Zambezi Grande Lodge Reopens for the Season — What to Expect

Following a short seasonal closure, Zambezi Grande Lodge has reopened for the 2024 dry season. Situated on the banks of the Zambezi River near Lower Zambezi National Park, this intimate, family-owned game lodge offers ten beautifully appointed rooms and suites and a personalized safari experience.

Perched along a prime stretch of riverfront, Zambezi Grande showcases sweeping river views from its terrace and infinity pool. Guests can enjoy game drives, walking safaris, river safaris and fishing excursions — all designed to make the most of the rich wildlife bordering the lodge. The area is known for frequent elephant sightings as well as leopard, lion, hippo, buffalo, zebra and kudu.

Days at the lodge can be filled with river safaris by boat, birdwatching amid roughly 400 species, classic game drives to encounter members of the Big Five, or sport angling on the Zambezi for tigerfish and vundu, a large air-breathing catfish. Returning to the lodge, guests relax on the pool deck or dine beneath the stars during private island dinners while watching wildlife drift by the riverbank.

When night falls, the clear African skies offer brilliant stargazing accompanied by the ambient sounds of crickets and nocturnal wildlife — a signature contrast of quiet luxury and wild nature that defines the Zambezi Grande experience.

Originally a Cape Dutch–style homestead, the property was fully reimagined by Michele Throssell Interiors and now accommodates up to 20 guests across two categories: luxury rooms and superior suites. Each accommodation is designed to offer unobstructed views of the surrounding wilderness and a calm, open-plan layout for relaxation.

Guests may select from five free-standing superior suites positioned on the riverfront, each with a generous veranda and outdoor shower that blends with the landscape, or choose a luxury room set within the bush. All units include private verandas and well-sized living areas that invite relaxation and connection with the environment.

Many furnishings and fabrics at Zambezi Grande are custom-made by local artisans, reflecting regional craftsmanship throughout the guestrooms and communal spaces. Each room features a handmade drinks cabinet curated for guests, stocked with a selection of South African wines, local Zambian gin and fresh, homemade juices.

Beyond hospitality, Zambezi Grande invests in the local community through employment, outreach and conservation initiatives that create sustainable income for households and nurture future stewards of the environment. The lodge’s Chengetai Tree Project — named for the local Gova word meaning “to keep” or “to preserve” — supports tree planting and protection efforts. The project supplies essential tools, provides training for youth, and helps slow deforestation and land degradation while encouraging ecological stewardship among local communities.

The culinary program emphasizes seasonality and local sourcing, with much of the menu prepared from scratch by in-house chefs. By using local produce and supporting nearby farmers, the lodge serves thoughtfully composed dishes that celebrate Zambia’s flavors across breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.

Zambezi Grande is reached via daily light-aircraft flights from Lusaka International Airport, roughly a 30-minute flight to Royal Zambezi Airstrip. On arrival, guests are met by a private game experience guide and transferred by road to the lodge in about 15 minutes, beginning a seamless journey into the Lower Zambezi wilderness.