Azambezi River Lodge

I had to pinch myself. Africa was everything I hoped it would be. I certainly would recommend it. Fabulous

By river. Locals use it for gatherings and receptions. Enjoyed the location even though it was out of town.

Stick to the buffet. A la carte food was not very good.

Location on the banks of river Zambezi and friendly staff. Rooms are spacious, nice and clean.

Food was very poor quality and tasteless. Room phone was faulty. Some of the bathroom fixtures have problems. They need to spend money on upgrading the fixtures and equipment.

If you are looking for a break from busy normal life, this is the place to stay, with comfortable rooms, delicious food and beautiful grounds for relaxing. From my balcony I watched white butterflies flutter around a lavender bush in the mild sunshine and felt joy in nature.

Beautiful lodge, with restaurant on premises. Helpful accomodating staff. Rooms neat and well appointed. Beds very comfy. Robe and slippers supplied. Garden and pool area are pretty. Bar by pool and restaurant serves 3 meals a day. Right along the Zambezi River. Wild animals roam the grounds. Baboons, Vervet monkeys, warthogs, birds of many types . Hippos come ashore late at night although we missed them.

Very quiet place away from town noise close to the waters

Firstly the location is perfect right on the Zambezi River. However, this was not enough to ensure that we had an enjoyable stay. Yes there is a shuttle that goes into town but it doesn’t go on the hour. It only goes about four times a day and the last one is at 4 pm so you cannot go into town of an evening to eat unless you organise your own transport. Ubers are not available in Zimbabwe. So you eat at the hotel itself. We were a table of seven people and placed our meal orders at the same time. By the time the last meal was put on the table, the first people had finished their meal. My chicken schnitzel was served with a piece of plastic cooked inside it (photo attached). They obviously hope most will take advantage of the Buffett and not the à la carte menu. There were large groups of Indian/Asian people staying there, and the Buffett was centered around food to their liking. Bar prices were expensive.. Animal dung was scattered over the grass (like topsoil) so you could not sit outside your room and take advantage of the view because of the smell. (photo attached). This dirt was also on the paths and we saw no visible sign of anybody sweeping the paths to clean it away. The first shower I had, leaked water all over the bathroom floor and out into the hallway . This was fixed by a plumber the next day after we advised of the issue. The room was small with only one comfortable chair in which to sit. There were no tissues provided in the room at all and toiletries only provided on the first day - never replenished after then. We were given one teabag for our entire stay. You had to unplug the fridge to be able to heat the kettle. Overall, you would get better value for your money staying somewhere else.

The lodge was very well maintained. As an added bonus, you get to see the animals come up to your window. The service in the restaurant took longer than usual.

We were really let down by our stay here. The rooms are extremely tired and in need of maintenance—door frames were coming apart, and the bathroom had mouldy cracks in the tiles, with a yellow-stained bath that was far from inviting. Basic amenities were lacking: no ironing board, no tissue boxes (just a tiny travel pack), and not even the option of a diet soft drink. The flyscreen door kept falling off, which made it hard to enjoy any fresh air without hassle. To top things off, our burgers arrived with cold chips. And the cherry on top? The lawn was covered in animal dung, which made being outside unpleasant due to the smell. This place has potential with some serious upkeep—but for now, it’s far from worth the price.

I'm saddened to share my recent experience at A’Zambezi River Lodge, a place I've cherished and visited four times over the past 30 years. Unfortunately, under the current management, standards have significantly dropped. Here's my honest review: - *Location:* 10/10 - The lodge's riverside location remains breathtaking. - *Gardens:* 10/10 - Well-maintained and beautiful. - *Porter Service:* 3/10 - Unimpressive, with staff more interested in their phone than greeting guests. No porter trolley was provided. - *Reception:* 8/10 - Friendly staff and lovely welcome amenities, but misleading information about room availability. We wanted to upgrade to river facing but she said it was full. This was far from true. - *Room Cleanliness:* 5/10 - Failing to meet 4-star standards, with dirty shower corners, lumpy pillows, and stained cushions. - *Bar:* 1/10 - Overpriced and underwhelming, with limited wine options and poor service attire. The area also had overflowing dustbins and drains. $8 for a glass of mediocre wine is outrageous. The same bottle costs less than $4 for a whole bottle! - *Restaurant:* 1/10 - Dinner was a letdown, with uncooked chips, incorrect orders, and tasteless sauces. The chef's attitude and the waiter's unprofessional behavior towards the trainee waitress were concerning. - *Breakfast:* 9/10 - A highlight, with a friendly team and good service. The food and beverage manager apologized for the previous night's dinner and offered a 50% discount. Overall, I hope this review prompts the management to make necessary changes. Unfortunately, the lodge no longer meets the 4-star standards I've come to expect.