Victoria Falls Rainbow Hotel — Hotel in Victoria Falls Municipality

A Soul-Crushing Experience in My Own Homeland

As a proud native of Victoria Falls, I never imagined I’d feel like a secondary citizen in the place I call home. What transpired at Victoria Falls Rainbow Hotel last Thursday left me shattered, humiliated, and questioning my worth in a space where I should feel belonging.

I arrived at the reception with a simple request: a quiet corner to work remotely, for a little while. I greeted the staff—a woman and a man—with warmth and respect, only to be met with disdain from the lady. When I asked politely if there was space to sit and work, the woman replied in a condescending tone, “You should’ve said you’re here for lunch.” Her implication was clear: my presence was only tolerable if I spent money which was a given frankly. Though I clarified I wasn’t dining, the gentleman (to his credit) offered to seat me in the restaurant and assist with Wi-Fi.

What followed was a masterclass in neglect. For a long while, my companion and I sat ignored—no menus, no check-ins, no acknowledgment. The bitter irony? The moment a white guest entered, staff sprang into action, attending to him instantly. Only then did the woman hand us a menu, long after my work was nearly complete. By then, the damage was done. The message was unmistakable: my Blackness rendered me invisible, unworthy of even baseline courtesy.

To be stripped of dignity in my own country, in my hometown, by people who share this soil—this is a heartbreak I cannot articulate. It’s one thing to brace for prejudice abroad, but to endure it here, where my roots run deep, is a betrayal that cuts to the core. The staff’s behavior wasn’t merely unprofessional; it was dehumanizing. It reduced me to a stereotype, as if my skin color implied I’d never stepped foot in a hotel—a grotesque assumption that erases my identity, my history, and my right to exist without apology.

Unless there’s a memo I missed declaring Victoria Falls Rainbow Hotel exclusive to white patrons, this blatant racism has no excuse. If “etiquette training” is reserved only for those serving white guests, then the problem runs far deeper than poor service. It speaks to a systemic rot, a refusal to see Black locals as equals in spaces we’ve every right to occupy.

To Victoria Falls Rainbow Hotel: You robbed me of more than a workspace. You robbed me of pride in a community I cherish. Until you confront the bias festering in your halls, you don’t deserve the privilege of hosting anyone—least of all those of us who call...

So when I got to the hotel I was there specifically for Quad biking but the lady in charge of the booking advised that the guide was actually out on another trip maybe we could sit by the bar area and wait for him. This gave us a chance to see the hotel and it's such a beautiful place.

We walked around the pool area and all the staff were so friendly. We then decided to have a few drinks their prices were also very reasonable considering its at a hotel. The bar man was so friendly and started a great conversation with my partner as they watched some football.

Later the guide arrived (Raymond) and gave us a short lesson on how to ride the bikes as our group was full of first timers. The guide i rate 11/10. He was very good. He first made us ride in the hotel area until we were confident then took us out into the bush. If you follow all his instructions you won't have a single problem. We played games with the bikes moving in the terrains it was so much fun. At times I was scared because of the heights but he encouraged us and the experience was worth it.

At the end when we were done one of the bikes had a challenge with its shocks in the bush so he instructed us to go back to the Hotel while he tried to get help to move the bike back. We just followed his instructions but soon came across another guide who then finished the journey with us. He drove a bit faster but with the training Raymond has given us we were right behind him and noone was left behind.

I really enjoyed my first experience quad biking and I will certainly do it again and again. This marked the highlight of my trip to the Victoria Falls! Nothing could ever beat this experience and I believe next time with such friendly staff I will choose to stay...

This hotel is better than three-star hotels in South Africa. The food was excellent, I loved the fruits and salads, and the room was grandly furnished. Reception staff were friendly and helpful, it was a relief to be "home" every afternoon after activities.|The Victoria Falls itself were, of course, magnificent and your complimentary shuttle bus got us there. I do not know why people complain about that bus, we used it for three days without problems, in fact the bus driver went the extra mile (literally). The bus schedule shows the time for two of the four stops, and that was on-time every time. The in-between stops would be at in-between times, obviously, and that worked well.|If I really really must mention something to improve, it would be that the porter should clearly ask permission before grabbing your luggage and then expecting a big tip. We only have hand luggage and we really did not want a porter. Finding the room is easy, simple directions would've sufficed, no porter needed. In addition, a shower curtain could protect the bathroom against flooding. We don't mind, but it could save the hotel money.|For the price, I would 100% recommend this Rainbow hotel to anyone. I also think the Victoria Falls are still under-estimated. It is a life-changing experience and the hotel offers a handy list of more than 30 activities you can do in the area, from one convenient starting point. Yes, you can see the Falls from the hotel roof, but the Falls deserve a personal visit.|I daresay that this is the second "World Wonder" which I have visited, but this one leaves no doubt whatsoever that it deserves the title. To find a convenient affordable hotel with a vast array of services there, is like a...