Set directly along the Zambezi River inside Zambezi National Park, Zambezi Sands by Batoka is a Black-owned, African-owned luxury tented safari camp offering an intimate wilderness escape near Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
### A 2026 MICHELIN Key Safari Lodge
Zambezi Sands by Batoka earned a One MICHELIN Key in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide, joining the first group of hotels ever awarded MICHELIN Keys in Zimbabwe.
The recognition places this Black-owned, African-owned luxury tented safari camp among a select group of hotels recognized by MICHELIN across the continent—and among just two Key hotels in Zimbabwe for 2026.
With just 10 secluded Bedouin-style tented suites positioned along the riverbank, Zambezi Sands combines the adventure of an African safari with the privacy and comfort of an upscale retreat. Guests can watch the Zambezi flow from their private deck, head into the national park on a game drive, explore on foot with a guide or make Victoria Falls part of the experience.
Six of the camp’s suites take the experience even further with a private splash pool overlooking the surrounding wilderness.
Highlights & Amenities
Zambezi Sands offers an all-inclusive safari experience designed around the Zambezi River and surrounding national park.
Highlights include:
- 10 secluded luxury tented suites
- 6 Pool Suites with private splash pools
- 4 Deck Suites with private viewing decks
- Zambezi River views
- Private decks with covered seating
- Deep soaking bathtubs
- Indoor and outdoor showers
- King or twin-bed configurations
- Lounge areas
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Minibars
- Dining room with theatre kitchen
- Indoor lounge and dining areas
- Lounge bar
- Shaded outdoor deck
- Game drives
- Guided nature experiences
- Birding
- Fishing
- Victoria Falls excursions
- In-suite spa treatments by arrangement
- Solar-powered operations
- Airport transfers
- Daily laundry service
Why Stay Here
Zambezi Sands offers something travelers don’t normally get from a conventional Victoria Falls hotel: the opportunity to stay inside Zambezi National Park itself.
Instead of returning to a city hotel after exploring the region, guests remain surrounded by the landscape and wildlife that brought them to Zimbabwe in the first place.
The camp sits along the banks of the Zambezi River upstream from Victoria Falls, providing a peaceful contrast to the busier tourism center around the Falls.
Wildlife can include elephants, hippos, waterbuck, bushbuck and numerous bird species, while guided activities provide opportunities to explore more of the national park.
For couples, honeymooners and travelers celebrating a special occasion, the Pool Suites are particularly appealing. Each combines a private viewing deck with its own plunge pool overlooking the wilderness.
Safari & Wildlife Experiences
A stay at Zambezi Sands isn’t limited to admiring the scenery from your tent.
Guests can experience the surrounding wilderness through activities that include morning and afternoon game drives, birding experiences, fishing and other guided activities.
The camp’s location inside Zambezi National Park means wildlife is part of the setting rather than something travelers have to drive hours to find.
And because there are only 10 suites, the overall experience remains considerably more intimate than a large safari resort.
Visit Victoria Falls
Zambezi Sands also makes it possible to combine a safari stay with one of Africa’s most famous natural attractions.
Victoria Falls lies downstream on the Zambezi River along the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia and is one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls.
Eligible stays at Zambezi Sands include transportation into Victoria Falls town as well as a guided tour of Victoria Falls, making it possible to experience both the waterfall and the wilderness without changing hotels.
Travelers can also arrange additional Victoria Falls-area excursions and activities.
An All-Inclusive Zimbabwe Safari Stay
Zambezi Sands operates primarily as an all-inclusive safari camp rather than a room-only hotel.
The standard experience includes accommodations, meals, local beverages and daily laundry service, along with selected activities and transfers.
This makes comparing the nightly price with an ordinary hotel somewhat misleading: much of the safari experience is incorporated into the stay.
For travelers planning a honeymoon, anniversary or once-in-a-lifetime African journey, the inclusive format can also simplify the logistics of visiting a remote national-park property.
Ownership & Heritage
Zambezi Sands is owned by Batoka Africa, a female-founded, African-owned luxury hospitality company.
Batoka Africa acquired the property in 2021, reimagining the former Zambezi Sands River Camp as a more elevated luxury and wellness-focused safari experience.
The company is associated with Zimbabwean hospitality entrepreneur Vimbai Masiyiwa and has built its approach around African hospitality, sustainability and stronger connections between tourism and surrounding communities.
Batoka describes itself as African-owned and operated, with a hospitality philosophy centered on showcasing Africa through African perspectives.
For Black Hotel Guide travelers, that makes Zambezi Sands particularly noteworthy: it combines Black African ownership, luxury hospitality, conservation, community involvement and one of Zimbabwe’s most recognizable tourism destinations.
Sustainability & Community
Sustainability is integrated into the property’s operations.
Zambezi Sands is solar powered, with a backup generator, and Batoka says ingredients used by the lodge are sustainably sourced locally.
The company’s community initiatives also extend beyond the lodge.
Guests may have opportunities to connect with local initiatives such as the Women of Shingani, a community of female artisans producing handmade goods.
This approach reflects Batoka’s broader goal of creating luxury tourism experiences in which surrounding African communities participate in and benefit from the visitor economy.
Dining at Zambezi Sands
Meals are part of the experience rather than simply another hotel amenity.
The main lodge features a dining room with a theatre kitchen, allowing guests to watch the culinary team at work, along with indoor dining areas and an outdoor deck overlooking the natural surroundings.
Meals and local beverages are included in the standard all-inclusive stay.
Private dining experiences may also be arranged, including dinner on a guest’s private deck.
A Luxury Tented Safari Experience
Although they’re called tents, accommodations at Zambezi Sands are a considerable departure from camping.
Each tented suite measures approximately 55 square meters (592 square feet) and includes a private bathroom, deep soaking bathtub, indoor and outdoor shower, lounge area and private viewing deck.
Six Pool Suites add their own private plunge pool.
The result is a stay that combines the sensory experience of being immersed in the African wilderness with many of the comforts travelers expect from a luxury hotel.
Discover More Black-Owned Stays in Africa
Planning a bigger African adventure? Explore Black Hotel Guide’s collection of Black-owned hotels, luxury resorts, safari lodges and unique stays across Africa.
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