Zambezi Grande

Highlights

• Five free-standing superior suites at the water's edge, each with a Victorian bath and river-facing outdoor shower
• Twice-daily game drives, walks and boat safaris in and around Lower Zambezi National Park
• An infinity pool and decks looking straight across the Zambezi River
• Tiger fishing and vundu angling, with the camp's tackle included
• Pan-African cooking made from scratch with local, seasonal produce
• Island dinners, bush lunches and sundowner cruises on the river
• Evenings round the fire pit under an enormous Zambian sky

Information

• Lodge type: Family-owned luxury private game lodge
• Location: Zambezi River, next to Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia
• Lodge size: 10 rooms and suites, maximum 20 guests
• Recommended stay: 3–7 nights
• Malaria risk: Yes — the Lower Zambezi is a malaria area, and antimalarial prophylaxis is strongly advised
• Getting there: Daily 30-minute light-aircraft flight from Lusaka to Royal Zambezi Airstrip, then a 15-minute road transfer to the lodge; charters from Livingstone or Mfuwe take about 1 hour 45 minutes

Experience Luxury in the Wild: Discover the Zambezi Grande

Zambezi Grande is a family-owned luxury game lodge of just 10 rooms and suites on the banks of the Zambezi River, right next door to Lower Zambezi National Park and 15 minutes by road from Royal Zambezi Airstrip. The lodge is unfenced, so wildlife moves freely through camp, and the river fills every view, from the infinity pool to the bath. With no more than 20 guests in residence, it feels like a private house on the river rather than a hotel.

The building began life as a Cape Dutch-style homestead and was reimagined from top to bottom by Michele Throssell Interiors. Furniture was made by local artisans and the soft furnishings were stitched specifically for the lodge, and the result is one of the most polished riverfront stays in the Lower Zambezi — elegant, but never fussy.

Days follow the river: game drives and walks in search of lion, leopard and wild dog, boat safaris among hippo pods, tiger fishing in the channels, and long evenings by the fire. Two safari activities a day are included, along with the camp's angling equipment and airstrip transfers. The Grande pairs beautifully with Victoria Falls or South Luangwa on a longer itinerary through our Zambian safaris.

Rooms and Suites

Zambezi Grande has 10 rooms in two categories — five superior suites and five luxury rooms — and every one faces the Zambezi River.

The five superior suites are the pick of the house. Each stands on its own at the water's edge, with a large open-plan room, a king-size bed, a Victorian bath, an outdoor rain shower facing the river and a private veranda that works as your own game-viewing platform. For honeymooners and anniversary couples, these are the rooms to book.

The five luxury rooms are open-plan, with king or twin beds, an indoor shower and their own veranda overlooking the river. Interconnecting rooms are available, which makes this category the natural choice for families and friends travelling together who want to be close without sharing a room.

Every room has a handmade drinks cabinet stocked with South African wines, Zambian gin and homemade juices, plus a tea and coffee station — so the first cup of the morning comes with a view of the river waking up.

Cuisine and Wine

Everything on the table at Zambezi Grande is made in-house from scratch, using local, seasonal produce, and the style is pan-African with a polished finish.

The day runs to four meals: breakfast before or after the morning activity, lunch, afternoon tea before heading out again, and dinner. Meals are served in the dining lounge, poolside or out in the open, and the kitchen is happy to make dining an interactive affair rather than a set routine.

The special occasions are what guests remember: a private dinner on an island in the Zambezi, a bush lunch under the trees, or sundowners on the river as the light turns copper over the Zambezi escarpment. Local beverages are included in the rate; imported wines and spirits are charged separately.

Facilities

The main lodge is one open-plan space, and every corner of it looks out over the river.

• Luxury lounge and full bar
• In-house restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining
• Infinity pool with a pool deck overlooking the Zambezi
• Large viewing deck, sundowner deck and terrace
• Fire pit for evenings under the stars
• Wi-Fi throughout the lodge, strongest in and around the lounge
• Daily laundry, included in the rate

The pool deck at Zambezi Grande is where most guests end up in the heat of the afternoon, watching elephants and hippos on the riverbank between morning and afternoon activities.

Activities

Zambezi Grande includes two guided safari activities a day, combining land and water: game drives, walking safaris, boat safaris and fishing.

Open-vehicle game drives head into Lower Zambezi National Park, one of Zambia's finest wildlife areas, where the guides track lion, leopard and the rare African wild dog, and elephant and buffalo graze the floodplain. Guided walking safaris slow everything down to the tracks, dung and birdlife that a vehicle rolls straight past.

On the water, boat safaris drift past hippo pods and basking crocodiles, and the sundowner cruise is a fixture of every stay. Anglers come for the tigerfish, the Zambezi's hardest-fighting fish, and the vundu, a giant catfish; the camp supplies the angling equipment, so there is no need to pack rods.

Birders are spoilt with around 400 recorded species, from African fish eagles to carmine bee-eaters in season. Guests can also join the Chengetai Tree Project, buying and planting a tree in the nearby Muguramano or Chijata villages — a small, lasting way to give back to the community the lodge employs and supports.

Spa and Wellness

Wellness treatments at the Grande are given in the privacy of your own suite or room, rather than in a separate spa building.

A massage on your veranda with the river sliding past is the ideal reset after an early game drive or a long morning on the water. Treatments are booked through the lodge on arrival and are charged as an extra, so they are easy to add to a stay without paying for a spa you may never use.

Zambezi Grande FAQs

Where is Zambezi Grande and how do you get there?

The lodge sits on the banks of the Zambezi River in Zambia, next to Lower Zambezi National Park. Daily light-aircraft flights from Lusaka International Airport reach Royal Zambezi Airstrip in about 30 minutes, followed by a 15-minute road transfer to camp. Charter flights from Livingstone or Mfuwe take about 1 hour 45 minutes, making it easy to combine with Victoria Falls or South Luangwa.

How many rooms does Zambezi Grande have?

This Lower Zambezi lodge has 10 rooms and sleeps a maximum of 20 guests. There are five free-standing superior suites at the water's edge, each with a Victorian bath, outdoor rain shower and private veranda, and five open-plan luxury rooms with king or twin beds. Interconnecting luxury rooms are available for families and friends travelling together.

What activities are offered at Zambezi Grande?

The lodge includes two guided safari activities a day on the Zambezi River and in Lower Zambezi National Park. Choices include open-vehicle game drives, walking safaris, boat safaris, sundowner cruises, bird watching and tiger fishing, with the camp's angling equipment supplied. Island dinners and bush lunches can be arranged, and guests can plant a tree in a local village through the Chengetai Tree Project.

Is Zambezi Grande in a malaria area?

Yes. The lodge is in Zambia's Lower Zambezi Valley, which is a malaria area all year round. Travellers should see a doctor or travel clinic before departure about antimalarial tablets, and pack long sleeves and insect repellent for the evenings.

What is included in the rate at Zambezi Grande?

Rates at this Lower Zambezi lodge are per person per night sharing, in US dollars, and cover accommodation, all meals, local beverages, daily laundry, Wi-Fi, two safari activities a day, camp angling equipment and transfers from Royal Zambezi Airstrip. Flights, visas, wellness treatments, imported drinks, private guiding, travel insurance and gratuities are extra.

In Conclusion

Zambezi Grande is the Lower Zambezi lodge to choose when you want the river, the wildlife and genuine luxury in equal measure, with only 20 guests sharing it. The superior suites are among the most romantic rooms on the Zambezi, the food is made from scratch, and two activities a day on land and water mean no two days feel the same.

Timing matters in the Lower Zambezi. The dry season, roughly June to October, brings the best game viewing as animals gather along the river, with September and October the hottest and most dramatic months. Three nights is the minimum we recommend; four or five lets you balance drives, walks, fishing and lazy afternoons at the pool.

Uyaphi.com has been arranging tailor-made African safaris from Cape Town since 1999 — 27 years of matching travellers to the right lodges, flights and seasons across Africa. We will build the Grande into a seamless Zambia itinerary, connecting the Lusaka flights and pairing it with Victoria Falls or South Luangwa if you wish, with no booking fees and no credit card surcharges. Tell us your dates and we'll do the rest.