Victoria Falls River Lodge

My partner and I wanted to send a heartfelt thank you for the incredible job the staff at Victoria Falls River Lodge did to make our stay enjoyable and for organising a very memorable proposal. Aside from the absolutely beautiful and clean lodge itself, the food and location were perfect. We would also especially love to recognise Ashleigh, Hannah, Beks from the lodge, well as James the photographer. This was one of the most special and memorable parts of our trip, and we cannot thank them enough for everything they did behind the scenes to make the engagement so beyond extraordinary. Working closely with my partner, to help coordinate and deliver the most beautiful proposal imaginable. From the stunning set-up to the incredible private dinner and the unforgettable private sunset game drive, every detail was thoughtfully planned and executed. The care, enthusiasm, discretion, and genuine excitement they showed made the occasion feel incredibly personal and meaningful. What they created for us was far beyond anything we could have imagined, and it is a memory we will treasure for the rest of our lives. Thank you again for an unforgettable stay. We will be talking about this place for many years to come and will always look back on it with the fondest memories.

Our family stayed at Hippo Creek Villa and it was absolutely amazing. Staff are so helpful and friendly - we had the best time and would highly recommend.

We would give 6-stars if we could. Best place we have ever stayed. Our family and us were in the Hippo lodge - a four bedroom villa complex across three buildings. Had an incredible chef (best food in Africa for us) Msizi, a knowledgeable & entertaining guide Faithy and a great butler David. They made everything perfect for us. The highlight was a sunset cruise where we saw 20+ elephants swimming across the Zambezi river.

Not safe for solo female travelers. I am a seasoned solo female traveler (47 countries, 300+ hotel stays). This was the most unsafe and emotionally distressing experience of my travel life. Night 1: A male staff member entered my room at 9pm without knocking while I was changing. There is no chain lock, no double lock, and no standard DND sign. Anyone with a master key can enter. In many countries — including the U.S. — this would warrant calling the police. Guests have a legal right to privacy and exclusive use of their room. This was not a minor service error. It was a serious security breach. After this incident, my agency requested a Do Not Disturb sign for basic safety. On-duty manager Ashleigh stated they “don’t do signs” and suggested I should speak to them directly instead of my agents. I received a makeshift sign only after 48 hours of escalation. Meanwhile, construction workers had direct visibility into my private deck, plunge pool, and outdoor shower daily. Privacy is marketed — but not delivered. See pictures for proof. They were around my room through 5 days stay. The plunge pool (a key reason for the premium rate) was repeatedly unusable because elephants drink from it. It was half empty and dirty for days. I could only properly use it on day four. If wildlife regularly renders amenities unusable, guests should be clearly informed before charging ~$1,000 per night. What disturbed me most was leadership’s response. Senior manager Marnix minimized my safety concerns and focused on defending staff rather than addressing the breach. After a man enters a solo woman’s room unannounced, the correct response is empathy, corrective action, and strengthened security — not defensiveness. I ultimately pursued a credit card chargeback and was refunded two nights. That action alone reflects that the experience did not meet reasonable hospitality standards. The only reason this is not 0 star is because the kitchen staff, drivers, and guides were exceptional and kind. The physical property is beautiful. But beautiful scenery does not compensate for compromised room security and dismissive crisis management. If you are a solo female traveler, think carefully. Safety is not a luxury — it is a baseline expectation.