MATETSI RIVER LODGE AND PRIVATE HOUSE – VICTORIA FALLS

Matetsi River Lodge and Private House enjoys a spectacular location on the Zambezi River set within the Matetsi Private Game Reserve just 40 km upstream from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Victoria Falls.

Perched on the banks of the Zambezi with 15km of private river frontage, Matetsi Victoria Falls combines dramatic architectural design and luxurious interiors with the vibrancy of the Zimbabwean people.

A family-owned property, Matetsi Victoria Falls combines a big-five luxury safari experience with a bucket-list visit to Victoria Falls which is just 45 minutes’ drive away. But it also offers a uniquely authentic and personal experience that embodies the hope and dynamism of this incredible country and its people.

LOCATION

The lodge is located in the Matetsi Private Game Reserve 40km upstream from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Access is via Victoria Falls airport from where it is approximately 50 minutes by road to the lodge.

LODGE

Highly acclaimed for its distinctly African contemporary interiors, Matetsi Victoria Falls is very much in keeping with its natural surrounds. Polished earth finishes, lustrous hand-beaten local copper detailing and seamless flows between interior and exterior living spaces. The theme of ‘life on the river’ comes through subtly with clay-pot down lighters, fish-trap inspired features and custom works by local artisans.

The lodge has 18 river facing suites set beneath the thick canopies of a vast riverine forest. The camps are split into two river-facing camps with 9 suites each – two of which are family suites.

Offering the same facilities as the River Lodge suites, the River Lodge Family Suites have an adult’s suite with an adjoining passageway to a children’s room via a secure courtyard.

All suites are air-conditioned and come with sumptuous king-size four-poster beds, generous bathtubs, indoor and outdoor rain showers as well as a private plunge pool and deck. Each suite is perfectly appointed so as to capitalize on the lodge’s 15km’s private river frontage. In the room is an iPad and Bluetooth speakers and there is complementary WIFI in both the lodge and rooms.

The main area has both indoor and outdoor dining spaces and a boma dining area for traditional meals. There are large alfresco lounge areas, a library and owners private wine cellar. Leisure facilities include a fitness studio, a massage sala and a 20m lap pool flanking the river.

River House is an exclusive use four-bedroom villa that is ideal for a large group, family or multi-generational family travelling together. River House is equipped with every luxury necessary in the bush from a full kitchen and indoor and outdoor dining areas that lead out to a spacious veranda with a private swimming pool and fire pit bowl overlooking the River. River House also comes with the services of a private chef, butler, guide as well as a private game drive vehicle.

ACTIVITIES AND WILDLIFE

Matetsi Victoria Falls is set on the 136,000-acre Matetsi Private Game Reserve – this pristine wilderness consists of a variety of different ecosystems including miles of Zambezi river frontage and provides habitats for a huge variety of flora and fauna.

The property lies in the north west corner of Zimbabwe which is well known for having the second largest elephant population in the world and still holds significant tracts of African teak, both of which are evident here.

Perhaps most significantly, Matetsi Private Game Reserve lies at the heart of the enormous Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (TFCA) – the largest TFCA in the world which incorporates five cooperating countries: Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and Angola. This vast expanse covers an area nearly twice the size of the United Kingdom and the absence of fences allows wildlife to wander freely across this wilderness.

Game Drives – Matetsi Private Game Reserve offers an exclusive game viewing experience in the Victoria Falls area and highlights include sightings of herds of elephant and buffalo as well as sable antelope, lion, spotted hyena, African wild dog and leopard.

Twice-daily game drives in the privacy of the concession are offered in custom-fitted, luxury open-air safari vehicles accompanied by a knowledgeable, conservation-minded ranger and a tracker. Evening drives are also available.

Zambezi River Boat Cruises – experience riverboat cruises and canoeing excursions along the private 15km stretch of the Zambezi River. From the water you can see large herds of elephant, pods of hippo, waterbuck, wildebeest and buffalo. Fishing is also available.

Zambezi Canoeing – float silently down the Zambezi with your guide and enjoy the wildlife coming down to the river to drink.

Bush Walks – get even closer to the incredible wilderness of the reserve and learn about the African bush with your guide whilst on foot.

Massages – choose from a blend of aromatherapy oils to either destress, hydrate, relax or detox.

Victoria Falls Area Excursions – there are a huge variety of excursions to book directly at the lodge including helicopter flights, guided cultural tours, high teas in fabulous places, adventure sports and many more activities

Families – the Matetsi Cubs children’s programme offers an exciting opportunity for young adventurers to explore various aspects of Matetsi Private Game Reserve with the team. This interactive programme allows children to learn about and develop a respect for nature and wildlife and to understand the importance of conservation.

On arrival each child will receive a welcome pack to get them started on their Matetsi Cubs activities which include adventures in nature, interactive cooking and creative activities. All activities can include or exclude parents.

Babysitting is available at Matetsi Victoria Falls and the service is provided by the team voluntarily outside of their normal working hours.

GIVING BACK

Matestsi’s mission is to conserve vast areas of pristine wilderness and create employment, upskilling and opportunities for Zimbabweans.

In the development of the lodge Matetsi worked with Zimbabwean artists and artisans and locally based craftsmen in order to support local talent. The lodge was built on the footprints of a pre-existing lodge and materials were re-used and re-purposed or sourced locally as far as possible.

Everyday practices are in place to reduce carbon footprint. In addition to protecting the surrounding wilderness, the lodge uses solar-power geysers and the team ensure energy efficient practices throughout such as sourcing locally and from our own vegetable garden on property where possible. The lodge has eliminated single-use plastics on property and installed Natura water bottling plants that produce still and sparkling water served in recycled glass bottles, bathroom amenities are in glass bottles rather than disposable plastic, and all waste is separated in-house and recycled.

MATESTI VICTORIA FALLS IS OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND

THE HOTEL WELCOMES FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN OF ALL AGES AND HAS DEDICATED FAMILY ACCOMMODATION AND MATETSI CUBS CLUB