Dzimbahwe Guest Lodge

Dzimbahwe Guest Lodge, at 703 Aerodrome in Victoria Falls, is rated 9.0 out of 10 from 168 reviews on Expedia, with guests praising the staff, the large rooms and the location. Rooms include doubles, twins, triples, a king room with garden view, a two-bedroom family suite and a two-bedroom apartment with a kitchen. There are two outdoor pools, a bar and lounge, a terrace, a garden, a barbecue grill and a picnic area, plus free WiFi, air conditioning, safes and a 24-hour front desk with tour and ticket help.

Location and getting around: the lodge is about two kilometres from Zambezi National Park and within roughly five kilometres of the falls, the park entrance, the Livingstone statue and the river, so a taxi or tour pickup is normal. The Three Monkeys restaurant is about four minutes by car and the Boma about five, so evening options are close. There is no on-site parking, and a roundtrip airport shuttle is available for a surcharge.

The rooms: Expedia lists larger-than-average rooms for the price, with the king room scoring highest, and family-friendly options including a two-bedroom suite and a two-bedroom apartment with a kitchen. Two pools are rare at this price and are welcome after a hot day. The tour desk can book the helicopter, rafting, cruise and Chobe trips.

Good to know: breakfast is a full meal for about US$5 per person, check-in is from 2 pm and checkout is before 10 am. Pets are not allowed and there is no elevator. Expedia notes that credit cards are accepted and cash is not, and also says alcohol is not served even though a bar is listed, so confirm both with the lodge. It is a smart budget choice for families, groups and backpackers wanting space and a pool, and it pairs with a falls walk, a Boma dinner and a Chobe day trip.