Victoria Falls River Lodge

Style

Stress-free safari-ing

Setting

Banks of the Zambezi

The Big Five come to you at Victoria Falls River Lodge, an imperturbable riverside safari lodge in sight of the spray rising above its namesake natural wonder. Spot parades of elephants wading through the Zambezi from your private plunge pool, and spend evenings swapping stories of the day’s take (strictly photographic) in the central thatched lodge over fine Southern African cuisine. The grand dame of waterfalls is a short transfer away, close enough to hear her roar at night. Toast her might with a ritual sundowner – this is the Africa that Attenborough showed you.

Facilities

Rooms

There are 27 rooms, including two villas, six suites and 13 luxury tents hidden throughout the scrub.

Checkout

2pm is the earliest check-in (4pm is the latest to take part in that evening’s game drive or river cruise) and be sure to check out by 10am – but the lodge is flexible on timings where possible.

More Details

Room rates include all meals and all soft and some alcoholic drinks, and a selection of activities including transfers to Victoria Falls, a game-spotting drive, and a sunrise or sunset river cruise.

Also

Unfortunately, this wild-as-can-be stay isn’t suitable for those with mobility issues.

Fitness Center

Free Internet Access

Laundry

On-Site Restaurant

Room Service

Spa

At the Hotel

Four restaurants, bar, lounge, spa, fitness centre, waterhole viewing platform. In rooms: decks overlooking the Zambezi River, private plunge pool, separate bedroom and sitting area, indoor and outdoor waterfall showers, ceiling fans and air-conditioning, mosquito nets and repellent, free WiFi, and laundry service (excluding Luxury Tented Suites and Malachite Tented Suites).

Our Favourite Rooms

Sleep amid the birds on a remote private island – the Starbed Treehouse at Victoria Falls River Lodge has a dreamy outdoor rooftop bedroom with panoramic views through the foliage to the flowing Zambezi. Don’t fret – there’s also an indoor bedroom for when the rains come.

Poolside

All suites and tents have a private deck with sunloungers and a plunge pool, from where you can observe other animals also splashing about (although it’s unlikely those animals will be doing so with a glass of wine). To get a few laps in, the central safari lodge has a larger infinity pool open to all guests with – you guessed it – commanding Zambezi views.

Spa

It’s a time-worn trope of many a spa to have some sort of soothing jungle playlist in the background, but the Toa Spa at Victoria Falls River Lodge is actually in the open jungle and that elephant snort is indeed real. Set on a raised deck, just a short walk from the central lodge, is a treatment room with indoor and outdoor facilities, where you can take couples’ treatments too. The spa uses all-natural products from Africology, and the menu includes facial and massage therapies, full-body treatments and beauty services. For those looking to break a sweat, the fitness centre is equipped with a rower, treadmill, stationary bikes, dumbbells, and yoga mats.

Packing Tips

Bring your best binoculars for birding: flocks of heron, egret, stork, weaver, woodpecker and fish eagle all frequent the treetops and lagoons.

Also

From a historic steam train journey across Victoria Falls Bridge to a fishing safari or swimming in Devil’s Pool, the lodge reception can make activity bookings and arrange the transfers for you.

Children

Kids under three stay for free; otherwise it’s 25 per cent of the adult rate for four to 11 years and 50 per cent for 12 to 17 year olds. Luxury Family Tents can accommodate up to three kids on request for an extra charge.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Dinnertime hippo-spotting is possible from almost all of the tables.

Dress Code

Your very best Nigel Thornberry safari suit, obviously.

Hotel Restaurant

Guests gather under a vast thatched roof in the central lodge for sundowners and a meal every evening. The design is open-plan, and the bond of shared experience creates freewheeling conversation as the plates spill out of the kitchen. When you’ve witnessed the majesty of Victoria Falls for the first time or photographed a herd of water buffalo bathing in the soft evening light, how could you possibly keep that to yourself? Chef Bruce Bromberg (a Le Cordon Bleu Paris alumni) crafted the menu to blend staple South African flavours with a fine-dining influence, served with the warm hospitality that the region is famous for. Breakfast is à la carte and the lunch and dinner menus are set, with a heady cellar of South African wines to hand. Don’t leave without trying the famous smoked mopane worms (avoid overthinking it if you’re not accustomed – they’re delicious) or the salted sardine-like kapenta fish. The kitchen’s signature dish is the ostrich steak, an incredibly lean meat that will have you running for more.

Hotel Bar

There’s scarcely a better way to finish a day in Africa than a few glasses of cold Zambezi (the national beer) at sunset, sipped at either of the lodge’s bars. The drinks list is strong on local beers and spirits, and South African wines, which are all included in the room rate. The bars are named literally – the River Side Bar in the main lodge has fantastic – you guessed it – river views, and suite guests on the private Kandahar Island will head to the elevated Sunset Bar for their daily sundowner.

Last Orders

Order direct to your room between 7am and 9pm.

Planes

Transfer via Johannesburg or Cape Town to Victoria Falls International Airport, or via Nairobi or Addis Ababa to Zambia’s Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport. Both are around 30 minutes away by car, and transfers are included. Private charter flights can also land at Botswana’s Kasane Airport, 90 minutes away by car.

Trains

Travel overland in style on the three-day Rovos Rail luxury train line. Departing from Pretoria, the route takes in over 1,400 kilometres of Southern Africa’s most dramatic scenery before traversing the Hwange National Park and arriving at Victoria Falls. The Royal Suite gifts travellers a half-carriage to themselves with butler service, a private lounge area and ensuite bathroom.

Automobiles

Driving is only for the truly committed and with transfers to all the local sights easily available, there’s no need to have your own car. But to be master of your domain, cars can be hired from either international airport and parking at the lodge is available. Committed overlanders can hire a four-wheel drive in Johannesburg and make the 1,250 kilometre journey over several days.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

If you listen carefully, you can hear the roar of Victoria Falls from your suite, and in the high-water season it throws its spray over 400 metres into the air, which can be seen from the lodge. With a width of 1.7 kilometres and a dizzying 108-metre drop, Victoria Falls is the largest in the world and more than twice the height and width of the Niagara Falls. The array of possible activity in and around this natural wonder of the world is dazzling – you can fly over it in a helicopter, zipline through it, swim in it, observe it from two different countries, and hike above and below it. The Victoria Falls River Lodge reception can arrange all of these adventures and more. Spring and summer is hot and brings the lowest water levels, making it the ideal time for rafting and for peering over the falls-edge while swimming at Devil’s Pool. Autumn brings the highest water levels and the gigantic rainbow-inducing spray, and is the most spectacular time for viewing the falls from land. The Zambezi River acts as the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia and the impressive steel Victorian era Victoria Falls Bridge is the border crossing – just bring your passport and a visa can easily be purchased on arrival. June to October is the best time to go on safari, and the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Hwange National Park, and Botswana’s Chobe National Park are all within reach.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .