Thorntree River Lodge

Highlights

• 10 river-facing suites, each with its own private plunge pool
• Inside Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, about 12 km upstream of Victoria Falls
• On-foot white rhino tracking with armed wildlife police scouts
• Guided tours of the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, with Zimbabwe-side tours in the low-water season
• Sunrise and sunset cruises, canoeing and catch-and-release fishing on the Upper Zambezi
• Spa, gym and an infinity pool on the riverside deck
• Two family suites and the Ngwana Club for young guests
• Riverside deck and firepit made for sundowners
• Owned and run by African Bush Camps

Information

• Lodge type: Luxury river lodge
• Location: Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Upper Zambezi River, Livingstone
• Lodge size: 10 suites (8 suites, 2 family suites)
• Recommended stay: 2–5 nights
• Malaria risk: Yes — Livingstone and the Zambezi Valley are a malaria area; take prophylaxis
• Getting there: 20 minutes by road from Livingstone Airport (LVI); about 12 km from Victoria Falls; no light-aircraft transfer needed, as scheduled flights land at Livingstone

Thorntree River Lodge on the Zambezi Near Victoria Falls

Thorntree River Lodge is a 10-suite luxury lodge on the banks of the Upper Zambezi inside Zambia's Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, about 12 km upstream of Victoria Falls and a 20-minute drive from Livingstone Airport. You get the Falls on your doorstep without the bustle of town: elephants on the far bank, hippos grunting below the deck, and the spray cloud of "The Smoke that Thunders" rising on the horizon.

African Bush Camps extensively rebuilt the lodge and reopened it in 2017. The design borrows from local building traditions — canvas roofs and timber — and the lounge, dining room and library are all open-sided, with views across the river.

Thorntree suits travellers who want Victoria Falls in real comfort rather than a hotel room in town. Most guests spend a few nights here at the start or end of a Zambia safari, or before heading on to Chobe and the Okavango in Botswana, Hwange in Zimbabwe, or South Luangwa and the Lower Zambezi.

Rooms and Suites

Thorntree River Lodge has eight double or twin suites and two family suites, every one facing the Zambezi with a private plunge pool on a timber viewing deck. The family suites join two bedrooms with an interconnecting passage, so parents and children each get their own space under one roof.

Inside, beds sit under four-poster mosquito nets, and the bathrooms open to the outdoors with a freestanding bath and both indoor and outdoor showers.

Suite amenities include:

• Private plunge pool and viewing deck
• King or twin beds with four-poster mosquito nets
• Freestanding bath, indoor shower and outdoor shower
• Stocked bar cart
• In-room safe
• Extra beds in the family suites on request

Cuisine and Wine

Meals are African-inspired fine dining, served full board — breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tables move around the camp with the day: the river deck for breakfast, the dining room or the boma by firelight at night.

A temperature-controlled wine cellar holds a well-chosen list of local and international labels. Soft drinks and local beers, wines and spirits are included, with premium imported spirits and champagne charged separately.

Facilities

The main guest area sits on an expansive deck right over the Upper Zambezi, with the lounge, dining room and library flowing straight out onto it. The firepit at the water's edge is where the evening starts.

• Riverside infinity pool with sunloungers set in the shallow water
• Library with satellite TV
• Wi-Fi in the main area (expect it to be patchy at times)
• Spa and gym
• Gift shop
• Staff escort guests to their suites after dark, as wildlife moves freely through the camp

Activities

Thorntree runs a full programme of wildlife, river and Falls activities, and the front desk books the adrenaline side of Livingstone too. Mosi-oa-Tunya is small but holds a closely guarded population of white rhino, tracked on foot alongside armed wildlife police scouts.

Activities from the lodge:

• Game drives in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
• White rhino tracking on foot
• Sunrise and sunset boat cruises
• Canoeing on the Upper Zambezi
• Catch-and-release fishing
• Birding along the river
• Community and village visits
• Guided tours of Victoria Falls from the Zambian side
• Tours of the Zimbabwean side on request, mainly in the low-water season (visa requirements depend on nationality)
• Visit to the Livingstone Museum

Helicopter flights over the Falls, bungee jumping, white-water rafting, microlight flights and day trips to Chobe National Park in Botswana are booked at the front desk at extra cost.

Child Friendly

Children of all ages are welcome, and the two family suites make this one of the easiest luxury lodges near the Falls for a family stay. The Ngwana Club runs daytime activities for younger guests, and cots are supplied. Walking safaris and canoeing are restricted to guests aged 16 and over, and children must be supervised by a parent at all times.

Spa and Wellness

The spa offers a menu of massages and body treatments in a building styled on a traditional Lozi hut, with a small, well-equipped gym alongside. After a morning on the rhino trail or a soaking at the Falls, an hour on the treatment table is time well spent.

Thorntree River Lodge FAQs

Where is Thorntree River Lodge and how do you get there?

Thorntree River Lodge stands on the Upper Zambezi inside Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Zambia, about 12 km upstream of Victoria Falls. Guests fly into Livingstone Airport (LVI), which has scheduled flights from Johannesburg, then take a 20-minute road transfer to the lodge. No light-aircraft flight is needed, which makes it one of the simplest luxury lodges in Zambia to reach.

Is Thorntree River Lodge in a malaria area?

Yes. Thorntree River Lodge lies in the Zambezi Valley near Livingstone, a malaria area, so anti-malaria prophylaxis is recommended for every guest, including children. Speak to a travel clinic before you leave. Suites have four-poster mosquito nets, and long sleeves plus repellent at dusk add a sensible second layer of protection on the river.

Is Thorntree River Lodge good for families with children?

Yes. Thorntree welcomes children of all ages and has two family suites with two bedrooms joined by an interconnecting passage. The Ngwana Club runs daytime activities for young guests, and cots are supplied. Walking safaris and canoeing are restricted to guests aged 16 and over, and children must stay under parental supervision throughout.

What activities are offered at Thorntree River Lodge?

Thorntree, run by African Bush Camps inside Zambia's Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, offers game drives, on-foot white rhino tracking, sunrise and sunset cruises, canoeing, catch-and-release fishing, birding, village visits and guided tours of the Zambian side of Victoria Falls. Zimbabwe-side tours are arranged on request, mainly in the low-water season. Helicopter flights, bungee jumping, white-water rafting and Chobe day trips cost extra.

How many nights should you stay at Thorntree River Lodge?

Plan two to five nights at Thorntree. Two nights cover a Falls tour and a sunset cruise; three or four leave room for rhino tracking, a helicopter flight and an afternoon by the plunge pool. Most guests combine the lodge with a Botswana, Zimbabwe or Zambia safari before or after their stay.

In Conclusion

Thorntree River Lodge gives you Victoria Falls and the Upper Zambezi in genuine luxury: ten plunge-pool suites in a national park, rhino on foot and the Falls a short drive away.

High-water season is generally March to May, with peak flow varying by year; expect heavy spray on the Zambian side during these months. Later in the year the water drops, the rock face reveals itself, and in the low-water months the Devil's Pool swim opens on the lip of the Falls. Game viewing in Mosi-oa-Tunya is at its best in the dry months from June to October.

The easiest way to book it is as part of a tailor-made itinerary. Uyaphi.com has been planning African safaris from Cape Town since 1999 — 27 years of matching lodges, seasons and routes to the people travelling them. Tell us your dates and how you'd like to travel, and we'll build Thorntree into a Zambia, Botswana or Zimbabwe safari around you, with flights, transfers and no booking fees or credit card surcharges.