OLD DRIFT LODGE: LUXURY SAFARI RETREAT CLOSE TO VICTORIA FALLS

Tucked within the wilderness of Zambezi National Park, Old Drift Lodge sits just seven kilometres upstream of Victoria Falls, on the banks of the Zambezi River. The lodge occupies the site of an old river crossing point known as Clarke’s Drift, dating back to 1898, at the narrowest stretch of the Zambezi in the area.

Opened in mid-May 2018, it is one of only a handful of camps operating within the Zambezi National Park, and is owned and run by husband-and-wife team Brad and Annie White. Guests stay in ten double suites and four family suites, each with an indoor and outdoor shower, a private plunge pool and a viewing deck overlooking the river. The fourteen tented chalets are raised on wooden decks and spaced along the riverfront, with canvas walls, glass sliding doors and high ceilings.

The lodge is unfenced, so wildlife moves freely through and around the property. Elephants regularly visit, particularly later in the dry season, while the surrounding bush is home to buffalo, sable, eland, zebra, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck and impala. The main lodge area faces north onto the Zambezi and south onto a waterhole, giving guests views over both from the communal areas.

Activities include 4×4 game drives and guided nature walks through Zambezi National Park, along with morning and afternoon river cruises aboard the lodge’s own boats. A guided tour of Victoria Falls is included, usually followed by lunch at the Lookout Café, built 120 metres above the Batoka Gorge with views toward the Victoria Falls Bridge. Guests can also arrange helicopter flights, zip-lining, white-water rafting, bungee jumping and canoe trips through the lodge.

Stays are full-board and fully inclusive, covering meals, drinks, an in-suite mini-bar, all safari activities, the guided Falls tour, shuttles to Victoria Falls town and airport transfers. The lodge runs on solar power, limits waste, and uses grey water for irrigation.

Old Drift Lodge is currently rated among the top properties in the Victoria Falls area on major travel review sites, with guests frequently citing its closeness to the Falls, the wildlife around the camp, and the standard of service and food.