Pioneers Victoria Falls
Highlights
- Just 2.5 km from Victoria Falls, in a quiet residential suburb of Victoria Falls town
- 50 garden-view rooms: 46 king rooms and four family rooms
- Saloon-style bar pouring a craft beer brewed with Zambezi water
- Two swimming pools set in manicured, indigenous gardens
- Newly renovated day spa with massages, body treatments and facials
- Largely solar-powered, with active support for local anti-poaching and conservation projects
- Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the lodge
- On-site activities desk for falls tours, rafting, river cruises, helicopter flights and Chobe day trips
- Children of all ages welcome, with a children's menu and family rooms
Information
- Lodge type: Victoria Falls Upmarket Hotel
- Location: Victoria Falls Town, Zimbabwe
- Lodge size: 50 Rooms
- Recommended stay: 2-5 nights
- Malaria risk: Yes — Victoria Falls is a malaria area; antimalarial prophylaxis is advised, with the highest risk in the November to April rains
- Getting there: About 20 km (roughly 20–25 minutes by road) from Victoria Falls International Airport; no light-aircraft transfer needed
Discover Timeless Elegance And Adventure At Pioneers Victoria Falls
Pioneers Victoria Falls is a 50-room upmarket garden lodge in a quiet residential suburb of Victoria Falls town, Zimbabwe, just 2.5 kilometres from the Falls. Mosi-oa-Tunya, "the Smoke that Thunders", is close enough for a morning walk through the rainforest and back before the day heats up. Yet the lodge sits far enough from the main road that the loudest thing at night is the frogs in the garden.
Pioneers Victoria Falls takes its name and mood from the early explorers who first mapped this stretch of the Zambezi. The look is colonial-era: overhead fans, polished wood, a saloon-style bar and deep verandas facing manicured lawns. Beneath it runs a thoroughly modern lodge, with air-conditioning, complimentary Wi-Fi, USB sockets in the walls and a roof largely powered by the African sun. Every one of the 50 rooms looks onto the gardens, and the two swimming pools and a newly renovated day spa give guests every reason to linger between adventures.
Pioneers Victoria Falls also works superbly as a launchpad. The on-site activities desk books everything the region is famous for, from guided tours of the Falls and sunset cruises on the upper Zambezi to white-water rafting, helicopter flights and day trips into Botswana's Chobe National Park. The lodge offers great value, warm service and one of the most peaceful settings in town, and it suits couples, families and small groups alike.
Rooms And Suites
Pioneers Victoria Falls has 50 rooms: 46 king rooms and four family rooms, each opening onto a veranda over the gardens. The king rooms are spacious and cool, finished in clean lines with touches of African art and pattern. Every room comes with:
- Air-conditioning and ceiling fans
- Floor-to-ceiling mosquito nets
- Tea and coffee station
- Digital room safe
- International plug points and USB wall sockets
- En-suite bathroom with shower and double vanity
Pioneers Victoria Falls family rooms pair a main double room with an adjoining twin-bedded annex, decorated with children in mind. Parents keep their own space, and the children have somewhere to call their own. Cots can be added to king rooms on request. All rooms and the main lodge area are non-smoking, with designated smoking spots around the grounds.
Cuisine And Wine
Pioneers Victoria Falls serves breakfast daily and offers dinner on a half-board basis, in the dining room or out on the spacious garden terrace. Uyaphi.com rates include a full English breakfast, served buffet-style with eggs cooked to order, and it sets you up superbly for a morning at the Falls. Lunches and evening meals are relaxed affairs, and children have their own menu.
Pioneers Victoria Falls keeps its signature pour at the bar: a craft beer brewed with water from the Zambezi River. It tastes all the better after a day spent in the spray of the very river it came from.
Facilities
Pioneers Victoria Falls centres on a spacious main lodge that holds the lounge, the dining room, the saloon-style bar and a broad terrace overlooking the gardens. The décor is classic and warm, overhead fans keep the air moving, and every space is beautifully finished. It is the kind of lodge where guests drift from breakfast to the terrace to the pool without once looking at a clock.
Pioneers Victoria Falls facilities at a glance:
- Saloon-style bar serving Zambezi-water craft beer, cocktails and hot drinks
- Two swimming pools in tropical, indigenous gardens
- Day spa
- TV room
- Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout
- On-site activities desk
- Laundry service
- Secure parking and 24-hour security
Pioneers Victoria Falls runs largely on solar power, follows water-saving policies and supports local anti-poaching, wildlife research and anti-litter projects in the Victoria Falls region. Staying here puts something back into the landscape you have come to see.
Activities
Pioneers Victoria Falls books the full range of Victoria Falls activities through its on-site activities desk, and every one sets off within easy reach of the lodge. The Falls themselves are 2.5 km away, and the guided rainforest walk along the Zimbabwe side is the one experience no visit should skip. Activities are priced separately from the room rate.
- The Falls: guided tours of the rainforest viewpoints, the Victoria Falls Bridge tour and the Bamba Tram
- On the water: sunset cruises on the upper Zambezi with hippo and elephant along the banks, fishing, and white-water rafting in the Batoka Gorge
- In the air: helicopter and microlight flights over the Falls
- Adrenaline: bungee jumping, the canopy tour and high-wire activities in the gorge
- Wildlife: game drives, walking safaris, horse-riding safaris, the Siduli Hide and day trips to Chobe National Park in Botswana
- Culture: village tours and the history of Victoria Falls town
Child Friendly
Pioneers Victoria Falls welcomes children of all ages and is one of the most family-friendly lodges in Victoria Falls town. The four family rooms give children their own twin-bedded annex beside their parents' room. Cots are available on request, and the restaurant offers a children's menu for younger appetites. The two swimming pools and wide lawns give children space to burn off energy, although parents should supervise them around the water.
Pioneers Victoria Falls lies in a malaria area, and every room has floor-to-ceiling mosquito nets. Families should speak to a travel doctor about child-appropriate antimalarials before departure, and use repellent and long sleeves from dusk. The activities desk can suggest the best family outings, from the Falls walk and river cruises to gentle game drives.
Spa And Wellness
Pioneers Victoria Falls has a newly renovated day spa offering massages, body treatments and facials. It is the ideal antidote to a morning of rafting or a long day of sightseeing in the heat. Spa treatments are priced separately from the room rate, so book early in your stay to secure the times you want. Pair a late-afternoon massage with a swim in one of the garden pools and a Zambezi craft beer on the terrace, and you have the perfect Victoria Falls wind-down.
Pioneers Victoria Falls FAQs
How far is Pioneers Victoria Falls from Victoria Falls?
Pioneers Victoria Falls is 2.5 km from Victoria Falls, roughly a five-minute drive from the entrance to Victoria Falls National Park on the Zimbabwe side. The lodge sits in a quiet residential suburb of Victoria Falls town, so guests sleep away from the traffic of the main street. They can still reach the rainforest viewpoints, the Victoria Falls Bridge and the town's restaurants within minutes. The on-site activities desk arranges guided falls tours.
Is Pioneers Victoria Falls good for families with children?
Pioneers Victoria Falls welcomes children of all ages and has four family rooms. Each pairs a main double room with an adjoining twin-bedded annex, so parents and children share a unit without sharing a bed. Cots can be added to king rooms on request, the restaurant offers a children's menu and two swimming pools sit in the gardens. Parents should supervise children around both pools and discuss malaria prevention with a doctor before travel.
Is there malaria at Pioneers Victoria Falls?
Yes. Pioneers Victoria Falls is in a malaria area, because Victoria Falls, like all of Zimbabwe, carries a malaria risk. The risk is highest during the rainy season from November to April. Every room has floor-to-ceiling mosquito nets, but nets alone are not enough. Travellers should see a travel doctor about antimalarial tablets before departure, apply insect repellent from dusk and wear long sleeves in the evening.
How do you get to Pioneers Victoria Falls from the airport?
Pioneers Victoria Falls is about 20 km from Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA), a road transfer of roughly 20 to 25 minutes, and no light-aircraft connection is needed. Scheduled flights reach VFA from Johannesburg and other regional hubs. Airport transfers are not included in the Pioneers Victoria Falls room rate, so Uyaphi.com arranges them as part of each tailor-made Victoria Falls itinerary.
What is included in the Pioneers Victoria Falls rate?
Pioneers Victoria Falls rates booked through Uyaphi.com include accommodation, a full English breakfast, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority 2% levy and VAT where applicable. The lodge also offers dinner on a half-board basis, served in the dining room or on the garden terrace. Flights, transfers, activities, spa treatments, tips, travel insurance and the single supplement are excluded. Rates are quoted in US dollars as part of a full safari itinerary.
How many nights should I stay at Pioneers Victoria Falls?
Pioneers Victoria Falls suits a stay of two to five nights. Two nights covers a guided tour of the Falls, a sunset cruise on the upper Zambezi and a helicopter flight. Three or more nights adds white-water rafting, a Chobe National Park day trip into Botswana, horse riding or a slow afternoon by the pool. Longer stays pair beautifully with a wildlife safari in Hwange National Park.
In Conclusion
Pioneers Victoria Falls is the Victoria Falls base we recommend to travellers who want calm, space and genuine value within five minutes of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. The lodge offers 50 garden-view rooms, two pools, a day spa and a bar pouring beer brewed from the Zambezi itself. The service is warm and unhurried, the gardens are glorious, and the lodge is quiet enough that you will want to come back to it after every adventure rather than just sleep there.
Pioneers Victoria Falls works best as part of a tailor-made Southern African journey. Spend two to five nights here, then continue to the elephant herds of Hwange National Park, the river frontage of Chobe in Botswana, or the Okavango Delta. Time the visit to suit your plans. February to May brings the Falls at full, thundering flood, with spray visible for miles. From September to December the water drops, the basalt gorge is revealed and white-water rafting is at its wildest. Every month has its own drama, and we will help you choose yours.
Uyaphi.com has been planning African journeys since 1999, owner-run from Cape Town for 27 years. Pioneers Victoria Falls rates form part of a complete safari itinerary, with no booking fees and no credit card surcharges. Tell us when you would like to travel, who is coming and what you most want to see, and we will build your Victoria Falls stay at Pioneers around you, from airport transfer to the last sundowner on the Zambezi.
Rates from US$ 165.00 Per person per night
Pioneers Victoria Falls Rates
Per person per night sharing
Rates are in US Dollar
*Rates may vary according to season
- Accommodation
- Full English Breakfast
- Zimbabwe Tourism Authority 2% Levy
- Inclusive of VAT where applicable
- All flights
- All transfers
- Activities booked through the activities
- Tips / Gratuities
- Single Supplement Surcharge
- Travel insurance
- Items of a personal nature
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Zimbabwe Travel Topics
The Perfect Zimbabwe Honeymoon
Most honeymoons are an exercise in doing very little at considerable expense, and there is a great deal to be said for that. Zimbabwe simply arranges better company for it. Elephants come down to drink below the deck while you are still on your first coffee; the guide turns out to know which lion crossed the airstrip in the night; dinner happens on a Zambezi deck while the light goes orange and then goes altogether. Nobody puts Zimbabwe at the top of the shortlist — Kenya and the Cape get there first — which is precisely why the lodges are quieter and the guiding is better than it needs to be.
Top 10 Must See Attractions In Victoria Falls
Livingstone named it after a queen who never saw it, and the Tonga had been calling it Mosi-oa-Tunya, the smoke that thunders, for a very long time before he turned up. Theirs is the better name. Five hundred million litres a minute go over the edge in full flood, which is enough to soak you through a hired raincoat before you are halfway along the Zimbabwe footpath, and enough to hide the falls entirely if you have come in the wrong month. There is also a rock pool at the very lip of the drop that people swim in. We will come to that.
5 Best Lodges In Victoria Falls
You can see the falls properly in ninety minutes. The rest of the week happens wherever you are sleeping, which makes the choice of lodge matter more here than almost anywhere else in Zimbabwe. Some of them are town hotels with a shuttle and a buffet. Others sit far enough upriver that the loudest thing at breakfast is one hippo disagreeing with another. The gap in price between those two experiences is usually smaller than you would expect, and the gap in the holiday is not. Here are five I would put my own money on.
10 Reasons To Visit The Zambezi River
The Zambezi begins as a spring in a patch of Zambian woodland you could step across, and ends two and a half thousand kilometres later in the Indian Ocean, having spent much of the journey acting as the border of half of southern Africa. Six countries. One waterfall that needs no introduction, a dam that made an inland sea, and a stretch below that dam at Mana Pools where you are permitted to walk. It is also, at six in the evening with the light going, the single best place in this part of the continent to be sitting still.
Luxury Tented Safari Camps in Zimbabwe
"Tent" is a word working extremely hard in this part of the brochure. It covers canvas on a hardwood deck with a four-poster and plumbing that would pass in Kensington, and it also covers a bucket shower and a zip. What the two share is the actual reason to choose either: canvas does not keep sound out. You hear the elephants arrive at the Hwange waterhole at two in the morning. You hear the hippos settling their differences on the Zambezi. You lie there listening rather than sleeping, which is rather the point of the whole arrangement.
10 Reasons To Visit The Hwange National Park
Hwange should not really work. Most of it sits on Kalahari sand with no permanent river anywhere near it, and the reason elephants stand shoulder to shoulder at Nyamandhlovu Pan in October is that somebody is running a diesel pump. That decision was taken in the 1920s by a warden named Ted Davison, and it has been kept up, more or less, ever since. Fourteen thousand square kilometres of managed thirst. The Big Five are all present on paper, though I would not build a holiday around seeing the rhino. The elephants are an entirely different proposition.
Zimbabwe Travel Bucket List
For most of the last century the Rhodesian authorities preferred to believe that Zimbabweans had not built Great Zimbabwe. Phoenicians were proposed. So were the Queen of Sheba's architects. The stonework is Shona, laid without mortar, eleven metres high in places, and it is the only ruin I can think of that gave its name to the country containing it. That is the sort of country this is. The obvious things — the falls, the Hwange elephants, the rapids below the gorge — are worth every hour of the flight, and underneath them sits a second Zimbabwe that most itineraries never touch.
10 Reasons to Visit Victoria Falls for an Unforgettable Experience
The bridge was cast in Darlington, shipped out in pieces and bolted together over the gorge in 1905, and people now jump off it on an elastic rope. Victoria Falls has been like this ever since: a serious piece of natural history with an adrenaline economy bolted to the side of it. You can run the grade five rapids in the Batoka Gorge in the morning and be on a boat with a gin and tonic by six, watching the same water arrive flat and innocent above the lip. Both are honest ways to spend a day here. So is doing neither.