Local TV news anchorman Dave Emberton recently revisited Victoria Falls on DStv business and was pleasantly surprised by what he found at the now revamped, refurbished and re-opened A’Zambezi River Lodge. He stated the following:
After a long hot tiring drive, to Victoria Falls from Bulawayo, where I saw very few people on the road, but plenty of baboons, cattle, donkeys and goats, I arrived at a serene oasis — the A’Zambezi River Lodge.
An oasis indeed! I immediately felt relaxed and as though I was on holiday, even though it was a business trip. I sat in the poolside bar sipping a very welcome ice-cold drink served in a frosty icy glass. To the one side a superbly sparkling swimming pool, to the other the swift flowing mighty Zambezi River. Oh how tranquil and peaceful it was! I soon forgot about the arduous drive I had just undertaken. The lawns and gardens were in excellent condition and it was a picturesque escape into oblivion.
The welcome and check-in at reception was without hitch, smooth and very friendly. The accommodation I was shown to had recently been revamped as had all the rooms. It was light, bright and spacious with all the items (toiletries, a fridge and a flat-screen TV with excellent picture quality and numerous channels) that made it a comfortable home from home. A more than adequate bath tub, a pressure pleasure hot shower and soft fluffy absorbing towels made the bathroom a place to linger longer.
But enough! Dinner beckoned and the open-on-all-sides restaurant was an idyllic setting next to the river. A warm friendly welcome from the waiters and waitresses and a menu to peruse. There was venison and warthog among other “exotic” dishes. I was probably rather boring in that I chose my old favourite oxtail. It came . . . it looked good and it was good, served with herbed mash potatoes. The restaurant staff were attentive and good.
During dinner a group of marimba players set up and entertained diners with their lovely melodies. They were followed by a group of male Ndebele dancers in traditional attire (amabhetshu) doing very entertaining and interesting ritualistic dancing. All too soon, it was time to retire. The bed was so comfortable and it wasn’t long before I slipped into oblivion and had the most restful sleep in the entire week I was away.
Day broke and I took a more than adequate breakfast besides the river and felt so relaxed and at ease that I was more than ready to take on the long drive back to Bulawayo.
The A’ Zambezi — I would recommend without any hesitation to any traveller, holiday maker, or business person. Peace, tranquillity and totally relaxation.
