Elegantly nestled within the tree line, The River Club sits high on the banks of the Zambezi River with expansive views both upstream and towards the Victoria Falls, and across into Zimbabwe. This colonial-styled sanctuary blends genuine Zambian hospitality with fascinating natural heritage and exciting adventure activities. The River Club is a charming oasis on the Zambezi River, situated 18 kilometres (11 miles) upstream from Livingstone and the renowned Victoria Falls - a World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The River Club is a very good base for exploring the Victoria Falls and the area in and around Livingstone. Easily accessible from both Livingstone Airport and Botswana’s border, it’s situated far enough from town to be secluded but close enough to visit the Falls as often as you like.
Victoria Falls from the air
A Step Back in Time
The River Club may have been open for only a decade and a half, but visitors could imagine they have stepped back in time to Livingstone’s colonial heyday. The River Club is an owner-run lodge, colonial - styled establishment based around a renovated 1940s’ farmhouse which now forms the main area of the lodge. From the waiters’ costumes, to the croquet lawn, the billiards room and the vintage Rolls Royce that can be hired for special occasions - some will find the atmosphere contrived and artificial, whilst others will love its historical feel.
Zambezi House: The Heart of The River Club
In the main area of The River Club, known as Zambezi House, dining, entertainment and relaxation are top priorities. The Zambezi House is made up of a sizeable lounge and library area with an impressive collection of books and photographs pertaining to Livingstone, its history and its colourful residents. Here you’ll find a large lounge, library and study area stocked with a remarkable array of literature and photographs. As well as detailing Livingstone’s rapid development over the past century or so, these catalogue some of the town’s events and its more eccentric and charismatic residents. Leather chairs and comfortable couches provide a good excuse to just sit and pass the time, and there’s a gigantic fireplace for those chilly winter evenings. Alongside a variety of board games, and in stark contrast to the feel of the rest of the place, there’s a laptop with WiFi, for those wishing to tune back into the 21st century.
To one side of the main room is a tea and coffee station where a buffet breakfast is served. Afternoon tea is also served here, but dinner is usually taken outside on the veranda and eaten as a group (private dining can also be organised on request for special occasions). In front of Zambezi House, the Club’s plunge pool must have one of the best views in Africa: looking straight out over the Zambezi. This isn’t just a great place to cool off in the heat of the day but also an idyllic setting for private dinners. A short walk across the croquet lawn brings you to the Summer House, which is decorated with pieces of campaign furniture and old trophies. For sports’ lovers, games and matches can be enjoyed on a big screen in the summer house complete with period furniture. Here there is a wide-screen TV for any sports fixtures you might want to catch as well as a billiard table and chess set. A billiard table and chess set, available for your use, are reminiscent of entertainment activities enjoyed in times gone by.
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For the energetic, the running track on the secure property and gymnasium and all-weather tennis court are perfect.
Luxurious Accommodation
There are just ten chalets at The River Club, each named after famous colonial and African figures including explorers, hunters, politicians and royalty. Eleven spacious suites overlook the river and pods of hippo into the Zambezi National Park. 11 luxury suites (including three with private plunge pools and one 2-bedroom villa), with floor to ceiling sliding glass doors, are renowned for their romantic ambience and spectacular views over pods of hippo into the Zambezi National Park. The chalets are constructed on stilts and well spread out in fairly dense vegetation above the Zambezi River, giving each a very secluded feel.
Broadly, there are two types of chalet:
- Split-Level Chalets: Eight are split level, with the bedroom and a small seating area at the top, and views through a screened window to the Zambezi below. This screen serves both to allow a through breeze and to ensure that insects are kept out; there are also mosquito nets on all the beds. From this upper level, where there’s also a separate toilet, quite a steep flight of stairs leads down to the bathroom complete with shower, free-standing bath tub and a second toilet. One of these split-level chalets is a family suite, featuring a second twin bedroom, plus an outdoor shower and a private plunge pool.
- River Suites: Two river suites (Rhodes and Livingstone), suitable for the less agile, are spacious chalets set in private gardens with their own private plunge pools and teak decks.
All of the chalets have air conditioning as well as ceiling fans above the beds, plus a fridge with bottled water, and an electronic safe. Perfectly positioned on the banks of the Zambezi River, our River Suites offer unimpeded views of the Zambezi River and complete privacy. Designed solely for comfort, each River Suite is split level and features a sitting area with windows that can be opened to admire the spectacular views, two bathrooms and large mosquito nets swathing the bed. Each room looks west into the glorious African sunset, best viewed from the privacy of the ball-and-claw bath.
Activities on the Zambezi
Not surprisingly, activities at The River Club are largely based around the Zambezi, both upstream and further down at the Victoria Falls - about 45 minutes’ drive away. A host of activities await young and old, on property as well as around the Victoria Falls. The lodge has its own boat which offers leisurely sundowner cruises accompanied by an experienced river guide. On our last visit to The River Club we thought that this was a particularly well-run activity which really took advantage of the Club’s peaceful location. When the captain sees fit he will switch off the engine and let the boat drift quietly downstream passing the odd elephant, hippo or crocodile and an abundance of colourful bird life. Although there are a couple of other lodges in the vicinity with their own boats, you won’t see anywhere near the volume of traffic you might expect further downstream.
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Sundowner cruise on the Zambezi River
If being on the water is really your thing then why not try your hand at a spot of fishing? Following a leisurely breakfast, don a hat and sunscreen before taking a short stroll down to our boat where The Club’s fishing tackle and bait are ready and waiting. Whether a novice or an experienced angler you can spend a morning using the Club’s tackle before returning in time for lunch. Also on offer, of course, are tours of the Falls as well as visits to a local village (where many of the staff live with their families). Just half an hour’s drive from The River Club are the mighty Victoria Falls. Visit an authentic village to experience life as it really is in rural Africa. A short drive takes you to a local village where you will be shown all aspects of African village life.
Other activities include:
- White water rafting
- Bungee jumping
- Abseiling
- Canoeing
- Flights over the Falls
The most scenic bridge dive in the world, bungee jumping at Victoria Falls is high on our list of adventure activities in Livingstone. Get the adrenaline pumping while surfing the rapids of the Zambezi. In your choice of Microlight or Helicopter, get a bird’s eye view of this expansive natural wonder as you fly over Victoria Falls. Take a trip back in time with a historic tour of the bridge at the Falls.
The highlight of a game viewing trip in the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park is the chance of seeing White Rhino, some of the only remaining in Zambia. The park is home to a wide variety of animals including giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala, elephants and buffalo. Professionally guided canoe safaris take you through the narrow channels on the incredible Zambezi River where you will experience breathtaking scenery and incredible game viewing. People travel to Africa from all over the world to see the Schalow’s Loerie and the African Finfoot, residents at The Club.
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For a top safari experience while visiting the Victoria Falls, don’t miss a day trip to Botswana’s Chobe National Park. One of the seven Natural Wonders of the World, the mighty Victoria Falls has to be seen to be believed. Witnessing the power of the Victoria Falls from the ground is a stunning sight, but to see the world’s largest waterfall from the air is a very different experience! A feat of engineering the Victoria Falls Bridge was built in 1905 as part of Cecil Rhodes' vision to link the Cape to Cairo. Victoria Falls is one of the world's natural wonders, and a huge attraction for many visitors to southern Africa. The Royal Livingstone Express is a lovingly restored steam train. Guests steam along the original Rhodesian railway line onto the stunning Victoria Falls Bridge. Visiting The Elephant Café is a great combination of a magical elephant encounter and fine dining. Spend time getting to know the elephants, some of them rescued from the wild many years ago, and others born into the herd.
360° Victoria Falls – The Devil's Pool | National Geographic
Family-Friendly Oasis
River Club is very happy to welcome older, well-behaved children. At The River Club, we understand taking time to reconnect as a family is important. The River Club is also an ideal destination for families with children. Everyone at The River Club enjoys hosting youngsters as we are family orientated people to the core. Sprawling gardens provide the perfect setting for kids to run around and explore. Each child who does the walk is given a courtesy ‘adventure bag’ containing interesting goodies to keep. Several in-house activities are suitable for families with children and there is an array of additional on-site facilities too. Certain external activities are also suitable for children. Parents need to understand that there is no fence around the infinity pool, and that the atmosphere hiere is a fairly 'adult' one ...
Kosher Catering
The owner of The River Club, Mr. Peter Jones, is passionate about the history of Zambia’s small Jewish community and as such has ensured that The River Club offers an opportunity for those seeking to visit the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls, while remaining observant. For this reason, two fully - equipped Kosher Kitchens on site offer cuisine and culinary options to Jewish Guests. Each kosher kitchen has its own set of equipment, crockery, cutlery, glasses, utensils, pots and pans, etc. as well as its own washing up facilities too - one for parev and one for milchik. Kosher Kitchen 1 is run by lodge kitchen staff trained in kosher catering (they are not Jewish themselves but take the art of kosher catering seriously). Kosher Kitchen 2 is only unlocked and used when there is a Mashgiach present. Guests have the option of visiting the Railway Museum to see some beautiful 19th century locomotives to clamber onboard as well as the Jewish Museum which offers great insight into Livingstone’s Jewish community who settled there in the 1890s.
Conservation and Community Involvement
For the past 20 years, The River Club has been actively involved in supporting and improving the lives of the 4,000 inhabitants of nearby Simonga Village. Guests have the opportunity to visit Simonga Village, learn all about the culture and heritage of the village and of course get involved. Resident co-owner of The River Club, Peter Jones, also made his private plot of land nearby on the banks of the Zambezi available to the staff members and their families, to farm their own produce. At Peter’s own expense the land has been prepared for farming and electric fencing has been installed to protect crops.
Another exciting development at the lodge has been the welcoming of two female and one male giraffe to the lodge. Originating from a game farm in Choma, southern Zambia, the two females Geraldine and Juju (short for Justyne), both under two years old, and Joshua, the three year old male, arrived in the early hours of a December morning to a holding boma on the property. The three youngsters have been released from the boma and are now enjoying the 50 acres of private land at leisure.
Additional Information
With sensible precautions, safaris are unforgettable and rewarding. Nearest doctor is in Livingstone, about 30mins drive away.
Optional extra day-trips and excursions possible whilst you're staying at The River Club.
Soft drinks, bottled water, spirits, local beers and a selection of (generally) South African wines are included.
We’d recommend a stay of around two or three nights at The River Club depending on how many activities you’d like to engage in at The Falls. The River Club can be reached by road transfer either from Livingstone Airport (about 40 minutes) or from the town of Kasane in Botswana. The Club also has its own helipad.
Stop press: The River Club closed at the start of 2024; we're waiting to see what will take its place along the Zambezi River, near the town of Livingstone.
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