Royal Zambezi Lodge

Highlights

• Fifteen canopied tented suites, each with a private plunge pool overlooking the Zambezi River
• Seven Presidential Suites with freestanding copper baths, private day beds and 39 m² decks
• Tiger fishing on one of Africa's finest freshwater angling rivers
• Guided canoeing on the Zambezi, with hippo and elephant at water level
• Sunrise and afternoon game drives, plus spotlit night drives when leopard are often found in the trees
• Walking safaris and sunset river cruises facing Mana Pools in Zimbabwe
• The Royal Bush Spa and an infinity pool for the heat of the day

Information

• Lodge type: Family-owned luxury tented safari lodge
• Location: 200-hectare private reserve on the Lower Zambezi River, opposite Mana Pools (Zimbabwe)
• Lodge size: 15 tented suites (8 Deluxe, 7 Presidential)
• Recommended stay: 3-7 nights
• Malaria risk: High. The Lower Zambezi is a malaria area all year, so take antimalarials.
• Getting there: From Lusaka, 25–30 minutes by light aircraft to the lodge's own Royal Airstrip, then a 5–10 minute drive. By road, allow at least 5 hours in a 4x4 (the final 70 km is rough), or drive to Gwabi Lodge and do the last 40 km by boat.

Experience Wilderness Luxury At Royal Zambezi Lodge: Where Adventure Meets Relaxation

Royal Zambezi Lodge is a family-owned luxury tented lodge on a 200-hectare private reserve. The reserve runs along 3.5 km of the Lower Zambezi River, on the edge of Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia. Across the water is Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so the view from your deck is of floodplain islands, wading elephants and pods of hippo grunting in the shallows.

The lodge works equally well for couples and families. Honeymooners head for the Presidential Suites, with their copper baths and private day beds. Families get a dedicated two-suite set-up closest to the main area. Because the lodge is only 25–30 minutes by air from Lusaka, it is one of the easiest top-end bush lodges in Zambia to reach, and it pairs neatly with Victoria Falls or South Luangwa.

Three things set the Royal apart from its Lower Zambezi neighbours:

• Size. With just 15 suites, it never feels busy.
• Private guiding. A private guide, vehicle and boat are included in the rate, so the day runs on your schedule.
• Range. Water and land are equally strong here, from tiger fishing and canoeing to game drives and walks.

Add the Royal Bush Spa, which includes a complimentary 15-minute foot or hand massage, and the long hot middle of the day becomes a highlight in itself.

In short, this is a superb choice for travellers who want the Zambezi in every form: on it, beside it and walking its floodplains. The comfort and service match the best safari lodges in Africa.

Rooms and Suites

The lodge has 15 canopied tented suites, 8 Deluxe and 7 Presidential. They are set under mature riverine trees, and each one faces the Zambezi and is spaced for privacy. Every suite has extra-length sprung mattresses, pure cotton bedding, fine down pillows and deep armchairs in natural tones.

The 8 Deluxe Suites measure 62 m² inside, with a further 24 m² of outdoor living space and a 20 m² shaded deck over the river. Each has a private plunge pool, a stylish en-suite bathroom and either a king bed or two singles, for a maximum of two guests.

The 7 Presidential Suites are the pinnacle of the lodge. They are named Frontier, Kansanshi, Kigelia, Trident, Sipo, Wilderness and Royal Presidential. Each has a freestanding copper bath, a private plunge pool, a private day bed and a generous 39 m² deck, and most also have an outdoor shower. These are the suites to book for a honeymoon, an anniversary or a milestone birthday. Three of them are open-plan and can take extra beds for families who want to stay under one roof.

For families, Deluxe Suites 6 and 7 adjoin and share a family lounge. They are the closest suites to the main area, a short escorted walk away, so parents stay near the heart of the lodge. Each suite takes two adults or up to three children under 12.

Cuisine and Wine

Meals at the lodge follow the rhythm of the safari day, and every one comes with a river view:

• Breakfast: a continental spread from about 6am, before the sunrise activity.
• Bush lunch: served out in the field on days spent exploring.
• Afternoon tea and cake: from 3:30pm, before the afternoon outing.
• Dinner: served on the outdoor dining deck under the stars, with the hippos grunting below.

Drinks are generous. House wines, local beers, soft drinks, teas, coffees and non-premium drinks are all included in the rate. Champagne, premium wines and spirits, and imported beers are charged separately, so you only pay extra if you want to push the boat out.

Facilities

The main lodge is a high-thatched, open-sided space facing the Zambezi, with a large lounge, a bar and an outdoor dining area. From all of them you can watch elephants, hippos and a constant traffic of river birds.

• Infinity pool overlooking the river
• Royal Bush Spa, best enjoyed in the heat of the day
• Riverside firepit for sundowners and after-dinner stories
• Kids' Corner for younger guests
• Royal Shop
• Complimentary WiFi and laundry
• Private Royal Airstrip, 5–10 minutes from the lodge

Activities

Royal Zambezi offers game drives, night drives, walking safaris, canoeing, tiger fishing, river cruises and birding. Two activities a day are included, with a private guide, vehicle and boat. That last point matters, because nobody else's pace decides how long you sit with a leopard or how many casts you make.

Game drives leave at sunrise and in the late afternoon, which are the best hours for wildlife in the valley. Some evenings continue into night drives, when trackers with powerful spotlights pick out genets, hyena, and leopard draped along branches above the track. Walking safaris on the Zambezi floodplain slow everything down to tracks, dung and birdsong, and they are a highlight of any of our safaris in Zambia.

The river is where the Royal truly shines. Canoeing puts you at water level with grazing elephant and wallowing hippo. Tiger fishing pits you against Africa's most famous freshwater fighting fish. Sunset river cruises drift past Mana Pools as the light turns the escarpment gold. Birding is excellent all year, and the lodge also runs community and conservation visits for guests who want to see the work behind the reserve. Activities shift with the river level and the seasons, so we match your dates to the lodge's seasonal calendar when we plan your stay.

Royal Zambezi Lodge FAQs

Where is Royal Zambezi Lodge and how do you get there?

Royal Zambezi Lodge sits on a 200-hectare private reserve on the Lower Zambezi River in Zambia, facing Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe. Most guests fly from Lusaka to the lodge's own Royal Airstrip in 25–30 minutes, then drive 5–10 minutes to the lodge. By road it takes at least five hours in a 4x4, with a rough final 70 km, or you can drive to Gwabi Lodge and take a boat for the last 40 km.

Is Royal Zambezi Lodge in a malaria area?

Yes. Royal Zambezi Lodge is in the Lower Zambezi Valley of Zambia, which carries a high malaria risk throughout the year. Visitors should see a travel clinic about antimalarial medication before departure, use insect repellent, and wear long sleeves and trousers in the evenings. The risk is highest during the warm rainy months from November to April, but precautions are needed whenever you travel.

What suites does Royal Zambezi Lodge offer?

Royal Zambezi Lodge has 15 canopied tented suites overlooking the Zambezi River. The eight Deluxe Suites each measure 62 m² and have a private plunge pool, a 20 m² deck and either a king bed or twin beds. The seven Presidential Suites add freestanding copper baths, private day beds, outdoor showers in most, and 39 m² decks, which makes them the favourite choice for honeymoons and special occasions.

Is Royal Zambezi Lodge good for families with children?

Yes. Royal Zambezi Lodge welcomes families. Deluxe Suites 6 and 7 adjoin with a shared family lounge and sit closest to the main area, a short escorted walk away. Three open-plan Presidential Suites can also take extra beds for families who want to share one roof. Because a private guide, vehicle and boat are included in the rate, activities can run at the children's pace.

What activities are included at Royal Zambezi Lodge?

Royal Zambezi Lodge includes two guided activities a day with a private guide, vehicle and boat. The choices are game drives, spotlit night drives, walking safaris, canoeing, tiger fishing, sunset river cruises and birding on the Lower Zambezi. The rate also covers meals, house wines and local beers, laundry, WiFi, airstrip transfers and a 15-minute massage at the Royal Bush Spa. National park entry fees are charged separately.

In Conclusion

Royal Zambezi Lodge is the Lower Zambezi stay to book if you want the river in every form. You can fish it, paddle it, cruise it and walk its floodplains, then return to a plunge pool and a copper bath with Mana Pools glowing across the water.

The why is straightforward. The lodge has just 15 suites, private guiding on land and water at no extra cost, a bush spa for the hot hours, and family owners who have shaped every detail. It is also only a half-hour flight from Lusaka. The when depends on your interests. Game viewing peaks in the dry months from June to October, when wildlife crowds onto the river, and the late-dry heat of September and October brings some of the year's best tiger fishing. The how is where we come in.

Uyaphi.com has been planning African safaris from Cape Town since 1999. That is 27 years of matching travellers to the right lodge, season and route. We'll build Royal Zambezi into a seamless Lower Zambezi National Park safari, linked with Victoria Falls, South Luangwa or the Kafue, and handle every flight and transfer in between. There are no booking fees and no credit card surcharges. Tell us your dates and dreams below, and we'll do the rest.