Gorges Lodge & Little Gorges
CEDARBERG RATING
Premier
Overview
It’s all about location at Gorges Lodge. And what a breath-taking setting it is! Gorges Lodge is famous for its spectacular views. Some say these rival the best in Southern Africa. So whether you are enjoying coffee at sunrise on your private deck or a sundowner by the pool at sunset, the stunning vistas over the Batoka Gorge - and the rushing of the Zambezi River below - are ever-present.
Gorges Lodge lies a mere 30 minute drive from Victoria Falls town and offers a totally unique Victoria Falls experience from its peaceful and idyllic setting on the edge of the Batoka Gorge.
Here you can relax away from the hustle and bustle of Victoria Falls town. Whilst enjoying your chalet with its the signature views down into Batoka Gorge and the pounding Zambezi river some 200 metres below. (Possibly not ideal for those who dont like heights!)
The main lodge offers sitting areas, dining areas overlooking the gorge as well as a swimming pool. The ten stone and thatch cottages lie in a peaceful and lush indigenous garden.
The stone chalets are very comfortable and spacious with either twin or double beds under mosquito nets, ceiling fan, tea/coffee facilities, minibar and safe. Sliding doors leads out onto a private terrace overlooking THAT view. The en suite bathroom is stylish with double vanity and a large walk-in shower as well as an enclosed toilet. Plus there are some family chalets on two levels with the master bedroom upstairs with two double beds. And a sitting area downstairs with sleeper couch for children and the bathroom.
Activities at Gorges Lodge
Warm hospitality is all pervasive at Georges as the lodge is run by an experienced management couple. Gorges offers two activities per night and you can choose from a guide tour of the Victoria Falls (park fees are included), guided tour of the craft village, visit to the local village or a school tour, In the evenings you can choose between a traditional dancing display, black eagle viewing with sundowners or a sundowner cruise on the Zambezi. You can also enjoy a guided birding walk in the grounds. And if you are active, you can take the 20-30 minute hike down to the bottom of the Batoka Gorge. Plus the 30 minute hike back up again!
Little Gorges
Little Gorges comprise five tented suites, only a short walk from the main lodge. This tented extension overlooks the dramatic junction of the Dibu Dibu River and the Zambezi, where black eagles and lanner falcons nest in the sheer cliff faces. The tents are on the edge of the Dibu Dibu Gorge and if anything, have even better views of the Zambezi River. (If that’s even possible.) You can take this as a small group, choose this accommodation as the very spacious tents are the same standard as the chalets.
At A Glance
Birding hotspot
Garden
Restaurants
Rural location
Wifi on premises
In Pictures
Gorges Lodge & Little Gorges on the map
Gorges Lodge review
So I thought that the view from Zambezi Sands was amazing and difficult to top, but that was before I got to Gorges Lodge! I knew about the epic view of course, and it really did live up to my already sky-high expectations. It is not a ‘grand’ lodge per se, but the chalets are spacious, cosy in feel (not a euphemism for small but a plus for ambience) and well-equipped with an attractive bathroom with walk-in showers. Each one has the stupendous view.
We had a spectacular sighting of the black eagles which nest in the gorge by the lodge. (I learnt that it’s very difficult to take a good photo of an eagle in flight with a long lens. I have to practise some more.)
The lodge runs like a well-oiled machine being managed by a very capable couple at the helm and it’s clear that the staff, who all come from the local community, enjoy working there. (The lodge is on community land and so the village benefits financially from the lodge and you can also visit the local village and school if you wish.)
Little Gorges is a new satellite camp next door with 5 large tented rooms with good sized en suite bathrooms. The setting was possibly even better than the original chalets. It’s a moot point as to which one I liked more, but I did like the cosiness of the original stone chalets…
Gorges is 30 mins from town which is 'doable' in terms of enjoying a variety of activities. Two activities are included in the nightly rate, some of which are near or at the lodge and some are in Victoria Falls so realistically you would only need to travel into the town once a day at most.
