The Wallow Lodge stands on the banks of the Masuwe River, inside a private sanctuary within Victoria Falls National Park, about twenty minutes’ drive from the falls. Sixteen canvas suites are raised beneath the riverine trees, every one of them turned to the water. Elephants and buffalo wade in the river below the decks. On still days the rumble of Mosi-oa-Tunya carries over the water.
Elephants and buffalo wade in the river below the decks.
Game drives run across the sanctuary at first light and again as the heat drops, and because this is private ground and not parkland, guides can take you out on foot. Evenings belong to the lip of Batoka Gorge, sundowners in hand and the rapids churning far below. Breakfast can be taken at the cliff-edge Lookout Café, lunch back under the canopy of the camp.
Some listings file The Wallow Lodge under Hwange, a quirk of shared district boundaries and not of geography. The park’s gates lie a good way off by road, and a day trip means a long stretch in the vehicle. Hwange works better as its own leg, reached by a short light-aircraft flight, and two or three nights there before flying south suits most Zimbabwe itineraries.
The viewing here is from decks above a live river.
Hwange’s sunken photographic hides, and the elephant and buffalo herds that move along the Gwayi River corridor, are found there and not here. The viewing here is from decks above a live river. Open vehicles do the rest, out at first light and again in the last of the afternoon. The suites are framed canvas on raised decks beneath the trees, not stone-and-thatch chalets.
Rafting came first. In the early 1980s a group of Zimbabwean guides built a business running the Zambezi rapids below the falls, in the churn beneath Batoka Gorge. Ground handling followed, and then the lodges came. That adventure tradition still shows in what the sanctuary can offer a guest with the appetite for it. Gorge swings drop into Batoka, helicopters lift over the falls, and rafts still run the white water below. The lodge is the quiet end of that story, canvas and timber set beneath old riverine trees.
Inside, the suites lean contemporary and not colonial. Canvas walls, wooden furniture, cushions in bright chitenge cloth and pots of greenery give each one the feel of a room rather than a bed under sheeting. There is a bedroom and an indoor lounge, a writing desk and a tea and coffee station, and a balcony facing the water. They are tents in the proper sense, framed canvas on raised decks. Meals move between the open-plan dining room and the deck above the riverbank, international cooking built on Zimbabwean produce and South African wine.
The lodge is the quiet end of that story, canvas and timber set beneath old riverine trees
Kudu and baboons work the riverbank through the morning, and warthogs graze the lawns with the indifference of residents. In the canopy above them are Schalow’s turaco, giant kingfishers and raptors for anyone with binoculars. Game drives run at dawn and late afternoon, and walking is possible on the private sanctuary, as it is not inside the national parks. The rest of the day can be given to cocktails and canapés on the gorge rim. There is a guided walk through the rainforest on the Zimbabwean side of the falls, and an evening cruise on the Zambezi. Children from seven years old are welcome.
The main area opens under canvas and timber, a bar and a lounge running out to a sunken firepit and a pool set above the riverbank. Late afternoon is the hour, when the low light turns the Masuwe copper. The vehicles come in, the fire is lit, and the sound that carries up from below is the river and not the town. Victoria Falls is close by and entirely out of earshot, so the days keep the pace of a bush camp, with the falls, the gorge and the Zambezi all within easy reach.
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accommodation
Sixteen tented suites are raised on decks along the Masuwe River, spaced out beneath the riverine canopy. Canvas walls give onto a bedroom and an indoor sitting area, a writing desk and a tea and coffee station, an outdoor shower and a private balcony over the water. The camp takes no more than thirty-two guests.
activities
Morning and afternoon game drives in the private sanctuary, guided walks on the sanctuary ground, cocktails on the Batoka Gorge rim, a guided tour of the falls, Zambezi cruises, rafting and helicopter flights over the falls and gorge. Hwange National Park is a separate leg by light aircraft rather than a day trip.
conservation
The Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust is based on the same sanctuary, and its rescue centre is open to guests as part of the standard programme. Stays support its anti-poaching and research work. An elephant conservation experience and a visit to a neighbouring village are also included.
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.
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Victoria Falls International is about twenty to thirty minutes away by road, and the lodge itself is around twenty minutes from Victoria Falls town. Livingstone in Zambia is a workable alternative if the flights suit better.
We arrange the transfer with the booking. Because the lodge sits inside a private sanctuary on the Masuwe River rather than in town, you get bush quiet within easy reach of the Falls, which is the reason most people choose it.
Yes. The lodge stands at around 900 metres on a river, below the 1,200 metre line under which TravelHealthPro, the UK's official travel health service, rates Zimbabwe as high risk from November to June. The CDC recommends antimalarial tablets for travel anywhere in Zimbabwe throughout the year.
We do not make medical recommendations. That is a conversation between you and your own doctor or a travel clinic, who know your history and can weigh it properly. We are travel planners, not medical professionals, and we would rather say so than imply otherwise.
Usually from seven upwards. Younger children are taken when a family or group books the whole lodge exclusively, which with sixteen tents is a real option for a large party. There is no babysitting.
If you are travelling with a child under seven and do not want the whole lodge, say so at enquiry and we will suggest somewhere in the Victoria Falls area that takes all ages rather than let you arrive with a problem.
Hot for most of the year and hottest from September into early November. Rain falls between November and March in afternoon bursts, and the dry winter from May to August brings cold mornings that catch people out on an early game drive.
Bring neutral colours, a warm jacket for dawn, a hat and strong sun protection, and closed shoes with grip for the walking on the sanctuary. Add a light waterproof for the rainforest path at the Falls, which soaks everyone when the river is high.
July to October is the peak for game viewing, when the bush dries back and animals work the river and the waterholes. It also lines up with the middle season at the Falls, which many people find the best compromise between water volume and clear views.
The green season from November to March is quieter and much greener, with the Falls building towards their peak from March. May and June are mild and pleasantly empty, and are underrated for a first visit.
rated five stars by our clients
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.
