Maramba River Lodge

Zambia , Livingstone
Livingstone, Mosi-oa-tunya Road
Show on Google | Map

75 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

20 Mar 2026

matthew

Well positioned location that feels like smack dab in the middle of nowhere but only 10 to 15 minutes to all the good stuff. Catherine amd the entire staff are exceptionally warm, welcome amd accommodating. The food options are top notch quality. Bar had a range of options. You really cannot go wrong with this place at a pretty reasonable price. The luxury chalets are worth the extra of you are willing to go overbudget a bit.

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jan 2026

justin

The staff
Well the most amazing, part of the stay as the friendly help full
Ta

10/10

Exceptional

23 Sep 2025

Shawn-Marie

I truly loved this lodge that is located in the middle of the safari. Upon entering the lodge, I passed a herd of elephants in the middle of the road. There are signs around the lodge indicating the rhinos in the area, as well. The chalet, which was like a tiny house, was decorated beautifully. The staff was extremely helpful, and they assist you with booking excursions you can enjoy. Van drivers come to get you to take you to your excursions.

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

27 Aug 2025

Bradley

Central to most attractions , second stay there so yes I would recommend

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

12 Jul 2025

Aileen

Wonderful stay!

Maramba Lodge was a wonderful place to end our time in Zambia! The staff is so friendly and the lodge and its grounds are beautiful! We went for a game drive and on a guided tour of the falls (organized by the lodge) which were amazing and affordable. Even saw elephants and hippos from the property! We would definitely recommend this lodge and we hope to return soon!

Also, I want to give a shout out to Lubinda, who was very gracious, patient and easy to work with!

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

29 Apr 2025

Amy

The staff here is amazing and the rooms are so clean and lovely!!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

18 Apr 2025

Shannon

Very helpful staff. Beautiful room. Good food. Great point for day trips out. Staff can help arrange trips.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

24 Mar 2025

Pierre

A nice nature feelin

Very cool place. WiFi at bar and resto. Not in my tent.

I got the basic tent and it was spacious and comfortable. Staff very nice.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

16 Mar 2025

Clifford

Nice lodge near Victoria Falls with option for safari

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

27 Feb 2025

Jamandé

This was my second time staying here and each time was incredible. I plan to book next year as well.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

26 Dec 2024

Barbara

Maramba was a stopover as part of my drive to South Africa. Although only here for one night, the accommodation was comfortable and the grounds were lovely. I saw a lot of birds, a crocodile and an elephant while sitting on the deck by the river. I had not expected that much wildlife.

Katherine at check-in was helpful and amazing. She gets 5 stars. The wait staff at the restaurant was a little slow - I think they might have been understaffed. And the outdoor shower had not been swept when the staff came in for turn down service (which was an unexpected treat). I would come again!

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

26 Oct 2024

Bradley

Fantastic property with a great location and peaceful setting . Great staff that were friendly and attentive . Plenty of animals to see around the grounds .

Recommend without hesitation.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jun 2024

Paul

Fantastic. They let us watch the Zambia footballers on TV in amazing heated group room with no minimum order at the bar.

10/10

Exceptional

24 May 2024

Dale

The whole place is well maintained and very clean. Staff were very helpful and polite. The main dining room overlooks the Maramba river and has a huge outdoor balcony area. There weren’t too many mosquitoes and plenty of spray is on hand. Overall it is a lovely resort with quick access to the Falls.

Leisure Self

4/10

Poor

23 May 2024

Myles

I only stayed one night and I have never stayed in any other place in Zambia so I cannot accurately compare this hotel to the standard of the country. However, this hotel advertised WiFi and there was zero WiFi in our chalet room. Also, there was no phone in our room. Additionally, the food and service were subpar. We got to the restaurant at around 6-6:15, and there are about 4-5 tables full of groups of 4 at each table. None of us had been asked for a drink until 30-40 minutes after we sat down. The service was inhospitable because they simply asked “are you ready to order” after finally arriving to our table. We also watched the staff for 30-40 minutes walk around and move tables and chairs. All 4 staff waiters were too consumed with moving 12 chairs and 5 tables for 30 minutes to adequately service the 20 people waiting to order water, drinks, or food. When the food finally came, it was subpar. The chicken Alfredo was from a can and unseasoned. The Thai chicken noodle salad was adequate but nothing special. The oriental chicken salad was served without dressing and then when the waiter brought dressing, they brought Italian dressing making me think about why they call it “oriental?” The reception staff was extremely standoffish. They were cordial but not welcoming nor warm like the service you might expect from a 3-5 star hotel. The grounds were beautiful. There were plenty of beware of animal signs but we never saw one animal during our one night stay.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Sep 2023

Tolani

The fact that animals are on the grounds is cool. We saw a hippo on our second night there, it was scary but awesome.

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

31 Aug 2023

Denise

What can i say only wow. We loved it here 16yrs ago abs we loved it this time..so much we stayed a 2nd night. Food was lovely, pool area great to keep teens happy and service fantastic. Even got myself a little massage while here.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

10 Jan 2023

Ratnam

Place is close to the falls and border.
Some bugs were in the room and my kids were afraid of them.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

24 Oct 2022

Ross

Awesome design of huts and lodges with plenty of character giving the whole place a real Zambian feel.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

20 Jul 2022

Joyce

The renovated rooms are a huge improvement. Very nice.
The dining room is very dull, however, I heard it is soon to be renovated.
Dining staff need a lot more training.
One was attentive but others very slow.
Bar staff were much better trained, friendly and attentive.
Grounds staff spent a lot of time leaning on rakes and looking at phones. Phones should be handed in and used only on breaks. Then elephant poo may not sit blocking footpaths for 3 days.
Fantastic playground for kids.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

07 Jul 2022

Jelena

Holiday

Very nice lodge in the Nat Park, comfortable chalet and surroundings.

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

25 Oct 2021

Verified traveler

Nice and cosy lodge. Family friendly with a wonderful big playground which my children enjoyed a lot.
Good food and good service.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jun 2021

Verified traveler

A beautiful, peaceful location along the Maramba River. Very clean, very professional, inside the elephant corridor—we got to see a family of elephants feeding right outside the fence! The restaurant food was absolutely delicious. We sat outside as the sunset each evening, where we saw hippos, crocodiles and monkeys, lulled by the soft accompaniment of frogs and wildlife sounds. My daughter and I stayed 3 nights in a luxury tent—very clean, comfortable beds draped with mosquito netting, and a warm water outdoor shower made it extra special.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

06 Feb 2020

Andrew

Many parts of Zambia suffer from loadshedding. Not this establishment. They have a quiet genset that all the difference. This is my favourite hotel in Livingstone. Excellent value for money. Bonaventure and Kelvin at the bar are always do entertaining.

Self

8/10

Excellent

02 Jan 2020

Verified traveler

Everything was great! Staff and our tents were great and fun. Don’t expect a 4 star resort if you do that’s your fault not theirs. The only negative is it seems they have some food safety concerns at the restaurant. They reuse their yogurt after it’s been sitting out till 10am the used the same bowl for 3 days. Also with power outages they don’t have proper refrigeration. Only eat cooked food at the restaurant!

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

09 Sep 2019

Daniel

Harmony with the surrounding nature. Calm and peaceful place.

Business_and_leisure Friends

4/10

Poor

05 Sep 2019

Verified traveler

First tent space had a whole in the wall were mice came crawling out at night. We found mice droppings in bathroom sink and on the floor. Second room was chalet, no mice but tons of mosquitos.

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

28 Aug 2019

Andrew

As mid priced hotels in Zambia go, this is probably the best value for money. I have stayed here many times before, the staff are very welcoming. Almost home from home.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

16 Aug 2019

Verified traveler

The bar situated overlooking the river was a fantastic elephant watching spot.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 Aug 2019

Verified traveler

Had a lovely stay here would highly recommend, perfect location to get around. Lovely breakfast with the neighbouring hippos and elephants made this place unique. Staff extremely friendly and helpful

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

23 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

Past its Prime

The Maramba lodge is about 10 years past its prime. The rooms are very dated and dirty. They could use a nice clean up. The rooms would be acceptable, but they were disgustingly infested with mosquitoes. Some mosquitoes are okay but our room was really bad. Uncomfortably bad. Keeping the fan on full speed helped a little. The service at the restaurant is very slow as well. We waited about 1.5 hours for our dinner. The location is nice along the river but the mosquitoes in the rooms are the only thing I really think about with this lodge

Family

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jun 2019

johan

Just Loved this establishment

It was everything I expected from an African experience , well run , great food , fantastic location . was so good that I extended my stay ,. If u looking for a boring Ritz lifestyle move on as this gives one far more satisfaction

10/10

Exceptional

20 May 2019

Verified traveler

Hospitality, security, service! Hippos, elephants, bar is quiet.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

29 Apr 2019

Verified traveler

I could not fault a single thing. The place was perfect

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Apr 2019

Verified traveler

Loved the pool, eating breakfast over a river with crocs and hippos. Convenient for being picked up for activities. Only downside was the nearby helicopters and ultralights..they could be noisy at times.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

30 Mar 2019

SKH

I loved its being in nature and its quietness. It is a great value and a hidden gem!

Business_and_leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

17 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

We loved the tents with attached bathrooms.
View from the dining area was idyllic.
All the staff were helpful especially in reception.
As a suggestion , the First Aid kit could do with more dressings and steristrips.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

10 Mar 2019

Kathy

Our Wonderful Stay at the Lodge

Our stay was great. There were hippos in the river and monkeys in the grounds. We were just sad to have missed the elephants. The staff were great especially the bar, evening restaurant and reception staff

Family

8/10

Excellent

03 Feb 2019

Verified traveler

TV lounge and Air con in the rooms otherwise a lovely relaxing time

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

30 Dec 2018

Verified traveler

Lovely place, loads of wildlife. Air conditioning would be good in the chalets. There was an incident with an elephant but that was sorted out and we were happy with the outcome. Would love to stay again

Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Nov 2018

Sarah

Amazing place! Lots of wildlife! Highly recommended it!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Oct 2018

Randi

Great place to unwind, especially liked the wild animals walking around

Friends

8/10

Excellent

08 Oct 2018

Andrew

This is a good hotel in terms of location to Victoria Falls and to the amenities of Livingstone. A wonderful place to relax at a reasonable price

Family

8/10

Excellent

02 Oct 2018

Andrew

The local inhabitants were very friendly, especially the elephants who arrived each day at breakfast

Family

6/10

Pleasant

02 Aug 2018

Verified traveler

Average place to stay

Not great, not bad. Over all quite average really. The chalet had a double bed and a bunk bed not twin and double as advertised. Mattresses were flat and not too comfortable. A little grubby on the whole.
Wifi was spotty and only available at the bar area.
At the restaurant one of the wooden poles which is the fencing broke and wasn't fixed, it was just propped back up. So if you leant against it you were more than likely going to through it!
The whole place just seemed run down.
On the up side the women at the restaurant morning and evening were so nice. Really pleasant and friendly.
Great location the Falls and Zimbabwe border.

Friends

8/10

Excellent

29 Jan 2018

Becca

Quiet Basic Lodge with Lots of Wildlife

The lodge is just next to the Mosi ao Tunya National Park and has some resident hippos, crocodiles and green vervet monkeys. The pool and lounge area are nice and the restaurant and bar overlooking the river are wonderful. It is a fancy campsite with all levels of accommodation but none of the rooms have air conditioning and mosquitoes are a problem. The staff have lots of options for day activities and are very helpful. The restaurant is ok - the breakfast is better than the other meals. Internet only works in the lounge area. It was quiet and secluded but you really have to be aware of the wild animals that can enter the camp at night.

8/10

Excellent

06 Jan 2018

Eva

Small lodge nect to river. Good for viewing hippos

Good for families or couples. Staff was very friemdly and helpfull. nternet was weak; few tines did not work. But staff tried to fifx the problem. Nect to the river, good viewing of hippos and crocs. Lodge its in national park. So in front door can see little monkeys jumping ob the trees. Overal good for short breaks for families and couples. Breakfast are good. Dinners are great; pissible to.order in the restaurant.

10/10

Exceptional

28 Nov 2017

Paul

Amazing....give it a try.

Superb location, amazing animal encounters, good food, great staff.....would be difficult to beat at any price! Yes....we enjoyed it.

8/10

Excellent

23 Aug 2017

Pauline

Wildlife viewing from the dining terrece

Maramba Lodge was a chilled out and relaxing place to stay. It has a sort of bush camp feel, but the tents/cabins are very comfortable. It has park like grounds and nice outdoor areas. The fires at night on the terrace were lovely and gave the whole area a cosy ambience. It's easy to meet and chat with other travellers in these surroundings. We saw hippos, crocodiles and elephants from the terrace and bush babies in the trees.

8/10

Excellent

24 Jul 2017

Simon

Simon Rhodes at Maramba River Lodge in Livingstone

I stayed in a permanent Safari Tent. The environment with green lawns next to the river was pleasant & the big log fire near the outdoor pub was very nice

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jul 2017

Verified traveler

Watch the hippos while having breakfast!

We loved our stay at the Maramba River Lodge! The location on the river couldn't have been more perfect. We watched, and listened to, the hippos every morning while enjoying the substantial continental breakfast (included in room rate). The staff were exceptional - they were friendly and worked tirelessly to accommodate our needs. Our room was perfect for our needs. I would return in a heartbeat!

8/10

Excellent

26 Jun 2017

Nikki

Nice lodge, green feel, close to river & wildlife

We wanted a base for 3 days while we visited the falls in Zambia. The lodge had a nice feel to it, the grounds were well maintained, friendly bar staff and a good evening restaurant. Breakfast tasty too. Tents basic but what we had expected and as described. Lots of mozzies so spray needed but provided by the lodge.

4/10

Poor

18 Jun 2017

Verified traveler

Budget lodge for transit

The service is pathertic and the lodge needs to invest in good staff who care for the customers. Rooms need an upgrade, particularly with bedddings and the leaking toilet. On the amenities mentioned online on your website a television and fridge was mentioned as amenities available in our room however both amenities were not present in the room. Only good thing is that hotel is located near the victoria falls and the outdoors are clean.

Family

8/10

Excellent

14 May 2017

Verified traveler

overall good stay, no hippos or elephants seen during 2 day stay, Front Desk Mgr wasn't very pleasant

10/10

Exceptional

01 May 2017

Verified traveler

Wonderful location on the bend of a river - sat eating breakfast / having drinks while watching hippos and crocs and birds.

6/10

Pleasant

22 Apr 2017

Mark

Hot water was an issue but rectified the second day however was fair for international and good for local areas

Family

2/10

Poor

07 Jan 2017

Gianfranco

Not great!!!

Firstly, the reception colleagues did not know any information regarding the activities that were available to book - they kept guessing. This made it very confusing for us. Secondly, the rooms were tiny. The photos on the Maramba website do not tell the truth about the rooms. Thirdly, they were dirty. Our towels were not changed in 4 days and nor was the bedding - one of the beds had bed bugs!
There are a lot of mosiquitoes in Livingstone due to the lack of control by the council. This is not Maramba's problem, however, the reception staff didn't warn us - we had to find out by ourselves. They didn't even offer any insect repellent to us or for the rooms - had to buy that ourselves.
We were meant to stay 6 nights but ended up checking out 2 days early and moved over to the Protea where we were much more comfortable. They warned us about the mosiquotes at the time of checking in. They also provided repellent for us and the room. The Maramba staff didn't seem to care that we checked out 2 days early. At the time of checking out, there were other guests that were complaining about the lodge too. There appears to be a lack of management in all department at Maramba. In fact, you do not even see any sort of management figure when walking around the place.
I would not recommend Maramba to anyone!

6/10

Pleasant

03 Jan 2017

Guy

Well priced rustic bush chalet. Not for the snobs.

Basic facilities in a great location.
Hippos and other wildlife can be seen by the river.
Mosquitoes and other creepy crawlies are an annoyance.

8/10

Excellent

05 Dec 2016

Erika

Unique and special location

Spacious tents and well manicured lodge ground. Food is only so so, and bugs are quite bad, which is not lodge's fault--but be prepared with lots of insect repellent. Breakfasts are meager, but outdoor dining is lovely. Views of the river, with the hippos, monkeys, and sunsets, are very special. Bar is well stocked and internet works reasonably well. Hotel can organize taxis and transfers--luggage storage and laundry service very efficient.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

05 Dec 2016

Aparnaa

This place was very comfortable and the staff was awesome and friendly all the time. Only negative is no Internet in the rooms.

8/10

Excellent

08 Nov 2016

David

Great location for wildlife spotting and the Falls

We enjoyed our three nights at Maramba overall. It was a great location for being amongst wildlife - we saw elephants nearby to the river, birds, monkeys galore, crocodile and of course hippos. We awoke on two of the nights to the sound of hippos munching on grass only 4-5 metres away from our tent. What an experience. Restaurant food we enjoyed - we ate there every day including local dishes. The fish was outstanding.The room is OK - a little dated but reasonably comfortable. On our third day the shower started giving out electric shocks. This was most concerning and we reported it. The Maintenance crew came and fixed it the next morning but it did mean we couldn't shower that night. The mosquito situation is terrible - they were everywhere and we needed to spray a lot. The service was not bad but could be a bit more welcoming at reception. The lodge has a lot going for it but just needs some TLC. We would be prepared to stay again.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

18 Sep 2016

Adeline

Great place but horrible mosquitos!

Friendly great staff though the mosquitos were terrible! Beautiful garden and view of the marimba river, but hard to enjoy because there were so many mosquitos. The mosquitos were not as bad in town or any other place we visited, so stayed at the lodge as little as possible.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

08 Sep 2016

Fernando

Wildlife show every day...close to Vic Falls

My wife and I stayed at Maramba River Lodge for 3 nights in a luxury tent with bathroom. We were quite shocked at the hundreds of mosquitoes inhabiting our tent on the first night and had to ask staff advice on how to deal with them...so mosquito coils, mosquito netting, and repellant all became our best friends. After killing all mosquitoes within our bed netting the first night, we instructed cleaning staff not to put up the netting again...hence the bed because our safe zone. Tent came with water kettle and tea and coffee. It felt like camping...and even your shower is open to the sky which makes for an interesting experience. Staff is friendly and helpful. The bar and restaurant areas overlooking the river are an amazing place to watch the daily wildlife show (we saw hippos, elephants, monkeys, a water monitor, crocodile and lots of bird life). Just be prepared for tons of mosquitoes...and don't forget your malaria meds. Keep in mind if you don't have care, you will be relying on taxis to get to/from Livginstone town and/or Vic Falls (averages about US$10 each taxi ride).

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Aug 2016

Renee

Loved the grounds...absolutely quaint

We absolutely adored Maramba River Lodge's quaint setting, friendly and attentive staff and yummy breakfast. The animal sighting was fantastic, every morning at bfast we were either watching elepants bathe, hippos bobbing and monkeys swinging. Whenever we needed to go somewhere James the taxi driver was only a 5-7 minute call away. Truly a wonderful experience.

Family

8/10

Excellent

13 Aug 2016

Verified traveler

Nice hotel convenient for the Falls

Nice restaurant next to the river

Family

8/10

Excellent

07 Aug 2016

John

Great Budget Lodge

Great location, friendly staff, good service and the bar overlooking the Hippos Pool was great at the end of a days safari

Partner

8/10

Excellent

26 Jul 2016

Fergus

Best Game Views from a Breakfast Table!

The site was great for spotting game. The restaurant had uninterrupted views across the Maramba River to elephants, hippos, crocodiles and kingfishers. I am confident that no other hotel in the area can offer you such an amazing view from the breakfast table.

There is a small pool, pool bar, restaurant and lounge. Wifi is available in these public areas.

The accommodation is 'rustic', not luxurious, but comfortable enough.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jul 2016

annabel

Fun at Maramba lodge

This is a good value lodge with pool and restaurant right on a quiet bit of the river - saw hippos and crocs every day and elephants twice - great fun for families

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

23 Jun 2016

jan

Hippos close up! Monkeys on the roof!

This is a rustic place, very quiet, which is what we sought. There is a small pool and on site dining. We had a plumbing issue on arrival and the reception desk was closed for the evening . In the morning when reception opened the problem was quickly dealt with. Meals had no variety. Staff very friendly. The best part was watching the wildlife, we saw hippos in the river most mornings from no more than 30 yards away, even closer than on our tours. Easy access to most activities

8/10

Excellent

23 Jun 2016

Teresa

Great staff Beautiful setting

Beautiful setting. Excellent staff -at breakfast I mentioned that the bed was uncomfortable and the next we were moved to another Tent and thanking us for bringing it under their attention.

8/10

Excellent

07 Jun 2016

Marc

Interesting adventure

The hotel is a neat adventure, the staff is nice and helpful. Mosquitoes are an issue and mosquitoe nets over beds are only somewhat useful so bring some insect repellent. I loved watching the wild hippos in the river while eating breakfast.

Family

4/10

Poor

01 Jun 2016

Johan

Good location, thats it

We stayed in a "luxury tent" but I don't know what was luxury about it. A lot of mosquitos welcomed us and the shower was outside. There were even small lizards in the tent. The location is good for vic falls and there´s a friendly bar next to the river with hippos. One night was more than enough id you used to normal hotel rooms.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

15 May 2016

Verified traveler

Chalet stay in April 2016

Generally a very good stay. Chalets could do with a makeover as décor is a little tired. Excellent location set in a stunning location. Booked through Hotels.com & when checking in, was told that my booking did not exist. They were not aware of booking as they had 'Internet problems'. Apparently, this is quite common.However, was allocated a Chalet. Staff are not very professional & do not seem to be very clued up with the need of tourists. Service is extremely slow in everything & there seems to be no need for urgency in anything. Despite this, an excellent stay overall.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

07 May 2016

Verified traveler

Acceptable, but slightly over-priced.

For the cost, I would consider it substandard accommodation. The staff were great, the breakfast very minimal, although I was asked if I wanted a cooked breakfast but I didn’t really have time to wait for that so only had cereal and two of the muffins available. I stayed in the chalet which was a bit rough around the edges and minimalist but it had mosquito nets and water and mosquito spray was provided. Hippos in the river beside which its situated is nice but not really much else to see and you can’t walk anywhere from there since it’s some distance from Livingston or the falls. Wi-Fi pretty iffy even in the lounge as well.

8/10

Excellent

12 Apr 2016

David

Great hippo viewing and helpful staff

It was great that you could always see hippos from the pool/bar area and the terrace of the restaurant. The hotel was very helpful in arranging excursions for us. The pool area was a very nice place to relax in between excursions. The grounds of the hotel were nicely maintained. Everyone who worked at the hotel was very friendly and helpful. I had a nice massage at the hotel for a reasonable price. Given that we were paying around USD120 a night, I think that breakfast could have been a bit better, you had to pay extra if you wanted eggs. The restaurant in general wasn't very good. A very limited menu, with a few nice dishes, but my wife and son were very disappointed by their meals on several occasions. It was also a shame that the people who were camping had to walk right past out luxury tent to get to the showers/toilets.

Family