Reviews of Ilala Lodge
Wildlife sightings and reviews
259 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Ilala Lodge and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
Wildlife sightings by our travellers
Starting in Jul-2019, 46 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Ilala Lodge.
Leopard
0% success
Elephant
54% success
Buffalo
18% success
Zebra
18% success
Ts
Gloucestershire
"Ilala Lodge review"
2 nights Arrived 17 Jan 2019
"We had a lovely stay at Ilala lodge - the perfect end to our honeymoon!
We were upgraded to a suite which was very special and we were treated very well. Staff were very courteous and helpful.
We went on a breakfast cruise which was brilliant and our guides were excellent.
The lodge was well-positioned to visit the falls, but was also a lovely place to spend some time relaxing." See all these reviews: 10n in Namibia; 2n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
We were upgraded to a suite which was very special and we were treated very well. Staff were very courteous and helpful.
We went on a breakfast cruise which was brilliant and our guides were excellent.
The lodge was well-positioned to visit the falls, but was also a lovely place to spend some time relaxing." See all these reviews: 10n in Namibia; 2n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mrs F.
London
"Ilala Lodge stopover "
1 night Arrived 14 Jan 2019
"It is beautifully designed and the room was very attractive with old railway sleepers used as shelves. The dining area looked out over the garden with lovely trees shading the terrace.
I really liked it and would have liked to have stayed longer. Well positioned for the town and Falls.
It had very good internet connections so I spent the short time I was there trying to catch up writing my blog." See all these reviews: 8n in Zimbabwe; 6n in Zambia
I really liked it and would have liked to have stayed longer. Well positioned for the town and Falls.
It had very good internet connections so I spent the short time I was there trying to catch up writing my blog." See all these reviews: 8n in Zimbabwe; 6n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
C & C
London
"Ilala Lodge Review"
2 nights Arrived 20 Dec 2018
"We enjoyed our stay enormously; the lodge was very comfortable, the restaurant was excellent and it was near to the Falls and the markets."
See all these reviews: 7n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Mrs C.
cyprus
"Ilala Lodge review"
2 nights Arrived 26 Oct 2018
"Excellent location for the Falls and the town, superb food, helpful staff.
The adjacent market can be very loud especially at night which was a problem for 1 of our 2 nights but is beyond the control of the hotel." See all these reviews: 2n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
The adjacent market can be very loud especially at night which was a problem for 1 of our 2 nights but is beyond the control of the hotel." See all these reviews: 2n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Pat
Robin Hoods Bay
"Fabulous place"
3 nights Arrived 24 Oct 2018
"Very cheerful and helpful staff"
See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia; 3n in Zimbabwe; 2n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Mr C & Mr K
Oxon
"Ilala Lodge review"
2 nights Arrived 13 Oct 2018
"Very good location right in the centre of Vic Falls. Food was excellent (had B,L,D) and the air-conditioned rooms were spacious and comfortable with a very good shower.
Pleasant garden and nice swimming pool." See all these reviews: 15n in Zimbabwe; 2n in Kenya
Pleasant garden and nice swimming pool." See all these reviews: 15n in Zimbabwe; 2n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Simon&Carmelo
Italy
"Traditional Lodge in a good location"
3 nights Arrived 5 Oct 2018
"Overall here we enjoyed our stay here. It is a comfortable and conveniently situated lodge close to the falls. This was great as we were able to walk to visit the falls before breakfast (6am)on the morning of our departure as our planned stay originally 3 nights was curtailed to 2 nights due to an incoming flight cancellation. Our ground agents managed to rearrange all our planned activities whilst we were there but the hotel reception did not have the message which was left for me regarding this nor did they have a record of a message I personally left with reservations/reception at the hotel when i heard that our flight was cancelled and I rang to call to say we hoped to arrive the following day. In fact I would advise if you have trips planned/booked but not with the hotel to make yourself known at reception or with the concierge that you are waiting to be picked up otherwise you can be missed sometimes in the confusion of reception.
At the Palm restuarant we enjoyed two good evening meals. The Raikane sunset cruise was great and staff on this very nice.
Activities we had arranged prior to our arrival were a helicopter trip over the falls.(the shorter of the two) which was a great way to get to see the whole falls and a trip into Zambia to Devils pool.Here you swim to a pool on the edge of the falls and then have a good lunch. The whole experience was great. Great pictures taken by the guide on our camera(he has a head for heights) and we enjoyed a really good lunch after on Livingstone island.I would recommend this to really experience the falls up close. Also visiting the falls by foot early meant we had them to ourselves great for photos." See all these reviews: 5n in Botswana; 3n in Zimbabwe
At the Palm restuarant we enjoyed two good evening meals. The Raikane sunset cruise was great and staff on this very nice.
Activities we had arranged prior to our arrival were a helicopter trip over the falls.(the shorter of the two) which was a great way to get to see the whole falls and a trip into Zambia to Devils pool.Here you swim to a pool on the edge of the falls and then have a good lunch. The whole experience was great. Great pictures taken by the guide on our camera(he has a head for heights) and we enjoyed a really good lunch after on Livingstone island.I would recommend this to really experience the falls up close. Also visiting the falls by foot early meant we had them to ourselves great for photos." See all these reviews: 5n in Botswana; 3n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs S
Hampshire
"Ilala Lodge review"
2 nights Arrived 23 Sep 2018
"We've stayed once before and loved it just as much this time.
In our view, this is the best hotel in Victoria Falls. Staff couldn't have been more helpful, and the food is very good. Thanks to all.
Ask them to contact Chris Worden to come and give his David Livingstone talk - it was fantastic." See all these reviews: 5n in Botswana; 4n in Namibia; 2n in Zimbabwe
In our view, this is the best hotel in Victoria Falls. Staff couldn't have been more helpful, and the food is very good. Thanks to all.
Ask them to contact Chris Worden to come and give his David Livingstone talk - it was fantastic." See all these reviews: 5n in Botswana; 4n in Namibia; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Average
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr M.
Ramsgate
"First stay of our trip at Ilala Lodge"
2 nights Arrived 9 Sep 2018
"We really enjoyed our stay at Ilala. The location was really convenient and we were able to walk to the Falls easily. The gardens are lovely and very well tended. Our room was spacious and well maintained with a lovelybathroom and a balcony overlooking the lawns and the family group of small antelope (Sitatunga).
Eating outside was great with a visit by elephants at dinner, although eating after dark on the terrace was difficult due to not enough light, but the next night there was no problem with moving us indoors even thought they were very busy. The menu was good too and we struggled to choose. Breakfast was lovely too and eating that outside was a lovely treat.
Most of the staff were really helpful and even if service at the bar was a little slow sometimes it was made up for by the good humour of the team.
While we were there we took a canoeing trip on the Zambezi run by Wild Horizons. This was excellent and a real high-light of the whole holiday. The guides were very professional and helpful, letting us go in separate canoes with a guide each as neither of us were used to canoeing. They were very safety conscious, especially of the presence of hippos and made sure we kept a safe distance. During the rough bits (exhilarating for us but not proper rapids) the guides put our cameras away in special padded, waterproof boxes and brought them back out as soon as the rough water was past. We saw lots of wildlife, especially birds and the breakfast and lunch were good too." See all these reviews: 8n in Zimbabwe; 6n in Mozambique; 3n in South Africa
Eating outside was great with a visit by elephants at dinner, although eating after dark on the terrace was difficult due to not enough light, but the next night there was no problem with moving us indoors even thought they were very busy. The menu was good too and we struggled to choose. Breakfast was lovely too and eating that outside was a lovely treat.
Most of the staff were really helpful and even if service at the bar was a little slow sometimes it was made up for by the good humour of the team.
While we were there we took a canoeing trip on the Zambezi run by Wild Horizons. This was excellent and a real high-light of the whole holiday. The guides were very professional and helpful, letting us go in separate canoes with a guide each as neither of us were used to canoeing. They were very safety conscious, especially of the presence of hippos and made sure we kept a safe distance. During the rough bits (exhilarating for us but not proper rapids) the guides put our cameras away in special padded, waterproof boxes and brought them back out as soon as the rough water was past. We saw lots of wildlife, especially birds and the breakfast and lunch were good too." See all these reviews: 8n in Zimbabwe; 6n in Mozambique; 3n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs H
Lincs
"Ilala Lodge review"
1 night Arrived 4 Sep 2018
"llala lodge was very comfortable, the staff were amazing and the food was excellent.
Our only criticism was the noise from the helicopters flying over the falls all day." See all these reviews: 9n in Zimbabwe
Our only criticism was the noise from the helicopters flying over the falls all day." See all these reviews: 9n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
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