(a coffeeTourist Travel Tale) The A‘Zambezi is a laid-back river lodge on the banks of the Zambezi River, a few kilometres from the Victoria Falls. It is easily reached by tarmac road and falls within the Victoria Falls district’s confines. The distance from the lodge to the airport is roughly 25km and the town centre is a mere 4km away.
The lodge was built in 1973 and has since flourished as a popular holiday destination. A‘Zambezi offers many child-friendly activities and is superb for families with young children. On-site facilities include table tennis, darts, boats for hire and a children’s playground. They also have a large swimming pool with children’s pool to cool off in after a hot day. The hotel’s close proximity to the nearby activities makes it the ideal value-for-money destination and perfect for a memorable fun-filled getaway.
The lodge is located next to the Zambezi National Park and it’s possible to spot some hippos, crocodiles or game coming in for a drink from the rooms. And if you’d like to see even more of these beasts, the nearby crocodile farm and various game parks offer good close-up views.
The lodge operates a courtesy bus running to town and back every hour, with various drop-off points within walking distance of the gate to the falls. This is great if you plan on doing a bit of curio shopping or simply wish to spend your morning at the magnificent Victoria Falls and surrounding rain forest (make sure to pack a good-quality poncho though – as it can get extremely wet).
Rooms & Facilities at A‘Zambezi
The lodge rooms are spacious and really comfortable. The emphasis is on making guests feel at home – and it shows. Many of the rooms provide good views over the river, and offer air-conditioned comfort with a wide variety of room types and even two suites for extra space and ease.
A great plus point is the many nearby facilities and tons of activities to take part in. Of these the adrenalin ones stand out – white water rafting, bungee jumping, gorge swinging and abseiling, while the more relaxed ones include elephant back safaris, game watching, river cruises and nature trails.
A‘Zambezi is an informal family-friendly hotel with an ethnic feel to it. The atmosphere is welcoming and the service friendly. If you’re after a good-value-for-money get-away, close to the action – this is the place for you.
Dinning at A‘Zambezi
There are a couple of dining venues at A‘Zambezi. Firstly, there’s the Amulonga Restaurant, a thatched building that offers a good fusion of ethnic and classic dishes. Amulonga means ‘by the river’ and, as it overlooks the mighty Zambezi, suits this open-air restaurant perfectly. Meals are served either from the buffet table or from a la carte menus and are enjoyed al fresco. They also offer light meals and snacks during the course of the day.
The second, the Kuzhe, offers great bush dinners under the stars with the sound of the African night in the background. In the evenings their meals are accompanied by an interesting traditional song and dance performance.
Sunset Cruises from at A‘Zambezi
The hotel also offers sunset cruises on the Zambezi that include a light meal. A‘Zambezi has three bars – the Safari poolside bar, the Cocktail Bar and the Zambezi Bar that offer a good selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to refresh you after an exciting day in the Vic Falls surrounds.
