The Wallow Lodge
Highlights
- Sixteen elevated canvas suites along the Masuwe River, each with a private balcony
- River and plains game from your own deck, plus morning and afternoon drives on the 4,500-acre Wild Horizons Wildlife Sanctuary
- Views of the Mosi-oa-Tunya spray plume and towards the Batoka Gorge
- Indoor and outdoor showers in every suite
- Infinity pool and sunken firepit on the main deck above the river
- Guided tour of Victoria Falls and Batoka Gorge sundowners included in the rate
- Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust on the same property, visit included
- Solar-powered, plastic-free camp run by Wild Horizons
Information
- Lodge type: Tented safari lodge
- Location: Wild Horizons Wildlife Sanctuary, Victoria Falls National Park, Zimbabwe
- Lodge size: 16 tented suites (maximum 32 guests)
- Recommended stay: 2-5 nights
- Malaria risk: Yes — Victoria Falls is a malaria area; risk peaks in the November–April rains and prophylaxis is advised year-round
- Getting there: 20-minute road transfer from Victoria Falls town; Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) is the gateway, with scheduled flights from Johannesburg
Escape To Luxury: Discover The Wallow Lodge At Victoria Falls
The Wallow Lodge is a 16-suite tented camp run by Wild Horizons on the Masuwe River. It sits in the Wild Horizons Wildlife Sanctuary, a 4,500-acre private concession within Victoria Falls National Park, just a 20-minute transfer from Victoria Falls town. From the main deck, the spray of Mosi-oa-Tunya hangs above the treeline on the horizon. It is a constant reminder that one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa is almost next door.
The Wallow Lodge solves the classic Victoria Falls dilemma superbly: bush or town. Guests sleep to the sounds of a genuine wilderness, then are at the rainforest walkway, the Zambezi or the Batoka Gorge in well under half an hour. Few lodges in Zimbabwe give you both worlds with so little time lost on the road.
The Wallow Lodge's main area is open-plan and faces the Masuwe River across an expansive deck. The decor is earthy and sophisticated, lifted by bold splashes of colour and local textiles. The camp is small enough that the staff learn your name and your drink by the second evening, and the service has that warm, unhurried Zimbabwean polish that makes the country's lodges such a pleasure.
Rooms And Suites
The Wallow Lodge has sixteen canvas tented suites, each sleeping two, raised on decks beneath a canopy of old riverine trees along the Masuwe River. Every suite has a private balcony facing the river, so the game viewing starts before you have left the room.
Each suite at The Wallow Lodge includes:
- an en-suite bedroom with mosquito nets
- air-conditioning and twin fans
- a cosy lounge area and a tea and coffee station
- indoor and outdoor showers
- a room safe, hairdryer and toiletries
The canvas keeps the romance of an old-style safari camp; the plumbing and climate control are entirely modern.
Cuisine And Wine
The Wallow Lodge serves regional cooking built on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, blending traditional Zimbabwean recipes with contemporary technique. A small, talented kitchen team runs the menu, which moves between local and international dishes across the stay.
The Wallow Lodge's wine list is well chosen and broad enough to satisfy a discerning palate. Local-brand drinks are included in the rate; premium brands are charged separately.
Facilities
The Wallow Lodge's main area centres on an expansive deck overlooking the Masuwe River. That deck holds the camp's two finest features: an infinity pool and a sunken firepit that comes into its own at sunset.
- Lounge and dining area with panoramic river views
- Fully stocked bar
- Curio shop and library
- Free Wi-Fi in the main areas
- Infinity pool and sunken firepit
The Wallow Lodge runs on solar power, purifies its own water on site and keeps a no-plastic, no-straw policy. It is a light footprint for a camp this comfortable.
Activities
The Wallow Lodge includes a full programme in its rate:
- morning and afternoon game drives on the Wild Horizons Wildlife Sanctuary
- a guided tour of Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side
- a visit to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust
- cocktails and canapés at the Batoka Gorge
- a village tour
The Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust sits in the same sanctuary as The Wallow Lodge. It is a non-profit working on conservation education, community empowerment and the rescue and rehabilitation of keystone species, and it is a fascinating hour for anyone curious about the work behind the wildlife.
The Wallow Lodge's guided Falls tour excludes the rainforest entry fee, which is payable on the day. Victoria Falls' famous adrenaline and river activities can all be added from the lodge:
- sunset cruises on the Zambezi
- bungee jumping, gorge swinging and zip-lining
- nature walks and river safaris
The Wallow Lodge: Frequently Asked Questions
Where is The Wallow Lodge in Victoria Falls?
The Wallow Lodge is a Wild Horizons tented camp on the Masuwe River, inside the Wild Horizons Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is a 4,500-acre private concession within Victoria Falls National Park in Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls town is a 20-minute road transfer away, and the spray of Mosi-oa-Tunya is visible on the horizon from the lodge deck. Guests get a genuine bush setting with the Falls and the town's activities close at hand.
What are the rooms like at The Wallow Lodge?
The Wallow Lodge has 16 canvas tented suites, each for two guests, so the camp holds a maximum of 32. The suites are raised on decks beneath riverine trees along the Masuwe River. Each has a private river-facing balcony, an en-suite bedroom, air-conditioning and fans, a lounge area, a tea and coffee station, and both indoor and outdoor showers.
Is The Wallow Lodge in a malaria area?
Yes. The Wallow Lodge is near Victoria Falls, which is a malaria area in Zimbabwe. The risk is highest during the November to April rainy season, but antimalarial prophylaxis is advised year-round. Suites are fitted with mosquito nets. Travellers should consult a doctor or travel clinic about the right medication before departure, and cover up with repellent at dusk.
Can children stay at The Wallow Lodge?
The Wallow Lodge welcomes children aged 7 and over, and children aged 7 to 16 are charged at a reduced rate. The Wallow Lodge is unfenced and sits in a wilderness area, so children under 16 should not occupy a suite without an adult or an older sibling. With only 16 suites, the lodge suits families and small groups travelling together.
What is included in a stay at The Wallow Lodge?
A stay at The Wallow Lodge includes:
- accommodation, all meals and local-brand drinks
- laundry and emergency medical evacuation cover
- game drives on the Wild Horizons Wildlife Sanctuary
- a guided tour of Victoria Falls
- a Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust visit
- Batoka Gorge cocktails and a village tour
Flights, premium drinks, gratuities, travel insurance, the conservation levy and the rainforest entry fee are extra.
How many nights should I spend at The Wallow Lodge?
Two to three nights at The Wallow Lodge covers the included programme comfortably: game drives, the guided Falls tour, the Wildlife Trust and Batoka Gorge sundowners. A third night leaves room for a Zambezi cruise or the gorge activities. Most guests then continue to Hwange National Park or Botswana's Chobe for a deeper big-game safari.
In Conclusion
The Wallow Lodge is the answer for travellers who want Victoria Falls without sleeping in town. Its sixteen canvas suites on the Masuwe River, inside a 4,500-acre private concession, give you game drives, firepit evenings and a wilderness night soundtrack. The rainforest walkway, the Zambezi and the Batoka Gorge are still only 20 minutes away. With the Falls tour, the gorge sundowners and the Wildlife Trust all in the rate, it is also one of the best-value ways to see the Smoke that Thunders properly.
The Wallow Lodge suits different travellers at different times of year:
- February to May: the Falls are at their most thunderous, with drenching spray.
- June to August: cooler, drier days, with clearer views of the Falls and easier game viewing in the sanctuary.
- September to December: the lowest water shows the gorge's bare rock architecture, and heat draws game to the Masuwe.
The best way to book The Wallow Lodge is as part of a wider journey. Two or three nights here pair superbly with Hwange's elephant herds or Botswana's Chobe River, and with a Cape Town or Johannesburg start. Uyaphi.com has been designing tailor-made African safaris since 1999, and 27 years of routing clients through Victoria Falls means we know which transfers, flight times and lodge combinations actually work on the ground. We are owner-run, with no booking fees and no credit card surcharges. Tell us your dates and your wish list, and we will build your Wallow Lodge stay into the safari around it.
Rates form part of a safari itinerary
The Wallow Lodge Rates
Per person per night sharing
Rates are in US Dollar
*Rates may vary according to season
- Accommodation
- All meals
- Local brand drinks
- Return transfers from Victoria Falls Airport to Victoria Falls town
- Laundry (No dry-cleaning or special care items)
- Emergency Medical Evacuation cover
- 2% Tourism levy
- VAT on accommodation, meals and drinks
- Visit the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust
- Cocktails & Canapés at the Batoka Gorge
- Game drive on the Wild Horizons Wildlife sanctuary Village Tour
- Guided Tour of the Falls Zimbabwe (Excluding Entry Fees)
- All Flights
- Premium brand drinks – extra, payable direct
- Gratuities
- Curios
- All items of a personal nature
- Rainforest Entry Fee
- Conservation Levy
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
Book This Zimbabwe Lodge Now
Zimbabwe Travel Topics
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Most honeymoons are an exercise in doing very little at considerable expense, and there is a great deal to be said for that. Zimbabwe simply arranges better company for it. Elephants come down to drink below the deck while you are still on your first coffee; the guide turns out to know which lion crossed the airstrip in the night; dinner happens on a Zambezi deck while the light goes orange and then goes altogether. Nobody puts Zimbabwe at the top of the shortlist — Kenya and the Cape get there first — which is precisely why the lodges are quieter and the guiding is better than it needs to be.
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