Zambezi Romance and Hwange Safari Camps

Romance here comes from space, light and quiet. These notes cover the main lodges, with a question to ask each before you commit. Rates are in US dollars.

Victoria Falls River Lodge

The lodge’s Island Treehouse Suites stand on Kandahar Island and are boat-only, each with a private plunge pool. Ask how many suites there are (three to five are quoted) and what the minimum age is (12 or 16), because both vary.

Old Drift Lodge

This Wild Horizons lodge lies inside Zambezi National Park, about 4.5 to 7 km from the falls. Ask which activities and transfers are included in the nightly rate.

The Elephant Camp

Another Wild Horizons property, it overlooks the company’s wildlife sanctuary. Ask what the sanctuary visit involves, and expect nothing that involves riding or touching the animals.

Matetsi Victoria Falls

A private reserve of about 50,000 to 55,000 ha, Matetsi has 14 to 27 km of river frontage and lies roughly 40 km above the falls. It has 18 suites in two camps. Ask about the distance and travel time to the falls and the airport.

Hwange camps

Little Makalolo, run by Wilderness, offers the Star Bed, which lets couples sleep outdoors. Ask whether it is available on your dates. Linkwasha, Camp Hwange and The Hide also operate near Hwange, and Somalisa Camp and Somalisa Expeditions are two separate properties. The best viewing is August to November, and October temperatures can exceed 40 C.

Two small rituals

  • A sunset cruise on the Zambezi above the falls, with a US$12 levy added to the fare. Several resellers sell the Ra-Ikane cruise.
  • Afternoon tea on Stanley’s Terrace at the Victoria Falls Hotel, open to non-guests from about 15:00 to 17:30. The hotel dates from 1904.

Rules of the setting

The Zambezi and Kariba hold crocodiles and hippos. Keep swimming to lodge pools and follow guides near the water. Malaria prevention is advisable, and walking around Victoria Falls after dark is unwise.

When to go

The Hwange camps are at their best from August to November, when animals come to pumped waterholes. Temperatures climb through September to November, so ask whether your room has shade, a fan or a pool. The river lodges work all year, though spray and water levels at the falls change with the seasons.

Splitting your stay

Two nights near the falls and two in Hwange make a tidy trip. The road between them is about 2.5 hours.

Read more: Couple activities and Multi-day trips .

Check room rates on Booking.com search . Official pages: Wild Horizons and Victoria Falls Hotel .