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
Mr & Mrs P
Co. Durham
"Ilala Lodge"
2 nights Arrived 7 Aug 2012
"We found that Ilala Lodge is in a great location just over the road from the entrance to Victoria Falls, and has lovely views, with the spray of the falls visible from our room and the terrace. The bedrooms were very clean and comfortable and ours had french doors opening out onto the lawn where there were warthogs and baboons passing by! One night after dark we even saw a honey badger but it quickly disappeared when it was disturbed.
The staff were very friendly and helpful and the food was very good, especially the breakfast with a wonderful and plentiful choice to cater for all needs. We can certainly recommend the Lodge for a relaxed and enjoyable stay." See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
The staff were very friendly and helpful and the food was very good, especially the breakfast with a wonderful and plentiful choice to cater for all needs. We can certainly recommend the Lodge for a relaxed and enjoyable stay." See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Ms T
San Francisco
"Great place to stay in Victoria Falls"
2 nights Arrived 23 Jul 2012
"Ilala Lodge was a great place for me to relax a bit after the Namibia Highlights camping safari.
Great location. I loved that it was easy to walk to the falls and that everything was nearby.
Booking of activities through the in-house operator was quick and efficient.
Great service from everyone on the staff.
The food at breakfast and dinner was delicious." See all these reviews: 6n in Zambia; 3n in South Africa; 2n in Zimbabwe
Great location. I loved that it was easy to walk to the falls and that everything was nearby.
Booking of activities through the in-house operator was quick and efficient.
Great service from everyone on the staff.
The food at breakfast and dinner was delicious." See all these reviews: 6n in Zambia; 3n in South Africa; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr E & Mrs T
Denmark
"Ilala Lodge review"
3 nights Arrived 21 Jul 2012
"So luxurious."
See all these reviews: 17n in Namibia; 3n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Ms B
San Francisco
"Great location near Falls. Clean, Good staff."
2 nights Arrived 30 Jun 2012
"Ilala Lodge met my needs perfectly.
It's walkable to the Victoria Falls park entrance. The facilities are pleasant and clean. There is internet connectivity available for guests in the lobby. The food was just average but the service was very good. There is a pool and a bar area overlooking a garden, which is a nice place to relax and recover from jet lag." See all these reviews: 6n in Zimbabwe; 3n in Zambia
It's walkable to the Victoria Falls park entrance. The facilities are pleasant and clean. There is internet connectivity available for guests in the lobby. The food was just average but the service was very good. There is a pool and a bar area overlooking a garden, which is a nice place to relax and recover from jet lag." See all these reviews: 6n in Zimbabwe; 3n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Average
Facilities:
Excellent
The H family
Chester
"Ilala Lodge review"
2 nights Arrived 16 Jun 2012
"Really pleased we decided to do the Falls from the Zimbabwe side. Easy walk to the Falls, and the town was safe.
Very nice hotel ('colonial relic'!) and had everything we needed.
We had high tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel, which was marvellous. However, I preferred staying at Ilala Lodge, and just visiting the Vic Falls Hotel." See all these reviews: 16n in Namibia; 2n in Zimbabwe; 1n in South Africa
Very nice hotel ('colonial relic'!) and had everything we needed.
We had high tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel, which was marvellous. However, I preferred staying at Ilala Lodge, and just visiting the Vic Falls Hotel." See all these reviews: 16n in Namibia; 2n in Zimbabwe; 1n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Mr L
Austin
"Ilala Lodge Review"
2 nights Arrived 14 Jun 2012
"Activites booking office was brilliant. We owe them a lot.
Only glitch in the 2-night stay was the shower water on the morning we departed smelled of something akin to but a bit different from massive mildew." See all these reviews: 5n in Zimbabwe
Only glitch in the 2-night stay was the shower water on the morning we departed smelled of something akin to but a bit different from massive mildew." See all these reviews: 5n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
EH family
SW London
"Ilala Lodge review"
2 nights Arrived 9 Apr 2012
"We had a great stay in Ilala Lodge.
We were well looked after but my only crticism would be the length of time it took for the main course at dinner to arrive. When it did it was delicious but over an hours wait was really too long . All the staff were very friendly and helpful" See all these reviews: 5n in Zimbabwe
We were well looked after but my only crticism would be the length of time it took for the main course at dinner to arrive. When it did it was delicious but over an hours wait was really too long . All the staff were very friendly and helpful" See all these reviews: 5n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr R & Ms C
Montana
"Ilala Lodge review"
1 night Arrived 22 Mar 2012
"service was good, desk staff friendly, rooms clean. we owed money on our bill and credit card would not go through. staff was not concerned, waited for me to walk next door to ATM. no problem attitude.
food was good. while emphasis was on luxury, food was not gourmet. walk to falls was pleasant. be aware that you will get wet visiting the falls. a poncho is a must. expert Africa might consider including one in the package of material it sends customers. while supporting locals is nice gesture, you feel you are getting overcharged by the locals." See all these reviews: 3n in Botswana; 1n in Zimbabwe
food was good. while emphasis was on luxury, food was not gourmet. walk to falls was pleasant. be aware that you will get wet visiting the falls. a poncho is a must. expert Africa might consider including one in the package of material it sends customers. while supporting locals is nice gesture, you feel you are getting overcharged by the locals." See all these reviews: 3n in Botswana; 1n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Average
Mr C
Ontario, Canada
"Ilala Lodge review"
3 nights Arrived 26 Jan 2012
"It is centrally located, i.e., it is close to the town but about 10 minutes walk from Victoria Falls and 20 minutes from the bridge where my daughter did the swing; a form of bungee jump from the bridge. We enjoyed the town where we shopped and ate our meals.
The hotel has a great buffet breakfast with orders to menu. I have a very special diet requirement and they kept mixing it up. We had our first dinner there and the meat was so over-cooked that it was simply unacceptable so we were happy that we could eat out in close-by restaurants.
I had to change room twice in a 3 night stay. The first room has cockroaches. The second room air-conditioning was not working. They were prompt in changing my room in this low season when many rooms are available." See all these reviews: 9n in Tanzania; 9n in Zanzibar; 3n in Zimbabwe
The hotel has a great buffet breakfast with orders to menu. I have a very special diet requirement and they kept mixing it up. We had our first dinner there and the meat was so over-cooked that it was simply unacceptable so we were happy that we could eat out in close-by restaurants.
I had to change room twice in a 3 night stay. The first room has cockroaches. The second room air-conditioning was not working. They were prompt in changing my room in this low season when many rooms are available." See all these reviews: 9n in Tanzania; 9n in Zanzibar; 3n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Poor
Food:
Poor
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs C
Northants
"Ilala Lodge review"
2 nights Arrived 1 Jan 2012
"Not a good idea to arrive on New Years Day as there had been a big party the night before. The pool area resembled a human seal colony with people everywhere, who we had to navigate to get to our room. Seemed more like the Spanish Costa.
Much better the next day when a lot of people had gone. The staff were functional rather than friendly, possibly because they'd had a busy night before.
Went on their boat trip which was a bit strange as we were the only people on it, but fromtalking to other people, much more prefereble than the other trips which sounded just like booze cruises.
Booked the helicopter trip through the hotel which was excellent & teir was a local tourist guide on it who said it was the best trip he'd experienced due to short flying time to Falls, so more time there." See all these reviews: 8n in Namibia; 3n in Zimbabwe
Much better the next day when a lot of people had gone. The staff were functional rather than friendly, possibly because they'd had a busy night before.
Went on their boat trip which was a bit strange as we were the only people on it, but fromtalking to other people, much more prefereble than the other trips which sounded just like booze cruises.
Booked the helicopter trip through the hotel which was excellent & teir was a local tourist guide on it who said it was the best trip he'd experienced due to short flying time to Falls, so more time there." See all these reviews: 8n in Namibia; 3n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Average
Facilities:
Average
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