Family-owned since its first day, Victoria Falls River Lodge was the first private game lodge built inside Zambezi National Park, on the Zimbabwean bank upstream of the falls. Its first guests arrived in 2012.
Hippos grunt in the river channel below the decks.
The spray rises as a white plume on the skyline beyond the tents. Hippos grunt in the river channel below the decks. Elephants browse along the bank in front of camp. Yet none of it is remote: a morning game drive and an afternoon at the falls fit into one day, with Victoria Falls town a short drive away and the airport thirty minutes by road.
The main lodge is open-plan and thatched, at the river’s edge, its lounge, bar and pool all looking across the water. A raised hide in the trees looks down on a private waterhole. The midday lull passes there with binoculars, waiting to see what walks in, while the spa and gym fill the rest of the gap between activities.
A raised hide in the trees looks down on a private waterhole.
Meals move between the main dining room and a second dining area given to traditional African cooking, made with local produce. The staff and guides are Zimbabwean, and many guests leave on first-name terms with their guide. From May to September the early mornings turn cool, so a sunrise cruise or an open-vehicle drive begins in a warm layer, shed only once the sun has cleared the trees.
Each day brings two guided activities, chosen from morning and afternoon game drives in Zambezi National Park or sunrise and sunset cruises on the upper Zambezi. The park holds lions and leopards, buffalo and sable, giraffes, zebras and kudu, but the animals are spread thinly through the riverine bush, and a drive here rewards patience over mileage. The river is more generous. From the boat, hippos surface beside reed islands and elephants cross between channels. And the birding matches it, with the park’s list running past 400 species.
The guided falls tour is included, and it fits neatly between a morning drive and an afternoon cruise. Inside the park, walks with a licensed guide can be arranged, as can boat trips to fish for tigerfish. Helicopter flights over the falls run from town, as do bungee and rafting, close enough that a morning flight still leaves time for a sunset cruise. Children have a programme of their own: Junior Discoverers drives and Young Bush Wackers walks around camp.
From the boat, hippos surface beside reed islands and elephants cross between channels.
Construction began in 2011 with local teams, most of them employed directly by the lodge and trained as the work went on. Rather than clear the site, they kept the existing trees and worked them into the structures. Two villas came later: Hippo Creek took its first guests in 2022 and Rapids View followed in 2023, both with space for multi-generational families and small groups. Downstream, 2.5 kilometres from the main camp, the eight Malachite Tented Suites take adults and children aged twelve and over.
The free preschool in the park’s staff village opened on 9 January 2018 for children aged three to five. Many of its materials, and all the plumbing and electrics, came up from South Africa, and lodge staff and contractors dug the trenches for the water and power lines by hand. Two qualified teachers, Sibo Kapesa and Tsitsi Muchemwa, teach there. They follow Zimbabwe’s early childhood development curriculum with the children of park employees and their families. A play area and a water tank have been added since, and guests can bring items from the school’s wish list.
accommodation
Thirteen thatched tents line the riverbank: eight luxury tents, and five family tents with an adjoining children's room. Every one opens onto a deck facing the Zambezi, each with its own plunge pool. Inside are a bed wider than a king (or twins), air-conditioning and a freestanding bath, with twin basins and showers indoors and out.
activities
Two guided activities a day are included: morning and afternoon drives in Zambezi National Park or sunrise and sunset cruises on the upper Zambezi, plus a guided tour of the falls. Walks with a licensed guide and tigerfish fishing by boat can be arranged, alongside spa treatments and helicopter flights over the falls.
conservation
The lodge supports the anti-poaching unit of the Zambezi National Park Support Foundation, which has grown from four rangers to seventeen during that partnership. The unit guards the park and 43 kilometres of its river frontage, and snare finds have fallen while arrests have risen.
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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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.
