Around 1898, before the bridge was thrown across the gorge, the Old Drift was the busiest crossing on this stretch of the Zambezi. A drift is a shallow ford, and here supplies were ferried and cattle swum to the far bank between what were then Southern and Northern Rhodesia. As the town of Victoria Falls grew, settlers moved on and the rustic settlement was abandoned, leaving the site to return to wilderness.
Old Drift Lodge stands on that original crossing point, a tribute to the pioneers who once gathered here. Opened in 2018, the camp pairs frontier heritage with big-game country, set on the banks of the river inside Zambezi National Park. Fourteen canvas tented units look out across the water, while the main lodge faces the Zambezi on one side and a waterhole on the other, giving guests a full sweep of the riverine bush in either direction.
Arrival sets the tone. Guests reach the camp by a cruise of roughly fifteen minutes along the Zambezi from Victoria Falls, swapping road for river before the first elephant comes into view. The tents sit on low wooden walkways that dip in places so that game can move freely through camp, a detail that keeps the wild close at hand.
Elephants cross the walkways while a claw-foot bath waits on the deck above the river.
Each suite offers a private plunge pool, indoor and outdoor showers, air conditioning and a free-standing claw-foot bath on the deck, screened by canvas curtains and angled toward the water. Ten double tented suites and four family suites make up the camp, the family units linked by a sliding canvas door so that households can travel together. A private viewing deck and shaded sala give every tent its own quiet vantage over the passing river.
Old Drift Lodge lies within Zambezi National Park, a state-protected park rather than a private concession, so its rhythm follows the land and its rules. Days open onto the river to the north and a waterhole to the south, where elephant, buffalo and a wide cast of plains game come to drink. The design leans on copper touches, corrugated-iron accents, canvas and timber decks, materials that settle the camp into the riverine bush along the water’s edge.
Morning and afternoon game drives head out by 4×4 into the park, while the river itself carries safaris by boat, canoe trips and catch-and-release fishing. Guided walks teach tracking on foot, and the birdlife along the Zambezi rewards patient watching. A guided tour of Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, can be paired with lunch at the Lookout Café above the Batoka Gorge.
The Zambezi runs past one door and a waterhole draws elephant to the other.
Conservation runs through the operation. The lodge supports the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, a non-profit founded in 2008 that handles research, rescue, rehabilitation and education, bringing more than a thousand school children each year to learn alongside its conservationists.
It also backs the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit, sponsoring three officers within a team that has removed thousands of snares and rescued wildlife injured by poaching across the area. Closer to camp, solar power runs the facilities, guests are gifted reusable glass water bottles, and support since 2021 has helped install dozens of biogas digesters in Victoria Falls for cleaner energy and waste management.
Beyond the park, the wider Victoria Falls region offers white-water rafting, a gorge swing, helicopter scenic flights over the falls and visits to nearby communities. The town sits a short distance away, close enough that the thunder of the falls and the calm of the riverbank can fill a single day.
accommodation
Old Drift Lodge has fourteen canvas tented units in total: ten double suites and four family suites linked by a sliding canvas door. Each comes with a private plunge pool, indoor and outdoor showers, air conditioning and a free-standing claw-foot bath set on the deck above the Zambezi, with a private viewing deck.
activities
Game drives by 4x4 explore Zambezi National Park morning and afternoon, while the river adds boat safaris, canoeing and catch-and-release fishing. Guided walks cover tracking on foot, and a tour of Victoria Falls pairs with lunch at the Lookout Café above the Batoka Gorge. Rafting and scenic flights can be arranged.
conservation
The lodge supports the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, founded in 2008 for research, rescue and education, and sponsors three officers with the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit. Solar power, reusable glass bottles and support for biogas digesters in Victoria Falls extend the commitment beyond the park boundary.
Get in touch and let’s start the conversation. An initial consultation helps us understand what you’re looking for, whether that’s specific experiences, luxury touches, or marking a special occasion, and from there we’ll guide you through what’s possible so you can decide if we’re the right fit.
You fly into Victoria Falls International Airport, which takes direct scheduled flights from Johannesburg and other regional hubs. From there you transfer to the river and reach the lodge by a boat cruise of about fifteen minutes along the Zambezi into Zambezi National Park, swapping the road for the water before the first elephants come into view.
It is an unusual arrival and we arrange every leg of it, from the meet at the airport to the boat timed to your flight. If you would rather fly in privately, we can arrange a charter for that leg, typically a Pilatus PC-12 or Cessna Caravan, so the boat is waiting when you land. If you are combining the lodge with a fly-in bush camp, those charter legs carry a soft-bag limit of around 20kg per person including hand luggage, which we confirm before you pack.
The lodge sits on the Zambezi inside Zambezi National Park, which carries a seasonal malaria risk, so it is not malaria-free. Mosquito numbers and risk are lowest in the dry winter from June to September and higher through the warm, wet months from November to April.
Advice shifts from year to year, so please confirm the current position with a travel clinic or your doctor before you travel, take antimalarials if they advise them, and cover up against bites in the evening.
Bring layers. The dry-season mornings from June to August are cold on an open vehicle or boat, then the days warm up quickly, and by October the valley heat can approach 40 degrees. Light, breathable clothing in neutral colours works best through the day, with a warm top for early starts.
If you travel in the green season from November to March, add a light waterproof for the afternoon storms and expect it to be warm and humid. A swimming costume is worth packing for the plunge pool on your deck.
Yes, the falls are a short trip from the lodge and we include a guided visit, often paired with lunch above the Batoka Gorge. What you see changes with the river: from about February to July it runs at full flood and the falls thunder, with heavy spray that can veil the view.
As the water drops from August to December, more of the sheer rock face is exposed and the low-water experiences open up, among them Devil's Pool on the lip of the falls and rafting through the gorge below. We will match the visit to what the river is doing when you come.
Children aged seven and over are welcome, and four of the fourteen tents are family units, where a sliding canvas door joins two rooms so a family can be together with a little privacy. The suites have air conditioning, which makes the hotter months more comfortable for children.
Guided walking safaris are for ages sixteen and over, but younger children can join the game drives, boat safaris and a visit to the falls. Let us know their ages and we will plan around them.
Yes to both. There is wireless internet throughout the lodge, and being close to Victoria Falls the connection and mobile signal are steadier than at the remote bush camps, so you can stay in touch if you need to.
Each suite is air-conditioned, which is a real comfort in the heat from September to November and helps younger children sleep. If staying reachable matters on your trip, tell us and we will confirm the coverage for your dates.
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our approach
Every journey starts with a conversation. We take the time to understand your vision before we start planning.
Whether by phone or in person, we work with you directly to shape something that is considered, personal, and expertly delivered.
