The 5 Best Honeymoon Lodges
Romantic Honeymoon Lodges in Victoria Falls
Zambia and Zimbabwe
You popped the question, she said yes and now you need to start all the planning. This is a huge task and one of the most important questions is: where do we go on our honeymoon? African Safari Experts knows this is not an easy decision so we have compiled a short list of the 5 best honeymoon lodges at Victoria Falls.
It’s a short list because there is a wide variety of choice out there and it can get overwhelming! And expensive! However, this is going to be the culmination of your love affair with the wedding, friends, family and a frantic few months of planning and doing. You need to find a place you both love, where you can relax, do some fishing, immerse yourself in some spa treatments and simply do absolutely nothing.
We understand the need to simply stop. Unpack and relax, let the staff of these world class establishments take care of everything. These locations are somewhat remote in that they have been built in locations that offer you privacy while still being close to the action and activities that are available in the area. Day trips can be arranged to do a Rhino Walk, high tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel, perhaps some adrenaline bungee jumping or gorge swings or simply strolling the markets for some special souvenirs.
Game drives can also be arranged in the National Park and we highly recommend doing a sunset cruise or three. Hippo, Crocodile, Elephant and excellent birding can be done while cruising the waters with a cool glass of wine in hand. Some of these lodges also have the star bed experience while others have been designed to help you immerse into the surroundings.
We have included family information for each honeymoon lodge as a friend did point out that some folks do go on honeymoon with their children.
Thorntree River Lodge
Zambia
Located within the confines of the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, Thorntree River Lodge has one of the most incredible locations on the banks of the Zambezi River. The lodge is easily accessible if you are flying into either Livingstone Airport or the Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe. Either walking or driving over the famous bridge is an exciting highlight in itself!
Guided tours with one of the lodge guides to both sides of the Falls is well worth the different perspectives of this World Heritage Site. The Falls in both countries is an incredible spectacle and a few hours on each side is a huge adventure as there are so many small paths that can be walked. The Zambian side of the Falls has small information boards at different points to give you some really interesting information about the rainforest and the bridge.
The main guest area of the lodge is a spacious lounge that flows out into the dining deck and for those needing Wi-Fi, the library offers good connectivity. The main deck boasts beautiful views out over the river and below this is a fire pit and sunken infinity pool. There is also a gym and spa for those wishing to exercise or indulge in some pampering.
There are eight double or twin suites at the lodge as well as two family units. The lodge accepts children of all ages. Suites are built onto raised wooden decks to enhance the view with sliding glass doors leading out onto a private deck and plunge pool.
Rates start from $536 per person per night sharing in Low Season (1 Jan to 31 March and 1 – 31 December) and rising to $842 per person per night sharing during High Season (1 June to 31 October). Rates include your accommodation, all meals, local brand drinks, laundry, shared transfers, National Park fees’ and twice daily activities.
Victoria Falls Island Treehouse
Zimbabwe
Perfectly positioned on the isolated and private Kandahar Island, the Victoria Falls Island Treehouse lodge is sheltered in a grove of shady trees’ right on the edge of the mighty Zambezi River. The lodge offers a wide array of luxurious amenities with each suite connected to the main guest area by elevated wooden walkways.
The lodge can only be accessed by boat and daily complimentary transfers are offered to the jetty and to the town of Livingstone itself. The Island Treehouse and the Star bed Treehouse are two different experiences with the latter being slightly more expensive. The Star Bed Treehouse was by far our favorite as we spent 2 nights in each on the same island. Sleeping out under the stars was incredible on this private island and as a honeymoon lodge it just cannot be beaten!
There are four suites at the Island Treehouse and 2 of these are double story with the star bed above the main suite. The roof area is spacious with ample place for the king size double bed as well as comfortable chairs for relaxing and enjoying the fantastic views this elevated position affords.
All the suites have a personal butler service and this really made a big difference, we could request activities to be booked, order cocktails to be brought to us and plan the next day all from the comfort of our suite. The main guest area is a warm and expansive deck with low comfortable couches and even more views out over the river, sunsets from any point are breathtaking.
Rates start at $924 per person sharing for the Island Treehouse or $1 134 for the star bed suite during Low Season (7 January to 31 May and 1 November to 20 December). High season rates are $1 016 and $1 226 respectively. Rates include accommodation, butler service, complimentary river and road transfers, a guided tour of the Falls, two safari activities per day of your choice, laundry and the fitness center.
Mpala Jena
Zimbabwe
A pleasant 16 kilometers from Victoria Falls, Mpala Jena is located on a private concession within the National Park and is remote and very exclusive. It is also one of the only Relais & Chateaux properties in Zimbabwe and when you arrive, you can see why.
The location, design, décor, attention to the smallest detail and incredible service by the staff makes her stand way above anything else you will experience in the vicinity. Kate and I had some idea of what to expect but we were absolutely blown away, by everything! The camp’s location, the luxury suites, the incredible amount of wildlife that we definitely did not expect and the soft, discreet service that anticipated our every need.
The lodge has been named after a natural spring whose waters run through the lodge grounds and attracts a diversity of wildlife that quite astounded me. Elephant, Buffalo, Lion and we even had a sighting of Wild Dogs – my jaw hit the red African dirt!
The lodge has just 4 luxury tents with billowing canvas sides, mosquito draped beds and private wooden decks that stretch out over the waters of the Zambezi River. The interior is very spacious and the en-suite bathroom is heaven in the bush and even has an antique looking ball and claw bath with copper fittings.
Rates start from $1 060 per person sharing per night (11 January to 31 March and 1 November to 19 December). This rises to $1 760 per person sharing per night (1 April to 31 October and 20 December to 10 January. Rates include accommodation, all meals, laundry, airport transfers, local brand drinks, entry to the Falls National Park and daily game viewing activities.
Sanctuary Sussi and Chuma
Zambia
Situated on an exciting bend on the Zambezi River, Sanctuary’s Sussi and Chuma was named after Dr. David Livingstone’s two faithful porters. The lodge is also located within the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park and is the only lodge that offers walking safaris in the area.
Set amongst a small forest of Jackalberry trees and local Phoenix palms it is well hidden and creates a magical mystery feeling about the property that we loved. The lodge is 12 kilometers away from the Falls themselves and this ensures guests enjoy a quiet experience in one of the most fascinating parts of the river.
The main guest area is elevated on wooden decks and all the structures are connected by wooden walk ways to minimize it’s impact on the environment. The bar has been raised even further and there is an open lounge with a very large fire area set off to one side where we enjoyed some memorable evenings around the fire with staff and guests alike.
An infinity swimming pool has gorgeous views out over the river and the spa facility provided some welcome indulgence after our travels. The small curio shop sells products made exclusively by the local community so splash out on souvenirs and feel good about your support of their creativity.
Sussi and Chuma has 12 luxury suites built into the forest along the banks of the river and each one has a view out over the river. Suites are all very spacious with glass and wood doors that lead out onto private terraces that sport comfortable chairs for relaxing during the day. If you book a spa treatment for the following day you can have this on your deck and simply fall asleep as you’re being massaged.
There are also two Chuma Houses that have a spacious lounge area, dining room and outside deck with it’s own private plunge pool. Guests making use of this accommodation receive a private chef as well as their own private vehicle and guide for all their activities.
Rates start at $665 per person sharing per night during the Low Season (6 January to 31 March and 1 November to 20 December) and rise to $865 per person sharing per night during High Season (1 June to 31 October and 21 December to 3 January). Rates include accommodation, all meals, 7 different activities, local drinks, canoeing, sundowner cruises, return airport transfers, tour of the Falls, walking safaris, local community village visit, fishing, laundry and park fees’.
Victoria Falls River Lodge
Zimbabwe
Built on the banks of the might Zambezi River within the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, Victoria Falls River Lodge is a haven of tranquility. Views of the Falls at sunset were the highlight for us here and we loved the open lawns in front of the main guest area.
There are only eight thatched suites with canvas, glass and timber design that have been well spaced along the river banks to provide good privacy for each. All of the suites have their own private plunge pool that fit two people just perfectly. Kate and I jumped in on our return from dinner with an Amarula in hand to enjoy the sounds of the Hippos honking in the river.
The lodge managers will ensure that you get the most secluded suite for your honeymoon whilst staying here and no effort was spared as we pretended we were on honeymoon here. Nightly turn downs with champagne, small chocolates on our pillows and the ever present discreet service.
There are also 5 family suites with adjoining tented rooms and en-suite bathrooms so the kids and adults each have their own private space. The children’s room can comfortably sleep 3 kinds under 17 years of age. The bathrooms all have indoor and outside showers.
Rates start from $688 per person sharing per night during High Season (1 June to 31 October and 21 December to 6 January). Low Season rates are $560 per person sharing per night (7 January to 31 May and 1 November to 20 December. Rates include accommodation, meals, local drinks, airport transfers, two safari activities per day and high tea each day.
Kate and I tested each of these lodges at different times over a 4 month period, each time we were on “honeymoon” and the staff did not know us to be agents. This is important as staff normally go to all lengths when they know agents are in camp, we wanted to make sure we were merely treated like any ordinary honeymoon couple to give you the most accurate report of our honeymoon experience.
If you would like more information on each lodge and our stay there feel free to get in touch.
Our best honeymoon lodge has to be the Star Bed experience!
Pierre
CEO
African Safari Experts
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