Reviews of Ilala Lodge
Wildlife sightings and reviews
268 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, 57 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Ilala Lodge.
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Leopard
0% success
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Hippo
60% success
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Elephant
53% success
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Buffalo
14% success
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Zebra
14% success
A&M
London
"Cheerful hotel next to the falls"
1 night Arrived 18 Mar 2011
"We spent out last night here so we did not have much time to explore. We did go to see the falls from the "Zim side" and we liked it very much.
Having met people from Zambia and Zimbabwe who asked us to tell them at the end which side is best...we are now stuck! The truth is we liked each side. From the Zim side you have a better view (and you get less soaked) and the path is longer. So we agree with somebody who said you should the falls from both sides if you can.
The lodge is relatively small, even if it felt like a grand hotel to us after two weeks in the bush. Our room was nice and comfortable, the swimming pool is great and the bar and restaurant areas are very well designed and pleasant to look at. Sitting there you can see the smoke and hear the thunder....while enjoying a good dinner with a good glass of wine!
A special note for the breakfast as the buffet we found in the morning was one of the most impressive we have ever seen!" See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia; 5n in Zimbabwe
Having met people from Zambia and Zimbabwe who asked us to tell them at the end which side is best...we are now stuck! The truth is we liked each side. From the Zim side you have a better view (and you get less soaked) and the path is longer. So we agree with somebody who said you should the falls from both sides if you can.
The lodge is relatively small, even if it felt like a grand hotel to us after two weeks in the bush. Our room was nice and comfortable, the swimming pool is great and the bar and restaurant areas are very well designed and pleasant to look at. Sitting there you can see the smoke and hear the thunder....while enjoying a good dinner with a good glass of wine!
A special note for the breakfast as the buffet we found in the morning was one of the most impressive we have ever seen!" See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia; 5n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr N & Ms S
Zambia
"Idyllic Ilala"
5 nights Arrived 4 Jan 2011
"We enjoyed a really comfortable and relaxing five nights at Ilala and were consistently impressed by many of the staff there, especially when it came to organising activities for us, including ones which were not included in the hotel's normal offering, notably linking us to Charles Brightman who had been justifiably recommended to us as a first class private guide.
From the "normal offering" menu we very much enjoyed and would recommend the full day canoeing trip where we were guided by the excellent Ndoga Unganai." See all these reviews: 10n in Zimbabwe; 4n in Zambia
From the "normal offering" menu we very much enjoyed and would recommend the full day canoeing trip where we were guided by the excellent Ndoga Unganai." See all these reviews: 10n in Zimbabwe; 4n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Feedback Response
In a later email, these travellers commented:
"We ate dinner at Ilala every evening bar one (reflecting how good the food is there) when we headed out to the Makuwa Kuwa restaurant at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. We can't comment on accommodation there but the restaurant is certainly very good: food on a par with Ilala but with a more extensive menu and wine list (probably reflecting a larger number of beds) and, probably by booking early, we were able to get a "window" table even though we were not residents. Well worth the taxi ride even if the waterhole was quiet."
"We ate dinner at Ilala every evening bar one (reflecting how good the food is there) when we headed out to the Makuwa Kuwa restaurant at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. We can't comment on accommodation there but the restaurant is certainly very good: food on a par with Ilala but with a more extensive menu and wine list (probably reflecting a larger number of beds) and, probably by booking early, we were able to get a "window" table even though we were not residents. Well worth the taxi ride even if the waterhole was quiet."
Mr & Ms M
London
"Ilala Lodge review"
1 night Arrived 13 Dec 2010
"This was an excellent luxury lodge, which felt somewhat out of place in its surroundings.
The food was very good indeed, and we especially enjoyed the breakfast, with every possible option under the sun in a lovely setting.
The room was clean and comfortable. Its proximity to the Falls (you can walk in 10 minutes) makes it well-placed too. Service was excellent.
The bridge tour through the travel agent was fantastic, and we can't recommend it enough." See all these reviews: 8n in Botswana; 1n in Zimbabwe
The food was very good indeed, and we especially enjoyed the breakfast, with every possible option under the sun in a lovely setting.
The room was clean and comfortable. Its proximity to the Falls (you can walk in 10 minutes) makes it well-placed too. Service was excellent.
The bridge tour through the travel agent was fantastic, and we can't recommend it enough." See all these reviews: 8n in Botswana; 1n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Average
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Mrs & Mr A
London
"Ilala Lodge review"
2 nights Arrived 22 Nov 2010
"Luxurious, tranquil, friendly.
The air conditioning was broken in our first room, our second was next to the generators, so we were put in a third. Unfortunate, but they were exceedingly accommodating in ensuring we had a room we were happy with." See all these reviews: 8n in Botswana; 6n in Zimbabwe
The air conditioning was broken in our first room, our second was next to the generators, so we were put in a third. Unfortunate, but they were exceedingly accommodating in ensuring we had a room we were happy with." See all these reviews: 8n in Botswana; 6n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Good
Mrs & Mr F
Paris
"Ilala Lodge review"
1 night Arrived 7 Nov 2010
"Very closed to the fall - nice hotel"
See all these reviews: 4n in Botswana; 1n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Mr & Mrs R
Lincs
"Nice comfortable hotel close to Vic Falls"
3 nights Arrived 25 Oct 2010
"Ideal hotel to visit the Victoria Falls and chill out at the end of our holiday.
A la carte menu was limited but breakfast menu was excellent.
Hotel staff were friendly and helpful." See all these reviews: 9n in Namibia; 3n in Zimbabwe
A la carte menu was limited but breakfast menu was excellent.
Hotel staff were friendly and helpful." See all these reviews: 9n in Namibia; 3n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
The H Family
Swanmore
"Ilala Lodge review"
2 nights Arrived 8 Oct 2010
"Very well positioned colonial style hotel with superb facilities and food and great staff.The swimming pool was very welcome in the 46 degree heat. The Ilana Hotel in Zimbabwe could not be faulted and on top of this we were impressed that there was very little harassment in the town when we wandered around."
See all these reviews: 8n in Zimbabwe; 3n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
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