Ilala Lodge Hotel

“Trip of a Lifetime”

Location, location, location! Easy walking distance to Victoria Falls, markets and shopping. The hotel is immaculate - pool, grounds and room and would highly recommend

“Amazing Stay. Best in the area.”

We had amazing experience of staying in nature with all comfortable amenities in Illala Lodge. The location of the Lodge is just next to the Victoria Falls. Victoria Falls is just a five minute drive from the hotel. The rooms at the hotel are very spacious and with sit out areas or balconies. The m… more

We had amazing experience of staying in nature with all comfortable amenities in Illala Lodge. The location of the Lodge is just next to the Victoria Falls. Victoria Falls is just a five minute drive from the hotel. The rooms at the hotel are very spacious and with sit out areas or balconies. The mist that rises from the Victoria Falls is clearly visible from the rooms. Sometimes wildlife like Cape buffaloes hippos and ghazals come to graze in the hotel lawns. We saw a big herd of Cape buffaloes and ghazals during our stay. The restaurant at the lodge is very classy and has very tasty food. Although the hotel has a swimming pool, they don’t have a Fitness Centre or gym and they don’t have a spa. The hotel staff was extremely helpful to make our stay very very comfortable. They even arranged rubber slippers for us when we requested them for those, to go to the Falls as otherwise our shoes would have been wet. The hotel even arranges a Safari to the Victoria falls private game reserve. The safari was amazing and we spotted an endangered black rhino from very close along with other animals. The guidance of the hotel for visiting the Victoria Falls was very helpful. We were prepared to face whatever challenges were awaiting to go near the falls. We took all necessary precautions thanks to their guidance, like carrying rain ponchos, wearing rubber slippers and they even provided plastic bags for our mobile phones. Visitors should never miss the helicopter ride over Victoria falls and the cruise in the Zambezi river. I definitely recommend this hotel. This is the best place to stay in Victoria Falls Zimbabwe no doubt.

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“Wonderful stay”

We stayed at this lodge as part of a tour group. It was fantastic. The food, service and cleanliness were awesome. I would also like to point out that wild animals are allowed to live in harmony at this location. We were privileged to see 5 hippos grazing on the grass outside our room. There are bi… more

We stayed at this lodge as part of a tour group. It was fantastic. The food, service and cleanliness were awesome. I would also like to point out that wild animals are allowed to live in harmony at this location. We were privileged to see 5 hippos grazing on the grass outside our room. There are birds here as well. This was an incredible facility. It is also very close to the local vendor market and safe banks.

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“Spectacular - But Issues with Strathearn Suite Perks”

We stayed at Illala for 3 nights at the end of March, this was following a trip we had been doing on Rovos Rail across Namibia and South Africa, and it was to celebrate my partners 60th birthday. So we spent 3 nights at Illala, and this was booked originally as part of our overall package with our… more

We stayed at Illala for 3 nights at the end of March, this was following a trip we had been doing on Rovos Rail across Namibia and South Africa, and it was to celebrate my partners 60th birthday. So we spent 3 nights at Illala, and this was booked originally as part of our overall package with our TA in the UK. As it was a special occasion, I contacted the hotel a good few months before we travelled and asked them to upgrade us to the Strathearn Suite. They did this, and I paid an extra £500 per night for the room - £1530 extra in total on top of what the TA had already paid for a standard room for us. So I expect the room is close to £1000 per night based on the cost of the standard rooms. So the staff at the hotel emailed me to say they had upgraded us (I had to pay in full in advance) and that they had noted that it was my partners 60th too.... First off I would say that the hotel itself is breathtakingly beautiful, the food is wonderful, and the location couldn't be better to visit the falls. I would actually highly recommend staying there. Service at breakfast was sometimes too slow. When we checked in we were with another couple (we didn't know them) but they had also been travelling on the Rovos Rail trip prior to arriving at Illala - the receptionist gave the four of us 1 voucher between us all for money off at their sister restaurant - we explained that we were not travelling together but she couldn't seem to understand that we didn't know each other and just happened to have used the same UK travel agent for our booking with them.....she eventually gave us another voucher.... So, if you pay for the Strathearn Suite, there are a number of perks which you get with the room - but you'll have to be persistent if you want to receive them because none of the staff seem to be aware of them and we had to keep asking numerous times in order to receive the perks we had paid for.... 1. I had read on the website that we had a free river cruise included, but no-one offered us this, and no-one was aware of this when we enquired. We were never offered it and it never happened. 2, I had also read about a chef providing a private dining experience in your room, but again no-one offered this to us, no-one was aware of this despite us asking a number of staff - the website mentions private in room dining, which is a free dinner provided in your room - and when we enquired we were offered this, however we didn't see how this differed from room service so the staff agreed for us to have the free 3 course meal in the restaurant instead, which was very nice, however when we turned up for our booking no-one was aware that we were from the Strathearn suite and would be entitled to a free meal. Also, we could only manage 2 courses, and so when we then ordered Irish coffees (which were cheaper than a third course), we thought they would be free - but the waitress insisted they had to be charged to our room......which just didn't make sense, but we agreed. When we checked out expecting to see them appear on our bill - they didn't appear, we were not charged for them after all....so much confusion! 3. I had also read about the free massage you get if you book the suite. Again no-one offered us this, and when we enquired about this no-one was aware of it - they did however arrange it for us....and it was very good. However upon checking out there was a charge on our bill for $40, which they then quickly removed when we explained we were in the Strathearn Suite. Again, too much confusion. Lastly - when we checked into our suite we asked for peppermint tea to be added to the coffees/teas in our room - this never happened and we had to chase it up. A small point but again when you are paying a lot of money, the service standard also has to be high. So overall, as I say the hotel is wonderful the food is great, and I would recommend it - but you pay an awful lot of money for the Strathearn Suite, (which is stunningly beautiful and worth every penny) so if there are free perks that should be included, I would expect these to have been offered to us and discussed with us at check-in. we shouldn't have had to constantly enquire about them and chase them. The staff definitely need to be trained up in this area. Also despite me having informed the hotel that it was my partners 60th birthday when we were there and them saying it was "noted", it was never even acknowledged. These are basics that they really need to get right. A simple "Happy Birthday" would have gone a long way.....

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