Ilala Lodge Hotel

Hotels
9.1 (174 reviews)
Ilala Lodge, A8, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe , Victoria Falls , zw

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Excellent location within walking distance of Victoria Falls
Very friendly and helpful staff
Beautiful gardens and outdoor seating with wildlife sightings
Comfortable, spacious rooms and balconies
Good restaurant/breakfast options noted by many guests
Cons:
Frequent helicopter noise during daytime
Intermittent in-room WiFi and slow response from reception at times
Some restaurant service inefficiencies (slow service)
A report of food poisoning and concerns about food safety from one guest
A few rooms described as tired/dated with carpets showing wear

Categories

Cleanliness
8.6
Generally reported as clean and comfortable in several reviews, though some guests noted tired rooms and old carpeting in places.
Service
9.9
Staff repeatedly described as very friendly, helpful and secure; some isolated reports of slow restaurant service and delayed assistance at reception, but overall service is a strong positive.
Location
9.8
Consistently praised for being very close to Victoria Falls with pleasant grounds and views; many guests highlighted the convenience and ability to hear the falls.
Room Quality
9.5
Rooms often described as spacious and comfortable with good beds and balconies; a few mentions of soft pillows/mattresses and some worn décor in places.
Amenities
9.3
Strong outdoor/indoor seating, attractive gardens and wildlife viewing; restaurant and bar well regarded. Some complaints about intermittent in-room WiFi.
Value for Money
8.3
Mixed sentiment: many feel location and facilities justify the price, while at least one guest felt the cost was excessive relative to room condition and services.
Food and Beverage
7.8
Breakfast and restaurant receive positive notes for variety and quality by several guests, but there are also reports of limited buffet selection, slow restaurant service, and a serious food-safety complaint from one guest.
Overall Experience
9.6
Overall very positive impressions driven by location, friendly staff, gardens and comfortable rooms; drawbacks include helicopter noise, some service delays and isolated food/room-condition issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-13 04:28

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodation with Spectacular Views

Unparalleled Dining Experience at The Cassia Restaurant

Indulge in exquisite cuisine while overlooking the lush gardens at our on-site restaurant. The perfect setting for a memorable dining experience.

Exciting Activities and Adventures

From witnessing the majestic Victoria Falls to adrenaline-pumping adventures like bungee jumping and white-water rafting, there is never a dull moment at Ilala Lodge Hotel.

Experience luxury and adventure seamlessly blended at Ilala Lodge Hotel. Book now to create unforgettable memories.

Important information:

A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: VFA

Location

Guest Reviews

9.1
Based on 174 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.6
Service: 9.9
Location: 9.8
Room Quality: 9.5
Amenities: 9.3
Value for Money: 8.3
Food and Beverage: 7.8
Overall Experience: 9.6
D
Deborah • extended_group • fr
9
Hôtel confortable avec bel aménagement extérieur proche des chutes
Pros:

Emplacement, aménagement extérieur, confort et propreté des chambres,

Cons:

Organisation activité un peu brouillon
Bruit constant hélicoptère.

2026-07-22 • via Nuitee
V
Valeria • couple • hk
1
Отвратительно 0/10
Pros:

Итак
Фишка отеля-его расположение, самое близкое к водопаду
Персонал приветливый, очень приятный нам понравился
Номера просторные
На этом плюсы заканчиваются

Cons:

Начну с того, что за двое суток мы заплатили 1000$
Его цена за сутки не 500$ А МАКСИМУМ 50$.
Почему?
Я отравилась в ресторане на ужине и меня полоскало так, как никогда в жизни!
Это просто отвратительно за 1000$ (УЖИН ЕСЛИ ЧТО СЮДА НЕ ВХОДИТ, за него мы платили отдельно) я получила испорченный следующий ВЕСЬ день
Дальше номера - очень уставшие, видно что старые, давно не было ремонта и такие номера ну никак не тянут на эту цену
Я никогда не пишу негативные отзывы, но тут просто не могу промолчать
Не советую никому этот отель!

2026-07-16 • via Nuitee
C
Catherine • solo_traveller • cy
9
Pros:

Lovely balcony with view over the gardens with visiting elephants to the pond.

Cons:

Constant noise from sightseeing helicopters from 8am to 5pm.

2026-07-06 • via Nuitee
P
Philippa • couple • gb
10
Beautiful hotel, great location and lovely staff
Pros:

Great location, superb bedrooms, lovely restaurant and bar, super friendly and helpful staff

Cons:

Nothing

2026-06-28 • via Nuitee
C
Carolyn • family_with_children • gb
10
2026-05-16 • via Nuitee
A
Amoetsoe • extended_group • gb
1
2026-04-28 • via Nuitee
M
Manditsera • couple • zw
10
2026-04-24 • via Nuitee
J
Jonna • couple • fi
10
2026-04-19 • via Nuitee
C
Colin • solo_traveller • hk
8
2026-04-17 • via Nuitee
F
FAITH • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-04-16 • via Nuitee
L
Laura • couple • be
9
Gorgeous hotel in a convenient location with excellent restaurant.
Pros:

The breakfast was wonderful. Plenty of choices on the buffet along with delicious options from the menu. Beautiful outdoor and indoor seating options and pleasant attentive staff.

Cons:

Wifi in the room kept dropping. Ended up going to the reception area to have a consistent connection.
Twice assistance requested from the main desk took quite a while (hours) to be addressed.

2026-04-11 • via Nuitee
M
mªAngeles • extended_group • es
9
Buena elección
Pros:

La ubicación. Oir las cataratas desde el hotel fue muy agradable. La habitación confortable con camas cómodas y las instalaciones muy completas.

Cons:

Puede mejorar la eficacia del personal del restaurante un poco lentos . No orientaban bien en el tipo de alimentos de la carta.
El desayuno poco variado y el bufet limitado.

2026-04-07 • via Nuitee
D
Donald • couple • us
10
Had excellent stay - staff is great!
Pros:

Location is perfect. 5 to 10 min. Walk to Victoria Falls.

Cons:

Pillows too soft and mattress could be more comfortable

2026-04-07 • via Nuitee
M
MARIA CHIARA • couple • it
9
Pros:

Il ristorante è la qualità dei piatti serviti la gentilezza del personale, la vicinanza alle cascate raggiungibili a piedi

Cons:

La moquette nelle camere

2026-04-02 • via Nuitee
C
Claudia • solo_traveller • ch
8
Sehr schönes Hotel nahe bei den Victoriafällen gelegen. Sehr gutes Personal, Security und Restaurant
Pros:

Sehr freundliches Personal. Sehr gute Lage nahe der Victoriafälle (zu Fuss erreichbar). Ruhig und gepflegt. Gute Security. Ein tolles Zimmer direkt zum Garten und dem Wildtiergebiet. Sehr schöne Gartenanlage und sehr schöne Pflanzen überall. Eine gute Restauration.

Cons:

Das Frühstücksbuffet war für die Kategorie Hotel viel zu mager (zu kleine Auswahl). Die Brote stammten allesamt aus industrieller Produktion - ich fand fast nichts ohne Konservierungsstoffe (auf die ich unverträglich bin). Die Früchte waren sehr gut.

2026-03-31 • via Nuitee
Z
Zaheer • solo_traveller • au
1
Glad to be gone
Pros:

Nothing. Horrible experience

Cons:

AVOID at all costs UNLESS YOU ARE A WHITE RETIREE!

if you don’t look like a white retiree then you’ll notice a different treatment here by certain staff members. It only takes one person to ruin your entire stay and that’s what happened to me here, let me explain.

Btw, this was a bucket list hotel for me, I had saved my hard earned money and flew here from Kenya as part of my greater Africa trip. I was so excited to stay here. On my first night I went down to dinner, got dressed smartly and looked forward a nice a long dinner with a falls view - that makes a perfect evening right?

Well on arrival the restaurant was totally empty as I had arrived at 6pm exactly when they open (they can check the cameras) I sat down at a Table that was set, there few guests and the restaurant was 99% unoccupied. A firm chap named Godfrey approached me and didn’t greet me with “hello sir , how are you , how is your stay”

None of that, instead he asked me if I’m a paying guest of the hotel. I found that odd and said it shouldn’t matter , I’m here to eat my dinner - again in a very firm way he says “I asking you if you are a guest as these are reserved for hotel paying guests”

I found this very rude but I wanted to divide his attitude and just have a nice meal. He tells me this table is reserved for hotel guests and I must sit elsewhere - he then tells me to get up from that table only to sit me next to the table, one away. When I sat down he wanted to see my room key. Prior to that I see him talking to white guests like they were colonial kings of his past. Maybe he likes to adore those people for tips. Unfortunately I’m not white - I am brown an my treatment was Very Different.

In this time I saw this what was happening, I just got up an left and I told him I was unhappy and leaving

His response “go an tell a supervisor if you’re not happy” and walked away

I went to a restaurant in town ate there.

2026-03-23 • via Nuitee
Y
YOSHIDA • family_with_children • jp
9
Pros:

Good breakfast, facility. Location was great. Room was clean and comfortable.

Cons:

Nothing.

2026-03-23 • via Nuitee
T
Tarik • couple • gb
9
Great location for Victoria Falls
Pros:

Location, short walk to Victoria Falls and very well sign posted and feels secure and safe

Cons:

On the edge of town, where too many people keep hassling you to buy things or give money to them

2026-01-28 • via Nuitee
F
Frank • family_with_children • my
6
Lacklustre stay at high prices
Cons:

Food quality is poor, rooms are very dark, TV selection and quality is very poor.

2026-01-25 • via Nuitee
P
Paul • family_with_children • gb
10
Pros:

The hotel was located in the perfect place.
Spotlessly clean and staff very helpful and friendly.
The room was comfortable.
I cannot recommend this hotel higher and would stay again.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-01-23 • via Nuitee