About this hotel
General information
Royal Chundu River Lodge is one of two Royal Chundu lodges on a secluded 15-kilometre stretch of the Zambezi, with Victoria Falls downstream and the Katombora Rapids upstream. It has just ten thatched suites, all set right on the water, so the broad, unhurried river, fishermen in dugout canoes and the call of the fish eagle frame every day. A Relais & Châteaux member, the lodge is meant to feel like a home for couples, families and small groups.
Interiors pair modern comfort with furniture handcrafted by local makers, and the shared spaces — a restaurant, a wine cellar with cocktail bar, a library and a TV room — open onto the river. The lodge runs on solar power, treats and reuses its water and buys from nearby farmers and fishermen, and the entire team, from chefs and guides to boat captains and management, is Zambian. Stays are fully inclusive of meals, local drinks, the lodge's own activities and road transfers.
Location
The lodge sits on the Zambezi upstream of Victoria Falls and the town of Livingstone, close to the Katombora Rapids, looking across to a game reserve on the Zimbabwean bank. Road transfers are included in the stay, and the lodge has its own helipad.
Spa
There is no spa building: massages and treatments are given in the guest's own suite, indoors or outside to the sound of the river. The therapists come from the surrounding villages, and the treatments draw on natural plant ingredients and local knowledge of healing herbs.
Sports & leisure
Life here revolves around the river, and so do most of the activities:
- boat cruises on the Zambezi at sunrise, with hot drinks and blankets, and at sunset, with drinks and snacks; baboons, waterbuck, giraffe, buffalo, otters and the occasional leopard can be seen from the boat;
- guided inflatable-canoe trips from the Katombora Rapids through the channels between islands, past hippos and Nile crocodiles, with a picnic stop;
- catch-and-release fishing for tigerfish, bream and Upper Zambezi yellowfish with a skipper and guide, using the lodge's tackle or your own;
- birdwatching;
- a guided walk on private Katombora Island among baobabs and centuries-old trees, with stories of the plants' traditional uses;
- the Riverstead Experience — slow days on the farm and in the garden, foraging and cooking with the chefs, basket-weaving, crafts with the Zambezi Joy Society makers and evenings under the stars;
- visits to the Royal Chundu school, which the lodge supports, to meet pupils and teachers;
- a day trip to the Chobe River.
For children
Children of all ages can join the children's club, whose daily programme is planned with a guide on arrival. Each child receives a river explorer pack and starts with a treasure hunt; then come stargazing evenings, insect, butterfly, bird and frog safaris, leaf and flower pressing, cooking lessons with the chefs, a sunset cruise with catch-and-release fishing and a guides' quiz with a certificate at the end. A children's lounge has a TV, games, puzzles and books, and child-minding by lodge staff can be arranged ahead of arrival.
Restaurants & bars
Cooking rests on local produce and traditional recipes, prepared by Zambian chefs:
- the main restaurant, with decks over the river: pan-African and international dishes and a tasting menu with a South African wine paired to each course;
- Wine Cellar & Cocktail Bar — a wine cellar and cocktail bar;
- the boma — an open-air fireside enclosure for Zambian evenings with a barbecue, lanterns, drumming and masked dancers;
- riverside breakfasts, candlelit dinners on floating decks, private dining on the suite's deck, island picnics and meals on the boat.
Swimming
The lodge has a rim-flow swimming pool looking out over the river.
Rooms
Ten spacious thatched suites stand on stilts over the water along the Zambezi bank, each with its own deck facing the river.
Each suite has air conditioning, a ceiling fan, a mosquito net, a minibar, a tea and coffee station, a safe, a hairdryer, an international adaptor bank and complimentary Wi-Fi.
River Lodge Suite
A suite on stilts over the wide Zambezi, with an open-plan bedroom and lounge, a dressing room, a bathroom with double shower and twin basins, and a private deck looking across the river to the reserve opposite. King or twin beds; two extra beds for children are possible, for up to four guests.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.