Reviews of Ilala Lodge
Wildlife sightings and reviews
272 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, 61 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Ilala Lodge.
Leopard
0% success
Hippo
75% success
Elephant
55% success
Buffalo
14% success
Zebra
14% success
Ms C
Montana
"Ilala Lodge review"
2 nights Arrived 22 Aug 2021
"Ilala Lodge was the perfect end to our trip. It's within walking distance of Victoria Falls, and has extensive grounds. From the raised dining terrace, we watched three elephants demolish a tree one evening. We knew they could damage trees, had heard them at it, but watching it happen was astonishing.
Victoria Falls was amazing. I am glad we decided to see the Falls from the Zimbabwe side. Running a gauntlet of vendors on the way to the Falls was only a minor annoyance.
Another wonderful birding spot, and a very relaxing and lovely place to end our trip." See all these reviews: 10n in Botswana; 8n in Namibia; 2n in Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls was amazing. I am glad we decided to see the Falls from the Zimbabwe side. Running a gauntlet of vendors on the way to the Falls was only a minor annoyance.
Another wonderful birding spot, and a very relaxing and lovely place to end our trip." See all these reviews: 10n in Botswana; 8n in Namibia; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report
DeGoler Clan
CA, USA
"Ilala Lodge review"
1 night Arrived 29 Jun 2021
"We really enjoyed this property.
We've stayed previously at the historic and grand Victoria Falls Hotel and while it was lovely, we much prefer Ilala's medium size and elegant yet relaxed dining, bar and pool areas. Plus it is even closer to the falls.
The location can't be beat and the food and service were also outstanding. We enjoyed seeing warthogs and monkeys on the property too." See all these reviews: 5n in Seychelles; 3n in Rwanda; 3n in Botswana; 1n in Zimbabwe
We've stayed previously at the historic and grand Victoria Falls Hotel and while it was lovely, we much prefer Ilala's medium size and elegant yet relaxed dining, bar and pool areas. Plus it is even closer to the falls.
The location can't be beat and the food and service were also outstanding. We enjoyed seeing warthogs and monkeys on the property too." See all these reviews: 5n in Seychelles; 3n in Rwanda; 3n in Botswana; 1n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Phil
Leyland
"Ilala Lodge Victoria Falls"
2 nights Arrived 4 Feb 2020
"Excellent place to stay, a short walk, if you want to Victoria Falls, or as I did had all my transfers and trips already booked, and Wild Horizons did a grand job for all of them. I wouldn't have dared attempt the border crossing from Zimbabwe to Zambia on my own !
The evening river cruise was a highlight as was the walk around the Falls, thanks to Soul and Robbie for their guidance and helpful information. Last but not least the helicopter flight over the falls was well worth the cost, views were awesome and wish I could have taken better pictures of the falls from above, but it was an experience not to be missed.
The food in the lodge was good, but didn't change, but I was only staying two nights so maybe the menu altered later in the week. The service was excellent and efficient throughout the lodge, and I would gladly stay there again.
I stayed in the older part of the lodge, and it was interesting to see some the wildlife from my room, the warthogs were especially funny to see running away when the thunderstorm started !
Thanks to Tracy for organizing this element of my trip and I hope to visit again in the near future." See all these reviews: 2n in Zimbabwe
The evening river cruise was a highlight as was the walk around the Falls, thanks to Soul and Robbie for their guidance and helpful information. Last but not least the helicopter flight over the falls was well worth the cost, views were awesome and wish I could have taken better pictures of the falls from above, but it was an experience not to be missed.
The food in the lodge was good, but didn't change, but I was only staying two nights so maybe the menu altered later in the week. The service was excellent and efficient throughout the lodge, and I would gladly stay there again.
I stayed in the older part of the lodge, and it was interesting to see some the wildlife from my room, the warthogs were especially funny to see running away when the thunderstorm started !
Thanks to Tracy for organizing this element of my trip and I hope to visit again in the near future." See all these reviews: 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Miss K.
Solihull
"Excellent with wonderful staff"
2 nights Arrived 7 Nov 2019
"This lodge was excellent.
The staff were so helpful. We had a deluxe room looking out on to the well kept grounds where we could watch the warthogs and various antelopes. Although the hotel is on the edge of the town it was very peaceful. The location was perfect - we could walk to the falls and also to the shops, bars and restaurants in town.
We went on the Ra Ikane river cruises and would recommend them too." See all these reviews: 5n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
The staff were so helpful. We had a deluxe room looking out on to the well kept grounds where we could watch the warthogs and various antelopes. Although the hotel is on the edge of the town it was very peaceful. The location was perfect - we could walk to the falls and also to the shops, bars and restaurants in town.
We went on the Ra Ikane river cruises and would recommend them too." See all these reviews: 5n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr R.
Malmesbury
"Ilala Lodge review"
2 nights Arrived 1 Nov 2019
"This was a lovely place to stay at Victoria Falls, very relaxing with a beautiful restaurant with great food, lovely staff, great swimming pool and ideal for a short walk (via the elephants!) to the Victoria Falls national park (less than 10 minutes) or into town (3 minutes).
We stayed in a standard room which was great and I would actually prefer over the deluxe rooms as these were a bit further from the main lodge (the standard rooms are under the main lodge on a lower floor). We had deer and warthogs grazing outside our balcony.
Would definitely go back." See all these reviews: 6n in Zimbabwe; 4n in Botswana
We stayed in a standard room which was great and I would actually prefer over the deluxe rooms as these were a bit further from the main lodge (the standard rooms are under the main lodge on a lower floor). We had deer and warthogs grazing outside our balcony.
Would definitely go back." See all these reviews: 6n in Zimbabwe; 4n in Botswana
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report
Wiljo
Norfolk
"Ilala Lodge review"
3 nights Arrived 3 Oct 2019
"As claimed, Ilala was indeed the nearest accommodation to the Victoria Falls Rainforest Park, making it an ideal location for viewing the Falls themselves and accessing the Bridge.
Both of these activities we undertook unguided but supervised activities could easily have been arranged by the Lodge, if wanted. Ilala was also very convenient for the facilities in town, although we found the street vendors to be too attentive to permit us to venture far! Despite this, within the confines of the Lodge, the ambience was peaceful, the staff welcoming and helpful and the facilities (including swimming pool) and catering excellent.
We did book a helicopter viewing of the Falls and a Zambezi sunset cruise through the Lodge, both of which are highly recommended and provided additional perspectives of the natural phenomena." See all these reviews: 16n in Botswana; 10n in Zimbabwe
Both of these activities we undertook unguided but supervised activities could easily have been arranged by the Lodge, if wanted. Ilala was also very convenient for the facilities in town, although we found the street vendors to be too attentive to permit us to venture far! Despite this, within the confines of the Lodge, the ambience was peaceful, the staff welcoming and helpful and the facilities (including swimming pool) and catering excellent.
We did book a helicopter viewing of the Falls and a Zambezi sunset cruise through the Lodge, both of which are highly recommended and provided additional perspectives of the natural phenomena." See all these reviews: 16n in Botswana; 10n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report
Mr L
Leicestershire
"Very nice"
2 nights Arrived 30 Sep 2019
"Great stay here everything was top notch."
See all these reviews: 22n in Namibia; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report
Mr & Mrs F
Hants
"Wonderful stay near the falls. "
2 nights Arrived 9 Sep 2019
"This hotel is in a perfect position, within easy walking distance of the falls and the main shopping area.
This hotel offers comfort and style.
A worthwhile additional experience if time allows, is the sunset evening cruise which is highly recommended." See all these reviews: 8n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
This hotel offers comfort and style.
A worthwhile additional experience if time allows, is the sunset evening cruise which is highly recommended." See all these reviews: 8n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report
Mr & Mrs J,
Edinburgh
"Comfortable stay"
3 nights Arrived 4 Sep 2019
"Wonderful location and a very comfortable visit. The hotel is very well placed for visiting the falls and exploring the town. The service staff were also very friendly.
Unfortunately, our experience and memories of our visit were spoilt a little at checkout when several bar bills were included in our bill, but were clearly not ours (different handwriting and names given on the bills). It didn't come to very much (about $15) but the responsible waiter was called and accused us of having the drinks, which really cheapened our experience.
Seems like all the hotel really cares about is money (we had actually been quite generous in our spending anyway, so the $15 was really peanuts to them). They need to tighten up their payment systems and think a little more about the lasting impression they make on their guests. For this reason we probably would not stay with them again, which is a shame." See all these reviews: 11n in Zimbabwe; 3n in Botswana
Unfortunately, our experience and memories of our visit were spoilt a little at checkout when several bar bills were included in our bill, but were clearly not ours (different handwriting and names given on the bills). It didn't come to very much (about $15) but the responsible waiter was called and accused us of having the drinks, which really cheapened our experience.
Seems like all the hotel really cares about is money (we had actually been quite generous in our spending anyway, so the $15 was really peanuts to them). They need to tighten up their payment systems and think a little more about the lasting impression they make on their guests. For this reason we probably would not stay with them again, which is a shame." See all these reviews: 11n in Zimbabwe; 3n in Botswana
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Average
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Feedback Response
Following these comments on the billing situation at Ilala the management extended their sincerest apologies. There was a mix-up over the room numbers of other guests who were at the bar at the same time. The team assure us that they are working on a solution to ensure this doesn't happen again in the future.
Sightings Report
Mrs B - family
UK
"Good stay at Ilala Lodge"
2 nights Arrived 31 Jul 2019
"The lodge was about a 10 to 15 minutes walk from the entrance to the Victoria Falls.
We walked around ourselves - an organised trip was not necessary. Probably the afternoon light is better for photographing the falls. We arrived about 9 AM by which time the sun was often in our eyes.
We were very happy with this lodge as a base for visiting the Falls - it was a good place to relax after our busy trip.." See all these reviews: 17n in Namibia; 2n in Zimbabwe
We walked around ourselves - an organised trip was not necessary. Probably the afternoon light is better for photographing the falls. We arrived about 9 AM by which time the sun was often in our eyes.
We were very happy with this lodge as a base for visiting the Falls - it was a good place to relax after our busy trip.." See all these reviews: 17n in Namibia; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
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