Luxury ecotourism and community development group, Batoka Hospitality, is set to reopen its Zambezi Sands River Lodge in June.
Situated one hour from Victoria Falls, the newly renovated five-star luxury lodge is nestled in the western end of Zambezi National Park in Zimbabwe.
It will be the first black female-owned five-star safari lodge in Africa, and Batoka Hospitality is hoping to change the way the world views African hospitality.
“We are empowering the African dream of success through ecotourism and hospitality,” said Vimbai Masiyiwa, Executive Director of Batoka Hospitality.
“At Batoka, people come first: whether it is our staff, our guests or the community surrounding us. As much as we enrich the lives of our guests through a truly authentic African experience, we want to create self-sustaining villages and economic growth for the communities around us,” Masiyiwa added.
Each of the lodge’s ten suites has a private plunge pool and views of the Zambezi River. For families and those opting for more seclusion, a two-bedroom suite complete with a private swimming pool, lounge, a dining room and deck will be available.
The lodge also has a bar, lounge and dining area that sit above the river, offering views of the area’s wild landscapes.
Guests can enjoy a wide range of activities that include game drives along the river and inland, game walks with a professional guide, fishing safari on the Zambezi and sunset river boat cruises to name a few.
In 2020 Batoka Hospitality acquired full ownership of the former Zambezi Sands River Camp and its sister attraction, the Gorges Lodge.
The group’s Tesse Fund is financed by 10% of the revenue made from each guest’s stay. The purpose of the fund is for staff members within the Batoka Hospitality family to come up with projects that benefit their local community.
