The pool decorations at the Royal Livingstone Hotel kick if you walk too close to them.
They’re zebras – live zebras.
In fact, many wild animals roam about the grounds of this five-star resort in Zambia overlooking Victoria Falls, perhaps the world’s most spectacular waterfall.

Royal Livingstone Hotel

We stayed at the Royal Livingstone Hotel – basically to relax and recharge.
We’d already experienced a heart-stopping South African “Big 5” safari – where we witnessed a lion kill!
And we wanted to see the famous Victoria Falls before flying on to Lower Zambezi National Park (for an even wilder safari at Chiawa Camp in the Zambian bush).

There are cheeky vervet monkeys, which try to snatch cookies and sugar from your room if you don’t lock your sliding balcony doors.
Regal giraffes pose for tourist pics near the hotel’s entrance.

Shy impala – those lovely African antelopes with lyre-shaped horns – wander by too.
But no lions, thank goodness…

The Royal Livingstone Hotel was the perfect place for some luxury downtime, African-style.
Not many hotels offer the opportunity to lounge by the swimming pool, while watching zebras strut by…
And we could walk right to the spectacular Victoria Falls.

The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara
Photo credits: 1, 5, 6 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase| Remaining images Royal Livingstone Hotel

About the authors
Luxury travel journalists and SATW, NATJA and TMAC “Best Travel Blog” award winners, Janice and George Mucalov are the publishers of Sand In My Suitcase. Between them, they’ve traveled to all 7 continents. See About.
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Lance
Sunday 13th of July 2014
We'd debated staying at the Royal Livingstone, but were looking for something a little more intimate. It looks like an amazing property! We might need to check it out when we go back. Great post.
Janice and George
Sunday 13th of July 2014
The property actually felt intimate, because rooms are in several separate buildings. So it felt quiet and private to us.
Sophie
Thursday 12th of September 2013
Isn't Victoria Falls absolutely gorgeous... - right up there with Iguazu Falls as the most stunning water falls in the world, I think. The resort looks beautiful.
Janice and George
Friday 13th of September 2013
Yes, Victoria Falls is very impressive! We visited just after the falls are at their highest - so it was actually a little difficult to see the falls because there was so much spray! But the sound was deafening. Quite a natural wonder...