Thorntree Lodge is a secluded retreat within Zambia's Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park on the bank of the mighty Zambezi River. This unspoiled setting is easily accessible by road and a mere 20 minutes away from Livingstone Airport. Friendly staff are available to meet you at the airport to transfer you to the lodge, although self drive options are also available.
Once at the lodge, we were treated to a delicious Brazilian welcome drink called a Mahito (made from Cane and mint), signalling the beginning of a great vacation. The public dining, bar and lounge area is really great and overlooks the Zambezi. It has comfortable couches and a great viewing deck.
This beautiful lodge is constructed out of natural materials that give it a real safari camp feel. The camp is surrounded by indigenous woods which, together with the many thatched roofs, create a shady haven from the hot African sun. Unlike many of the commercial hotels and resorts in Zambia, Thorntree Lodge only sleeps 18 people ' ensuring personal attention to detail and exceptional service. The rooms even have their own private verandas overlooking the Zambezi, where guests can view the beautiful African sunsets from the comfort of their own wicker chairs.
A great feature of the lodge is the fact that it is surrounded by the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park where a great variety of wildlife can be spotted, including white rhino (the park is a sanctuary to these endangered animals), giraffe, sable, impala, wildebeest, zebra, buffalo and many species of birds. At night the property is patrolled by armed guards who also escort you to and from your room ' ensuring your utmost safety.
The lodge has been built in such a way that it blends in perfectly with the natural surroundings. Animals are often spotted strolling past, entirely oblivious to the patch of civilization overlooking their path. The best viewing place is of course the lodge's main deck. At sunset the friendly staff prepare pre-dinner snacks while guests congregate for the great view. If you're really lucky ' you might even spot an elephant or two.
Thorntree gets its water directly from the river, so it is advisable not to drink the tap water. They do however supply bottled water to all the rooms, as well as the usual coffee and tea.
The lodge's has a beautiful swimming pool surrounded by comfy sun loungers ' ideal for a bit of 'doing-nothing' in the sun. And when the sun gets too hot, the thatched lapa offers a cool escape that further encourages you to do as little as possible for as long as possible.
If you do however get tired of lounging about and relaxing (difficult to imagine), there are tons of things to do. Thorntree's location on the river and within the national park is ideal and the wide variety of activities available includes sunset cruises, game-drives, cultural tours, fishing and of course visits to the Victoria Falls. The lodge is also home to ten elephant back safari elephants. We were lucky enough to see them undergo their daily training ' simply awesome.
We went for a great game viewing cruise on the Zambezi on one of the lodge's own barges, and got to see quite a few hippos wallowing in the water, as well as tons of birds and even a crocodile basking in the sun. The guide was really friendly and knowledgeable and the snacks superb. This cruise is very different from the ones where you go out on a large double-decker boat, as it is more personal and you tend to feel much closer to nature.
If you're looking for great views, great food, great wildlife, great activities and even greater service Thorntree Lodge is the place for you.
Accommodation consists of seven thatched, twin-bedded stone chalets, a double lodge and an Executive Suite. All the rooms have their own viewing verandas, equipped with wicker chairs and tables that overlook the river. This is a great place to simply 'chill' and enjoy the tranquillity of the surrounds.
The suite and the lodge are larger than the chalets, and offer larger and more private verandas ' as they are further removed from the rest of the rooms.
All the rooms have ensuite bathrooms - 2 with outdoor baths and 3 with outdoor showers. The outdoor showers are simply divine, as you get to have a shower under the stars, while still enjoying the utmost privacy. The outdoor baths are truly romantic and look fabulous when filled with bubble bath!
The beds have crisp linen and mosquito nets to ensure a comfortable night's sleep. The rooms also have lamps and ceiling fans, coffee and tea stations, insect repellent and bottled water. We loved the little thorn tree sprigs that they attached to the toilet rolls for decoration, and the fresh flowers on the bed ' making everything extra special.
Meals are served in the central lounge and dining area. The chefs and waiters take great pride in the presentation of meals and we can honestly say that Thorntree's food was the best and the most beautiful of all the meals we had in the entire Victoria Falls area.
Delicious pre-dinner snacks are served on the deck at sunset, where migrating elephants can sometimes be spotted. Dinner consists of a three course meal prepared using only the freshest ingredients.
At the lodge, all drinks are included and range from cordials to soft drinks to beer and spirits. Imported red and white wines are served during dinner to complement the meal, and the service is fantastic.
The swimming pool area has a bar and a thatched lapa or gazebo where you can 'chill' for hours on end.
Breakfast is a choice of cereals and muesli, yoghurt and fruit, toast, and a cooked breakfast made to order and once again exceptionally beautifully presented.
The chefs will gladly cater for vegetarians ' we simply ask that you notify us of your particular dietary needs in advance, to ensure ample preparation time.
Location: Thorntree River Lodge is situated within Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park on the Zambian bank of the Zambezi River. It is 15 kilometres upstream from the Victoria Falls and is easily accessible by car. The two closest airports, Livingstone Airport and Victoria Falls Airport (Zimbabwe) are respectively 15 and 40 minutes' drive away.
General facilities:- A central lounge/ dining area with bar and open sundeck
- Swimming pool
- Poolside gazebo with bar
- Elephant Boma ' ideal for conferences, weddings and functions
- Elephant stables nearby
Room facilities:- En-suite bathrooms
- Private verandas with wicker chairs and tables
- Outdoor bath and showers in executive suites
- Coffee and tea making stations
- Bottled water
- Mosquito nets
- Insect repellent
Activities:- Included:
- Morning and evening river cruises
- Game drives into the Mosi-O-Tunya National Park
- Fishing (limited rods and tackle are provided)
- Cultural and museum visits
- Visits to the Victoria Falls
Excluded:- White water rafting
- Canoeing
- River boarding
- Tandem kayaking
- Bungee jumping
- Micro-light, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter flights
- Day trips to Chobe National Park on request
- Elephant back safaris
- Walking with lions
- Gorge swinging
Open: Thorntree Lodge is open year round.
The Elephant Boma is the ideal setting for a wedding, and we'll ensure your every need gets seen to.
Honeymoons for the more adventurous are available where a camp is set up on the island opposite the lodge.
And if you're really after something different, the lodge can organise a lunch or breakfast with the elephants of the area.
