In this series of blogs we feature Wild Zambezi’s network partners which are Safari Lodges or Camps located directly on the Zambezi River within Zimbabwe. Check out our location maps, images and the links provided below to these beautiful places – all reliant on the wonderful wilderness surrounds of this magnificent river.
VICTORIA FALLS AREA - ZAMBEZI RIVER LODGES & CAMPS
Upstream of the Victoria Falls (between Kazungula and Victoria Falls town – see map), the Zambezi River is a wide stretch of water meandering calmly between forested banks and islands lined with Waterberry trees and Ilala Palms, passing through protected safari and forest areas and the wildlife-rich 57 000 hectare Zambezi National Park.
There are four beautiful Wild Zambezi partner lodges and camps situated along the way, all fronting directly onto the Zambezi River.
Imbabala Zambezi Safari Lodge - is located 80 kms from Victoria Falls on a private concession within a wildlife area. The lodge sleeps 18 in 8 individual en-suite thatched lodges and one 4-bed family lodge – all with verandahs. This is fantastic place for birding, game-viewing, walking and fishing, with magnificent, sweeping views over the river, often dotted with elephants crossing between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Transfers are available from Victoria Falls, Livingstone and Kasane and day trips to the Falls and into Chobe (Botswana) can be arranged.
Zambezi Sands River Camp – sleeps 16 in 8 luxury en-suite Bedouin-style tents built into raised wooden platforms (each with its own splashpool) overlooking a quiet channel of the river in the western section of the Zambezi National Park. Activities are wildlife and river-based and include game-viewing, walking, canoeing and fishing as well as tours of the Victoria Falls, shopping trips, a sunset cruise among the islands, a village visit and school tour. Transfers take approximately 1 – 1.5 hours.
Pioneers Camp – is an intimate, 12-bedded tented bushcamp with a spacious, al fresco tented dining/living area situated on the edge of the river in the Zambezi National Park. There are excellent wildlife experiences here and the camp is close enough to Victoria Falls to be convenient, but yet away from the hustle and the bustle of the town. Camp-based activities include game drives, walking, fishing, canoeing and river cruises. (EDITOR'S NOTE (April 2017): PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS CAMP HAS NOW CLOSED AND IS UNDER NEW OWNNERSHIP. WE WILL PUBLISH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT WHEN IT REOPENS)
Victoria Falls River Lodge – is situated on a bend in the Zambezi River a short 10km drive (or boat-ride) upstream from Victoria Falls. This spacious luxury lodge has 13 huge, modern, tent-under thatch double or twin-bedded suites (five of which have an extra bedroom which can accommodate up to three sharing children under 17 years). There is an expansive, open-plan dining/living area and pool fronting onto the river. The lodge prides itself on exceptional wildlife viewing, fine dining, personal service and luxury accommodation with a wide range of activities based in the Park, on the river and in Victoria Falls town itself. (NOTE: In 2017, the new, intimate, luxury "treehouse suite" Victoria Falls Island Lodge, was opened, situated on a island in the middle of the Zambezi River, just upstream from the Victoria Falls River Lodge.
Once the waters of the Zambezi River have tumbled down into the yawning 100-metre-deep chasm that forms the Victoria Falls, they are confined within the narrow sides of the Batoka Gorge. Here, the river boils and rolls its way over basalt boulders between rocky black cliffs where adrenalin-junkies seek out some of the most challenging white-water rafting runs in the world.
Perched above the Gorge and situated right at its edge, lies the fifth of our Wild Zambezi network properties located along the Zambezi near Victoria Falls.
Gorges Lodge - this lovely lodge has to have one of the most spectacular locations in Southern Africa. It sleeps 20 people in 10 single or double-storey stone-under-thatch chalets which have recently been completely upgraded and renovated. These, and the central bar/dining area are set amid lush and peaceful gardens along the lip of the Batoka Gorge looking right down into the chasm, with black eagles (literally) soaring below you! The lodge is a 30-minute drive from Victoria Falls town and guests are offered one free return transfer per day. All the usual Victoria Falls activities are available as well as a gorge walk, visit to the local village, school tour and black eagle viewing.
If you have visited any of the above properties and would like to tell us about your experience, submit a Travel Review on Wild Zambezi.com at one of the above links.
Related blogs:-
How to escape to the wild in Victoria Falls - October 2015
Feature series: RIVER LODGES & CAMPS ALONG THE ZAMBEZI - September 2015
Chirundu area - River Lodges & Camps along the Zambezi
Kariba Town - Hotels, Lodges & Self-catering options
Lake Kariba and Matusadona: Safari Lodges and camps in the Eastern Basin
Mana Pools area - River Lodges & Camps along the Zambezi
Middle-Lower Zambezi - River Lodges & Camps along the Zambezi