Ilala Lodge is a perfect base from which to explore the Victoria Falls. The hotel is classically elegant, set in beautiful grounds and is close to the Falls as well as the buzz of Victoria Falls Town. There are 56 rooms across the hotel.
Highlights
Closest hotel to the Victoria Falls
Dine at the award winning la carte Palm Restaurant
Relax by the swimming pool
The hotel has a relaxing elegant colonial feel
Ilala Lodge is the closest hotel to the Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwean side and offers a comfortable and charming base for your explorations here. The falls are within easy walking distance, as is the charming Victoria Falls town centre.
There are 56 rooms here, all ensuite and with influences of colonial style in their design. Each standard room has French doors which open onto a small patio which leads onto the gardens beyond, where animals such as warthog are often seen grazing. The two deluxe suites are located on the upper floor and are larger, ideal for honeymooners or families wishing to add an extra bed for a child into their room. The hotel has recently completed the construction of a new wing to enhance those rooms in the original building and give more options to visitors.
There are two restaurants to choose from here, the Palm Restaurant which serves a la carte dishes ranging from international to African cuisine, and Kubika which serves more unusual delicacies including kudu, crocodile and ostrich.
When water levels are high, guests can enjoy views of the spray that rises up from the torrent of water at the Falls, witnessing the "smoke that thunders" first hand.
There is a lovely swimming pool where guests can relax when they are not exploring the falls and the numerous activities which are offered in the area. The hotel has a desk who can assist with booking excursions from a helicopter flip over the falls to canoeing on the Zambezi river or a sunset boat cruise.
When to visit
Fall asleep listening to the falls in the distance.
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It is hard to get closer to the falls than Ilala Lodge. The entrance gate opens off the bottom of the road which runs down through the town and over the bridge to Zambia. It is less than 10 minutes to walk from Ilala to the entrance of the Victoria Falls National Park
11-hour international flight to Johannesburg International Airport, followed by a 1-hour 45-minute flight to Victoria Falls. The Elephant Camp is a 15-minute road transfer from Victoria Falls airport. Alternatively, you can fly to Victoria Falls via Harare.
Batonka Guest Lodge
Set on the Zimbabwean side of the Victoria Falls, Batonka Guest Lodge is a modern, colonial-style boutique retreat, set amongst beautifully landscaped gardens on the edge of Victoria Falls Town.
Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel
Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel is a tranquil retreat based only a short distance from the famous Victoria Falls. With only 16 suites, this intimate hotel is the perfect base to tour the region, and a fantastic option for families
528 Victoria Falls
528 Reynard is a beautiful new boutique hotel in Victoria Falls town, Zimbabwe. Situated just 3 kilometres from the Victoria Falls, this small and stylish owner run property is the perfect retreat from the bustling town.
The Palm River Hotel
Just a short distance from one of the world’s most magnificent waterfalls, the handsome Palm River Hotel enjoys a privileged setting on the banks of the Zambezi River close to Victoria Falls, making it a chic and comfortable base for intrepid explorers.
Victoria Falls Hotel
Fondly known as the 'Grand Old Lady of the Falls', the Victoria Falls Hotel was established in 1904 welcoming visitors from throughout colonial Africa and beyond. A wonderfully atmospheric hotel in a fantastic location, ten minutes walk from the falls.
Old Drift Lodge
The Old Drift lodge is an intimate property of only 14 suites and is in a fantastic location based on the edge of the mighty Zambezi and nestled within the Zambezi National Park, just upstream from the raging Victoria Falls.
Matetsi Victoria Falls
Close to the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and located right on the banks of the Zambezi river, the exclusive Matetsi Victoria Falls gives a refined touch to the modern safari experience, and is home to a fantastic array of wildlife.
Victoria Falls River Lodge
Victoria Falls River Lodge is a private game lodge set in Zimbabwe's Zambezi National Park, just minutes from the magnificent Victoria Falls. It is close enough to see and hear 'the smoke that thunders' from your private viewing deck.
The Boma - Place of Eating
The Boma - Place of Eating is a restaurant that specialises in a selection of traditional Zimbabwean dishes and is famous for its warthog fillet.
Helicopter Flight over Victoria Falls
Take a helicopter flight over Victoria Falls to witness one of the seven wonders of the natural world from the air. A flight over the falls gives a dramatic perspective of the largest sheet of falling water in the world.
Activities at Matetsi Victoria Falls
Matetsi Victoria Falls is ideally located to be able to offer guests both a safari experiences such as game drives and boat cruises, as well as access to the iconic Victoria Falls and the activities available in the region.
