Imbabala Zambezi Safari Lodge

The family chalet at Imbabala contains two bedrooms, each with their own ensuite bathroom. Decorated in the same style as the safari chalets they feel authentic and traditional, with exposed thatch ceilings and wooden beams running throughout, which adds height to the chalet.

Natural materials and colours also run throughout, making the chalets feel inspired by the wilderness of the surroundings. The master bedroom includes a large queen size bed, draped in mosquito netting, and the second bedroom includes two single beds, also swathed in netting.

A spacious verandah outside the front of the chalet offers guests the perfect space to wind down as a family after a long day, and share stories of your adventures, whilst swinging in the hammock or staring over the stretches of luscious grassland.

The safari chalets at Imbabala are comfortable and cosy, made out of natural materials and with an emphasis on the stunning nature that surrounds them. Inside the chalets the exposed thatch ceilings add character and dimension, and polished floors run throughout the chalet making the space feel stylish and clean.

Comfortable large beds sit in the centre of the room, in either a twin or double configuration, and they are covered in crisp bed linen with burnt orange bed runners and scatter cushions. Draped mosquito netting adds a soft touch to the room and keeps guests safe from bugs at night time.

All chalets come with an ensuite bathroom which includes a shower, and a spacious verandah area where guests can unwind on their hammock or enjoy a coffee from their tea and coffee maker, whilst gazing over the vast Zambezi River.

Fresh, locally inspired food is creatively prepared by talented chefs and are cooked using seasonal vegetables from their own vegetable garden. Meals can be enjoyed by the pool, on the banks of the Zambezi, or in the bush. This allows guests to immerse themselves in the sights, smells and sounds of the wilderness.

Enjoy a traditional safari experience exploring the Zambezi National Park in the comfort of a 4×4 safari vehicle. Travel through the park, viewing animals such as pride of lions and galloping zebras, all undisturbed and in their natural habitats. Every drive offers a unique experience of the park; guests can choose from an afternoon or morning drive.

A day trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana can be arranged from Imbabala Lodge, this is the perfect opportunity to travel and see the diverse wildlife which calls Chobe home and gain a comparison of the wilderness of both parks.

Glide down the serene Zambezi River on a river safari, keeping your eyes fixed on the riverbanks for thirsty animals having a drink, or lazy pods of hippos lying in the shallows. If you wish to try your hand at fishing then spend the afternoon on the Zambezi trying your luck at catching one of the many tigerfish that swim through these waters.

For the adrenaline seekers white water rafting is available and can be organised for guests. Spend the afternoon testing your strength and battling the waters on an exciting stretch of the Zambezi.

Explore the Zambezi National Park on foot and immerse yourself in the wilderness of Zimbabwe. There is no better way to feel closer to nature than on foot, and a friendly and knowledgeable guide will be able to impart their wisdom on the smaller workings of the park and will also be able to point out some of the many species of diverse and interesting birds which make their nests in the trees.

A quick journey east will find guests at the magnificent Victoria Falls. These trips need to be arranged in advance and can include a trip to the famous Livingstone Island, a tour of the Victoria Falls Canopy on a breath-taking an exciting trail of bridges, rope walkways and slides.

For a once-in-a-lifetime experience guests can take to the skies and soar high over the thundering falls in a helicopter. This is the best way to see the falls with uninterrupted views, allowing proper appreciation of the spectacular size of the waterfall.

Take care of your mind, body and soul and arrange for a stress-relieving massage in the privacy of your room. This is the perfect way to relax and rejuvenate after a long day exploring the national park and can be followed with a refreshing dip in the sparkling swimming pool.

Wild Horizons established the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, which is a non-profit initiative that focuses on promoting awareness for conservation and the environment through the sustainable use of endemic resources. The trust works alongside authorities, local communities and other stakeholders in order to protect animals, wildlife and plants within the Wild Horizons Wildlife Sanctuary.

Wild Horizons also offer experiences for local children, transporting them to the trust where they can learn about the work that is done there and be inspired to join the next generation of conservationists.

‘Annually, over a thousand school children are transported to the Trust, where they have the opportunity to interact with the wildlife ambassadors and learn from a team of passionate conservationists, who become their role models and mentors. By addressing the next generation of decision-makers, we hope to inspire them to care for their natural heritage and to become the guardians of these areas in the future.’

Imbabala Zambezi Safari Lodge is a Wild Horizons safari lodge. Wild Horizons works with the local community around Victoria Falls in order to collaborate on projects that empower local people and raise awareness for conserving the environment.

Wild Horizons has a community outreach program that works to reduce conflict between wildlife and humans, educate local people about conservation and provides machinery for cutting and transporting thatching which is then used in constructing homes. Wild Horizons also aim to employ local people, and they ‘strive to ensure that they feel fulfilled, rewarded and valued as ambassadors of Wild Horizons.’

The Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust has a veterinary laboratory and clinic where researchers, vets and graduates can study zoonotic diseases which are transmitted across species. This allows them to collect data to help stop the spread of diseases which can cause ‘epidemic crashes of keystone wildlife species’ and prevent public health issues.

The trust also runs a Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre which provides veterinary care to injured, orphaned and abandoned wildlife. Wildlife can be harmed when animals cross paths with humans. Snares, conflict and vehicles all pose hazards to wildlife and the trust works to help animals recover from these terrible events.

Additionally, the trust runs research projects into the factors that help or hinder wildlife populations to find ways of better protecting them.

Wild Horizons supports future generations by paying the school fees for 67 children at eight rural schools within the region. This allows children to receive a crucial education and improves their employability prospects, helping to end the cycle of poverty.

Wild Horizons also contributes to the salaries of employees at the local old age home. Once every year, Wild Horizons donates gas for their stove and hosts a meal for the home’s residents.

Wild Horizons gives support to the Katombora scouts and sponsors three officers employed by the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit to help protect the local wildlife.

‘We believe that sustainability relies on the combined effort of our Victoria Falls community. The National Parks Game Scouts are invaluable in protecting our wilderness and wildlife. We provide support to the Katombora scouts in the form of food and fuel to assist in the National Parks anti-poaching efforts in Kazungula and the Matetsti areas of Zimbabwe.’

Wild Horizons source and distribute raincoats to ‘an association of vendors who hire them out to guests visiting the Victoria Falls rainforest.’ This project allows the vendors to gain an income and provide for their families. So far over 30 vendors are receiving the benefits of this initiative.

Wild Horizons work to make sure that their lodges are built in a way that minimises the impact on the environment. Their Elephant Camp was built out of eco-friendly materials, using ‘60% bamboo and 40% recycled plastic’.

Bamboo is a sustainable material as it grows very quickly, and recycling plastic means that it avoids going to the landfill. Wild Horizons have also banned single-use plastics at their lodges and provide guests with reusable water bottles to prevent plastic waste.

A qualified environmental officer visits the camp twice each year in order to monitor the biology of the Wild Horizons Wildlife Sanctuary. Biological surveys are conducted to monitor the orphaned elephant herd and naturally occurring wildlife that has made its home on the property to track the effects that they have on the environment. Invasive vegetation within the reserve is also removed and soil erosion is managed.

Wild Horizons use sewage systems in their camps in order to treat wastewater and produce greywater which is then used for irrigation on their indigenous tree nursery. Organic waste from the kitchen is recycled by their worm farm and becomes a chemical-free compost which also helps the trees in the nursery as well as the vegetable garden.

All of the geysers at Wild Horizons’ Elephant Camp West are powered by solar, and the geysers at the main Elephant Camp are currently being converted to solar-powered ones. All 24 geysers at Old Drift Lodge are solar powered and the suites are fitted with low power, inverter type air-conditioners which are designed to limit any negative impacts on the environment. All other Wild Horizon lodges are in the process of being transferred to solar power.