Chundukwa River Lodge

Highlights

• Horse riding for every level from the lodge's own stables
• Chundu Cottage, a private family house with its own pool
• Small and intimate – five chalets and one cottage
• Open-fronted chalets facing the Zambezi
• White rhino walks in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
• Owner-run by Doug and Gail
• Farm-to-fork meals from the garden and neighbouring farms
• Bottomless cookie jars :)
• Riverine birdlife from the deck
• Rock plunge pool overlooking the river

Information

• Lodge type; Safari Lodge
• Location; Livingstone, Zambia
• Lodge size; 5 Chalets and 1 Cottage
• Recommended stay; 2-5 nights
• Malaria risk; Yes – Livingstone and the Zambezi Valley are a malaria area, so take prophylaxis
• Getting there; About 25 km from Livingstone town (around 30 minutes' drive) and about 35 minutes by road from Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport, Livingstone. No light-aircraft leg is needed – scheduled flights land at Livingstone

A Classic Zambezi River Lodge, Chundukwa Offers A Luxury Riverfront Experience

Chundukwa River Lodge is an owner-run boutique lodge on the Zambian bank of the Zambezi River, 25 km upstream of Victoria Falls and roughly 30 minutes' drive from Livingstone. Five thatched river chalets and the private Chundu Cottage make up the whole lodge, so it feels far more like a private riverside home than a Falls hotel – and that is exactly its charm.

Horses are the heart of the place. Owners Doug and Gail run Chundukwa as a working horse ranch, and Doug's stable of thoroughbreds, many of them rehabilitated by him personally, takes riders of every level out along the riverbank. Add farm-to-fork cooking, warm and personal service, and the famous bottomless cookie jars, and the place feels like a family farm that happens to sit on the Zambezi.

Beyond the stables, the best of Livingstone is close at hand: Victoria Falls, Devil's Pool, scenic flights, white rhino walks and day trips to Botswana's Chobe National Park are all arranged by the lodge. Chundukwa sits far enough upstream to escape the Falls traffic, yet close enough for an easy day at the Falls themselves.

Rooms and Suites

Chundukwa River Lodge has five open-fronted thatched chalets – Bee-eater, Honeyguide, Francolin, Jacana and Kingfisher – each facing the Zambezi from its own private viewing deck. Every chalet has twin or king beds, an en-suite bathroom and the kind of comforts that matter on the river:

• Full-size mosquito nets and ceiling fans
• Electric blankets for the cool winter nights (May to August)
• Dressing gowns and organic bath products
• Hairdryer and in-room safe
• Tea or coffee brought to your chalet each morning

Jacana takes two extra beds and works well for families with children aged 10 and over. For families with younger children, and for friends travelling together, Chundu Cottage is the standout: a stand-alone house with two bedrooms downstairs and a loft bedroom upstairs, sleeping six, plus its own veranda and swimming pool. The cottage comes with dedicated staff to cook for you, or it can be booked on a self-catering basis.

Cuisine and Wine

Meals here are farm-to-fork: much of what reaches the table is grown in the lodge garden or on neighbouring farms and cooked according to the season. Breakfast is served on the deck above the Zambezi, lunch is relaxed and unhurried, and dinner is taken under thatch or out under the stars, with private bush meals available on request. House wine, beer and soft drinks are included in the rate.

Facilities

The lodge centres on a stone, wood and thatch main building whose open-fronted lounge and dining area spill out onto a broad deck facing the river and Zimbabwe's Zambezi National Park on the far bank. Guest facilities include:

• Lounge with a small library, binoculars and telescopes for game and bird spotting
• Swimming pool and a rock-clad plunge pool on the deck
• Evening campfire
• Shaded gardens set in riverine forest and lagoons
• Wi-Fi throughout the property
• Laundry service, included in the rate

The property is unfenced and sits in genuine wild country. Game densities on this stretch of river are not high, but dangerous game can pass through, so keep your wits about you after dark.

Activities

For 2026 stays, every night at Chundukwa includes one activity of your choice from the lodge menu, such as a Zambezi sunset cruise or a Victoria Falls excursion; the Falls excursion counts as one of those choices. Return transfers from Livingstone Airport are also included. The 2027 package is different: a Falls excursion is built in, with up to two lodge activities on your other days, so check the inclusions for your travel year when you enquire.

Riding is what sets the lodge apart from every other safari in Zambia close to Livingstone:

• River Ride – early morning or late afternoon along the Zambezi, for beginners through to experienced riders
• Pony Tales – gentle rides for children, with parents walking alongside
• Multi-day horseback safaris – run through the lodge's sister operation in the Simalaha Wildlife Conservancy

Further excursions, booked through the lodge, include:

• White rhino walks in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
• Livingstone Island and Devil's Pool (low-water months only, usually from around August to early January)
• Helicopter and microlight flights over Victoria Falls
• White water rafting, bungee jumping and the gorge swing
• Canoeing and fishing on the upper Zambezi
• Game drives and day trips to Botswana's Chobe National Park
• The Livingstone Museum, curio markets and village visits

Child Friendly

Chundukwa River Lodge welcomes families, with a clear age split. Children under 10 stay at Chundu Cottage, a private house with two downstairs bedrooms, an upstairs loft bedroom and its own pool, sleeping six. The five riverside chalets, Jacana included, accept children aged 10 and over, and Jacana takes two extra beds for families with older children. Young riders head out on Pony Tales trails with Mum or Dad walking alongside, and there are boat cruises, fishing, swimming and the farm itself to explore. Because the grounds are unfenced, children need to be supervised at all times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Chundukwa River Lodge and how far is it from Victoria Falls?

Chundukwa River Lodge sits on the Zambian bank of the Zambezi River, 25 km upstream of Victoria Falls. Livingstone town is roughly 25 km away, around 30 minutes by road, and Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport is about 35 minutes' drive. Return airport transfers are included in the rate, and no light-aircraft flight is needed to reach the lodge.

Is Chundukwa River Lodge good for families with children?

Yes, with an age split. At Chundukwa, children under 10 stay in Chundu Cottage, a private house with two downstairs bedrooms, an upstairs loft bedroom, its own pool and dedicated staff, sleeping six. The five riverside chalets, including the Jacana family chalet, accept children aged 10 and over. Pony Tales rides suit young riders, and the unfenced grounds mean children must be supervised.

What horse riding is available at Chundukwa River Lodge?

Chundukwa River Lodge is a working horse ranch run by owners Doug and Gail. The River Ride follows the Zambezi in the early morning or late afternoon and suits beginners through to experienced riders, while Pony Tales rides cater for children. Multi-day horseback safaris run through the lodge's sister operation in the Simalaha Wildlife Conservancy.

What is included in a stay at Chundukwa River Lodge?

For 2026, a stay at Chundukwa River Lodge includes one activity per night from the lodge menu, with a Victoria Falls excursion counting as one choice. Return Livingstone Airport transfers, all meals, house wine, beer, soft drinks, Wi-Fi, laundry, VAT and tourism levy are also included. From 2027 the package includes a Falls excursion plus up to two lodge activities on other days. Flights, Falls entrance fees and gratuities are extra.

Is Chundukwa River Lodge in a malaria area?

Yes. Chundukwa lies on the Zambezi near Livingstone, and the whole Livingstone and Victoria Falls area is a malaria risk zone. Travellers should take antimalarial prophylaxis as prescribed by their doctor or travel clinic, use repellent in the evenings and sleep under the mosquito nets provided in every chalet. The risk is highest during the rainy season, from roughly November to April.

In Conclusion

Chundukwa River Lodge is the Victoria Falls stay for travellers who want the river, the horses and a family welcome rather than a big hotel on the tourist strip. Airport transfers are included, and every night of a 2026 stay comes with an activity of your choice, with the Victoria Falls excursion among them. Each evening ends back at a thatched chalet on a quiet bend of the Zambezi.

Why go: riding on the riverbank at dawn, farm-to-fork cooking, a private cottage for families, and only six units in total.

How long: two nights covers the Falls and one more activity; four or five lets you ride, fly over the gorges, walk with white rhino and cross into Chobe for a day.

When to go: February to May for the Falls in full, thundering flood; June to August for cool, clear riding weather; August to early January for Devil's Pool and the best views of the rock face at low water.

Uyaphi.com has been planning tailor-made African safaris since 1999 – 27 years of building trips around Victoria Falls, the Zambezi and the wilder corners of Zambia beyond. Tell us when you'd like to travel, who's coming and how much time in the saddle you fancy, and we'll pair Chundukwa with the right safari camps to complete your Zambia journey.