kiddies’ comforts in-room include their own bath time amenities; fluffy gowns and slipper sets. Plus toys and games for them to enjoy at the hotel.

Family Activities

Specially planned adventures are full of delights for the best time the kids will have on your Victoria Falls family vacation.

Tour of Victoria Falls – feeling like the early explorers make your way through the forest and along the falls. Your guide tells stories of this area and its epic history. Suitable for kids of all ages.

Flying Fox – taking a running jump into the air! Soar over the Batoka Gorge with the mighty Zambezi River gushing 120m/390ft below you. Kids will earn some serious bragging rights! Suitable for kids aged 6 years and older.

Zambezi Nature Sanctuary and Crocodile Ranch – see and learn about the area’s indigenous animals, including the infamous Nile crocodiles. With a chance to see a baby croc (they’re rather cute!) during the hatching season. Suitable for kids of all ages.

Fishing Expedition – the children catch and release, picnic, and play in the beautiful surrounds of Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve. Suitable for kids aged 4 years and older.

Girls’ Mani and Pedi – moms and daughters can meet up back at the hotel for some girly time together. Suitable for kids aged 4 years and older.

Movie Night and Dinner – spend a cozy evening at the hotel with your family. Watching a much-loved film; while tucking into burgers and popcorn. Suitable for kids of all ages.

Parents, should you want to take some time for yourselves, a childminding service can be arranged through Guest Relations. The professionally-trained and friendly minders will look after your kids like they were their own. Keeping them happily entertained (and out of mischief!).

Child Policy

Children aged 0 – 5 years stay free.
Kids aged 6 – 15 years are charged 50% of the per person sharing rate.
Children aged 16 years and older are on the full per person sharing rate.

If 2 x children under 16 years share a room on their own; the 1st child is charged at the full adult sharing rate.

Stanley and Livingstone Unique Adventures

The 4 000ha Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve is the only privately-owned reserve; within the immediate vicinity of the Falls. Victoria Falls is just 12km away. The reserve became a designated rhino Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ) when it was fenced. It has a monitoring and breeding program. As well as Anti-Poaching Unit & Ranger Training Facility. The success of this initiative is obvious. The population of this critically endangered species has subsequently flourished. Therefore sightings of rhino are virtually guaranteed.

Along with black rhino tracking; visitors join their professional Field Guide to experience the other members of the iconic Big Five. In addition, general game including the sable antelope and eland are all around.

There is also a thriving bird population with an abundance of species. This is due to the diverse habitats; across grasslands, teak forests, and along the Masuwe and Nakavango rivers. Perfect environments from which to enjoy scenic morning and afternoon game drives. Or exclusive black rhino conservation experiences, private walking safaris, and horse safaris led by expert guides.

Game Drives

The game drives, led by expert Field Guides; take guests into a wilderness where there is an abundance of wildlife. This includes all of the Big Five, with a healthy population of the extremely rare and endangered black rhino.

Being in a private reserve; vehicles have the freedom to follow herds through the bush. Rangers take into consideration the delicate ecosystem. Guests get to observe the natural behavior of the wildlife. You are in for another treat with the refreshment stops at a scenic spot on the reserve. Coffee, tea, and biscuits in the morning. And local branded beverages and snacks in the afternoon. Vehicles are known for their comfort, and feature cushioned bucket seats with secure device holders.

Duration: 4.5 Hours or 6.5 Hours, including a Bush Dinner

The Exclusive Black Rhino Conservation Experience

Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve (VFPGR) was awarded custodianship of four black rhinos in June 2006. It became a designated rhino Intensive Protection Zone. The program has been a resounding success. And the thriving population on the reserve today; has surprised even conservation experts. This is all thanks to the extraordinary effort and intelligence of the Anti-Poaching Unit.

The Exclusive Black Rhino Conservation Experience drives funding for this critical function. It also allows visitors to get closer to these extraordinary animals. The late afternoon activity starts with an immersive talk with an expert guide. Then you take a drive into the reserve in search of the black rhino. This experience is a very personal and unique view into the world of a pre-historic creature. Now, sadly fighting for its survival on this planet.
Guests return to the hotel for a three-course meal at the hotel’s restaurant, 1871 at Stanley and Livingstone.

Horseback Safaris

Africa’s vast wilderness vividly comes to life when experienced on horseback. The experience combines a heady mix of adventure, natural beauty, up-close wildlife encounters, and a sense of nostalgia.

The reserve is a remarkably beautiful place to traverse. Its plains and riverscapes set a constant backdrop for this adventure. The diverse landscapes make for rich riding experiences. With hectares to roam, riders will encounter more wildlife than people for miles. This makes for a more personal and exclusive safari experience.
Horseback safaris on the Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve are all about being ‘one with the wilderness’. Where horses and humans are no threat. This allows for a completely different experience from that of being in a vehicle or on foot. Together with two professional guides, small groups of no more than six riders come within meters of shy plains game. These include zebra, eland, and a variety of other antelope.

The horses are well accustomed to wildlife with beautiful natures and are well trained. Making them excellent for both gentle rides; as well as more thrilling safari experiences.

On experienced rides, there is the excitement of tracking and maybe finding the fabulous black rhino and other big wildlife. For this reason; riders must be confident at all paces and able to do a rising trot at a stretch without difficulty. (Intermediate to Advanced Riders)
Duration: 4 hours in the saddle.

For riders with limited experience, or riders who have not ridden for a very long time; the shorter rides focus on plains game. But; the potential of encountering grander species is always there.
Duration: 2.5 hours.

Morning Walking Safari

This is a rare opportunity to be in Africa on foot, where everything somehow feels more ‘real’. Traversing the wilderness by vehicle allows guests to see more big game. While walking in the bush puts them directly in touch with nature. From fresh spoor that indicates an animal’s presence to the licorice taste of a medicinal plant. Highly-skilled guides draw guests’ attention to points of interest you wouldn’t usually notice.

Guides will tailor walks around guests’ personal interests. Focusing on mammals; as well as birds, insects, reptiles, plants, geology, etc. Encounters with dangerous animals are avoided, and guides carry rifles to ensure guests’ safety.

Duration: 3.5 hours

Woodlands Community Tour

Visitors have the opportunity to experience a very humbling way of life in the rural community of Woodlands. Located on the fringe of the Victoria Falls Private Game. Here the 1200 residents (across 4 villages, 120 homesteads, and 16000 ha) face extreme challenges. Including the lack of basic services like ablutions, electricity, and running water – exacerbated by a staggering rate of unemployment. Most survive through subsistence farming. But this too is difficult due to erratic rainfall and direct competition with wild animals. It’s hard to imagine living like this.

Yet the people of Woodlands remain determined to build a better life for themselves. This makes this encounter a deeply humbling and inspiring one. Stanley & Livingstone (together with More Community Trust [MCT]) has committed to helping uplift Woodlands. And you as guests are invited to get involved.

The tour centers on Masuwe Primary School, which does its best to give learners a good education. The children are hungry to learn. Despite sharing buildings with livestock, studying by candlelight, and having limited teachers; they give it their all. To assist; the Stanley and Livingstone Hotel are working on extensive upgrades to the learning facilities. This includes the addition of flushing toilets and a borehole here; along with 2 others in the community. They are aiming to develop another facility enabling secondary education too. Most of the children drop out of school in Grade 7, as there is nowhere to move on to.

Guests are personally met by a local representative and are introduced to the children and elders from the community. With tour proceeds going to the school and community, guests make a difference just by visiting. You also have the option to roll up your sleeves and get involved. A number of ‘Get Your Hands Dirty’ initiatives are available and encouraged.