Royal Chundu Zambezi River Lodge

Highlights

• Zambia's only Relais & Châteaux lodge
• Four-villa Island Lodge on private Katombora Island
• Zambian-led cuisine from the lodge's own kitchen garden
• Canoeing a 15 km private waterway between two sets of rapids
• Daily sundowner river cruise
• Catch-and-release tiger fishing
• Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park game drives and white rhino walks
• About 30 km upstream of Victoria Falls by river
• Chobe National Park day trips into Botswana
• Family-friendly, with the Chundu Children's Club

Information

• Lodge type: Luxury river lodge
• Location: Katombora, Upper Zambezi, near Livingstone, Zambia
• Lodge size: 10 River Lodge suites and 4 Island Lodge villas
• Recommended stay: 2–5 nights
• Malaria risk: Yes — the Victoria Falls region is a malaria area; take prophylaxis
• Getting there: About 50 km by road from Livingstone International Airport (return road transfers included) and about 60 km by road from Victoria Falls

Experience The Luxury Of Royal Chundu River Lodge On The Zambezi River

Royal Chundu Zambezi River Lodge is Zambia's only Relais & Châteaux property: 14 riverfront suites and villas on a private 15 km stretch of the Upper Zambezi, about 30 km upstream of Victoria Falls. The lodge sits at Katombora, roughly 50 km by road from Livingstone International Airport. Two sets of rapids bracket its stretch of river, which keeps the boat traffic of the Falls well downstream.

Two lodges share this stretch. River Lodge has ten suites along the bank, and Island Lodge has four villas on Katombora Island, 4 km upstream by boat. Both are run by the same Zambian team and served by the same kitchen, with Victoria Falls, Livingstone and Chobe all within a day's reach. In 2023 lodge manager Aggie Maseko Banda was named Relais & Châteaux Woman of the Year.

Rooms and Suites

Royal Chundu offers two styles of stay: ten River Lodge suites on the bank and four larger Island Lodge villas on private Katombora Island.

River Lodge: ten thatched suites spaced along the waterfront for privacy. Each has a wooden deck, an air-conditioned bedroom and an en-suite bathroom with twin showers and an outdoor bath. The river is the view from the bed, the bath and the deck.

Island Lodge: four extra-large villas reached by boat. Each has a private deck, an air-conditioned bedroom and lounge, and an en-suite bathroom with a bathtub facing the river. This is the pick for honeymooners and anyone wanting seclusion near Victoria Falls.

Every suite and villa has mosquito nets, fans, air-conditioning, an in-room safe, international adapters and a mini-bar.

Cuisine and Wine

Cuisine at Royal Chundu Zambezi River Lodge is Zambian at heart, cooked with international technique by a team of Zambian-born chefs. Ingredients come from local farmers and from the lodge's own kitchen garden, which guests can tour on request. Meals are served on the riverside deck or in the thatched dining room.

The wine list is one of the best in the Victoria Falls region on either side of the border, with reds, whites, sparkling and dessert wines from around the world. Standard drinks are included in the rate; premium labels are extra.

Facilities

The thatched main guest area holds a lounge with a fireplace, an indoor dining room, a small library, a bar and a travel desk. It opens onto a broad wooden deck with an outdoor dining area, a swimming pool and the jetty. The Zambezi is in view from almost everywhere, and laundry and room service are part of the stay.

Wi-Fi and cellphone signal cover the main guest area. Road transfers to and from Livingstone International Airport are included. Shuttles into Livingstone and to Victoria Falls can be arranged, as can transfers to Victoria Falls International Airport in Zimbabwe.

Activities

Activities at the lodge centre on the river: canoeing, birding by boat, catch-and-release tiger fishing, a guided Victoria Falls tour and a village cultural tour. Each is charged separately unless you book the Fully Inclusive package, which covers them all. The Royal Chundu Riverstead Experience adds a slower, hands-on day of farm, garden and village life alongside the Katombora community.

Through the travel desk you can add:

• helicopter flights over Victoria Falls
• white-water rafting and the bungee jump off the Victoria Falls Bridge
• game drives and white rhino walks in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
• a Chobe National Park day trip into Botswana
• Livingstone Island tours and, in the low-water months, a swim in Devil's Pool on the lip of the Falls
• lunar rainbow tours around the full moon when the river runs high

Child Friendly

Royal Chundu Zambezi River Lodge welcomes children of all ages at River Lodge, with family-suitable suites and children's meals. The Chundu Children's Club runs activities for young guests, including sunset cruises, catch-and-release fishing, astronomy, insect and butterfly catch-and-release, birding and frog walks, leaf and flower pressing, village visits and cooking lessons with the chefs. The club is charged separately unless it is included in your package, and childminding is also available at extra cost.

Island Lodge, with just four secluded villas, is better suited to couples.

Spa and Wellness

Spa treatments are given in the privacy of your own suite or villa, overlooking the Zambezi. The menu covers massages, facials and packages lasting from 30 to 120 minutes. Ask us, and we'll send you the latest spa menu before you travel.

Royal Chundu Zambezi River Lodge FAQs

Is Royal Chundu Zambezi River Lodge in a malaria area?

Yes. Royal Chundu lies on the Upper Zambezi near Livingstone, and the whole Victoria Falls region of Zambia and Zimbabwe is a malaria area. Take antimalarial prophylaxis prescribed by a travel doctor, use repellent from dusk and cover up in the evenings. Every suite and villa has mosquito nets and air-conditioning. The risk is highest in the wet season, roughly November to April.

How far is Royal Chundu Zambezi River Lodge from Victoria Falls and Livingstone Airport?

Royal Chundu sits at Katombora on the Upper Zambezi, about 50 km by road from Livingstone International Airport and roughly 60 km by road from Victoria Falls. By river, the lodge is about 30 km upstream of the Falls. Return road transfers from Livingstone airport are included in the rate. Transfers to Victoria Falls International Airport in Zimbabwe can be arranged on request.

What is the difference between the River Lodge and Island Lodge at Royal Chundu Zambezi River Lodge?

Royal Chundu has two lodges on the same private stretch of the Zambezi. River Lodge has ten thatched suites along the riverbank, each with a deck, twin showers and an outdoor bath. Island Lodge has four larger villas on Katombora Island, 4 km upstream by boat, each with its own lounge and a riverfront bathtub. River Lodge suits families; Island Lodge suits couples and honeymooners.

Is Royal Chundu Zambezi River Lodge good for families with children?

Yes. Royal Chundu welcomes children of all ages at River Lodge, with family-suitable suites and children's meals. The Chundu Children's Club offers sunset cruises, catch-and-release fishing, astronomy, birding and frog walks, village visits and cooking lessons with the chefs. The club is charged separately unless your package includes it, and childminding costs extra. Island Lodge, with four secluded villas, is better suited to couples.

What activities are included at Royal Chundu Zambezi River Lodge?

At Royal Chundu, canoeing, birding by boat, catch-and-release tiger fishing, a guided Victoria Falls tour and a village cultural tour are charged separately unless you book the Fully Inclusive package, which covers them all. Every rate includes meals, standard drinks and Livingstone airport road transfers. Helicopter flights, white-water rafting, bungee jumping, Devil's Pool, Mosi-oa-Tunya game drives and Chobe day trips are always extra.

How many nights should I stay at Royal Chundu Zambezi River Lodge?

Two to five nights suits Royal Chundu. Two nights covers the Victoria Falls tour and a river cruise. Three or four nights leave time for canoeing, tiger fishing, a Chobe day trip into Botswana and simply enjoying the river. Many travellers add Royal Chundu to the start or end of a Zambia or Botswana safari, since Livingstone International Airport is about 50 km away by road.

In Conclusion

Royal Chundu Zambezi River Lodge suits travellers who want Victoria Falls within reach but prefer to stay on a quiet, private stretch of the Zambezi. Livingstone, the Falls and Chobe are all day trips, and the lodge's 14 suites and villas keep guest numbers low.

Two or three nights here make a good start or finish to a Zambia safari, or pair with Botswana's Chobe and Okavango Delta. To see the Falls at their fullest, come from March to May, with peak flows generally around March and April. Late August to December brings low water and the Devil's Pool season.

Uyaphi.com has been planning African safaris from Cape Town since 1999. That's 27 years, almost three decades, of planning trips that combine Victoria Falls with safaris in Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Tell us when you'd like to travel and who's coming, and we'll build the trip around you, with no booking fees and no credit card surcharges.