Victoria Falls is at the heart of an African experience - a natural wonder loved by travelers around the world. Often regarded as Africa’s Adventure Capital, Victoria Falls boasts a wide range of activities such as bungee jumping, scenic flights, white water rafting, game drives, and river cruises. Complementing the beauty of the Falls are a selection of safari lodges and camps, boutique hotels, and luxury lodges that deliver warm hospitality, incredible comfort, and a variety of unique experiences.
The suites at Sussi & Chuma offer guests the opportunity to relax on their own private deck or take a dip in the swimming pool.
Why we love it:
The lodge is completely constructed from natural materials, allowing one to feel as one with nature. The lodge’s location under a canopy of enormous ebony trees on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River offers the opportunity to experience a variety of bush and river excursions, along with visits to the iconic Victoria Falls.
Why you will love it:
The lodge has a relaxing ambiance and warm hospitality that will ensure you feel right at home. The gorgeous chalets are built on stilts to appreciate the sights and sounds of the river, and boast modern comforts such as air conditioning and minibars. When you are not busy exploring, time spent at the lodge is best enjoyed relaxing on the deck with sundowners beside the pool, or dining under the stars.
What’s Included:
Accommodation, all meals, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages (with exception of premium brands and Champagne), all scheduled game viewing activities, canoeing and sundowner cruise on the Zambezi, tour of the Victoria Falls (excluding Victoria Falls Heritage Fees), walking safaris, local village tour, fishing, laundry services, emergency medical evacuation and park fees.
The experience:
Led by a team of the best guides, guests to Sussi & Chuma can look forward to a tour of the Falls, game drives in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, guided walking safaris, river cruises, canoeing, fishing, spa treatments, and cultural tours of Livingstone and the Maramba Village.With the lodges convenient location to the falls, one could also experience white-water rafting (seasonal), bungee jumping, micro lighting, and scenic helicopter flights to name but a few. All of these activities can be booked by one of our Safari Experts.
Guests at the Royal Livingstone are often treated to sightings of zebra and other wildlife during their morning coffee.
Why we love it:
The hotel was named one of the best hotels in the world by Conde Nast Traveller and Travel & Leisure and rightfully so. The hotel overlooks the falls and offers direct access to the best viewing points. Offering world-class facilities, including an activity desk, bar, restaurant, a conference center, gym, kids club, laundry service, a gym, and a swimming pool.
Why you will love it:
You will be afforded regular morning sightings of zebra and other wildlife wandering the hotel grounds, unlimited complimentary access to Victoria Falls, fireside African dining, traditional afternoon teas, unique fine dining experiences aboard the Royal Livingstone Express, massages beside the Zambezi River, relaxation in hammocks alongside the river, and the services of a personal butler.
What’s Included:
Accommodation and breakfast.
The experience:
Victoria Falls has something for everyone! You can choose as little or as many activities as you want, including guided tours of the Falls. white water rafting (seasonal), scenic helicopter flights, sunset cruises, full day game drives in Chobe National Park, or visits to nearby cultural villages.
The luxurious Matetsi lodge is a tranquil oasis with various sitting areas and an infinity pool only steps away from the river.
Why we love it:
Matetsi River Lodge is located on the banks of the Zambezi River in a private conservancy, offering guests an exclusive bush experience combined with visits to the world-renowned Victoria Falls. The exclusive Matetsi River House is great for families, offering four opulent suites and a private rim-flow swimming pool.
Why you will love it:
Each suite is positioned to offer complete privacy and looks onto the Zambezi River. The lodge boasts an interactive kitchen and also offers dining beside the river. During your free time, you can take a refreshing swim in the rim-flow swimming pool where you can observe wildlife coming down to the river for a drink, or treat yourself to a relaxing massage in the massage sala that is surrounded by the sounds of nature.
What’s Included:
Accommodation, three meals daily, the house selection of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, refreshments on game drives, laundry, safari activities including game drives, bird watching, a cruise on the Zambezi River, amateur fishing and canoeing, as well as emergency medical evacuation insurance.
The experience:
This region is well-known for its large herds of elephant and buffalo as well as an assortment of plains game and predators. Activities offered at the lodge include game drives, walking safaris, birdwatching, canoeing, boating excursions, and fishing.Other activities such as guided tours of the Falls, river cruises, cultural village visits, bungee jumping, scenic flights, and white water rafting (seasonal) can be arranged.
Enjoy dining experiences beside the Zambezi River during your stay at Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel.
Why we love it:
The hotel nestles in a quiet and peaceful location of Victoria Falls, away from the hustle and bustle. It is a great choice for multi-generational families because it is family-owned and managed. There’s an incredible kids programme to entertain children of all ages.
Why you will love it:
The hotel boasts all the modern comforts one would expect of a luxury hotel, along with an attentive service and excellent food. Positioned only 15 minutes away from the falls, the hotel ensures that guests are afforded the opportunity to experience everything that this region has to offer by providing complimentary shared transfers between the hotel and Victoria Falls town, as well as transfers to and from Victoria Falls Intl Airport or Livingstone’s Harry Mwanga Nkumbula Intl Airport.
What’s included:
Accommodation and breakfast, scheduled shared Victoria Falls Airport transfers and scheduled shared Victoria Falls Town transfers - 3 transfers per day.
The experience:
Offering convenient access to the falls, you can look forward to activities such as guided tours of the falls, cycling, historic bridge tours, zip lining, fishing, game drives, walking safaris, and canoeing safaris.
Royal Chundu has a large open-plan guest area with plenty of sitting areas in which to sit and enjoy the views of the river.
Why we love it:
The luxurious Chundu is located on an enchanting island on the spectacular Zambezi River, affording guests a tranquil getaway with a variety of land and water activities to enjoy, bringing you up-close wildlife encounters, including hippo, crocodile, and other aquatic species. The birdlife in particular is some of the best in the region, with more than 400 species of birds recorded on Chundu Island and the Zambezi National Park.
Why you will love it:
The lodge is one of a kind in this region, affording the opportunity to experience Island living and the most incredible sunsets. The opulent suites elude a feeling of being one with nature, boasting private outdoor showers and expansive decks that look onto the river and Zambezi National Park.
What’s included:
Accommodation, all meals, teas & coffees, local brand beverages, two activities per day, and basic ‘bush’ laundry (hand wash dry and fold). Transfers from Zambezi National Park Gate to Chundu Island are offered twice a day at set times.
The experience:
The lodge activities include sunset cruises with snacks and cocktails, canoeing on the river, fishing, exhilarating game drives and bush walks in the Zambezi National Park, optional trips to Victoria Falls, massage treatments, and optional helicopter flips.
Looking for the Top Lodges along the Zambezi River?
The rooms at Ilala Lodge open out onto well-manicured lawns or private balconies with views of Victoria Falls National Park.
Why we love it:
Ilala is one of the closest lodges to the falls and looks onto the Victoria Falls National Park, often seeing a variety of wildlife such as warthogs and Impala wandering the lawns of the lodge. The spacious lodge rooms resonate Africa in their decor and feature modern amenities that ensure a comfortable stay.
Why you will love it:
With the lodge’s location just a short walk away from the falls, you can visit this natural wonder as often as you like, or enjoy the spray of the falls from the comfort of the lodge or your gorgeous room. The lodge’s award-winning Palm Restaurant is famous for its gourmet cuisine, offering dining experiences under the African sky.
What’s included:
Accommodation and breakfast.
The experience:
The lodge offers convenient access to all the historical sites, restaurants and adventure activities available in Victoria Falls, including bungee jumping, river cruises, fishing expeditions, white water rafting (seasonal), and day trips to Chobe and Hwange National Parks.
The swimming pool at Victoria Falls Hotel is most enjoyable on a hot summers day when you return from visiting top attractions.
Why we love it:
It may be the “grand old lady” in Victoria Falls but it is most certainly in a class of its own, boasting a Victorian elegance and charm. This Edwardian-style hotel is positioned directly in the Victoria Falls National Park and offers a private path down to the falls.
Why you will love it:
The views from the balcony of your room will take your breath away, as you look out onto the rising mist of the Victoria Falls. The hotel facilities are of a world-class standard, boasting swimming pools, tennis courts, libraries, a spa, a hair salon, and a fine dining restaurant.
What’s included:
Accommodation and breakfast.
The experience:
The hotel is centrally located to all activities on offer, allowing you to go on as many adventures as you prefer. These could include white water rafting, bungee jumping, helicopter flights, cultural tours, or even some time out in the bush on a game drive because of the hotel’s location within the Victoria Falls National Park.
The waterhole in front of Victoria Falls Safari Lodge attracts a variety of wildlife and can be seen from the lodge's main deck.
Why we love it:
We can’t deny the beauty of a lodge that gives you the best of both worlds - the feeling of being on safari, whilst savoring up-close views of a waterfall loved by travelers around the world. The Victoria Falls Safari Lodge has also been voted “Best Safari Lodge/Resort Hotel in Zimbabwe” for 21 consecutive years, making it a firm favorite for a stay in Victoria Falls.
Why you will love it:
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge offers a unique, authentic experience with exceptional service. The lodge offers two extraordinary dining experiences. A traditional African boma dinner, complete with African drumming, along with the Makuwa Kuwa Restaurant that provides a fine dining experience. The accommodation is exceptionally comfortable, looking out onto the Zambezi National Park, whilst the hotel facilities are of the highest standard, including a state of the art gym with views of the lodge's waterhole that is frequently visited by elephant, buffalo, kudu, and occasionally lion.
What’s included:
Accommodation, breakfast daily, complimentary shuttle service to Victoria Falls town and Rainforest, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
The experience:
Only five minutes from the falls, you can look forward to guided tours of the falls, sunset cruises, high-wire activities, spa treatments, cultural tours, canoe trips, safaris, and a unique vulture feeding experience offered at the lodge.
Stay in one of the suites at Victoria Falls River Lodge and enjoy visits from elephants who love to drink from the pool and river.
Why we love it:
The lodge is great for all travelers, even families with small children. Kids are kept busy with a variety of activities whilst the adults are left to enjoy the tranquility of the lodge or indulge in a spa treatment.
Why you will love it:
The rooms are absolutely spectacular with large windows and an outdoor shower which enhance that feeling of being out in the bush. Guests are treated to an outdoor dining experience with breathtaking views of the mighty Zambezi River. The lodge is also only a few feet away from a route used by elephants in the evenings, bringing you that much closer to these gentle giants.
What’s included:
Tented luxury accommodation, all meals, local beverages, afternoon tea, return road transfers from Victoria Falls Airport, two safari activities per day, and a tour of the Falls.
The experience:
The lodge offers a selection of activities which include game drives, bird watching, boat cruises on the river, fishing, and canoeing along trails.Visits to the Falls and the surrounding attractions can be arranged.
From the deck of Elephant Camp, one can enjoy spectacular vistas and outdoor dining experiences beneath the African sky.
Why we love it:
The camp is situated on its own private concession and boasts the most incredible views of the rising mist from the Victoria Falls and of the gorges that separate Zimbabwe and Zambia. The camp's location in a pristine wilderness allows guests to go on walks and enjoy incredible bird watching.
Why you will love it:
The camp affords a truly authentic tented safari experience with the modern comforts one would expect from a luxury camp, including inviting private plunge pools and viewing decks. The highlight on a stay at The Elephant Camp is the encounter with a herd of resident elephant who live at the Wild Horizon Wildlife Sanctuary.
What’s included:
Accommodation, return airport road transfers, all meals, local branded beverages, laundry, two transfers to Victoria Falls town per day, emergency medical evacuation, and interaction with the Wild Horizons elephants.
The experience:
The activities offered at the camp are of an exceptional standard and include a guided tour of the falls, elephant interaction, lunch at the Lookout Cafe, cocktails and canapes at the Batoka Gorge, a visit to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, a cultural village tour, birding and nature walks on the concession, mountain bike rides through the Victoria Falls National Park, and a Victoria Falls Canopy Tour.
Thorntree River Lodge allows one to savor the views of the river from the pool deck during the day and night sky from the boma.
Why we love it:
This elegant lodge has a unique architectural design and is a great option for families, with two family units that can accommodate four people. The facilities at the lodge are extraordinary, with a boma area, infinity swimming pool, a nearby gym, spa, activity desk, library, bar, and a unique wooden deck that floats on the edge of the river.
Why you will love it:
The lodge is considerably small with only eleven rooms, affording a more intimate experience. It is also only a short distance from the iconic Victoria Falls, making it the perfect base from which to explore top attractions in Victoria Falls and enjoy a rewarding safari experience in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park that is home to elephant, rhino, buffalo, Burchell's zebra, and many antelope species.
What's included:
Luxury accommodation, all meals, beverages (except premium imported spirits and champagne), laundry, emergency medical evacuation insurance, return shared road transfers as per below and two shared activities per day.
The experience:
Activities offered at the lodge include visits to the falls, rhino trekking on foot, game drives, cultural village visits, sunset river cruises, fishing, canoeing, and visits to the Livingstone Museum.As a safari company, we’ve tried and tested hundreds of lodges over the years and have succeeded in offering our travelers the best of the best. Whether you are looking for complete tranquility, adventure, or to experience a little bit of both; we hope our Top 10 Victoria Falls Safari Lodges will inspire your escape. Get in touch to plan your own Victoria Falls adventure with the help of our Safari Experts.
Anja Mayer was extremely knowledgeable, patient, prompt with her responses to questions, and always very helpful. She was also a pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend to anyone that asks that Anja is the right person to contact if they are interested in travelling to South Africa or Botswana.
Lewis Warren
,
US
Dec 12, 2024
Anja did a fabulous job!
Anja was knowledgeble, patient prompt with her responses to questions and always very helpful. In addition, it was a pleasure working with her. I would recommend her to anyone without any reservation.
Lewis Warren
,
US
Dec 10, 2024
Mel du Toit was the perfect person to…
Mel du Toit was the perfect person to arrange and organize our trip!! She was on the ball, made sure everything was in place and travel arrangements secured! I highly recommend her!!
JUDITH ANN
,
US
Dec 9, 2024
Great support from Shann
Shann made the booking experience seamless - provided very helpful information to ensure we fully understood what the experience would be like and made sure we felt safe with experiences we have booked.
SUE And Bryson STEIN
,
AU
Dec 9, 2024
Quick & efficient
Very fast response, polite - impressive
Eduardo Rocha
,
BR
Dec 7, 2024
Went through Newmarket travel and Hays…
Went through Newmarket travel and Hays travel ..information about flight changes hard to get..but on arrival the holiday was taken over Safari.com..amazing ..experience everything was fine tuned and the staff ..guides drivers fabulous and friendly ..lots of knowledge..lots of fun and the surprises they did was so lovely ...loved every minute ..Paris our guide was amazing..10/10 and Eric driver ..the waiters and waitress every and everyone in the hotels .smiling and friendly..Best holiday of my life
Gillian Dodsworth
,
GB
Dec 7, 2024
Anja at Safari.com was a great partner to work with!
Working with Anja at Safari.com was great. She was able to work some magic and got us a few nights at the safari lodge we really wanted, Ngoma. Unfortunately, our flight from the USA to South Africa was canceled and we were rebooked a day later but Anja was great about making sure our lodge and the transports knew about the change in plans and made sure we got to our trip as soon as we could.
She was a great partner to have and communicated quickly whenever we reached out. I would highly recommend using her when planning a trip to Africa!
Joanna
,
US
Dec 4, 2024
Prompt & knowledgeable
Prompt & knowledgeable
Scott Millar
,
ZA
Dec 4, 2024
Great service from Denise at Safari.com
Denise from Safari.com was extremely helpful. She responded promptly, provided good advice on safari lodgings options and worked up a couple of itinerary options to suit our budget. Denise also organised flights and transfers very quickly so that we could finalize our booking in a short time. Much appreciated.
