Royal Zambezi Lodge : Lower Zambezi : Zambia
Lodge Information
Number of Tents – 15
Children – Under 8yrs on request
Triples – No
Twin Rooms – Available
Minimum Stay – 2 nights
Activities – Game & night drives, canoeing safaris, fishing, walks
Air-conditioning – Evaporative cooling – a mist
Room Fans – Yes
Laundry – Additional Charge
Mosquito Nets – Yes
Swimming Pool – Yes
Bath – In deluxe suites only
Showers – Yes
In-room safe – Yes
Private bars – Cool box on request
Telephone – Only in emergency
Internet access – WIFI Available
Hairdryers – on request
Suitable for disabled guests – Yes, with assistance
Check-out – 10h00
Power – 240v Generator power
Private 4×4 vehicle – At extra cost if available
Credit Cards – Yes Visa or Mastercard with a 3% Charge
Accommodation
There are ten Classic Suites and four Deluxe Suites at Royal Zambezi Lodge.
The entry level Classic Suites stand alone and are complete with shady verandas and en-suite baths with flush toilets and large showers. The large canvas tents nestle under mature trees and are all positioned for the maximum enjoyment of the surrounding views and complete privacy. The tents are impeccably furnished with a contemporary, understated elegance. Natural tones, luxurious textures and comfortable armchairs create the perfect retreat after a morning game drive while extra length sprung mattresses with pure cotton linen and feather pillows ensure a blissful night’s sleep.
The Deluxe Suites are the epitome of the luxury safari experience. Two of the suites offer the same tented interior as the Classic Suites whilst also offering an outdoor bath and shower and plunge pool. A further two Deluxe Suites push luxury to an even higher level. These suites are not tented and due to a larger surface area they also have an indoor lounging area. Outdoors they offer a sala overlooking the river in addition to a shower and copper roll-top bath, sunloungers and private plunge pool. In all, the Deluxe Suites provide ultimate luxury whilst allowing guests to interact with the wilderness that surrounds them. Ideal for honeymoon couples, special occasion holidays, or for those who simply want to experience Zambia’s finest safari accommodation.
Royal Zambezi Lodge finds the perfect balance between contemporary, simplistic style and extreme comfort offering a completely unspoiled wilderness experience. With lions roaring in the distance and hippos snorting nearby, the luxurious thatched suites, elegant design and gourmet cuisine of Royal Zambezi Lodge provide a perfect base from which to explore this wild and beautiful area.
With its classical architectural lines and lofty thatched roofs the open plan reception area, dining room and lounge offers a welcome refuge and a place to relax with its comfortable sofas, enormous fireplaces and cheerful personalized service.
The spacious veranda provides shade from the midday sun and wide timber decks extend over the shallows of the Zambezi River, perfect for fine dining under clear night skies laden with stars and absorbing the sounds of the African night.
In the evening guests gather at the stunning Sausage Tree Bar, where drinks and aperitifs are served on the suspended deck whilst the Zambezi River flows beneath and the sun sets behind the distant escarpment. Enjoy a lively exchange of the day’s adventures, listen to the guides regale their stories of memorable encounters or just take time to sit quietly and enjoy the magic of sunset in the Lower Zambezi Valley.
Cuisine – Enjoy a delicious breakfast overlooking the Lower Zambezi River, where our team of expert chefs will prepare dishes to order or simply whizz up a healthy smoothie.
Lunch need not interrupt a good day’s fishing or game drives. With the option of a gourmet picnic lunch or a full outdoor buffet in the National Park, complete with white linen tableware, the concept of outdoor dining takes on a new dimension.
Dinner is served at private tables under the stars, or by a roaring fire on a cooler night. Alternatively guests may relax in their rooms and have dinner brought to them on their private deck. To celebrate special occasions, guests may enjoy drinks by a campfire and a candlelit dinner on a deserted island on the Zambezi.
Access – Royal Zambezi lodge is accessible by regular scheduled flights and chartered flights from Lusaka (25mins).
All flights land at the propriety royal air strip which is ten minutes drive from the lodge.
Access by road and boat takes a minimum of five hours from Lusaka requiring a four wheel drive.
Recommended Length of Stay
To take full advantage of everything on offer, stays at the Royal Zambezi Lodge should be a minimum of 4-5 nights.
Climate – The climate of the lower Zambezi can vary greatly. It is generally cool and dry from April to August, hot and dry from September to December and wet and humid from January to March.
Temperatures
Minimum temperatures around 14 degrees Celsius, maximum 40 degrees Celsius.
Recommended Equipment & Attire
The atmosphere at Royal Zambezi Lodge is informal, so casual neutral colored clothing is both practical and acceptable. During the hot summer months of September to December cool clothing is essential, with long, loose clothing for evenings. From May to August it can be quite cool at night and in the early mornings, so warmer clothing is advised. Hat, sun screen, binoculars, camera & extra film, walking shoes and shoes suitable for boating are essential.
Medical – The lodge is covered by medical air rescue services, boats and vehicles are equipped with medical aid kits and the lodge managers are paramedic qualified. As the lodge is situated in a malarial area, it is strongly advised that clients take malaria prophylactics before and after they stay at the lodge.
Location
Zambia begins where David Livingstone was once led, feverish and disbelieving to Mosi-oa-Tunya “The Smoke that Thunders”. Now known as the world renowned Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River’s most famous feature descends to steep basalt-walled gorges and flows through Lake Kariba and onwards to the Mozambique coast. However, it is downstream of Lake Kariba that you will find Zambia’s best kept secret – the Lower Zambezi National Park.
Within the Lower Zambezi Valley, the river follows the trace of an ancient continental rift, between steep-sided escarpments. The vast flat area between the ranges forms an area of outstanding natural beauty, with a unique ecosystem. The relatively undeveloped Lower Zambezi National Park occupies 4092 square kilometres within this spectacular wilderness.
Mopane forest is interspersed with Winterthorn trees (Acacia albida), and provides a welcome sanctuary for the many lion and leopard, with the escarpment covered in broadleaf woodland. Teeming with fish, the Zambezi River supports an astounding and exceptional birdlife, whilst elephant, buffaloes, waterbuck, hippos and zebras roam in abundance on the islands and along its banks.
Royal Zambezi Lodge is located on the banks of the Zambezi River with over 3 kilometres of river frontage and lies on the edge of the Lower Zambezi National Park. It is situated on the Zambezi River at one of its broadest points and lies opposite the famous Mana Pools Reserve in Zimbabwe.
Activities
The location for Royal Zambezi Lodge was chosen particularly for the wide variety of activities available, including game viewing, fishing, fly-fishing, sunset river cruises, professionally guided canoeing trips, open vehicle guided drives, night drives, walking safaris, birding safaris and photographic safaris.
Spa & Treatments
The Royal Zambezi Bush Spa has been inspired by the natural beauty surrounding the lodge and is Zambia’s first and only bush spa. Its minimalist design exudes an air of complete balance, peace and tranquility offering you the ultimate refuge to restore the mind, body and spirit.
We pride ourselves on the attentive team of qualified therapists who are on hand to provide you with a wide variety of massages, facials and a host of other therapeutic and beauty skin care treatments.
Many of these use local indigenous ingredients from the African bush further emphasising its beauty and enchantment.
The spa is positioned around the central courtyard where the inviting aroma of burning scented candles fill the air from the two treatment rooms. You are also invited to use the cooling plunge pool and outdoor jacuzzi with its breathtaking vista across the river – the perfect way to while away those lazy afternoons. There is also the beautifully appointed lounge area where you can sip fresh juices accompanied by the remarkable sights and sounds of the resident flora and fauna.