The Palm River Hotel (ZW)

Along the banks of the Zambezi River (4 kilometres upstream from Victoria Falls), the Palm River Hotel draws its architectural character from the traditional Queensland style – timber, corrugated iron, and all. The 73 rooms come decorated in soft greys and creams, each with en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, overhead fans, satellite TV, and private balconies with river views. On quieter days, you can actually hear the thunder of the falls from your room. With an infinity pool tiered right to the river’s edge (complete with a kids’ section and lap pool) as well as a spa nearby for extra pampering, there’s plenty to fill the afternoons. Dining comes in several forms: a high-ceilinged restaurant hall with parquet flooring and sliding doors opening onto a shaded riverside patio, a café/bar for drinks and pastries, and a riverside boma for barbecue-style dinners where hippos, elephants, and buffalo may be spotted wallowing in the river below.