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The Elephant Camp

The Elephant Camp luxury tented safari camp private concession Victoria Falls National Park Zimbabwe gorge-facing suites plunge pools

Highlights

  • Views of the Victoria Falls spray and the Batoka Gorge from every suite and the main deck
  • A private plunge pool on the deck of every tented suite
  • A waterhole below the main area that draws elephant and plains game
  • Only 16 suites: 12 at the main camp and four at The Elephant Camp West
  • Secluded private concession just 10 km from Victoria Falls town
  • Outdoor pizza oven and a seasonal menu built on game and local produce
  • Visits to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust on the activity list

Information

  • Lodge type; Luxury tented safari camp
  • Location; Private concession within Victoria Falls National Park, bounded by the Masuwe River and the Zambezi gorges
  • Lodge size; 16 tented suites (12 at The Elephant Camp, 4 at The Elephant Camp West)
  • Recommended stay; 2-5 nights
  • Malaria risk; Yes — Victoria Falls is a malaria area. Take prophylaxis; risk is highest from November to April
  • Getting there; 10 km from Victoria Falls town (about 10 minutes by road) and 15 km from Victoria Falls Airport, with road transfers included in the rate

An Intimate Tented Safari Camp With Views Of A Waterhole Teeming With Elephant Close To Victoria Falls

The Elephant Camp is a 16-suite luxury tented safari camp on a private concession inside the Victoria Falls National Park, just 10 km from the Falls and a 10-minute drive from Victoria Falls town. The concession is bounded by the Masuwe River and the Zambezi gorges, which gives The Elephant Camp its star feature: every suite looks straight across the Batoka Gorge, with the spray of Mosi-oa-Tunya rising on the horizon.

The Elephant Camp gives you Victoria Falls without the bustle of town. By day, the rainforest paths, the Zambezi and the town's activities are minutes away. By evening, you are back on your own deck with a plunge pool, the roar of the gorge and elephants walking past to the waterhole below the main lodge. Plains game drift through camp in much the same way, so the wildlife comes to you rather than the other way round.

The Elephant Camp is run by Wild Horizons, one of the most experienced operators in Victoria Falls, and the service shows it: warm, unhurried, and quick to remember how you take your coffee. The Elephant Camp is part of our hand-picked portfolio of the very best Victoria Falls Lodges.

Rooms and Suites

The Elephant Camp has 16 gorge-facing tented suites, split between 12 at the main camp and four at The Elephant Camp West. Each is a large, individually styled tent on a raised deck, with a private plunge pool and uninterrupted views over the Batoka Gorge and the surrounding bushveld. Even the bath comes with a view.

Every suite at The Elephant Camp includes:

  • Private viewing deck with plunge pool
  • Bedroom with pure cotton linen and a separate lounge area
  • En-suite bathroom with freestanding bath, indoor shower and outdoor shower
  • Air-conditioning, ceiling fans, heater and mosquito nets
  • Complimentary minibar and tea and coffee station
  • Safe, hairdryer and dressing gowns
  • Daily laundry service

The Elephant Camp West is a separate, self-contained section of four suites, built to the same size and style as the main camp. It suits families and small groups who want the whole place to themselves: a private camp with the same gorge views, a few minutes' walk from the main lodge.

Cuisine and Wine

The Elephant Camp serves every meal against the backdrop of the gorge, from breakfast and brunch to lunch, high tea and dinner under the stars. The kitchen team cooks a modern menu with traditional roots, built on game meat and locally sourced vegetables that change with the seasons. The outdoor pizza oven turns out handmade pizzas for anyone who wants one, and all drinks are included apart from premium brands.

Dietary requirements are catered for with advance notice.

Facilities

The Elephant Camp's central guest area is a spacious tented lodge with a lounge, a small library, a bar, indoor and outdoor dining areas and a large wooden viewing deck. From every one of these spaces, you can watch the spray of Victoria Falls in the distance and the elephant, plains game and birdlife coming down to the waterhole in front of camp.

  • Swimming pool with views over the bushveld and the gorge
  • Outdoor fire pit for after-dinner stories
  • Spa treatments in the privacy of your suite (on request, at additional cost)
  • Gift shop with souvenirs and local handicrafts
  • Free WiFi

Activities

The Elephant Camp's activity programme covers the best of Victoria Falls, both on and off the concession:

  • Guided tour of Victoria Falls
  • Visit to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust
  • Elephant interaction with the Wild Horizons elephants
  • Mountain bike rides through Victoria Falls National Park
  • Cycling through Victoria Falls town
  • Victoria Falls canopy tour
  • Guided nature and birding walks

All other Victoria Falls activities are at your own cost, including white-water rafting in the Batoka Gorge, canoe safaris on the upper Zambezi, helicopter flights over the Falls and sunset boat cruises.

Child Friendly

The Elephant Camp welcomes children and has four family suites: two at the main camp and two at The Elephant Camp West. Each family suite has two interleading bedrooms with their own entrances, the same private deck and plunge pool as the other suites, and the same view over the Batoka Gorge. For families travelling together, taking over all four suites at The Elephant Camp West makes a private camp of your own.

No babysitting service is available, and children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times. Walking activities are open to children aged 14 and over, at the guide's discretion.

The Elephant Camp FAQs

Where is The Elephant Camp in Victoria Falls?

The Elephant Camp is on a private concession within Victoria Falls National Park, Zimbabwe, bounded by the Masuwe River and the Zambezi gorges. The Elephant Camp lies about 10 km from the Falls and Victoria Falls town, roughly a 10-minute drive, and 15 km from Victoria Falls Airport. Every suite faces the Batoka Gorge, and the spray of Victoria Falls is visible from the main deck.

How many suites does The Elephant Camp have?

The Elephant Camp has 16 luxury tented suites: 12 at the main camp and four at The Elephant Camp West, a separate, self-contained section suited to families and small groups. Every suite at The Elephant Camp has a private deck with a plunge pool, air-conditioning, fans, mosquito nets, indoor and outdoor showers, and a freestanding bath facing the Batoka Gorge.

Is The Elephant Camp in a malaria area?

Yes. The Elephant Camp is in the Victoria Falls area of Zimbabwe, which is a malaria-risk area, and the risk is highest during the November to April rainy season. Guests at The Elephant Camp should take antimalarial prophylaxis prescribed by a travel doctor, use insect repellent from dusk, and sleep under the mosquito nets provided in every suite.

How do you get to The Elephant Camp?

Most guests reach The Elephant Camp by flying into Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe, 15 km away, followed by a road transfer included in the rate. Return transfers from Livingstone Airport in Zambia are also included, although that route crosses the border and needs the correct visa. The Elephant Camp is about 10 km from Victoria Falls town, around ten minutes by road.

Is The Elephant Camp suitable for families with children?

The Elephant Camp welcomes children and has four family suites, two at the main camp and two at The Elephant Camp West, each with two interleading bedrooms. Families can also book all four suites at The Elephant Camp West as a private camp. There is no babysitting service, children must be supervised at all times, and walking activities are for ages 14 and over.

What is included in a stay at The Elephant Camp?

A stay at The Elephant Camp includes accommodation, all meals, all drinks except premium brands, an in-suite minibar, laundry, and return transfers from Victoria Falls or Livingstone airports. It also covers a shuttle to Victoria Falls town, emergency medical evacuation cover, tourism levy and VAT. Excluded are flights, extra transfers, gratuities, curios, the conservation levy and paid activities such as rafting.

In Conclusion

The Elephant Camp is the lodge to choose when you want Victoria Falls on your doorstep but a proper safari camp to come home to. The reasons are concrete:

  • Just 16 suites, each with its own plunge pool and a view straight down the Batoka Gorge
  • A waterhole that brings elephants past your deck
  • The spray of the Falls on the horizon at sundowners
  • Town and the rainforest paths only 10 minutes away

Add the all-inclusive drinks, a pizza oven and Wild Horizons' seasoned team, and it is a very easy place to stay.

Getting there is simple. Fly into Victoria Falls Airport, 15 km from camp, and the road transfer is already in your rate. Two nights covers the Falls and a slow afternoon on the deck. Three to five nights lets you add rafting, a helicopter flight or a day trip to Chobe in Botswana. The Elephant Camp also pairs naturally with Hwange National Park for a full Zimbabwe safari.

The right time depends on what you want to see. March to May brings the Falls in full flood, with spray you can see from the camp deck. June to October is the dry season, when game gathers at the waterhole and the Batoka Gorge rapids are at their best. November to April is the green season, with migrant birds and lush bush, but the highest malaria risk.

Uyaphi.com has been planning Zimbabwe safaris since 1999, and 27 years of matching travellers to the right lodge in the right season goes into every itinerary we build. We charge no booking fees and no credit card surcharges. Tell us your dates and your brief, and we'll build The Elephant Camp into a Victoria Falls safari that fits you.

Rates From

Rates from US$ 702.00 Per person per night

Rates Information

The Elephant Camp Rates
Per person per night sharing
Rates are in US Dollar
*Rates may vary according to season

Rates Include
  • Accommodation
  • All meals
  • All drinks
  • Complimentary mini bars in the rooms
  • Return Victoria Falls Airport / Livingstone Airport transfers
  • Shuttle to Victoria Falls town
  • Laundry
  • Emergency Medical Evacuation cover
  • Tourism levy and VAT
Rates Exclude
  • All flights
  • Additional transfers and shuttles
  • Premium brand drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Curios
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Conservation Levy

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