Mbano Manor Hotel
Highlights
- 18 luxury suites and the private Mutota Forest Villa, set in a four-acre ancient teak forest
- Officially graded five-star by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, and a Mantis Collection hotel within Accor
- Freestanding clawfoot baths, hand-painted tiles and his-and-hers dressing rooms in every suite
- Locally sourced cooking, an extensive wine list and a courtyard bar with a serious cocktail menu
- A sparkling swimming pool in beautifully manicured private gardens
- About 5 km from the Falls, with guided tours, rafting, helicopter flights and game drives booked at the front desk
- Family-friendly, with safe garden space for children and a children's menu
- Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the grounds
Information
- Lodge type: Five-Star Luxury Boutique Hotel (Mantis Collection)
- Location: Edge of Victoria Falls town, Zimbabwe, about 5 km from the Falls
- Lodge size: 18 Suites And 1 Forest Villa
- Recommended stay: 2–5 nights
- Malaria risk: Yes. Victoria Falls is a malaria area; take prophylaxis year-round, with the highest risk in the November–April rains
- Getting there: Approximately 20 km (about 20 minutes by road) from Victoria Falls Airport (VFA), which has direct scheduled flights from Johannesburg. No light-aircraft transfer is needed.
Discover Unparalleled Luxury At Mbano Manor Hotel in Victoria Falls Town
Mbano Manor Hotel by Mantis is a five-star boutique hotel of 18 suites and one private forest villa, set in four acres of ancient teak on the edge of Victoria Falls town, about 5 km from the Falls themselves. It opened in 2020, was graded five-star by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority in 2024 and was named on TIME's list of the World's Greatest Places in 2025. It is one of the most intimate and beautifully finished places to stay at Victoria Falls. The whole estate is run as a bird and tree sanctuary, so mornings start with birdsong under the canopy rather than traffic.
Mbano Manor Hotel was founded and built by Zimbabwean hotelier Matifadza Nyazema. It is the first hotel of its kind led by a Black Zimbabwean woman, and women's empowerment runs through its story. The hotel belongs to the Mantis Collection, the luxury arm of Accor, so Accor ALL members earn their loyalty benefits here. Every building was placed to disturb as few of the original teak trees as possible. The style is classic bungalow architecture, with traditional shutters, deep verandas and generous, airy rooms.
Mbano Manor Hotel works brilliantly for three kinds of traveller:
- Couples who want five-star polish without a 200-room resort
- Families who need space, a pool and a villa that sleeps six
- Safari travellers who want two or three restorative nights at the Falls before or after the bush
Rooms And Suites
Mbano Manor Hotel has 19 units: 10 king-bedded suites, each with its own private courtyard; 8 twin-bedded suites; and the Mutota Forest Villa, which sleeps up to six. Every suite follows the same generous plan:
- A calming lounge area and a spacious bedroom with king or twin beds and high-quality linen
- A full bathroom with exquisitely hand-painted tiles and a classic freestanding clawfoot bath
- A private his-and-hers dressing room
- Air-conditioning, a minibar and tea and coffee facilities
- A private courtyard (king suites)
The Mutota Forest Villa is Mbano Manor Hotel's most private address. It opened in late 2021 in its own corner of the estate, with private gardens, a plunge pool and separate access. It is the obvious choice for a family, two couples travelling together, or anyone who wants the hotel's five-star service with complete seclusion.
Cuisine And Wine
Mbano Manor Hotel's restaurant cooks with locally sourced ingredients, ranging from traditional Zimbabwean dishes to contemporary cuisine. Breakfast is included in the rate, while lunch and dinner are charged separately. Every arrival begins with complimentary high tea and a bottle of wine, which is one of the nicest welcomes at the Falls.
The restaurant has both formal and informal seating, so a relaxed lunch and a candlelit dinner feel equally at home. The wine list is extensive, built around the finest South African labels with international bottles alongside.
Facilities
Mbano Manor Hotel's facilities centre on a spectacularly high-ceilinged main lounge with panoramic views across the private, meticulously manicured gardens. Around it you'll find:
- A restaurant with formal and informal seating
- A bar serving ice-cold beers, cool drinks, an extensive cocktail menu and South African wines
- A sparkling outdoor swimming pool with sun loungers, set in the gardens
- Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the grounds
- A front desk that books every Victoria Falls activity
After a morning in the spray at the Falls, an afternoon between the pool and the shade of the teak trees is about as good as Victoria Falls gets.
Activities
Mbano Manor Hotel books every major Victoria Falls activity at its front desk. The entrance to the Falls rainforest is roughly 5 km away, about 10 minutes by road. The best of them:
- Guided tour of the Falls: walk the Zimbabwe-side rainforest path, where the views of the main curtain are the finest on either side of the border
- White-water rafting: run the famous rapids of the Batoka Gorge below the Falls
- Helicopter flights: a bird's-eye view of the whole gorge system and the spray column
- Zambezi sunset cruise: elephant, hippo and crocodile on the upper Zambezi, drink in hand
- Game drives and guided walks: in Zambezi National Park, about 1.5 km from the hotel
Child Friendly
Mbano Manor Hotel welcomes families and is one of the most practical five-star options at Victoria Falls for travelling with children. Twin-bedded suites suit parents with older children, and the six-sleeper Mutota Forest Villa gives a whole family its own gardens and plunge pool.
- Enclosed garden grounds with open space for children to run and explore safely
- A children's menu with both nutritious and fun options
- A swimming pool for hot afternoons
- Family-friendly outings such as Zambezi sunset cruises and game drives, booked at the front desk
FAQ
Where is Mbano Manor Hotel in Victoria Falls?
Mbano Manor Hotel by Mantis stands in a four-acre ancient teak forest on the edge of Victoria Falls town in north-western Zimbabwe. The hotel is about 5 km, roughly 10 minutes by road, from the entrance to the Victoria Falls rainforest. It is around 1.5 km from Zambezi National Park and approximately 20 km from Victoria Falls Airport. The setting feels secluded while keeping the town, the Falls and the Zambezi River within easy reach.
How many rooms does Mbano Manor Hotel have?
Mbano Manor Hotel has 18 luxury suites and one private villa, 19 units in total. Ten suites have king beds and a private courtyard, and eight have twin beds. Every suite includes a lounge area, a bathroom with a freestanding clawfoot bath and hand-painted tiles, and a his-and-hers dressing room. The Mutota Forest Villa sleeps up to six and has its own gardens, plunge pool and private access.
Is there malaria at Mbano Manor Hotel?
Yes. Mbano Manor Hotel is in Victoria Falls, which is a malaria area, so anti-malaria medication is recommended for every guest. The risk rises during the November-to-April rainy season but is present all year. See a travel clinic four to six weeks before departure. Pack long sleeves and insect repellent for evenings in the gardens and on the Zambezi River.
How do you get to Mbano Manor Hotel?
Mbano Manor Hotel is reached through Victoria Falls Airport (VFA), which has direct scheduled flights from Johannesburg. The hotel lies approximately 20 km, about 20 minutes by road, from the airport, and return VFA transfers are included in the Mbano Manor Hotel rate. No light-aircraft flight is needed. Guests arriving from Botswana's Chobe region usually connect by road transfer via the Kazungula border.
Is Mbano Manor Hotel good for families with children?
Mbano Manor Hotel suits families well. Twin-bedded suites work for parents travelling with older children, and the Mutota Forest Villa sleeps up to six, with its own gardens and plunge pool. The hotel's enclosed teak-forest grounds give children safe space to run, and the restaurant offers a children's menu. The front desk can book family-friendly outings such as Zambezi sunset cruises and game drives in Zambezi National Park.
What is included in the Mbano Manor Hotel rate?
Mbano Manor Hotel rates are quoted per person per night sharing, in US dollars. They include breakfast, return transfers from Victoria Falls Airport, complimentary high tea and a bottle of wine on arrival, plus tax and tourism levy. Lunch, dinner, drinks, activities, flights, other transfers, gratuities and travel insurance are extra. Through Uyaphi.com, Mbano Manor Hotel is priced as part of a tailor-made safari itinerary.
In Conclusion
Mbano Manor Hotel is the Victoria Falls hotel to choose when you want genuine five-star quality on an intimate scale. It has 19 units in an ancient teak forest, clawfoot baths and private courtyards, a pool in manicured gardens, and the Falls just 5 km down the road. The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority grading, the Mantis Collection name and the TIME World's Greatest Places listing all confirm what the setting makes obvious: this is one of the finest boutique stays at Victoria Falls.
Why Mbano Manor Hotel: it is small enough for personal service and polished enough for a honeymoon. It has the space and the six-sleeper villa that families need, and it is calm enough to recover in after a week of early game drives.
How to book it: Mbano Manor Hotel works best as two or three nights within a tailor-made itinerary. Pair it with Hwange National Park's elephant herds, Chobe in Botswana or a canoe safari on the Zambezi, with flights, transfers and activities arranged as one seamless journey. We charge no booking fees and no credit card surcharges.
When to go: Victoria Falls is worth visiting year-round, but the experience changes with the river:
- High water, roughly February to June: the full thundering curtain and drenching spray, so bring a raincoat
- Low water, roughly August to December: clearer views of the rock face, the best white-water rafting and hot, dry days by the pool
Uyaphi.com has been planning African journeys since 1999: 27 years of matching travellers to the right lodge, the right season and the right route. Tell us your dates and who's travelling, and we'll build your Victoria Falls stay around Mbano Manor Hotel.
Rates form part of a safari itinerary
Mbano Manor Hotel Rates
Per person per night sharing
Rates are in US Dollars (US$)
*Rates may vary according to season
- Inclusive of Breakfast
- Return airport transfers (VFA ONLY)
- Complimentary High Tea and bottle of wine ;on arrival
- TAX and Tourism Levy
- All flights
- All transfers and activities
- Lunches and dinners
- All drinks
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
- Items of a personal nature
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