Travel reviews by Family B from New York

"Wonderful grounds with view of the fall, wonderful attentive staff, amazingly good food.

We stayed our first and last nights at the lodge, the second time we asked for a second floor room and we liked the terrace much better than the ground floor patio. Saw elephant and warthogs right from our room. Victoria Falls area right around hotel not the nicest."

"The very private location of the lodge right on the beautiful Zambezi river coupled with the friendly and attentive owner and staff made us wish we had stayed more than two nights. Staying at the cottage provided us with much-needed time to catch up with our daughter who is living in Botswana for two years. The house staff and chef were wonderful, and our boat guide Victor was so knowledgeable about the area and its amazing wildlife. Gail, one of the owners, oversees everything while respecting guest privacy, and was so helpful in helping us to plan a day trip into Livingstone and Victoria Falls.

Overall, this lodge experience checked every box we had and we recommend it without reservation to anyone who wants a quality but authentic stay in beautiful Zambia. Expert Africa should consider recommending it often!"

"The lodge was so remote and beautiful, despite the drought they are experiencing.

It was sad to see that the lagoon out front was completely dry and that the hippos there had moved elsewhere. Thanks heavens that Maruska advised us to stay at least two nights as the drive in was rough and very long!

We saw a lioness cross our path right on our way to the camp! We had to travel a good distance to the water to see wildlife while on safari, but once there saw elephants and hippos as well as zebras and many others. Beautiful birds everywhere.

I suppose some people would not like the remoteness of the lodge, but those who seek it will be rewarded."

"We stayed here just one night en route.

Very nice chalets, beautiful terrace and lodge and very good food. Very comfortable beds.

The river was dry while we were there and we didn't have time for acrivirpties, but it was very nice."

"Beautiful delta safari, we loved our experience and our guides Daniel and Gomms were terrific and very personable.

We really enjoyed having them join us for dinner to get to know them. We had amazing sightings of a lioness and lion cub, cheetah, leopard and many elephants, giraffes and other wildlife.

Gathering in the morning around a fire and at night at the dinner table, meeting people from all over the world, hearing the animals all around and in camo....amazing memories."

"Quirky place, very quiet when we were there.

The rooms were actually better than we expected from the pictures and reviews. The food was not that good, not very many choices. We went on the excursion to see the meerkats with quad biking, which we thought was overpriced and were disappointed to learn that the four of us had to share two quad bikes.

Our guide was quiet but nice. The meerkats were fascinating!"

"We spent one night on arrival and our last night at Illala and it was a lovely, no fuss place to stay. Great view of the mist from the falls, and the lodge borders the park so we saw warthogs and an elephant right on property.

The rooms were a bit dated, and we asked for a second floor room with a terrace on our second night which we found much better than ground floor. Amazing staff and food!!!"