Our congratulations to the 5* Royal Livingstone Hotel at Victoria Falls, which has yet again been awarded ‘Best Hotel in Zambia’.

This prestigious 2010 World Travel award was thanks to the thousands of industry professionals worldwide who voted online, and was given to the hotel at a ceremony hosted in Johannesburg on Wednesday 7 July, which was attended by 1200 senior industry leaders.

The World Travel awards were established 17 years ago, and are committed to raising the standards of customer service and overall business performance throughout the international industry.

Only moments from the Zambezi River with the dramatic torrent of the Victoria Falls as its natural backdrop, the Royal Livingstone Hotel appeals to anyone in search of luxury, extravagance and sheer indulgence. The hotel stretches luxuriously along the banks of the Zambezi River, and consists of a sequence of thatch-roofed buildings, with deep verandas, set amidst indigenous trees and plants. A classic swimming pool visually links the waters of the river with the terraces of the hotel, with a sweeping timber deck planted in the swirling water of the Zambezi. The 173 en-suite air-conditioned rooms and suites all offer private balconies or terraces.

For anyone planning a quick hop up to Victoria Falls during their stay in South Africa for the World Cup, Zambia have just announced that entry visas will only cost $25, as opposed to the normal $50, in a bid to encourage visitors.

Only a short 2 hour flight from Johannesburg, a trip to Victoria Falls is certainly memorable. One of the 7 Wonders of the World, the Falls are situated between Zambia and Zimbabwe, and with a width of 1.7 km and a volume of 9 million litres per second pouring down a vertical drop of just over 100m they are certainly one of the largest waterfalls in the world.

The sheer noise of the Falls as they cascade over the edge into the deep gorge is deafening, and the misty clouds of spray, occasionally broken by rainbows, are visible from over 30 km away - hence it’s local name, Mosi-oa-Tunya, “The smoke that thunders”.

The reduced fee will apply to those entering the country with a valid ticket for any of the World Cup matches.

The reduced visa fee will only be in force until July 31.

AIRLINK has confirmed that it will operate a new route from Kruger to Livingstone (for Victoria Falls) from August 17.

Airlink’s service will operate directly from Kruger Mpumalanga / Nelspruit (airport code MQP) to Livingstone in Zambia (airport code LVI) initially on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with the intention to grow frequency corresponding with demand.

This will avoid the current need for Kruger travellers to stay overnight or connect in Johannesburg prior to flying to Livingstone. The opportunity is then for travellers to enjoy a game drive and breakfast at their bush lodge before travelling to Livingstone and enjoying, on the same day, an evening sunset cruise on the Zambezi. For people travelling from Livingstone to Kruger, they can enjoy a walk to the Falls in the morning, then breakfast and mid-morning activities before travelling to Kruger to enjoy dinner and the first night in the bush.

Flights will depart Nelspruit Kruger at 11.55 am, arriving in Livingstone at 1.50 pm. The return flight will depart Livingstone at 2.20 pm, arriving in Nelspruit Kruger at 4.45 pm.

Save 45% at the Zambezi Sun at Victoria Falls when you travel between 1 February and 8 April 2009.

The hotel is situated on the fringes of the Zambezi River in the 46 hectare Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Wildlife Park, overlooking the magnificent Victoria Falls.

The hotel has an Activity Centre, where travel professionals will advise and recommend a variety of excursions and safaris, from day trips to the Chobe National Park to nail-biting white water rafting or bungee jumping.

Familes are most welcome and there are activities especially designed to keep children entertained, including the Happy Hippo Club.

We have some good news: as initially reported last week, the Zambian Government has now reduced visa fees payable by foreign nationals visiting the country with the aim of encouraging more tourists to visit Victoria Falls and other parts of the country.

The newly revised fees apply to all nationalities requiring a visa to visit Zambia, and have come into effect today (19th November 2008):

Single Entry: $50-00

Double Entry: $80-00

This is a substantial reduction for countries such as Britain and the United States of America.

It should however be noted that visa entry requirements remain unchanged, and while certain guests may need to apply for their visa prior to travelling, most can obtain a visa on arrival in Zambia.

We have just received notification that the Zambian government have put forward plans to REDUCE the current visa fees from US$150 to US$50 for single entry while double or multiple-entry fee will be reduced from US$340 to US$80.

However, please note that these new visa fees would only come into effect once the Minister of Home Affairs signs the statutory instrument. President Rupiah Banda had promised during his electioneering campaign that once elected into office he would slash the visa fees.

Watch this space …. !

We have been advised that the Zambian Government has now officially approved its dropping of  the visa waiver system, and now all visitors Zambia are required to pay for a visa on arrival.

This story was originally reported on our blog back on 28 January (see here for details), however, although the decision was enforced from the end of January, final Government approval was only confirmed recently.

 The following visa fees are payable upon entry for all visitors to Zambia:

 British Nationals:       £75.00 for single entry and £240.00 for multiple entry

American Nationals:  $135.00 for standard visa

Canadian Nationals:  $55.00 for standard visa

Other Nationalities:    $50.00 for single, $80.00 for double and $160.00 for multiple entry.

Travel Butlers are delighted to announce  a photo competition that we are running in association with SA Wines Online where you could win one of 3 cases of South African wine. 

Each year we are sent hundreds of photos by people whose holidays we have helped to organise, and rather than leave them to collect metaphorical dust on a forgotten computer somewhere we have decided that we should share them with visitors to our website and offer prizes for the 3 very best pictures.

The competition is open to anyone who booked their trip through Travel Butlers, and the closing date for entries is 31st May 2008.

Entries will be published on our web site, and we will be judging the competition and notifying the winners in June - the 3 best pictures will each win a mixed case of 6 premium South African Wines with a value of £60.

About SA Wines Online – get a £10 discount on your first order.
Shortlisted as Decanter Online Wine Merchant for 2007, SA Wines Online has the largest range of fine South African wines in the UK. You will find your favourites all in one place and have them delivered directly to your door anywhere in the UK.

Get a £10 discount on your first wine order at: http://www.sawinesonline.co.uk/.

Reports coming out from Livingstone Airport in Zambia appear to confirm a major change in the Visa system and costs for overseas visitors to Victoria Falls and the rest of Zambia.

Our sources have today informed us that:

1. With immediate effect, the whole visa waiver system is abolished for all visitors to Zambia. Until now this system had meant that the majority of visitors who booked through overseas tour operators were able to enter Zambia without paying for a visa provided they supplied their passport and travel details to their tour operator in advance.

This change means that every visitor is obliged to pay for his or her visa either in advance or on arrival in Zambia.

2. In addition to this, visa costs have increased considerably:

UK passport holders: £75 (or US$140) for single entry and £240 (or US$442) for multiple entry.

US nationals: US$135 for standard visas

Canadian nationals: US$55

Other nationalities (continental EUR): US$50 for single entry, US$80 for double entry, and US$160 for multiple entry.

The above is the only information we have so far received from Immigration officials at Livingstone Airport. We have not yet received confirmation from other sources.