SUN INTERNATIONAL’S ROYAL LIVINGSTONE HOTEL

For the seventh year running, Sun International’s Royal Livingstone Hotel has been awarded the World Travel Award for Leading Hotel in Zambia. Leading global travel industry professionals nominate and then vote for their favourite travel destinations, airlines and other travel products. The award is regarded as the highest achievement in global leisure.

The 5-star colonial-styled luxury resort, built in the early 2000s, is situated in arguably one of the finest locations in Africa, on the banks of the Zambezi right on the cusp of the Victoria Falls. It attracts a wide range of visitors from around the world and is regarded as one of the ‘must-sees’ of Africa.

“We are obviously delighted to be voted as Zambia’s leading hotel again,” says General Manager Joanne Selby. “Winners of the World Travel Awards are regarded as very special brands that commit themselves to being the very best in every aspect of the customer experience.”

This latest award follows the Royal Livingstone being recognised as one of the Best Hotels in the World according to the 18th annual edition of the Travel + Leisure’s 2013 World’s Best Awards. These two awards ensure that the resort remains clearly on the radar of the global travel and tourism industry.

The company also announced that Sun International Zambia had been shortlisted for the hotly contested World Responsible Travel Awards in the Best for Local Economy category.

The resort was designed around offering guests the very best of Africa but in a world heritage setting, with five star facilities and services. Some of these include a riverine Spa, fine dining, a wide range of adventurous outdoor activities and a river deck overlooking the Victoria Falls – or “Mosi-Oa-Tunya” as the locals call it – “The Smoke that Thunders”.  The resort offers a visit to Livingstone Island and an unforgettable swim in a natural pool right on the edge of Victoria Falls for adrenalin-seeking visitors.

“The Royal Livingstone offers a compelling combination of excitement, entertainment and experience – in other words, the complete package, and all of it contained in one of the most aesthetically magnificent settings in the world. The heritage of Victoria Falls sits within a virtual paradise of wildlife and offers up a range of experiences from angling to river cruises or game viewing.

The endangered white rhino can be viewed in the

Mosi-oa-Tunya Zoological Park from 4×4 vehicles or on the back of elephants, all organized by the resort. The park is also home to hippo, crocodiles, buffalo, giraffe and a variety of buck.

For those for whom adrenalin sports are a must-do, visitors to the Royal Livingstone can also do white-water rafting down the Zambezi, jet-boating, horseback riding, rappelling, bungee jumping, abseiling, and micro-lighting.

In the past few years, the resort introduced dinner aboard the Royal Livingstone Express, a unique experience combining the luxury of the Royal Livingstone hotel with the bygone charm of rail travel. Passengers travel leisurely at sunset through the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park or onto the Victoria Falls bridge and enjoy a 5-course gourmet dinner in the middle of the African bush.