The Victoria Falls Hotel

At The Victorian Falls Hotel, canopied four-poster beds rest alongside handsome period armoires and dressers (you could build another hotel with all the glossy wood here). Bathrooms feature original bathtubs. Looking in the mirror, you half expect to see yourself dressed in frock coat and top hat, but it's a lucky thing you're not. Such attire is a tad formal for the Jungle Junction restaurant, which serves buffet dinners while guests are entertained by local choirs and Makishi dancers.

Outside, the stately grandeur of The Victoria Falls Hotel competes with a picturesque courtyard, where lily ponds reflect the towering palms and mango trees. But to see Zimbabwe's true beauty, you need to venture further afield.

Hotel staff are happy to arrange a stunning array of activities, including white-water rafting and bungee jumping, allowing guests to appreciate the scenery upside-down at the full speed of gravity. Canoeing and elephant back safaris are available to the less extreme.