Take a quick glance at a map, and you’ll soon see why Samanzi Lodge is so popular with tourists and travellers. Most of the major attractions in this area of Zimbabwe are no more than 2 miles from the lodge, most notably Victoria Falls – that seventh wonder of the natural world that keeps drawing in visitors by the bucketload.
But other bucket list attractions can also be ticked off with ease when you stay here, including The Big Tree. That’s an unusually large baobab by the way, standing close to 80 ft tall (about 24 metres). And it’s not far off being just as wide (73ft, 22.4 m). Cameras at the ready.
The David Livingstone statue is also only a couple of miles away from Samanzi. We have Mr Livingstone to thank for naming the Falls after the Queen of England at the time, and his bronze statue has been watching over this beautiful landmark since the middle of the last century.
Last, but certainly not least, is the Zambezi River, which plays host to all kinds of activities from cruises to canoe-based safaris.
Hopefully, that’s you sold on the location and surroundings. Now to the facilities - the headline news is that Samanzi offers only 15 air-conditioned bedrooms, creating an intimate, exclusive retreat where you can enjoy peace and privacy without the crowds.
Your room comes with either a double bed or twin beds, beautifully presented and furnished to a high standard - and yes, free Wi-Fi is included. The bathroom has a shower along with an array of free toiletries. The views will impress too, with the gardens and most likely the pool forming at least part of what you see through your windows.
Yes, Samanzi is renowned for its seven pools, one for each day of the week if you’re staying that long. They’re all connected by islands and waterfalls – not quite on the scale you’ll see at Victoria Falls, but impressive nonetheless. There’s also a hot tub and a poolside bar you can swim up to and order, plus a sunken fire pit in the main pool that never fails to attract guests for evening gatherings.
Breakfast is a big event at Samanzi, with enough variety available to set up even the fussiest eater for the day. Choose from an a la carte menu, a Continental option or a Full English/Irish. At other times of day you can arrange private dining in your accommodation and choose to enjoy your food with a glass of wine from the on-site cellar.
Guests at Samanzi can enjoy a mix of relaxation and exploration: unwind by one of the many pools, sip cocktails at the swim-up or poolside bars, or indulge in spa treatments. For those seeking adventure, nearby options include guided game drives, birdwatching, cultural tours, boat cruises, and scenic flights over Victoria Falls.
"A dream come true"
We had the most amazing family holiday, everything worked so perfectly, the arrangements and accommodation was spectacular!
"Unforgettable trip to Namibia – Thank you Namibia Tours & Safaris!"
We are a group of four from Romania and spent 3 unforgettable weeks in Namibia. We can't recommend them enough, and for any future travels in Namibia or other parts of Africa, we will definitely use their services again.
"We had a great experience"
From the time we put the key in the ignition till we boarded the plane in Windhoek nothing went wrong.
"Unforgettable bird photography trip in Namibia"
It was a fantastic experience, everything was very well organised, went smooth and according to expectations. It was our first self drive in Africa and it was a great, unforgettable time.
