Mbano Manor Hotel Victoria Falls

The main areas are all classic bungalows and the high-ceilinged, light-filled spaces open out to sprawling lawns and the towering teak forests beyond. Pathways thread through the forest to the sunny pool (keep your eyes peeled for the resident warthogs doing their 'groundskeeping') and sundowner bar, and there's also an airy spa with a small menu of treatments. You'll also find a restaurant, The Terrace, serving proudly local dishes with ingredients picked from the on-site garden.

The 18 suites are incredibly generous in size and each feels like its own mini manor - think spacious living areas, traditional teak furniture, vibrant African art and fabrics, hand-painted tiles, oversized baths plus walk-in showers, and wide wraparound verandas gazing into the forests. Many have private courtyards complete with stand-alone clawfoot tubs for the ultimate alfresco bathing experience. For the ultimate spoil, book the Mutota Forest Villa; it has two bedrooms, its own plunge pool, and butler service in a secluded corner of the estate.

Victoria Falls is of course the star attraction and the waterfall is within easy reach of Mbano, as well as helicopter flights, white-water rafting, and those famous sunset cruises along the Zambezi. Closer to home, game drives into the adjacent Zambezi National Park offer excellent wildlife viewing, and nature walks through the teak forests reveal an impressive array of birdlife. The spa provides blissful treatments using locally-sourced ingredients, or, if you're feeling slightly more adventurous, ask the concierge to book a bungee jump from Victoria Falls Bridge or even a canoe safari on the Zambezi.