Ilala Lodge

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 center.

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.