South Africa April 2009

The Mount Nelson Hotel Cape Town, South Africa 5/09
This is an Orient Express Hotel and it is just as lovely as any other Orient Express. Each room of the 220 is unique and different (may be a problem for an incentive). The hotel is broken up into 3 separate areas and all 3 are wonderful. Each room is decorated in chintz and antiques and reflects the old world of early 20th century travel. Wireless and cable TV in the rooms with enormous bathrooms complete with bidets.
This property is 30 minutes from the airport and 10 minutes from the Waterfront area for shopping. The food is expensive but quite good. Because it is Orient Express, the atmosphere is rather formal with high tea in the afternoon and guest do dress up in the public areas. The locals call it The Nellie and I would go back in a heartbeat.

The Royal Livingstone Hotel Livingstone, Zambia 5/09
This property is at the head of Victoria Falls in Zambia. Several of the rooms are within ear shot of the Falls and the Falls can get loud if the water is high. You can walk to the Falls in 15 minutes from the lobby and it is very humid at the hotel because of the Falls. It is also located along the banks of the Zambezi River which gives it a wonderful “African Queen” feel. She is 10 minutes from the airport along some partially paved and dirt roads and has 7 resident zebras, 3 resident giraffes and countless resident monkeys. FYI, the zebras and monkeys have full reign of the property and can come up to your room’s terrace and the monkeys do come into your room if you do not shut AND lock your door.
The hotel is rather formal for where it is located and people do dress for dinner and around the public areas. There was a zebra fight around the pool 1 day that was the highlight of the day! The monkey’s steal food off your plate in the restaurant so be warned!
The rooms are beautifully appointed with big bathrooms-the shower heads are huge and have a great deal of pressure (you do feel like you are under the Falls). Each room has a balcony or terrace-beware of the monkey’s. The hotel is spread out so walking is a must but they do have golf carts to take those who can’t walk but the wait time can be long. This hotel is a must if you are going to Zambia.