Top 10 Best Zimbabwe Luxury Safari Camps & Lodges

By Anthony Ham

Welcome to Zimbabwe, one of southern Africa’s most underrated safari destinations. You’re in for a real treat when it comes to the country’s wildlife, landscapes and people. When considering where to stay in Zimbabwe, your choices are similarly outstanding, and include lodges and tented camps. What follows here is our selection of the top 10 Zimbabwe luxury safari lodges and camps.

The accommodations below are not ranked in a specific quality order.

231 Zimbabwe Safaris

1. Shearwater Explorers Village, Victoria Falls

Shearwater Explorers Village

Quiet luxury is the theme at this laid-back Victoria Falls place. Fall asleep and wake to the sound of the nearby falls at Shearwater Explorers Village. It’s a constant reminder of just how close you are to this incredible attraction. There's a good range of accommodation, and while you're here there are many ways to relax, from the swimming pool to the restaurant and bar. You can even go shopping in the gift shop.

28 Shearwater Explorers Tours

2. Bayete Guest Lodge, Victoria Falls

Bayete Guest Lodge

Here’s another excellent choice close to Zimbabwe’s number one tourist attraction. Tucked away on a quiet street in a quiet corner of busy Victoria Falls town, Bayete Guest Lodge is a delightful place to stay. The classy rooms are set across the pretty tree-filled grounds, and there's a swimming pool, as well as a lounge and dining area. Friendly, professional service and a location near Victoria Falls are part of the experience.

20 Bayete Tours

3. Ilala Lodge Hotel, Victoria Falls

Ilala Lodge Hotel

The rooms at Ilala Lodge Hotel come in different shapes and sizes, but luxury, style and sophistication are recurring themes. The location is outstanding: the hotel is among the closest to Victoria Falls and you can hear the waters, known locally as ‘the Smoke That Thunders’, from the hotel grounds. The excellent facilities include swimming pools, bars and restaurants. The trees and lawns help to keep things cool.

13 Ilala Tours

4. Batonka Guest Lodge, Victoria Falls

Batonka Guest Lodge

Set amid beautiful green grounds in the town, not far from Victoria Falls, Batonka Guest Lodge is one of the best places to stay in Zimbabwe. Delightful rooms, attentive service, a swimming pool, a restaurant and bar, and expansive lawns with plenty of shade all help make this feel like an exclusive oasis in one of the busiest tourist towns in southern Africa.

Batonka Tours

5. Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge is a wonderful base for exploring Victoria Falls. The lodge comes with an incredible range of accommodation and occupies beautiful grounds overlooking the Zambezi River. The views from some of the rooms stretch to the far horizon, while other rooms face a waterhole that draws lots of elephants and other wildlife. There's a rock-lined swimming pool, as well as a bar and restaurant. You may never want to leave.

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge Tours

6. The Hide, Hwange NP

The Hide

Right next to some of the best wildlife country that Hwange National Park has to offer, The Hide ranks among the best Zimbabwe safari lodges. Here you can expect large, luxe safari tents, some of which have semi-outdoor bathtubs. The famous lions of Hwange NP are never far away. You'll sometimes see and hear lions (and other wildlife) close to camp, which also has a dining tent, swimming pool, lounge area and excellent service.

The Hide Tours

7. Somalisa Camp, Hwange NP

Somalisa Camp

You're wonderfully well positioned for exploring some of Zimbabwe’s most spectacular wildlife country when you stay at Somalisa Camp. The camp is in the heart of Hwange's famous lion country, and there's lots of other wildlife to see as well. It has spacious, stunning safari tents with good views over the surrounding plains, as well as a swimming pool, and a dining and lounge area. Service here is also excellent.

Somalisa Tours

8. Kanga Camp, Mana Pools NP

Kanga Camp

There's no finer place for you to stay in Mana Pools National Park than Kanga Camp. In fact, it’s one of the best places to stay in Zimbabwe. This stunning tented camp has dining and lounge areas (as well as some safari tents) that overlook a waterhole that’s popular with elephants; you really do have a front-row seat here. There's a splash pool, and the charming tents have lovely outdoor bathrooms and wood floors.

Kanga Camp Tours

9. Changa Safari Camp, Matusadona NP

Changa Safari Camp

Stay by the shores of Lake Kariba inside Matusadona National Park at Changa Safari Camp. It's a fabulous place to stay and one of the best luxury Zimbabwe safari camps in the country’s north, both in terms of the location and the camp itself. Stylish and spacious safari tents are part of the appeal, but you can also expect a gorgeous swimming pool, and lovely lounge and dining areas. The views are great and there is plenty of wildlife.

Changa Tours

10. Robins Camp, Hwange NP

Robins Camp

When you stay at Robins Camp, you're in a terrific spot for exploring some of the least-visited corners of Hwange NP. The camp has a range of accommodation (including lovely rooms) and good facilities. Among the latter are a bar, restaurant, swimming pool and tranquil green grounds. The camp is also the starting point for many wildlife-filled safari trails. The location is excellent, with lots of safari trails fanning out into the park from the camp perimeter.

Robins Camp Tours