African Sun has delayed a major upgrade of Elephant Hills Resort in Victoria Falls. The reason is simple. Zimbabwe is preparing to co-host the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, and the town will need every useful hotel room it can muster.
The work had been due to start in November 2026. African Sun’s notice states that the resort will now remain fully open through 2026 and 2027. That will help Victoria Falls keep vital room stock during a period of strong overseas demand.
It is a practical move. Closing a large resort before a World Cup would be rather like sending the opening batsmen back to the pavilion before the toss.
African Sun’s fuller statement says the plan had been an 18-month refurbishment and rebranding program. The resort was set to reopen in the second quarter of 2028. The work will now start after the World Cup ends.
The ICC has confirmed the key facts. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will co-host the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup. The event is due to be played in October and November 2027. It will feature 14 teams.
Victoria Falls keeps crucial tourism capacity
For Victoria Falls, keeping Elephant Hills open matters.
The resort sits above the upper Zambezi River and is about five minutes by road from the Falls. African Sun says it has leisure, sport and conference facilities. It also has the only 18-hole championship golf course in the Victoria Falls area.
That makes the resort more than a place to sleep. It is part of the town’s visitor and events network.
Keeping it open gives tour operators, travel advisers, groups and event planners more rooms to sell. Fans, officials and other guests can also plan with more confidence.
There is a broader tourism prize at stake.
A cricket fan arriving in Zimbabwe does not have to remain only a cricket fan. Victoria Falls, the Zambezi and nearby safari areas can turn a match trip into a longer holiday. That can mean more nights, more tours and more visitor spend.
For Zimbabwe’s tourism industry, that is where the decision begins to make particularly good commercial sense. Major sporting events create attention. Smart destinations then turn that attention into bookings.
Refurbishment postponed, not abandoned
African Sun has made clear that the refurbishment has not been cancelled. The company says it remains a key priority. Work will go ahead after the event. The aim is to improve the guest stay and lift the resort’s market position.
“We look forward to working closely with our trade partners as we welcome fans and the world to Victoria Falls,” African Sun said.
For the travel trade, the message is welcome and clear.
Elephant Hills stays open. The upgrade is still coming. And Victoria Falls keeps valuable room stock for one of Zimbabwe’s biggest global showcases.
Hotel delays rarely earn applause. This one just might.
After all, builders can wait a little longer; a World Cup tends to keep its own calendar.
