This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more

Skip to main content

Talk to an expert 1-800-242-2434 Lines open now

User menu
Ilala Lodge
Ilala Lodge
Ilala Lodge
Ilala Lodge
Ilala Lodge
Ilala Lodge
Ilala Lodge
Ilala Lodge

Reviews of Ilala Lodge

Wildlife sightings and reviews

273 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Ilala Lodge and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa

Wildlife sightings by our travellers
Starting in Jul-2019, 62 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Ilala Lodge.
Leopard

0% success

Hippo

67% success

Elephant

54% success

Buffalo

14% success

Zebra

13% success

Showing 151-160 of 273
Duration
Arrival date
Mr R
Halifax

"Best place to stay at Victoria Falls"

2 nights Arrived 7 Sep 2015
"Friendly & helpfull staff, clean comfortable rooms, good food in a beautifull open air restaurant and close enough to the falls to see the spray.

All this plus Warthogs on the lawn.....fantastic!" See all these reviews: 12n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mrs K
Sydney

"Great location to see Victoria Falls"

1 night Arrived 2 Sep 2015
"Ilala Lodge is a lovely hotel which is located right near Victoria Falls.

Staff were friendly and helpful and dinner at the hotel restaurant was very nice.

Victoria Falls is only a 10 minute walk away which makes it a good choice for those without much time to spent in the area" See all these reviews: 6n in Namibia; 5n in Botswana; 1n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Miss & Mr D
UK

"Great place to stay"

2 nights Arrived 16 Aug 2015
"Great place to stay. Excellent location in town but very near the falls (all walking distance).

Staff very helpful and friendly and booked activities for us and charged them to room along with dinner making everything very straightforward. Best pool of all the places we stayed, amazing food and loved the river cruise that we booked through them.

Only downside was the workmen working right outside our room as we were on the ground floor - so couldn't really use the balcony outside area. But had a lovely time here and would definitely recommend" See all these reviews: 15n in Namibia; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr J & family
Hants

"Ilala Lodge review"

2 nights Arrived 16 Aug 2015
"Great location close to the Falls and the craft market. Also short walk to The Victoria Falls Hotel for high tea.

Very helpful and friendly staff.

Food was excellent." See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia; 2n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
C
Boston

"Convenient Location in Vic Falls"

2 nights Arrived 26 Jul 2015
"The hotel was nice - nothing special but the people were very helpful. I do wish it had been easier to get change, but every time we asked them to break a $20, you were lucky to get anything smaller than a $10, which doesn't make negotiating when shopping very easy, since many of the merchants don't seem to have change either!

We were told meals were on our own here, but turns out breakfast was included, not just a buffet, but also hot breakfast options, which was a nice surprise. The rooms included water, but since ours wasn't ready when we checked in, we ended up buying it at the restaurant for lunch, which was a little annoying since we wouldn't have done that had we known.

Great location - a quick walk from the shops and a short bus ride to all of our excursions (Vic Falls, sunset cruise, helicopter tour) and the hotel did a great job coordinating all of our transportation and helping us identify some other activities.

We ate dinner at the restaurant one night and it was very tasty, although the room was a little on the chilly side as they leave the doors open to the outside so if you get cold, bundle up!

The room itself was adorable, with little doors to an outdoor "patio."" See all these reviews: 7n in Zimbabwe; 3n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Dr R
Melbourne

"Great Location, Beautiful Garden Views."

2 nights Arrived 12 Jul 2015
"This Lodge is situated right on the edge of parkland and the rooms open out onto beautiful gardens. The bar and restaurant are excellent.

The village is just outside and there is an ATM less than 50 m away. The staff at the lodge can help with bookings for all activities. There is less confusion and easier payment options if you stick with the hotel booking service.

The foyer has some really interesting art work providing one version of the history of the area. There is a good art market nearby." See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe; 2n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
Mrs L
Mckinney

"Ilala Lodge review"

3 nights Arrived 3 Jul 2015
"When we checked in the staff person told us that we were likely to see wild animals outside our back patio door. My husband and I silently chuckled at this, but one hour later saw three elephants eating tree limbs just meters from our patio! We also saw warthogs and baboons daily.

In addition, the staff were so warm and attentive. My husband had his luggage lost on our way, and the manager worked tirelessly to help us retrieve it before we left - and succeeded." See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana; 3n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Mr W
London

"Ilala Lodge review"

3 nights Arrived 18 Jun 2015
"Champagne surprise for our honeymoon was a lovely touch." See all these reviews: 7n in Botswana; 3n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Ms K
Alberta

"Ilala Lodge review"

3 nights Arrived 12 Jun 2015
"Ilala Lodge was in a great location, within walking distance of the falls and the town facilities. Our room was very nice - but more of a normal hotel after we had been so pampered in the lodges we visited.

However, we were ready for some less structured time and activities, so the 'anonymity' of the Lodge suited us very well." See all these reviews: 19n in Namibia; 4n in Botswana; 3n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Average
Mr M& Ms S
Derby

"Ilala Lodge review"

1 night Arrived 7 Jun 2015
"Very nice hotel in pleasant surroundings. It's within easy walking distance from the Falls and it's wonderful being able to hear the Falls from your room and the terrace and to see the mist rising. We walked over to the Falls to see the sunrise.

Staff were very welcoming, friendly and helpful.

Breakfast was excellent - a good variety.

Bathroom a little dated but fine for our short stay." See all these reviews: 6n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Showing 151-160 of 273
93%
273 reviews of Ilala Lodge by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
194
69
9
1
0
Filter by month

Holiday styles & special interests in Zimbabwe

From birdwatching breaks to walking holidays, find great ideas for your trip in Zimbabwe.


Birdwatching

Birdwatching

Diverse habitats, discreet hides and superb guiding.

Cultural experiences

Cultural experiences

Get an insight into Africa's cultures and history.

Family holidays

Family holidays

Hand-picked camps for an incredible family safari.

Honeymoons

Honeymoons

Romantic safaris and castaway island retreats.

Luxury

Luxury

First-class service, scenic vistas and unparalleled comfort await you during these carefully selected luxury holidays. 

Photography holidays

Photography holidays

Great holidays to suit the keen photographer.

Private villas & houses

Private villas & houses

Enjoy Africa with just your friends & family

Riding holidays

Riding holidays

Explore Africa's wilderness on horseback.

Solo Travel

Solo Travel

Trip ideas ideally suited for a solo traveller.

Walking

Walking

Explore Africa's most scenic trails on foot.

Walking safaris

Walking safaris

Explore Africa's untouched wildernesses on foot.

Wellbeing

Wellbeing

Wellness escapes in stunning locations

Wildlife safaris

Wildlife safaris

These trips include hard-hitting game and fascinatingly elusive species alike, as well as superb guiding and a variety of diverse ecosystems.

Other lodges in Victoria Falls

Alternative places to stay in this same area.


Victoria Falls Hotel

Victoria Falls Hotel

With its unique setting, authentic style and excellent service, the Victoria Falls is one of the world’s most iconic hotels.


94% (166 reviews)
Batonka Guest Lodge

Batonka Guest Lodge

Small, comfortable and in lovely gardens, Batonka Guest Lodge is a perfect base for exploring the Victoria Falls away from the bustle of the town.


96% (30 reviews)
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge

Victoria Falls Lodge

High on a plateau a short distance outside Victoria Falls Town, the comfortable Victoria Falls Safari Lodge overlooks its own waterhole.


88% (22 reviews)
Sprayview Hotel

Sprayview Hotel

In close proximity to both the town and the Victoria Falls themselves, Sprayview is a value-for-money hotel in a convenient location.


75% (16 reviews)
The Elephant Camp

The Elephant Camp

The Elephant Camp is a luxury tented camp in its own private concession within Victoria Falls National Park, just 15-minute's drive town.


93% (15 reviews)
Old Drift Lodge

Old Drift Lodge

A lovely addition to the options in Victoria Falls, the stylish Old Drift has a great location in Zimbabwe's Zambezi National Park, with a range of activities.


93% (12 reviews)
Victoria Falls Safari Club

Victoria Falls Club

Just outside of Victoria Falls Town, Victoria Falls Safari Club offers an exclusive, relaxing and luxurious base to explore the area.


94% (10 reviews)
Palm River Hotel

Palm River

Palm River Hotel offers a high-quality stay in a picturesque location on the banks of the Zambezi, with excellent food and a shuttle to the Victoria Falls.


100% (9 reviews)
Gorges Lodge

Gorges Lodge

Gorges Lodge has spectacular views from its perch on the edge of the Batoka Gorge. Although it is out of town it isn't too far from the main attractions.


98% (8 reviews)
Pioneers

Pioneers

Located a five-minute drive from the buzz of Victoria Falls town, the mid-size Pioneers offers a relaxing stay in one of Zimbabwe's most iconic destinations.


97% (6 reviews)
Zambezi Sands

Zambezi Sands

Zambezi Sands is a stylish new camp with a range of activities on a remote stretch of the Zambezi River.


100% (3 reviews)
528 Victoria Falls

528 Victoria Falls

528 Victoria Falls is a charming, owner-run, boutique B&B in a leafy suburb of Victoria Falls town, offering an oasis of calm in an often-busy location.


80% (1 review)
Matetsi River Lodge

Matetsi River Lodge

Situated in the private Matetsi Reserve, Matetsi River Lodge offers luxury suites, game drives and river activities within reach of the Victoria Falls.


100% (1 review)
Victoria Falls Safari Suites

Victoria Falls Suites

Just out of the town, Victoria Falls Safari Suites offers an exclusive, relaxing and luxurious base from which to explore.


100% (1 review)
Mpala Jena

Mpala Jena

In Zambezi National Park, Mpala Jena offers a luxurious but eco-friendly experience, within easy access of the Victoria Falls.


No reviews yet
Matetsi River House

Matetsi River House

Situated in the Private Matetsi Reserve Matetsi River House offers families and small groups privacy, game drives and access to the falls.


No reviews yet

Login to Expert Africa

Sign in with password

Sign in with email link


New to Expert Africa? Create an account

Forgotten your details?

It's free & quick to set up

  • Save your wish-list
  • Send us an enquiry
  • Pay online for your trip
  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Give us feedback on your trip
  • Full site benefits of the site

Need some help? Talk to our team

Newsletter background

Stay in the know with Expert Africa

Join our newsletter. Get the latest on new camps and lodges, insights from our team, uplifting conservation stories and more...

A few more details and you're subscribed

Thanks!

Almost there! We've sent you an email to confirm your subscription. Just click on the link and you'll soon be receiving our newsletter in your inbox.

In the meantime, take a look at our previous Bush Telegraph newsletters.
Africa