A stay at Matetsi Victoria Falls should come with a warning. Because yes \u2013 you are here for the wildlife, and to walk in the spray of the largest waterfall system in the world \u2013 but this family-owned lodge is so beautiful, so carefully considered, that you may never leave.<\/p>\n
Set deep in the heart of a concession with 19km of swirling Zambezi river frontage, Matetsi’s location is about as good as it gets. It\u2019s a short drive to the Unesco-listed Falls, and further afield excursions to try rafting, canyon swings, or exhilarating Devil\u2019s Pool plunges are possible. But everything else you may need or want? It\u2019s right here. Think, sitting alongside prides of lions, spying on herds of buffalo, and tracking packs of wild dogs by day, or spotting hungry hyena and slender genets on night drives. In between all those drives there\u2019ll be muscle-melting massages, boma barbecues, large glasses of the very best South African wines, and three-course suppers beneath the stars. Leave time to simply sit on your terrace, wide-eyed at the wilderness that surrounds you.<\/p>\n
Just a 45-minute drive upriver from the thundering Victoria Falls is the pristine 136,000-acre Matetsi Private Reserve \u2013 one of the most private and exclusive reserves in the region. Deep within it, on the edge of the mighty Zambezi \u2013 meaning \u201cThe Great River\u201d in the local Tonga language \u2013 is this incredibly special multi-award-winning safari lodge of Matetsi. That\u2019s the lodge\u2019s location, as for your room? Somehow even more spectacular: each of the lodge\u2019s suites and villas have a front-row view of the river, where hippos snort and crocodiles slip by.<\/p>\n
The suites are so sublime that they could be plucked straight out of a shoot in a glossy magazine. The style is African contemporary, with a theme of \u2018Life on the River\u2019 conceptualised by the lodge\u2019s Zimbabwean architectural designer. You\u2019ll see that theme everywhere you look \u2013 with polished earth surfaces, hand-beaten local copper detailing, clay-pot downlighters that cast a romantic glow in the evening, and custom art work by local artisans. Cow hide rugs provide cosiness underfoot, gnarled tree trunks double as side tables and a soft floating off-white voile draws around your bed come night fall. The space flows beautifully from inside to outside \u2013 with an outdoor tub and shower to the rear \u2013 while at the front, a plunge pool and seated area shaded by bleached wood and made comfy with cream bolster cushions is the perfect spot for bird watching, or if you\u2019re lucky, a thirsty elephant may swing by. There are 18 suites like this \u2013 nine on each side of a sprawling four-bedroom private villa which occupies a central waterside position.<\/p>\n
Couples, families, solo travelers, and larger groups will feel warmly welcomed and happy here, and the room configuration of the family suites makes traveling with kids particularly easy. Instead of them sharing your room, awakened by inevitably deep-sleep snores, they can sleep in an interconnecting room that\u2019s reached from the master suite by an enclosed passageway. For more privacy, the four-bedroom villa has its own dedicated team, including a private chef and butler, plus a private safari vehicle and guide at your disposal. And, for even more privacy than that, exclusive buy outs of the entire camp are possible too.<\/p>\n
How could we not? This isn\u2019t just about location and incredible game viewing, with a team of Zimbabwean wildlife guides (often considered the best in Africa), who are brilliant at making things entertaining and engaging for kids. It\u2019s also about the feeling you have when you\u2019re here. Relaxed. At home. Happy. It\u2019s in part down to the endearing service and smiling team, but also the other elements that make this stay supremely comfortable: your fabulous suite, your delicious food, the location, right on the water\u2019s edge \u2013 it\u2019s impossible to not adore every minute of staying here. Trust us when we say, it\u2019s a sad goodbye when it\u2019s time to move on.<\/p>\n
Conservation is a huge part of this camp. From the wood, stone and thatched used to build it (all sourced locally) to the natural products used in the spa. Impressive initiatives are in place: wildlife such as waterbuck are being reintroduced to the reserve, and the lodge has its own in-house anti-poaching unit to protect an area previously devastated by poaching and illegal hunting. There are also certain basics in place that you\u2019d expect \u2013 like reducing the use of plastic and ensuring waste is recycled.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A stay at Matetsi Victoria Falls should come with a warning. Because yes \u2013 you are here for the wildlife, and to walk in the spray of the largest waterfall system in the world \u2013 but this family-owned lodge is so beautiful, so carefully considered, that you may never leave. Set deep in the heart […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101085,"featured_media":304868,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1456],"tags":[],"country":["Zimbabwe"],"class_list":["post-304870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized-us","country-zimbabwe","type-hotel"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n