Matetsi Victoria Falls

Style

Lion’s lair

Setting

Up the river

In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight – and you can join him with a stay at Matetsi Victoria Falls. This luxe riverside lodge runs along the banks of the mighty Zambezi River in Zimbabwe, close to its namesake cascades of water, and it’s also perfectly placed to explore this game-rich reserve. The camp is divided into two main areas, East and West, with a private four-bedroom villa in between. Days are spent on safari drives, river activities or visits to the falls; Mosi-oa-Tunya, aka ‘the smoke that thunders’ – where so much water falls that rainbows are pretty much guaranteed – is 45 minutes away by car.

Facilities

Rooms

16 suites, 2 family suites and one villa.

Checkout

11am, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 2pm.

More Details

Rates usually include all meals and most drinks (excluding premium picks), laundry, activities (including game drives and a tour of the Falls) and transfers from Victoria Falls town and airport.

Also

The communal areas are mostly accessible for wheelchair users, but there is a step to navigate.

Fitness Center

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Pool

Room Service

Spa

At the Hotel

Free WiFi throughout and a gym. In rooms: free filtered water; a Nespresso coffee machine tea-making kit; air-conditioning; Bluetooth Bose speakers and Healing Earth bath products.

Our Favourite Rooms

Each room has a similar classic-safari-lodge look, so it’s more a case of how much space you want or if you’ve got little Smiths in tow: some have two bedrooms. Groups will love the four-bedroom River House, which has its own ranger-led private safari, four-wheel drive, host, chef and pool, along with plenty of indoor and outdoor living space.

Poolside

Each suite has its own plunge pool, and there’s also a lengthy lap pool one running along the banks of the Zambezi.

Spa

The spa is in an outdoor sala, where Africology rituals are carried out to some bush beats (as opposed to the regular whale music); treatments can be in your room, if you prefer.

Packing Tips

Serious, sensible packing is necessary: no bright or fluoro colours or loud patterns if you want to successfully ward off the wildlife; stick to standard-issue safari neutrals (but no camo). Binoculars and a decent camera will come in handy as well, obviously.

Also

Food just keeps on coming at regular intervals throughout your stay, including a helpful caffeine drop with your pre-dawn wake-up call: just let a host know if you’d like tea or coffee (snacks included).

Children

All ages are welcome, but a safari is better suited to older kids who will be able to fully appreciate the wondrous wildlife. An extra bed can be added for children under 16. Babysitting is available with a day’s notice; rates start at US$10 an hour.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Stake out the wine cellar for private meals, or go for a table right on the banks of the Zambezi River. Breakfast-cooking tips can be learned if you sit near the open kitchen and watch the chefs.

Dress Code

This is a safari stay, so it’s outdoor gear all the way, with lots of layers – the evenings can get more than a little nippy.

Hotel Restaurant

Matetsi doesn’t so much have a restaurant situation, as it does a constant-catering one. Staff will help to facilitate private dining in your suite, a table in one of the communal areas and regular boma (barbecue) nights, as well as sundowner and snack stops on your safari drives. There’s a small menu to choose from that changes daily, with a meat, fish and vegetarian option. Every few nights it’s boma time, where a fireside barbecue feast is laid on for all of the guests. Breakfast is a Continental-style selection of house-made muesli and pastries, with hot items cooked to order.

Hotel Bar

Each side of the camp (East and West) has its own copper bar, where you can guzzle Zambezi beers, expertly muddled G&Ts and rich South African reds from across the border.

Last Orders

Meal times (and locations) are generally flexible, based around your daily activities. If you’re not out on a morning drive, breakfast is available from 7am to 10am. Staff will stick around until the last guest does (usually around 10pm).

Room Service

All meals can be eaten in the comfort of your suite if you prefer – just let your host know.

Planes

The waterfalls have their own handy namesake hub: Victoria Falls Airport is about an hour’s drive from the hotel; transfers to and from this airport are included. You can also land over the border at Zambia’s Harry Mwanga Nkumbula Airport or Botswana's Kasana International Airport; from either airport, hotel transfers cost US$60 a person and take about two hours. International flights tend to connect in Johannesburg, or other larger African hubs, such as Addis Ababa.

Automobiles

It’s not common to self-drive in these parts; plus, transfers to and from Victoria Falls airport or town (40 minutes away) are included in your room rate.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

The famous Victoria Falls are probably going to get you out of the canopied king-size bed in your vast riverside retreat, but there’s plenty more safari-based adventure on offer, too. That’s after you’ve settled in to the outdoor spa sala for a treatment by the Zambezi, chosen a book from the lodge library or spied the wild animals that like to wander in and out of the grounds (mostly monkeys, antelope and elephants, but this is Africa and anything is possible).

Zimbabwe has great game potential, and so your twice-daily safari drives around the Matetsi reserve could well take in lions, leopards, elephants and more. The lodge boat is ready and waiting to whisk you on sunrise or sunset sails down the Zambezi (watch out for those hand-snapping hippos and crocs). The hotel can also arrange activities including white-water rafting, bird-watching, helicopter flights over the falls, horse-riding, fishing, ziplining and bungee-jumping for the brave.

If you’re booking a stay somewhere with ‘Victoria Falls’ in its name, chances are you’re signing up for a glimpse of the world’s biggest cascade of water – Victoria Falls, aka Mosi-oa-Tunya (‘the smoke that thunders’) is under an hour by car from the property.

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. .