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At a glance

  • Boutique hotel with 73 rooms and suites
  • Closest hotel to Victoria Falls - you can hear the roar of the water and see the spray from the hotel gardens
  • Relax on the lush lawns or around the pool and watch the warthogs grazing in the hotel grounds
  • The hotel has an old-world charm and colonial feel
  • Enjoy a sundowner cruise on the Zambezi River aboard the Ra-Ikane

Overview

Ilala Lodge sits in attractive manicured gardens, just an eight-minute walk from Victoria Falls. It's the closest hotel to the falls themselves and offers 73 rooms and five suites in a variety of configurations. The rooms on the upper tier have private balconies, while lower-floor rooms open out onto the gardens, where warthogs graze on the lush lawns. The teak furnishings in all the rooms are made from local Zimbabwean railway sleepers, adding a true sense of place to the elegant, colonial-style décor. Pick of the crop is the luxurious Strathearn Suite, which boasts a private lounge, balcony, and a hot-tub with breathtaking views of the spray from the falls.

When to visit

  • January
    30ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    18ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    191mm
    Average Rainfall
    Water levels at Victoria Falls are increasing. This is the beginning of 'high water' season, when views of the falls can be obscured by mist and spay, so expect to get a bit wet when viewing them. This is a good time for white-water rafting. Devil's Pool and Livingstone Island close around mid-January due to high water levels.
  • February
    30ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    18ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    180mm
    Average Rainfall
    The Zambezi River is starting to rise after the summer rains, meaning there is more water going over the falls, leading to an increase in spray and mist, guaranteeing a soaking when viewing the falls. This is still a good time for white-water rafting. Devil's Pool and Livingstone Island remain closed due to high water levels.
  • March
    30ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    16ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    99mm
    Average Rainfall
    The Zambezi River is fast flowing from the summer rains and Victoria Falls is in full flow, a spectacular sight of sheer magnificence and power, sending up an immense cloud of spray. It's a good time to view the famous spray rainbows and at full moon the lunar rainbow or moonbow, though if visiting at this time expect to get very wet. This is a great time for flights over the falls. Many rafting operators stop white-water rafting at the end of March due to high river levels. Devil's Pool and Livingstone Island remain closed due to high water levels.
  • April
    29ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    14ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    29mm
    Average Rainfall
    This is one of the best months to experience the full force of Victoria Falls, with immense clouds of spray and a thundering soundtrack. It's an especially good time to view the spray rainbows and at full moon the lunar rainbow or moonbow. If visiting at this time expect to get very wet and bear in mind that the spray may obscure your view of the falls. This is a great time to see the falls from the air. Water levels are too high for white-water rafting. Devil's Pool and Livingstone Island remain closed due to high water levels.
  • May
    27ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    10ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    2mm
    Average Rainfall
    The water flowing over Victoria Falls is still very high, making for some spectacular viewing and an opportunity to view the spray rainbows and at full moon the lunar rainbow or moonbow. If visiting at this time expect to get very wet and bear in mind that the spray may obscure your view of the falls. This is a great time to see the falls from the air. Water levels are too high for white-water rafting. Devil's Pool and Livingstone Island remain closed due to high water levels.
  • June
    25ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    6ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    2mm
    Average Rainfall
    Lower water levels and less spray provide excellent visibility of the falls. The white-water rafting season opens as soon as the water drops to a safe level. Devil's Pool and Livingstone Island remain closed due to high water levels.
  • July
    25ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    6ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    0mm
    Average Rainfall
    Lower water levels and less spray provide excellent visibility of the falls. The white-water rafting season opens as soon as the water drops to a safe level. Devil's Pool and Livingstone Island remain closed due to high water levels.
  • August
    25ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    6ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    0mm
    Average Rainfall
    Lower water levels and less spray provide excellent visibility of the falls. August is one of the best months for white-water rafting. Livingstone Island and Devil's Pool open as soon as the water drops to a safe level.
  • September
    32ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    13ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    1mm
    Average Rainfall
    Water levels at the falls are low making visibility good. It's an excellent time for white-water rafting, swimming in Devil's Pool and visiting Livingstone Island.
  • October
    33ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    17ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    27mm
    Average Rainfall
    Water levels at the falls are low making visibility good, although the falls can appear less impressive now. It's an excellent time for white-water rafting, swimming in Devil's Pool and visiting Livingstone Island.
  • November
    32ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    18ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    64mm
    Average Rainfall
    The Zambezi River is at its lowest level of the year and the water going over the falls is at its lowest point. It's an excellent time for white-water rafting, swimming in Devil's Pool and visiting Livingstone Island.
  • December
    30ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    18ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    175mm
    Average Rainfall
    Water levels at Victoria Falls are still relatively low making visibility good, although the falls can appear less impressive. This is a good time for white-water rafting and for swimming in Devil's Pool.

Location

Ilala Lodge is located in the town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. It is difficult to get any closer to the falls, which are only an eight-minute walk from the hotel. The airport is a 15-minute road transfer away.