Ilala Lodge

The main lodge has comfortable seating areas, the award-winning Palm Restaurant, which has an à la carte menu (ostrich steak is a must) and patio seating accompanied by the roar of the falls. Don't miss the huge and excellent breakfast buffet. The service is friendly and laidback to suit the hotel style. The lovely gardens are regularly visited by warthogs, monkeys and mongoose - and if luck is on your side, an ambling elephant. And the pool provides a spot to cool off with a cocktail.

Ilala Lodge has 73 rooms and suites, all spacious and with en-suite bathrooms. The decor is stylish and understated, the rooms are bright, the beds are comfortable with high-quality cotton linens and lovely toiletries are provided. The polished teak furniture is all made from disused railway sleepers. All have patio doors leading onto either an open lawn or a balcony, and the aircon is very welcome in summer.

Looking for excitement? Skim the rapids on a raft, kayak on the Zambezi, bungee-jump from the Victoria Falls bridge (it's an 111-metre plunge to the river!), swim in the "Devil’s Pool" (a small rock pool right on the edge of the falls) or view the splendour from above in a light aircraft. Prefer less-frantic adventures? Explore the national parks, cruise on the river (lovely at sunset) or take a heritage rail trip. Activities can be arranged at the lodge.