Old Drift Lodge

We stayed at the Old Drift Lodge on a recent (November, '25) visit and had a wonderful time. The staff were all very accommodating and helpful with any request or need. The game drives and river cruises were excellent and we saw an abundance of wildlife. The "tents" were hardly tents, they were more like luxury suites at a top end hotel. We will happily come back to ODL on future trips.

Our guide, Fusa, is an expert ranger with extensive knowledge of fauna and flora. He went out of his way to find great viewing on the Zambezi and in the reserve. The staff were attentive and helpful, all with a sense of humour. The lodge possesses a fascinating history, with its location on the river and proximity to the Victoria Falls.

To the wonderful team at Old Driftwood,

From the moment we arrived, we knew Old Driftwood was something special a luxury riverside camp with unexpected charm, tucked along the banks of the mighty Zambezi River. The setting alone felt magical: canvas suites blending comfort with wilderness, soft sand pathways, and endless views of the waterhole where life unfolded from sunrise to nightfall.

This entire journey through Africa began as a trip for a medical conference, and we decided to add on a visit to Zimbabwe to see the legendary Victoria Falls, choosing to stay here at Old Driftwood. It ended up being one of the best decisions we made.
What made it even more meaningful was traveling with an incredible group of physicians and their families, people who travel the world to learn, teach, and share their knowledge. We couldn’t have asked for a better group to explore this corner of Africa with.

Each day at Old Driftwood started and ended with the Zambezi breathing beside us, hippos popping just their eyes and ears above the water, crocodiles gliding quietly along the banks, and whole families of elephants crossing the river with breathtaking grace. One river safari brought us face to face with nature’s raw truth: an elephant carcass along the shore, drawing vultures, crocodiles, and other scavengers. It was powerful, humbling, and unforgettable.

And always, the meals were exceptional beautifully prepared, thoughtful, and full of flavor. Every breakfast, lunch, and dinner felt like a celebration shared among friends.

King Solomon, your service was truly royal. Every detail you oversaw made us feel honored and looked after.

Farai, thank you for being the calm heartbeat of the camp — keeping us on schedule, guiding us effortlessly from one experience to the next, and making the logistics invisible so the magic could shine.

Mtha, your warmth demonstrated the soul of African hospitality — open, gracious, and deeply genuine.

Amanda, your playful spirit made every moment brighter. The impromptu birthday celebration for our dear friend Allison, your song in your native language and that delightful, bird-like tongue trill, is something we’ll cherish forever.

JB and Stephen, your passion for Zimbabwe’s land, culture, and wildlife brought the bush to life. You helped us see this country not just with our eyes, but with our hearts.

Alex, Love Mo, and Mtha, your smiles greeted us each day like morning sunshine. You made every meal feel personal and full of warmth.

And throughout our stay, the Zambezi shared her own stories — glowing at sunset, whispering through the reeds, carrying the sounds of the bush straight to our doorstep.

Thank you for turning our Zimbabwe journey into something far deeper than a post-conference trip. Old Driftwood wasn’t just a place we stayed, it became a place we felt connected, inspired, and grateful.

With heartfelt appreciation,
Your friends who will always remember Old Driftwood

Our stay at ODL exceeded my expectations! For a luxury camp site, it was heavy on the luxury and camp only meant it was set in the most beautiful natural settings including some elephant visitors! The staff were so welcoming and friendly and I left feeling like they were family!

The Old Drift lodge is amazing. The staff are amazing and the facility is great. There attention to detail and welcoming staff attend to your every need creating great value for price.

I loved arriving by boat on the great Zambezi River. The staff in zim are so welcoming and the service was very good. Nice food also.

We stayed at this lodge for 3 nights and were in awe of everything...the accommodations were incredible, the service and food was excellent but most importantly, we felt safe and well taken care of. The guides and rangers are so knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. If only tourism and hospitality were like this everywhere...thank you for providing us an amazing African experience.

We booked with the Old Drift Lodge to see Victoria Falls. The falls were great. But I believe the hidden treasure found at the Old Drift Lodge is its location on the Zambezi River allowing easy access to the river and the birds on the river. Our 2 guides, Fanuel and Presha, knew all the birds we saw on the river and were able to get us close for some great photos.

The Old Drift Lodge is a spectacular spot located on the Zambezi River with lots of wild life surrounding the lodge! The lodging accommodations are beautiful, well appointed and serviced. The food is outstanding and the entire staff could not be more gracious, helpful and engaging. What a wonderful place and vacation!

We loved everything about the Old Drift Lodge. Location on the Zambezi River was excellent. The accommodation was perfect. We had an elephant stroll pass our tent within minutes of checking in. Staff were so friendly and Vusa our guide was so knowledgable and passionate about the wildlife. So much to see and do ... including Victoria Falls, sunset and sunrise cruises and of course safari drives.

Our entire stay at Old Drift Lodge was nothing short of extraordinary! From the stunning accommodations to the delectable food and the phenomenal staff, every aspect blew us away! Presha, our game ranger, was an absolute gem—patient, kind, and full of knowledge. Each game drive was an exhilarating adventure, packed with learning and wonder. We anticipated spotting a few animals, but the overwhelming number that we encountered left us in awe! Picture this: lions roaring majestically, elephants gallivanting, zebras prancing, and giraffes gracefully nibbling leaves.Every moment was packed with excitement and discovery! Can't wait to coming back soon.

Old Drift Lodge Staff/Guides went above and beyond to make our Safari Experience Amazing! Beautiful accommodations, friendliest staff ever, excellent food, and extremely knowledgeable Guide/Trackers! Can't recommend enough!

Everything was great. Staff was wonderful. Our guide Stephen was so helpful and informative. Arranged for us to visit a village, not a tourist stop. This is a place not to miss. It was our last few days in Africa and one of the highlights.

We were a group of 6 ( 3 couples) and Old Drift Lodge was our first lodge at the start of a safari holiday. This is an excellent, small lodge in a great location on the banks of the Zambezi River. A very personalised experience.

Rooms were great ( and air conditioned) and the communal areas first class. All meals were really good.

Our guide ( JB) was fantastic and went out if his way to maximise our opportunity to see some amazing animals. The mix of boat and land based viewing was very good.

Highly recommend .

This lodge is nothing short of amazing!! We were looked after by the attentive staff from the minute we walked in. The waiters, guides, manager (Amanda), and housekeeping staff were all incredibly helpful. The food was delicious! The river safaris and game drives were full of exciting sightings and the included Vic Falls tour puts this place over the top. We can’t wait to come back!!

My husband and I stayed at Old Drift Lodge as part of our honeymoon, and it was truly unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, the team went above and beyond to make us feel so special. They surprised us with a stunning room that even had the option to sleep under the stars, which made the experience feel incredibly romantic.

They also coordinated a private dinner for us that was one of the highlights of our trip. The food throughout our stay was exceptional—every meal was delicious and beautifully presented.

Our game drives were incredible, and our guide, JB, was not only super knowledgeable about the animals but also about Victoria Falls and the surrounding nature. We were lucky enough to see hippos, giraffes, elephants, leopards, and so much more—it was such a dream.

What really stood out most was the service. Every single person we met was so welcoming, attentive, and genuinely kind. They made us feel celebrated and cared for every step of the way.

Old Drift Lodge is a magical place, and we feel so grateful to have spent part of our honeymoon there. We can’t recommend it enough!

Trip of a lifetime! We had the most amazing experience at this lodge! Highly recommended! Staff was amazing and the rooms were incredible!

The most amazing experience! From the moment you arrive by boat you are treated like royalty. The staff are absolutely brilliant, they cannot do enough for you. We had the same 2 waiters for the 3 nights, lots of conversation and laughs with them. Game drives were just myself and wife with an incredible number of animals seen, including leopards, elephants, lions, zebra, giraffes etc. River safaris were so lovely, peaceful on the river in the mornings with a lot of hippos, elephants and crocs. The food is amazing and sooo much of it. Whatever drink you want is available whenever you want it, with a fully stocked mini bar in the room, restocked daily with your choices. The rooms are huge and the plunge pool overlooking the Zambezi river is a very pleasant place to be. Our room was one of the 3 with the Star Suite, an outside elevated bed where you sleep under the stars and listen to the animals at night. A very unique experience. Old Drift Lodge is not cheap, however it is worth every cent for the once in a lifetime experience you have. 10/10 in all respects, you would not be disappointed staying here.

Amazing staff and amenities. Everyone was friendly, overly helpful and kind. The guides were knowledgeable and great! It was our honeymoon and they set up a candle lit dinner for us. The food was also very good. Highly recommend this establishment. This was our last stop in Africa and it was a perfect ending on our safari.

Beautiful location and wonderful people! Presha was a fantastic guide and we had a great on the sunset cruise, safari drive and exploring the falls.