Four-star One MICHELIN Key Zambezi National Park, Victoria Falls
Zambezi Sands by Batoka
Ten tented suites on the Zambezi in the western reaches of Zambezi National Park, about an hour upstream of the falls, with drives, cruises and drinks included.
Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.
- MICHELIN
- One Key, 2026
- Suites
- Ten tents on the riverbank
- Reopened
- 2022, after refurbishment
- From the falls
- About an hour by road
The hotel
A camp reborn on the Zambezi.
The camp began as Zambezi Sands River Camp, on the bank of the Zambezi in the western part of Zambezi National Park, about twenty-five kilometres from the falls. In 2020 Batoka Hospitality took full ownership. The group, led by Vimbai Masiyiwa, is described as the first black female-owned safari lodge group in Africa, and puts ten per cent of each stay into a community fund.
After a refurbishment it reopened in 2022. The South African designer Yvonne O'Brien reworked the ten tents, and the bar, lounge and dining room now stand on stilts above the water, with a sunken fire pit on the deck. Boardwalks join the tents to the main lodge, and after dark hippos sometimes graze close by. The camp runs on solar power.
- On the water Day cruises and sunset cruises on the upper Zambezi, upstream of the falls.
- In the park Morning and evening game drives through riverine forest and open plains, and guided walks. Four of the Big Five live here; rhino do not.
- Slower hours Yoga, guided bush meditation and spa treatments at the lodge, and breakfast in the bush by the river.
Rooms & suites
Tents with a deck on the river.
Ten tented suites stand along the bank, each with a sitting area inside and a deck with loungers outside.
- Ten suites Tented Suite King, double or twin beds, twin basins, a freestanding bath and an outdoor shower.
- With a pool Pool Suite The same tent with a splash pool built into the deck over the river.
Dining
An open kitchen above the river.
Meals and drinks are included in the rate. Shown for information.
- The dining room Zimbabwean and international An open kitchen using local, seasonal produce
- The deck Dinner outdoors Tables and a sunken fire pit over the river
- Bush breakfast Breakfast On the riverbank during a morning out
Recognition
Recognition.
- One MICHELIN Key 2026, in the first selection for Zimbabwe
Good to know
Before you go.
- Arrival Check-in from 2 pm, check-out by 10 am.
- Included All meals and drinks, laundry, game drives and river cruises.
- Children Welcome, though cots and extra beds are not available.
- Pets Not accepted.
Getting there
Flying to Victoria Falls.
Scheduled flights and private jets land at Victoria Falls International, south of the town. The camp lies about an hour west of Victoria Falls by road inside the national park, so allow a little over an hour from the airport, our estimate.
- Johannesburg 1 h 35
- Cape Town 2 h 50
- Nairobi 3 h 15
- Dubai 7 h 55 long-range jet
- London 11 h 05 long-range jet
Questions
What guests ask first.
- How many MICHELIN Keys does Zambezi Sands by Batoka have?
- One, awarded in the 2026 selection, the first in which the guide covered Zimbabwe.
- How far is Zambezi Sands from Victoria Falls?
- About twenty-five kilometres, or roughly an hour by road through Zambezi National Park.
- What is included at Zambezi Sands?
- Meals and drinks at the camp, laundry, game drives and river cruises are all part of the rate.
- Can SkyCourtage arrange the flight to Victoria Falls?
- Yes. We arrange Business and First Class seats on scheduled airlines and private jet charter to Victoria Falls, with one final price, our margin included. The hotel is booked with the hotel or through our booking partner.
Staying at Zambezi Sands by Batoka?
Book the room, then the flight.
Rates and availability come from the hotel itself. For the journey to Victoria Falls, a Business or First Class seat or an aircraft of your own: tell us the date and we come back with one final price, our margin included.
Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.