Shared by Zambia and Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls is one of the world’s seven natural wonders, and for good reason.
Often dubbed as Africa’s adventure capital, there’s no shortage of adrenaline-pumping activities on offer here, from whitewater rafting to bungee jumping, ziplining, and exciting microlight flights over the falls.
There are still plenty of leisurely activities for the more laid-back traveler, like river cruises and game drives.
A huge diversity of accommodations awaits travelers to Victoria Falls, with everything from safari camps and luxury lodges to a selection of opulent boutique hotels. Be inspired by our list of the top 11 best Victoria Falls safari lodges.
The Elephant Camp
Located in its own private concession and featuring incredible views of the gorges between Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Elephant Camp will take your breath away.
The camp’s deck provides astonishing panoramas of the surrounding wilderness and is a perfect spot for dining under the vast African sky.
Situated in unspoiled bushveld, guests here can look forward to spectacular birdwatching, and ultra-immersive bush walks.
This is an authentic tented camp safari experience backed up by all the comforts you’d expect from a luxury camp, including private plunge pools and viewing decks.
A highlight of a stay at Elephant Camp is, of course, the exciting encounters you’ll have with the elephants of the Wild Horizon Wildlife Sanctuary.
All camp activities are top-notch and include a guided tour of the falls, cocktails, and canapes at Batoka Gorge, a visit to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, lunch at the amazing Lookout Cafe, cultural village tours, mountain biking through the Victoria Falls National Park, and a Victoria Falls canopy tour.
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
Voted the ‘Best Safari Lodge/Resort in Zimbabwe’ for 21 consecutive years, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge offers guests a genuine safari experience with jaw-dropping views of the falls.
The main deck offers excellent views over the local waterhole, which attracts a diverse array of wildlife. Guests at the lodge can look forward to two out-of-this-world dining experiences – fine dining at the Makuwa Kuwa restaurant and a traditional African boma dinner complete with African drumming.
Accommodation at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge is sumptuous and comfortable beyond compare, offering jaw-dropping views of the Zambezi National Park.
Lodge facilities are world-class and include a cutting-edge gym overlooking the waterhole that is frequently visited by elephants, buffalo, kudu, and occasionally even lions.
Being just five minutes from the falls, guests can go on sunset cruises, canoe trips, cultural tours, bungee jumps, ziplining experiences, seasonal whitewater rafting, spa treatments, guided safaris, and a one-of-a-kind vulture feeding encounter.
Ilala Lodge
Illala Lodge is one of the closest lodges to the falls and you’ll often see wildlife such as impala and warthogs roaming the lawns.
The spacious rooms open onto either private balconies or the well-manicured lawn with views of the Victoria Falls National Park.
Exquisite African-inspired decor in each room oozes luxury, and the rooms themselves offer all the amenities you could wish for a comfortable stay.
Situated just a short walk away from the falls, guests can visit this natural wonder as often as they like and can even see the spray of the falls from their rooms.
Illala Lodge’s award-winning Palm restaurant is famous for its tantalizing gourmet cuisine, and guests can look forward to dining under the wide African sky.
Illala offers convenient access to all the adventure activities of the falls, restaurants, and historical sites. Visitors to the lodge can look forward to river cruises, fishing expeditions, seasonal whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, ziplining, and day trips to Chobe and Hwange National Parks.
Royal Livingstone by Anantara
Voted one of the best hotels in the world by Conde Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure, guests at the Royal Livingstone can expect the highest levels of luxury from the get-go.
Where else can you spot zebra and other wildlife while you’re enjoying your morning coffee? This hotel looks over the falls and offers direct access to some of the destination’s finest viewing points.
Top-notch facilities at the Royal Livingstone include a restaurant, bar, conference center, activity desk, kids club, gym, and laundry service.
Guests here enjoy complimentary access to Victoria Falls, massages next to the Zambezi River, fireside African dining, traditional afternoon teas, unique fine dining experiences aboard the Royal Livingstone Express, and personal butler service.
When it comes to awe-inspiring experiences, there’s something for everyone at Victoria Falls. Take a sunset river cruise, go whitewater rafting in season, take a guided tour of the falls, enjoy a full-day game drive through Chobe National Park, visit cultural villages or take to the skies on a scenic helicopter flip.
Stanley and Livingstone Boutique Hotel
Tucked away in a tranquil location of Victoria Falls, Stanley and Livingstone Boutique Hotel provides visitors the perfect opportunity to relax and unwind in luxurious splendor.
It’s the perfect setting for a multi-generational safari holiday, with a brilliant kids’ program to keep the younger ones entertained.
The food is excellent, the service is outstanding, and the hotel offers all the modern amenities you’d expect from a luxury escape.
Located just 15 minutes away from the falls, guests can take advantage of everything on offer in the area with complimentary shared transfers to Victoria Falls town.
Guests can look forward to thrilling activities such as guided tours of the falls, historic bridge tours, fishing expeditions, immersive walking safaris, cycling, canoeing safaris, seasonal whitewater rafting, ziplining, and guided game drives.
Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma
Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma features a lodge that has been built entirely from natural materials, giving it a sense of blending in seamlessly with its immaculate natural surroundings.
Guests can unwind on their own private deck or relax around the pool. The lodge is situated on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River under a canopy of massive ebony trees where visitors can take advantage of an array of bush and river excursions, not least of which is a trip to Victoria Falls.
The lodge exudes a calming atmosphere and offers amazing levels of hospitality. The exquisite chalets are lifted on stilts and feature modern amenities such as air conditioning and minibars.
In between taking in the wonders of the falls, guests can take it easy on the deck with a sundowner in hand or dine under the African night sky.
Visitors to Sussi & Chuma can expect tours of the falls, spa treatments, fishing, canoeing, guided walking safaris, game drives in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, and cultural tours of Maramba village and Livingstone.
The lodge is conveniently located close to the Falls, so adventure is never far away. Guests can enjoy a wide range of thrilling activities, such as bungee jumping, bridge swinging, microlight flights, ziplining, seasonal whitewater rafting, and scenic helicopter flights.
Matetsi River Lodge
Located in a private conservancy, Matetsi River Lodge is an ultra-luxurious destination featuring an infinity pool only a few steps away from the mighty Zambezi River.
The lodge provides its guests with an undeniably exclusive bush experience and trips to the iconic Victoria Falls. The private Matetsi River House is ideal for families, with four luxurious suites and a private rim-flow swimming pool to cool off in.
Matetsi River Lodge’s suites are carefully positioned to provide complete privacy while still boasting views of the Zambezi River. The lodge includes an interactive kitchen, and guests can easily dine right next to the river.
The region is renowned for its large herds of elephants and buffalo – you’ll easily be able to spot them coming down to the river to drink.
When you’re not a spotting game, indulge in a relaxing massage in the massage sala immersed in the sounds of the bush.
Activities available to guests at Matetsi River Lodge include walking safaris, fishing, bird watching, game drives, canoeing, boating excursions, cultural village visits, river cruises, guided tours of Victoria Falls, scenic helicopter flights, bungee jumping, and seasonal whitewater rafting.
Chundu Island
Royal Chundu has a spacious open-plan guest area where you can relax and unwind while enjoying the spectacular views of the surrounding river.
Located on an island in the middle of the glittering Zambezi River, Chundu provides guests with an ideal escape from bustling city life and features a wide variety of land and water-based activities.
Expect exciting wildlife encounters with crocodiles, hippos, and a range of other aquatic species. Birdwatchers will be blown away by the diversity, with over 400 species being recorded on Chundu Island and all around the Zambezi National Park.
The lodge is one-of-a-kind in this region, allowing visitors to indulge in island life and take in amazing bush sunsets.
Luxury suites create a sense of being immersed in the surrounding wilderness and feature private outdoor showers and large wooden decks with magnificent views of the river and Zambezi National Park.
Exciting activities include game drives, canoeing on the river, fishing, immersive bush walks, sunset cruises with snacks and cocktails, massage treatments, trips to Victoria Falls, and scenic helicopter flights.
Victoria Falls Hotel
This Edwardian-style destination is one of the oldest hotels in the area and still exudes Victorian charm and elegance.
Located in the Victoria Falls National Park, the hotel boasts a private path down to the falls and a large sparkling pool where you can cool off after a day of exciting activities.
Each room features a balcony with spectacular views – you’ll even be able to see the mists rising from the falls.
The hotel’s facilities are top-notch and include a spa, tennis courts, a hair salon, swimming pools, a fine dining restaurant, and even a library.
With its situation so close to the falls, you’ll never be far away from the action. Guests can look forward to adventures like bungee jumping, cultural tours, seasonal whitewater rafting, scenic helicopter flights, bridge swinging, guided tours of the falls, and game drives.
If you’re after the ideal Victoria Falls holiday, look no further.
Victoria Falls River Lodge
Victoria Falls River Lodge is a brilliant choice for all travelers, even those traveling with kids. Guests here can expect daily visits from elephants that come to quench their thirst at the pool and in the nearby river.
There is a wide array of activities to keep the kids entertained and give mom and dad time off to indulge in a spa treatment.
The rooms at Victoria Falls River Lodge are quite spectacular, featuring large windows and outdoor showers that really deliver a sense of being out in the bush.
Visitors to the lodge can expect an out-of-this-world outdoor dining experience with jaw-dropping views of the Zambezi River.
The lodge is located on a route frequently visited by elephants, and guests can enjoy comfortably close encounters with these gentle giants as they make their way down to the river in the evenings.
Visitors at the Victoria Falls River Lodge can indulge in an assortment of activities, including canoeing, fishing, bird watching, game drives, and boat cruises on the river.
Thorntree River Lodge
Take in spectacular views of the river from the pool deck or of the milky way at night from the boma at Thorntree River Lodge.
However you spend your time here, it will always be relaxing and recuperative. This opulent lodge features unique architecture and is a superb option for families, with two family units offering plenty of space for four guests.
Thorntree River Lodge’s facilities are excellent and include a boma area, spa, gym, bar, activity desk, library, infinity swimming pool, and a wooden deck that actually floats on the river. With just 11 rooms, the lodge guarantees guests an exclusive safari experience.
The lodge is only a short distance from the iconic Victoria Falls, making it the perfect base from which to explore the area’s highlights.
Go on a safari in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, home to a variety of wildlife, including rhinos, buffalo, elephants, Burchell’s zebra, and various antelope species.
Other activities provided at the lodge include rhino tracking on foot, game drives, fishing, cultural village visits, trips to the falls, sunset river cruises, fishing, canoeing, and a visit to the Livingstone Museum.
