Kotter

Has anyone stayed at this lodge which is the Zimbabwe side of Vic Falls? I am considering staying here for a couple of nights on a B & B basis and then on to Makalolo. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

atravelynn

Yes, I have stayed there twice. Very pleasant, comfortable.

Nice location for walking to the falls.

It's probably where I'd stay on a return trip.

ddgattina

I second atravelynn's assessment. Perfect place to stay if you need a nice place to stay in Vic Falls but don't need another "experience (either colonial or wildlife) after your other safari camps. I would also stay there again.

jcasale

I third the recommendation. We stayed there in June and I absolutely loved it. The staff was great, the view was wonderful, the rooms were comfortable, and you can't beat the location. If you get a chance, walk across the railroad tracks and go to Mama Africa for dinner one night. They have wonderful food and live music. I had heard about it on from another fodorite and was not disappointed. Just make sure that you have plenty of hard currency with you (US, Euro, Rand, etc.) since most places will not take credit cards. The hotel will and you can charge meals to your room, but other places will not. Also have small bills for tips.

By the way, imho the Zimbabwe side is THE best side to see the falls. So much of the falls in in Zimbabwe that if you were to stay in Zambia you would have to cross over anyway. Much better to stay right there.

Another suggestion - when you go to the falls, make sure you have a rain jacket or prepare to get wet (like we did!). The mist from them is amazing.

Enjoy your trip!

luangwablondes

If you are trying to save money, stay at the Sprayview Hotel. It is a bit further past the Ilala from the falls.

atravelynn

jcasale,

Thanks for the Zim/Zam comparison. Not that many people stay on both sides to make one.

I've only been on Zimbabwe side but was highly impressed. I also enjoyed the wildlife that roamed freely in the areas surrounding the falls--vervets, baboons, bushbuck, and very relaxed banded mongoose. I had an equal number of falls and wildlife pictures.

Jcasale (or others), can you comment on the wildlife one is likely to encounter while walking around on the Zambian side of the falls?

suzic

I stayed at Ilala lodge about 9 days ago. It was very nice, the laundcry service was greatly appreciated. You are close to the falls, and the "craft market" is behind the hotel- VERY VERY aggressive salesmen!!! The hotel was clean and quite comfortable. They don't use Zim dollars, and you shouldn't use the ATM's. Also in the "shopping center there is a young man who does pencil artwork of the wildlife that was just exquisite- but he needs 3 days to complete a piece. I got his email addy- maybe I will try it that way as we didn't stay long enough for him to do art for me!! I would stay at Ilala again- just watch out for the baboons coming into your room- my sister and I had a big male come right in to visit! I threw things at him until he left! Hotel staff said that they wouldn't try that with a male human in the room- just women-Now they tell us!!! We had a great laugh at this (after we had chased him out and locked the glass door!) LOL

jasher

Hello,

Was noise from the casino at Ilala an issue? I liked what I've read about it, and it seems to get good reviews, but the casino is a bit of a concern, both in terms of noise and having a lot of people passing through which could be a bit disturbing.

Cheers,
Julian

afrigalah

I don't think casino noise would be a problem. I've stayed at a few places in Vic Falls, including Ilala, the Zimbabwe Sun (I think that's what it was called) and its replacement, the Kingdom. They were all fine, but my favourite is the A'Zambezi, a few Ks out of town. I hope it's still there Only three-star, but clean, well-maintained, with nice grounds and good service, food and drink, and best of all, right on the river. You could have a barbecue-style breakfast or dinner in the open air. Sundowner cruises started right at the back door. A shuttle bus trip got you into town quite quickly, if you were that desperate. And a short trip in the opposite direction was the entrance to Zambezi NP.

suzic

Jasher, there is no casino at Ilala, there is one across the street, but we never heard a thing from it!! It was wonderfully quiet! The baboons were quite close, and we had to chase a big male out of our room one morning! We were told that they would come intot ht room if you left the door open,a nd left the room, but this brazen bloke came tight in and was ready to make himself quite at home! My sister yelled, and I threw things at him until he left! The hotel staff said that they won't come into the rooms if there is a male present, but it was just my sister and I, we laughed quite hard (once he got out and we closed the doors again!)

Kotter

Thanks for all your replies - you guys are a wealth of information and make planning a trip soooo much easier

lessthanzero

I'm cosndiering stayng there as well. Could you ocmment on the rate you were paying?

LTZ

lessthanzero

oops. typed too fast. sorry for the typos.