FAWLTY TOWERS International Backpackers

Situation Profile

INTRODUCTION

WELCOME.....
Fine affordable accommodation in Livingstone, Zambia, just 8kms from the magnificent Victoria Falls.

Your host Emma invites you to stay at our oasis with spacious grounds to camp, or cosy rooms for the night.

We have a great restaurant and can book any activities for you in this action packed region.

Check out our Safaris for best value Tours to Chobe National Park in Botwana.

HIPPO'S RESTAURANT AND BAR:
This lovely outdoor restaurant provides a set evening meal every night. Delightful garden setting - eat under the stars. Gourmet cuisine for the discerning traveller.

Hippos buffet braai every night with a choice of 5 different dishes, salad and dessert.

The bar is a popular spot for the local tour operators and you will meet many a character here.

Relax by the fire and soak up the latest sounds.

Pool Table and well stocked shooters Bar.

Open from 5.00pm.
Dinner served between 7.00 and 9.00pm.
Evening meal US $5.00.

ACCOMMODATION:
Dorm (max 6 persons) US$8.00 per person.

Dorm with air con (4 and 6 bed) US$10 per person.

Double and twin rooms US$20.00 per room.

Double and twin en suite (with own bathroom) US$35 per room.

Camping site US$5 per person (own toilet block)

WE HAVE:
6x4 standard dorm beds.
1x4 aircon dorm.
1x6 aircon dorm
2 double rooms

2 twin rooms
1 triple room
4 twin en suite
4 doubles en suite
Camping for up to 50 persons

All beds have mosquito nets and come with clean bedding. Only en suite rooms have towels as standard. They also have lamps and fans. There are 3 fully equipped kitchens for self-catering.

GARDEN:
Many of our guests are pleasantly surprised when they enter the lodge grounds ‘an oasis’ hidden in the heart of Livingstone.

The garden is very large and is shaded by Mango trees.
We have a beautiful swimming pool (8ft deep) and deck chairs / sun loungers for relaxing.

PARKING:
We have secure parking at the front and rear of the property. We are able to accommodate up to 30 cars and can take large vehicles as well.
We have 24-hour security.

TV AND READING ROOM:
The lodge has satellite TV for all the big sporting events, CNN and BBC. We also have a book swap and internet service (US$3.50 per hour).

FREEFREE FREEFREE FREEFREE
Join us by the pool for FREE pancakes with jam, honey and lemon, tea and coffee. YUM.
Served every day at 3.30 pm.

WASHING:
Laundry is machine washed and dried. Cost us$5.00 per load.

FOOD:
Evening meal US$5.

At the rear of the property we have a Spanish style restaurant called Hippo’s.

Open from 5.00pm. Dinner served between 7.00 and 9.00pm.

Lunches served by the pool between 1pm and 2pm.

Toasted ciabata bread with a selection of roast meats salad and cheeses - $2-$3.

Breakfast is served in the main lodge.

We provide a number of options from toast and jam to full English
Served between 7.30 and 10.00am.
Full English US $3.00 other US$2.00.

EATING OUT:
There are quite a number of options from fish diner to steak house. Over 8 restaurants within 2 KM. But we recommend Hippos !

FACILITIES

ACTIVITIES

Accommodation offered at this Establishment

ADDITIONAL INFO

THE VICTORIA FALLS

The falls:
Columns of spray can be seen from miles away as 546 million cubic meters of water per minute plummet over the edge over a width of nearly two kilometers into a deep gorge over 100 meters below.

A path along the edge of the forest provides the visitor who is prepared to brave the tremendous spray with an unparalleled series of views of the Falls. One special vantage point is across the Knife edge bridge, where visitors can have the finest view of the Eastern Cataract and the Main Falls as well as the Boiling Pot where the river turns and heads down the Batoka Gorge. Other vantage points include the Falls bridge and the Lookout Tree which commands a panoramic view across the Main Falls.

The gorge:
The Victoria Falls Bridge affords a magnificent view both down the gorge on the one side and through to the falls on the other. The immense depth of the gorge can be fully appreciated from this perspective and combined with the sea green river below, the shiny black rock face and lush green foliage, the 360 degree view from the bridge is breathtaking.

On the opposite cliff, facing the falls, you can take a well marked and paved walk through the rain forests. Every so often the path will open out into a clearing for a view of the falls. Further along this path is the Knife Edge Bridge which affords an impressive panorama depending on the time of year. Although less can be seen of the width of the Falls during the wet season, the intense spray provides welcome relief from the heat, but don’t carry anything you don’t want to get wet!

Viewpoints:
During the dry season, be sure to take a walk along the lip of the Falls themselves. Sometimes the water is low enough to walk all the way across to Livingstone Island, the place where David Livingstone had his first glimpse of the Falls. This is surely one of the most magnificent views in the area.

Another interesting perspective is deep within the gorge into which the Falls descend. From the parking lot, look for the signs pointing to "The Boiling Pot." It’s quite a steep climb, but well-worn steps make it a fairly easy descent. Coming up is of course a little more strenuous, but the view from below of the wide Zambezi thundering over the cliff, then compressed into the deep thin crevice turning into the Batoka Gorge, crashing and swirling over rapids, is quite spectacular. From this vantage point one can also see up to the impressive Victoria Falls Bridge, spanning the gorge over 100 meters above.

Crafts and curios:
The best place for a wide range of crafts and curios is the Mukuni Victoria Falls Craft Village. From intricate animal carvings in stone, wood, or the beautiful green malachite, masks, drums, marimbas, spoons, book ends, walking sticks, jewellery and much more. The vendors can be really pushy however, yelling for your attention from all sides, so be firm. Look at everything before buying as some offer better quality than others. They are usually happy to trade for things like Tshirts, batteries, shoes, or anything else hard to come by in Zambia. You’ll find it in the parking area just above the Falls where most of the walks begin and alongside the Victoria Falls Field Museum. This little museum attempts to explain how the falls were formed over the millenia. It is built over an actual excavation site that has uncovered evidence of early hominids who lived in the area as far back as 2.5 million years ago.

Mosi O Tunya National Park
Mosi O Tunya National Park is situated along the upper Zambezi stretching from and including the Falls for about 12kms up river. It is only 66 square kilometers but provides a home for numerous antelope species, zebra, giraffe and the recently acquired white rhinos, one of whom gave birth in the park in 1994. These are the only rhinos to be seen in Zambia as its previously large population has been completely eliminated through poaching. One can take a pleasant drive around the park in a couple of hours and almost all the species there should be seen at close range. Since there are no predators, they are very relaxed and afford some excellent photo opportunities.

Getting there:
The Falls can be approached from the town of Livingstone by traveling south on Mosi O Tunya road for some 8 kilometers. Just before the border, there is a turning to the right which leads to a parking area. Walks all around the Falls are accessible from this point. If approaching from Zimbabwe, cross the border at the town of Victoria Falls and watch for the left turning just after the Zambian customs post.

When to go:
Different times of the year will provide completely different experiences of the Falls region. Peak flood season is around March and April and the full power of the falls can be experienced in all its glory.

Activities:
The Victoria Falls area is rapidly becoming known as the ‘Adventure Centre’ of Southern Africa, with various adrenaline sports, unmatched scenery of breathtaking proportions, and many other leisure options for outdoor lovers. Activities include:

White Water Rafting
Gorge Swinging
Bungi Jumping
River Boarding
Elephant Back Riding
Canoeing
Horseback Trails
Abseiling
Microlighting
River Cruises
River Safaris