Ilala Lodge Hotel

Ilala Lodge Hotel is a family-run hotel nestled in the heart of Victoria Falls town, only an 8 minute walk from the Natural World Wonder, Victoria Falls, and geographically the closest hotel to the waterfall in Zimbabwe. The hotel is equipped with 73 stylish and well-appointed rooms and suites that exude a calming sense of sophisticated old-world charm, elevated by modern comfort and luxury. As a fond favourite of visitors to Victoria Falls for over 30 years, the hotel is renowned for its authentic Zimbabwean hospitality, offering a warm, welcoming and attentive five star service.

Ilala Lodge Hotel

All room and suite varieties offer garden-facing views that merge with wilderness of the national park bordering the hotel grounds. The hotel’s unique location affords guests panoramic views of the mist that rises from the mighty waterfall, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya or the ‘smoke which thunders’. From the comfort of their room or the idyllic situation of the hotel’s restaurant, pool and bar area, guests can hear the thunderous rumble, and delight in views of the mist that plumes high into the sky as a result of the falling waters of the mighty Victoria Falls.

The hotel’s award-winning Cassia Restaurant is famous for its gourmet cuisine and is rated ‘Excellent’ on TripAdvisor. Guests can see the spray and hear the thunder from the world-renowned Victoria Falls waterfall while enjoying al-fresco dining at the Cassia Restaurant. The restaurant offers a delicious breakfast buffet, lunch and al fresco evening dining under the starry African sky.

The Cassia Restaurant’s unmatched menu is complete with an extensive wine list comprised of carefully selected wines from South Africa’s top vineyards. The calming and tranquil ambience is further complimented by the gentle rumble of Victoria Falls in the background. A truly unforgettable dining experience not to be missed.

Family owned and run, Ilala Lodge Hotel offers a perfect combination of old world charm enhanced with modern touches of luxury and attention to detail. The hotel’s history dates back to 1991 where it first opened as a boutique hotel with just 16 rooms, owned by the Brown family. Since then the hotel has expanded to 73 rooms varieties made up of Classic Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, Classic Suites, Executive Suites and the Strathearn Suite named after the hotel founder. The Brown family have continued to develop Ilala Lodge Hotel into one of Victoria Falls most sought after accommodation offerings. The Brown family continue to drive Ilala Lodge Hotel towards success, delivering a welcoming home-away from home, without compromising on attention to detail and outstanding hospitality service.

Ilala Lodge Hotel is part of the Palm Hospitality Group, who also operate sister hotel, the Palm River Hotel, which opened in December 2021. Both hotels are ideally situated within minutes of Africa’s Natural World Wonder, Victoria Falls in the heart of popular tourist destination of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

Property Facilities

24-hour Security
Activity Desk
Bar
Conference Centre
Mobile Connectivity
Pool
Restaurant
Secure Parking
Spa

Room Facilities

Air Conditioning
Bathtub
Wi-Fi
In-room dining
En-Suite
Fan
Fridge
Hair Dryer
Laundry Service
Mini Bar
Pure Cotton Linen
Digital Safe
Satellite / Cable Television
Shower
Tea / Coffee
Television
Verandah

Classic Rooms

The Twin Classic Rooms at Ilala Lodge Hotel are complete with two comfortable ¾ beds set within an expansive room, and an en-suite bathroom with a separate shower. The Double Classic Rooms are ideal for couples, as they have one cosy king-size bed and an en-suite bathroom with a separate shower. Double Classic and Twin Classic room options are decorated with railway teak furnishings, enabling the experience of grandeur of days gone by. With air conditioning units installed in all Classic Rooms, guests are treated to a cool sanctuary from the warm Victoria Falls climate. Sliding doors open onto a luscious garden, offering a gateway to nature and the opportunity to see warthog, elephant, bushbuck, hippo and other wildlife grazing on the lawns.

Standard Room

26 twins, with 2 large three-quarter beds in each room. All rooms have en suite bathroom with separate shower, air conditioning, overhead fan, satellite TV hair dryer, safe and have individual coffee, free WiFi, room service and tea facilities. The rooms are spacious with railway teak furnishings. All rooms look towards the Victoria Falls, and the National Park. There are often wild animals grazing on the lawn, and the windows and doors rattle from the force of the water from the mighty Victoria Falls. All rooms have either a private patio or their own seating area on the lawn, facing the Falls.

Deluxe Double Room

12 Double rooms with 1 x king size bed, with an en-suite bathroom with walk-in shower (no bath), twin vanity basins. Air conditioning, overhead fan, satellite TV, hairdryer, safe, free WiFi, bar fridge, room service and Nespresso machine and tea facilities. 8 Twin rooms with 2 x 3/4 beds in each room. Like the double rooms, these all have an en-suite bathroom with walk-in shower, twin vanity basins (no bath). Air conditioning, overhead fan, satellite TV, hairdryer, safe, free WiFi, bar fridge, room service and individual coffee and tea facilities. Private patio with sliding doors from the bedrooms, with magnificent views of the sun rising over the Victoria Falls.

Classic Suites

The Classic Suites are located on the top level, equipped with private balconies with comfortable seating, affording views overlooking the hotel’s lush gardens, national park and the mist that rises from the Victoria Falls waterfall. The suites have an ultra-comfortable King-size bed, writing desk, mini-bar cabinet, luggage storage and an additional ¾ bed neatly tucked around the corner in a private section of the room. The en-suite bathroom includes a walk-in overhead shower, double vanities and a large bathtub. For families of more than three, the Classic Suite has interconnecting capabilities with an adjoining Classic Twin bedroom, the two rooms interconnect via an interleading door. The twin room is also equipped with an en-suite bathroom and private balcony overlooking garden views. The Classic Suites received a complete refurbishment in 2022.

Executive Suite

2 Executive Suites in our new wing. Each suite has their own separate lounge area with satellite TV, Nespresso coffee machine, as well as tea making facilities, air conditioning, fan, lounge suite, writing desk, mini bar fridge, room service, private patio with sliding doors that leads off the lounge. Separate bedroom that adjoins the lounge but has a sliding door separating the two rooms. A king-size bed, clothes closet, hairdryer, safe, robe & slippers. En-suite facilities with walk-in shower, twin vanity basins and separate bath. Own private patio with sliding doors leading off the bedroom. Magnificent views of the sunrise over the mighty Victoria Falls.

Strathearn Suite

The suite comes complete with a private lounge, kitchen, en-suite bathroom with double vanity basins, walk-in shower and an indulgent bathtub. There is a private balcony, where guests can indulge in a large spa bath while enjoying world-class views of the spray rising above the mighty Victoria Falls waterfall. Guests will also receive an inclusive private balcony dining experience, prepared for by chefs from the award-winning Palm Restaurant, as well as a complimentary in-room couples’ massage and an intimate breakfast or lunch cruise onboard the hotel’s luxury cruise boat, the Ra-Ikane River Cruise. In addition to offering an ideal romantic retreat, the suite can also be transformed into a comfortable and spacious family villa, via a pair of interleading doors into a secondary suite and deluxe guest room.

Special Interest

Adventure
Birding
Fishing
Flora
Gourmet
Leisure
Nature
Relaxation
Wine

The Cassia Restaurant

Experience gourmet dining in Victoria Falls at the top-rated Cassia Restaurant. Centrally located only minutes away from the Victoria Falls at Ilala Lodge Hotel, the restaurant offers a delicious breakfast buffet, lunch and al fresco evening dining under the stary African sky. The Cassia Restaurant delivers an unmatched menu, paired with an extensive wine list comprised of carefully selected wines from South Africa’s top vineyards. The calming and tranquil ambience is further complimented by the gentle rumble of Victoria Falls in the background. A truly unforgettable dining experience not to be missed.

Riverside dining

The Riverside Dining Experience offers hotel guests authentic African-style barbeque dining, within an unparalleled setting on the Zambezi River at the Palm River Hotel. Under a twinkling canopy of stars, and illuminated by lanterns, guests are treated to an authentic barbeque-style dinner, perfectly positioned within the hotel’s lush gardens, alongside the palm-fringed banks of the tranquil and serene river. The Riverside Dining Experience takes place between 18h00 and 20h30 and is available to all in-house guests of Ilala Lodge Hotel and the Palm River Hotel throughout the year, weather conditions permitting.

Lunch Cruise

Sit back and relax while sipping a cold drink and enjoying a few quiet hours along the banks of the Zambezi River. Our lunch buffet includes cold meats, fresh salads and a wide selection of biscuits and cheeses, all catered by the award-winning Palm Restaurant at Ilala Lodge Hotel. The fully stocked bar is available throughout the cruise and the attentive crew is at your service.