Matetsi Victoria Falls
Highlights
- 15 km of private Zambezi River frontage, 40 km upriver of Victoria Falls
- Game drives and walking safaris across the 55,000-hectare Matetsi Private Game Reserve
- Every River Lodge suite has its own private plunge pool and river-view deck
- Sunrise and sunset boat cruises and canoeing on the upper Zambezi
- Superb riverine birding, straight from your deck
- A private wine cellar and a menu of Zambezi bream, venison and sadza
- Africology spa, fitness studio and a 20 m lap pool above the river
- A guided tour of Victoria Falls included in the stay
Information
- Lodge type: Luxury private game reserve river lodge
- Location: Matetsi Private Game Reserve, Zambezi River, 40 km upriver of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
- Lodge size: 18 suites in two camps (including 2 Family Suites), plus the four-bedroom River House
- Recommended stay: 3-7 nights
- Malaria risk: Yes. Matetsi Victoria Falls is in a malaria area, with the highest risk in the November–April rains. Take antimalarial advice from a travel clinic before you go.
- Getting there: About 60 km and 1 hour by road from Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA), and under 45 minutes from Victoria Falls town. A helicopter transfer from VFA to the lodge helipad takes about 15 minutes, and a private airstrip on the reserve takes charter flights. Road transfers also run from Livingstone (Zambia) and Kasane (Botswana), about 1.5 hours each.
Matetsi Game Reserve Offers Up An Exclusive And Luxury River Lodge Near Victoria Falls
Matetsi Victoria Falls is a luxury river lodge on 15 km of private Zambezi River frontage inside the 55,000-hectare Matetsi Private Game Reserve, 40 km upriver of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. It gives you the Falls and a true private-reserve safari in one stay. Elephants and buffalo come down to drink, hippos grumble in the shallows, and the only traffic is on the river.
Matetsi River Lodge is split into two intimate camps set in riverine forest on the Zambezi's bank, each with its own main area and decks above the water. The design is contemporary and quietly African, the service is personal, and the view from almost every seat is the river. It is one of the most complete luxury stays in the whole Victoria Falls region.
Matetsi Victoria Falls suits couples, honeymooners, families and small groups who want the Falls on the itinerary without sleeping in town. Mornings belong to the game reserve, afternoons to the pool or the spa, and evenings to a boat on the Zambezi with a cold drink as the sun goes down.
Matetsi Victoria Falls is part of our selection of the Best Lodges In Victoria Falls.
Rooms and Suites
Matetsi Victoria Falls offers three types of accommodation: River Lodge Suites, River Lodge Family Suites and the exclusive-use River House.
- Matetsi River Lodge Suites: spacious air-conditioned suites with king or twin beds, en-suite bathrooms, a private plunge pool and a private deck facing the Zambezi River.
- Matetsi River Lodge Family Suites: a master suite linked to a separate children's room by an enclosed passage, with a private plunge pool and a river-view deck.
- Matetsi River House: an exclusive-use villa for families or small groups, with four air-conditioned en-suite bedrooms, indoor and outdoor lounges and a private swimming pool.
Matetsi River House is one of the most desirable private villas in southern Africa. It comes with its own private chef, butler and safari vehicle with a private guide and tracker, so the whole day runs to your timetable.
Cuisine and Wine
Matetsi Victoria Falls serves a changing menu of international and Zimbabwean dishes, from Zambezi bream, a freshwater fish, to venison, sadza (white maize meal) and peanut butter rice. The kitchen team cooks fresh daily, and vegetarian and vegan dishes are always available. Please tell us about any other dietary requirements when booking.
Matetsi River Lodge has indoor and outdoor dining spaces, a boma for traditional dinners around the fire, and al fresco lounges above the river. The private wine cellar is reason enough to linger over dinner.
Facilities
Matetsi Victoria Falls has a main guest area with views of the Zambezi from almost every angle, stylish interiors and staff always close at hand. Facilities include:
- A 20 m lap pool overlooking the Zambezi River
- A private wine cellar
- A shopping boutique
- A library and boardroom for quiet reading or business meetings
- iPads for guest use
- Complimentary laundry service
- Complimentary WiFi throughout the lodge
Activities
Matetsi Victoria Falls includes game drives, walking safaris, boat cruises and a guided tour of Victoria Falls in its rates. Morning and evening game drives, night drives and full-day drives explore the Matetsi Private Game Reserve, while walking safaris with an armed guide bring you down to the level of tracks, dung and birdsong.
Matetsi Victoria Falls is just as rewarding on the water. Sunrise and sunset boat cruises show the upper Zambezi from the river itself, with hippos, crocodiles and elephants on the banks. Canoeing lets you paddle quietly along the channels at the river's own pace.
Activities in and around Victoria Falls are charged separately and include white-water rafting, helicopter flights, the zip-line and bungee jumping from the Victoria Falls Bridge.
Child Friendly
Matetsi Victoria Falls welcomes children of all ages, with Family Suites and the four-bedroom River House designed for families. Children's meals are available, and childminders and babysitters can be arranged on request at additional cost. Activity age limits apply: walking safaris are for guests aged 16 and over, and younger children join game drives and river cruises at management's discretion.
Matetsi Victoria Falls is in a malaria area. Consult a travel clinic about prophylaxis suitable for children well before you travel.
Spa and Wellness
Matetsi Victoria Falls runs its spa in partnership with Africology. Treatments include massages, body wraps, facials, manicures and pedicures. A treatment on the banks of the Zambezi is one of the great pleasures of a stay here.
Matetsi Victoria Falls also has a fitness studio and a massage sala facing the bushveld, for those who like a workout before breakfast or a treatment in the open air.
FAQ's
How far is Matetsi Victoria Falls from Victoria Falls?
Matetsi Victoria Falls is 40 km upriver of Victoria Falls, on the Zimbabwean bank of the Zambezi River. The drive from Victoria Falls town takes under 45 minutes. The lodge includes a guided tour of the Falls in its rates, so guests see the waterfall without giving up the quiet of a private game reserve. Road transfers within the Victoria Falls area are complimentary.
How do you get to Matetsi Victoria Falls?
Matetsi Victoria Falls is reached by road or helicopter from Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA). The road transfer covers about 60 km and takes roughly an hour, while a helicopter lands at the lodge helipad in about 15 minutes. Charter flights can use the reserve's private airstrip. Road transfers also run from Livingstone in Zambia and Kasane in Botswana, around 1.5 hours each.
Is Matetsi Victoria Falls in a malaria area?
Matetsi Victoria Falls is not malaria-free: it lies in a malaria area, like the whole Victoria Falls region of Zimbabwe. The risk is highest in the November–April rains and lower in the dry winter months, but it is present all year. Take antimalarial advice from a travel clinic before you leave, and use insect repellent after dark. Ask about suitable options for children if you are travelling as a family.
What is included at Matetsi Victoria Falls?
Matetsi Victoria Falls rates include accommodation, three meals a day, and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. They also cover game drives, walking options, birdwatching, a sunrise or sunset boat cruise, a guided tour of Victoria Falls, scheduled return transfers, laundry, emergency medical evacuation insurance and a US$20 per person per night conservation contribution. Spa treatments, premium drinks, flights and Victoria Falls adventure activities are extra.
Is Matetsi Victoria Falls suitable for families?
Matetsi Victoria Falls welcomes children of all ages. It suits families well, with two River Lodge Family Suites that link a master suite to a children's room, and the four-bedroom River House for exclusive use. Childminders and babysitters are available at extra cost. Activity age limits apply: walking safaris are for guests aged 16 and over, and younger children join drives and cruises at management's discretion.
When is the best time to visit Matetsi Victoria Falls?
Matetsi Victoria Falls is worth visiting all year, but the season shapes the trip. June to October is the dry season, when the bush thins and animals gather on the Zambezi for the best game viewing. March to May brings Victoria Falls at or near peak flow, spray and all. November to April is the green season, with migrant birds, lush landscapes and the highest malaria risk.
In Conclusion
Matetsi Victoria Falls is the lodge to choose when you want Victoria Falls and a proper private-reserve safari in one stay, far from the bustle of town. The reasons are concrete: 15 km of private Zambezi frontage, 55,000 hectares of reserve, a plunge pool at every suite, and the Falls themselves 40 km downstream, with a guided tour already in the rate. Add a wine cellar, an Africology spa and warm Zimbabwean hospitality, and it is very hard to leave.
Getting there is simple. Fly into Victoria Falls International Airport, and an hour by road or 15 minutes by helicopter puts you on the riverbank. Three nights gives you a full day at the Falls and two days in the reserve. Matetsi Victoria Falls also pairs naturally with Hwange National Park for elephants, or with Chobe across the border in Botswana.
The right time depends on what you want: June to October for game viewing, March to May for the Falls in full flood, and November to April for birds and green landscapes.
Uyaphi.com has been planning Zimbabwe safaris since 1999: 27 years of matching travellers to the right lodge in the right season. We charge no booking fees and no credit card surcharges. Tell us your dates and your brief, and we'll build Matetsi Victoria Falls into a safari that fits you.
Rates from US$ 1,300.00 Per person per night
Matetsi Victoria Falls Rates
Per person per night sharing
Rates are in US Dollar
*Rates may vary according to season
- Accommodation
- Three meals daily
- Selection of non-alcoholic & alcoholic beverages
- Refreshments on game drives
- Activities include game drives and walking options; birdwatching; a sunrise or sunset boat cruise
- Scheduled return transfers
- Tour of the Falls
- Laundry
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance
- Conservation Contribution of US$ 20 per person per night
- All flights
- All other transfers
- All other activities
- Travel insurance
- Items of a personal nature
- Spa treatments
- Gratuities
- Champagne & exclusive (premium) beverages
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