Luxury Hotel · South Africa
Old Drift Lodge
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At a glance
Old Drift Lodge runs along the banks of the Upper Zambezi inside Zimbabwe’s Zambezi National Park, the closest lodge in the park to Victoria Falls.
The lodge takes its name from Clarke’s Drift, the river’s original 1898 crossing point and its narrowest stretch in the area. Guests arrive by boat, and elephants regularly wander through camp, especially late in the dry season.
There are 14 tented suites, 10 doubles and four family units, raised on wooden decks along the riverfront. Each has a private plunge pool, indoor and outdoor showers, an outdoor roll-top bath over the water, and a sleep-out deck facing Zambia across the river.
The main lodge holds the dining room, bar, and a lounge with an open fire, opening onto a riverside deck and a floating star-gazing platform. All stays are all-inclusive, with two daily activities covering game drives, river safaris, canoeing, walking safaris, and a guided tour of the Falls.
Highlights
- Closest accommodation to the Falls in the National Park
- Direct shuttles to the Falls
- Surrounded by diverse wildlife
Accommodation
Luxury Family Suites
These suites have incredible views of the Zambezi River and call to mind the glamour of a bygone safari era. The glass door leads you to your elegantly furnished lodge. The colour tone combines lightly accented colours with copper, brass and dappled wood, complementing the colours of the wilderness outside.
Family Suites have two bedrooms separated by a sliding canvas door. You’ll have a private deck with a plunge pool, an outdoor shower, claw-footed bathtub and sun loungers.
Luxury Tented Suites
You’ll be transported to your Luxury Tented Suite on a boat. There are ten double suites and four family suites. The suites are all very stylish and they have indoor and outdoor showers, plunge pools and outdoor baths. You can unwind in a bubble bath on your private deck and enjoy a bottle of champagne under a canopy of stars.
Further information
Dining
Meals at Old Drift Lodge center on the main lodge, where the dining room, bar, and a lounge with an open fire open onto a riverside deck for breakfasts and dinners over the Zambezi. An al fresco deck and a sala with a fire pit add open-air settings. Lunch can move offsite to the Lookout Café, set above the Batoka Gorge near the Falls.
Wellness
Wellness at Old Drift Lodge is built into the setting rather than a treatment menu. Each of the 14 suites comes with its own private plunge pool and a sleep-out deck over the Zambezi, plus an outdoor roll-top bath set above the water. A floating star-gazing platform and the slow rhythm of river days, between morning and afternoon activities, carry the unwinding. There is no dedicated spa on site.
Activities
Stays at Old Drift Lodge are all-inclusive, with two guided activities a day. On land, game drives in open 4x4s track elephant, buffalo, and zebra through Zambezi National Park, and walking safaris cover the bush on foot. On the water, river safaris and canoe trips follow the Upper Zambezi past hippos, crocodiles, and birdlife toward sunset. A guided tour of Victoria Falls, a short distance downstream, is included.
South Africa
South Africa occupies the southern tip of the African continent, bordered by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and sharing land borders with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Eswatini. The country spans eleven official languages and an extraordinary range of landscapes, from the winelands of the Western Cape to the bushveld of Limpopo and the dramatic coastline of the Garden Route. Most itineraries begin in Cape Town, one of the world’s great cities.
Our Experts
There's no better way to appreciate the natural world than by taking part in a South African safari. You'll have the chance to see the Big Five whilst never compromising when it comes to luxury.
The cosmopolitan hub of Cape Town is often overlooked as a fantastic travel destination. It has a palpably vibrant character and a flourishing food scene. I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to experience something completely different.
Stellar service. Stellar products. Stellar people and it gets so much better when you pick up the phone and call.
Anthony S.
Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
John
I’m confident in giving Out Of Office a 5-star review! They are one of the leaders in this space without a doubt.
Tiberiu
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Old Drift Lodge
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specializing in tailor-made vacations and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury vacations, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalized experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with traveling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveler, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalized service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ vacations?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalized itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travelers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of traveling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first inquiry to homecoming. No call center, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.