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4.5
#16 of 23 hotels in Victoria Falls
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The Palm River Hotel offers 73 rooms of 5-star unparalleled luxury situated along the banks of the iconic Zambezi River, among towering indigenous trees and only 4 kilometres from Africa’s Natural World Wonder, Victoria Falls. Conveniently located just 5 minutes’ drive from Victoria Falls town centre, the hotel introduces a new dimension of luxury without compromising a sense of home comfort and tranquillity. Elegantly appointed river-facing room and suite varieties include, 60 Deluxe Rooms, 2 Deluxe Suites inclusive of 2 bedrooms each, 2 Honeymoon Suites, 3 Executive Suites, 1 Presidential Suite and a private Villa inclusive of 3 spacious bedrooms. Each room offers expansive views of the mighty Zambezi River.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Boutique
Quaint
Languages Spoken
English, Dutch
Location
Stand 1403, Parkway Drive, Victoria Falls Zimbabwe
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The Palm River Hotel garners consistent acclaim for its spotlessness, with guests appreciating the meticulously kept grounds and updated rooms. The hotel's value is recognized, notably with perks like discounted dining and a complimentary mini bar. Visitors revel in the hotel's intimate ambiance, modern comforts, and balconies perfect for wildlife watching.
Its stunning riverside location is a stone's throw from attractions like Victoria Falls, enhancing its appeal. While the rooms earn praise for their space and views, the service stands out for staff congeniality, despite a few mixed interactions with management.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Stylish
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Outstanding
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Amazing architecture, light, bridge and train theme in whites with steel, mainly built with Zimbabwean materials (dark teak, white marble), elegant rooms with super luxurious bed, comp minibar, espresso machine, selected boutique teas, generous balcony, all overlooking the mighty river. Highlight is the combi of three pools, stretching along (and VERY close) to the river, filled with fresh river water. Stunning huge old trees form the tree safari along the river. Sunset cruise on the Ra-Ikane tied at their own jetty. International fine food with Zimbabwean elements, fish from Kariba and the Zambezi, creative fusion platters.
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Date of stay: December 2021
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip:Â All rooms have a free view on the river, choice between balconies and terraces.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed here 3 nights at the end of September 2022. The hotel is located right at the Zambezi river and less than 15 minutes by (free) shuttle bus from Victoria Falls. We stayed in room 30, an Executive Suite and this is one of the nicest rooms we ever stayed in. It has 2 spacious rooms, a balcony and a very spacious bathroom with 2 sinks, a bath and 2 showers. There are also 2 toilets: one in the bathroom and a separate one. The suite has 2 ceiling fans, airconditioning, 2 tv’s and 2 free minibars. There is also a water kettle and Nespresso coffee machine. WiFi and the lighting are both very good. Staff is overall friendly. Breakfast buffet is good, lunch and dinner are very good including various vegetarian choices, but the beef we had for dinner was disappointing and not worth the money. The restaurant is very popular for dinner, also with people who do not stay in the hotel, so a reservation is recommended. Due to the suite we stayed in, this hotel is in our top 3 of best hotels we ever stayed in but service could be better: staff at the reception (due to lack of experience?) not always give accurate and consistent information and 2 times when I called Reception during the day, I was connected to their voicemail.
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Date of stay: October 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â an executive suite, like in number 30, is excellent value dor money
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Location: Set on the Zambezi River, it is located under a 10 minute drive from Victoria Falls town. You have to take a shuttle to get into town which can be inconvenient if you want to explore on and off throughout the day. If I could change one thing, I do wish it was walking distance to town.
Room: There were a lot of mosquitos in our room which I assume is due to the hotels proximity to the river. The hotel did provide spray but did not have mosquito nets in the rooms. I left with A LOT of bites despite efforts to prevent them. Washington, our housekeeper, was great during our stay!
Food: Because we were not walking distance to town we ended up eating at the restaurant in the hotel every night. Luckily, the food did not disappoint, it was delicious. I will note that if you have food allergies be sure to read the plate details carefully because the helpful images on the menu to identify allergens were often inaccurate. Our servers, Prince Gumbo (dinner) and John (breakfast) were both great! The morning breakfast cruise on the Zambezi was also enjoyable and I would suggest going during your stay at Palm River Hotel.
Overall, we had an enjoyable stay at the Palm River Hotel. The property is absolutely beautiful, the staff are friendly and welcoming, and the food was delicious!
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Date of stay: May 2022
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed here 2 nights enroute to an Okavango Delta safari. Grounds and common areas are lovely and tastefully decorated. Staff knowledgeable and welcoming. Rooms all face river and have patio or balcony which is super. Restaurant service great and the food is excellent. Not a giant menu, but everything we ordered was delicious. High end feel with creative dishes that were well prepared. First round of mini bar items are complimentary, which was great. We arrived after a long trip from the US and were exhausted, so the mini bar was a nice so we could get some refreshments as we settled in. They also provide a shuttle to the town and Falls. You need to book your shuttle, would have preferred if they just had a few per day at set times, but that's not the case. Seems they don't have their own dedicated shuttles but work w various local companies. No big deal though, the folks at reception are great and try to accommodate requests. If you have your heart set on any of the activities at Victoria Falls best to book ahead. We were just passing through and did not know how jet lag or possible flight delays or cancellations would affect us, so did not pay for any activities in advance. The reception staff got us all set with a couple of activities in the fly. There is a small assortment of complimentary sweets and savory snacks in afternoon. All looked tasty and presentation is gram worthy. Note that this hotel is outside town so you can't just walk to any restaurants or shops, and although there is an attractive outdoor bar, it's not really "nightlife". For our trip this was great, we enjoyed the great food, peace and quiet to relax before a safari trip. The staff is very friendly and made us feel at ease.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Top marks for Palm River. A warm friendly check in from Polly and the scene was set - a calm, relaxed family atmosphere with genuine warmth from all staff. Bedroom and ensuite were comfortable and well appointed- loved the mattress topper and a free initial stock in the drinks cabinet was a nice touch. The restaurant menu although not extensive was diverse and there was something there for everyone. Well presented and flavoursome. I loved the pools, and gardens with stunning views of the Zambezi. Although slightly out of town, this presented no issue as a free shuttle could be arranged quickly at anytime. Hats off to Lucky who was Mr Fixit. My flight was grounded and I suddenly decided on a last minute trip...all sorted with no dramas. The hotel lay out and facilities were well thought through and it was good to see those with disabilities and family groups were well catered for. Would I stay here again...yes, of course. See you in September.
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Had the pleasure at staying at the newest (and likely the finest) luxury hotel. Situated on the banks of the Zambezi on Zimbabwe side it is extremely relaxing being at the hotel. High quality is expressed in the decor, room quality, surrounds, but more importantly in service, comfort and of overall hospitality. Away from the bustle of town but close enough to real nature and a very short drive to the main attractions and activities, all which can be organized through the hotel!
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Date of stay: April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The hotel is in a perfect location along the Zambezi river around 3km from the hustle and bustle of Victoria Falls. The rooms are well appointed and we had a balcony which made our stay more pleasant and gave us the chance to watch the passing wildlife from our room. The gym is well appointed and there is a walking/running route which enabled me to get out each day and do a 5km. The restaurant food was great and reasonably priced when comparing to home.
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Martijn van Leent, General Manager at The Palm River Hotel
Responded 11 Feb 2024
Dear Riocobb, Good morning from a beautiful Victoria Falls. Thank you for taking the time to leave us such an amazing review. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed your stay with us on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River. Our kitchen team will be happy to hear your comments on the food as well. We hope to welcome you back soon. Kind regards, The Palm River Hotel Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This hotel reminds me of a highway motel. The facade is poorly designed. The location along the Zambezi River is beautiful and walking distance to the sunset cruises. The dining room is lovely along with the patios and pool facing the river. The rooms are very modestly decorated. Nothing special. We were put on the first floor in a corner which was not ideal. When I asked if there was anything available on a higher level I was denied but there are clearly open rooms and availability online. The staff also seems out out when you make a request. Not a very warm feeling.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sara Ellis, Other at The Palm River Hotel
Responded 25 Sept 2023
Good Morning M739UOvaleriep, Thank you very much for taking the time to leave us a review. We are delighted to hear that loved the location of the hotel and its facilities. We appreciate detailed feedback such as yours as it helps us immensely to assess the areas that you felt were lacking and to ensure we put in a plan of immediate action to guarantee this doesn't happen again. If you would like to elaborate further please feel free to email me on sara@palmhospitality.co.zw We sincerely hope to welcome you back one day. Warmest regards, The Palm River Hotel Team
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Our local Travel Agent, Victoria Falls Guide, recommended that we upgrade to The Palm River Hotel for our African Safari. We are a group of 6 from America; 4 of whom have never seen the Victoria Falls. In 2009 my wife and I stayed at the classic Victoria Falls Hotel when we first visited the Falls. We much prefer the modern Palm River Hotel with excellent open air dining facilities, beautiful grounds facing the Zambezi River and fast Wi-Fi. In Africa we have stayed at Nairobi's Norfolk Hotel and Cape Town's Mount Nelson and the Cape Grace Hotels. The Victoria Falls Palm River Hotel is an equal to these famous hotels! We highly recommend this new 5 Star Hotel.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Martijn van Leent, General Manager at The Palm River Hotel
Responded 31 Mar 2023
Dear Jeff, Thank you for taking the time to write a review. I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us at the Palm River Hotel. It's a real privilege to be compared to the above mentioned hotels. Our team works very hard to uphold a high standard and it's always nice to receive such great feedback! We hope to welcome you back soon. Kind regards,
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We travelled as a couple and spent 2 nights here on arrival from Europe. The hotel has a beautiful setting and has been built around the trees, maintaining a real bush feel. The rooms are gorgeous and consider everything you’ll need. The staff, food and service was exceptional and there was always a smiling face tending to your every need. We really enjoyed the morning bird watching cruise and the knowledge and experience of our guide Elias, as well as a relaxing massage in the spa. Spectacular sunsets from the seating area near the river with a wide range of sundowners to chose from.
Although there is a ceiling fan and air-conditioning, being along the river there were still a number of mosquitoes in the room at night and there are no mosquito nets. We went in July which is winter so I expect this will be even more relevant in the summer. Bug spray is provided in the room.
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Date of stay: July 2022
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Martijn van Leent, General Manager at The Palm River Hotel
Responded 05 Aug 2022
Good afternoon Robs, Thank you for your wonderful review! As a new property we really appreciate the great feedback. We hope to welcome you back to Victoria Falls soon. Kind regards,
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
London, United Kingdom111 contributions42 helpful votes
"Don't be put off by the location being a bit out of town - the hotel runs shuttles every hour and they are also very helpful in arranging extra shuttles as needed. "
There are more places to choose from in the Victoria Falls area.
PRICE RANGE
RÂ 7,956 - RÂ 13,840 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
ZimbabweMatabeleland North ProvinceVictoria Falls
NUMBER OF ROOMS
73
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
