FAQs

Rainy Season (Summer): November to March/April. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, and temperatures are high.

Dry Season (Winter): May to October/November. Nights and mornings can be cool, while days are warm and sunny. Rainfall is minimal during this period. From September the temperatures start to steadily climb. Temperatures in October can be very high as we await the start of the rainy season.

Yes, the Chef and his team work hard to ensure that all dietary requirements and allergies are accommodated. We have vegan and vegetarian menus available. Notify us in advance so we can meet your needs.

Breakfast is served from 7am – 10am

Our normal check in time is 2pm. If your room is ready at the time of your early arrival, you are welcome to check-in. However, If the room is not yet ready, we will keep your luggage and you may relax at our lounge, pool or restaurant as we prepare the room for you. We do not charge for early check-ins.

Our reception closes at 10pm, however, if you arrive after 10pm, you will find the security guard waiting to show you to your room. We do not recommend that you travel on the main Zimbabwean highways at night, so we encourage you to plan your long distance journey accordingly. It is good to contact the team on WhatsApp +263788651626 if you feel you will be arriving late.

No, but we can recommend and make reservations at nearby spas.

No

During the day it is safe to walk, however, we recommend taxis when it gets dark. Crime is relatively low in Victoria Falls, but the likelihood of encountering wildlife increases at night.

It will take approximately 35 minutes to walk to town as it is 3km from the Lodge.

The water is safe to drink. Pamarah Lodge has onsite reverse osmosis water filters that purify the water supply. We also sell EcoDrop bottles that have QR codes on them which allow guests to fill their water bottles at EcoDrop water stations throughout Victoria Falls. This is a very cost efficient and environmentally friendly solution that we advocate above single use plastic bottles.

We do not do conferences.

The deepest part of the pool is 1.7 meters.

Yes, you can pay using VISA/ Mastercard at the Falls Entrance.

Tipping is always at the guests’ discretion. At Pamarah Lodge you can add a tip to your bill at check-out. There is also a tip box mounted on the reception wall. All tips are equally shared amongst the employees. At restaurants a normal tip is 10-15%. All tips will be greatly appreciated by anyone you encounter, but certainly the tipping expectations are not well defined as, for example, in the USA. Many people tip according to the practices of their home countries. Tips are definitely not obligatory, but they are gratefully received!

Check In is 2pm and Check Out is 10am

We have limited paved roadside guest parking outside the boundary wall.

No, our front desk is open from 6am to 10pm. At night there is a security guard patrolling the property from 7pm until 7am.

No

Dinner is a 3 course fixed menu which changes each day. We have a “plan to plate policy” at Pamarah Lodge. Daily menus have been carefully planned. Fresh, seasonal food and produce is purchased locally by our head chef on a daily basis. Food is prepared exactly to order, thus preventing unnecessary food wastage. By placing your dinner order with our Reception Team before 2pm on the day that you will be dining with us, you will help our chefs to prepare your meal with attention to quality as well as quantity. Your pre-order will help to enhance the sustainability of our beautiful environment by greatly reducing food wastage. Dinner can also be ordered off our Express Menu which does not require pre-booking. This is a suitable option for the more spontaneous guests, and those who would prefer a lighter meal.

Yes, we have an Express menu that guests may order from.

We do our best to make our guests feel special for birthday, honeymoon and anniversary celebrations. There are additional items guests may pay for like cake, flowers, room decor and sparkling wine.

There are many activities to do in Victoria Falls and guests need a minimum of 4 nights to do them all. Bear in mind that most guests only reach the Lodge at around 2pm on the day of check in (it depends on the flight arrival time; most arrive around midday) and check out on the day of departure around 10am, so a 4 night stay is effectively 3 full days.

We are not able to change large bills at the Lodge. Bring smaller denomination United States dollar notes for things like taxis, street vendors and tips. The Banks in town do break large bills.

We do not have an ATM on the property but there are ATM machines available in town that dispense United States Dollars. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted, but it is helpful to bring smaller denomination United States dollar notes for things like taxis, street vendors and tips. If you request a $100 cash withdrawal from an ATM, you will likely get a single one-hundred-dollar bill. It would (for example) be better to ask for $95.

Our entire property is a non-smoking site. There is a covered smoking area just outside the boundary wall.

Victoria Falls is in a malaria area, therefore we advise you to take precautions, particularly during the rainy season between the months of November and April. Please consult your doctor before travelling.

No

Yes. We have two independent internet service providers as we aim to provide the most reliable internet signal possible. There are WiFi boosters throughout the Lodge. All our rooms have good signal strength

Yes, every room has a private bathroom. All rooms have showers; only three rooms also have baths – the Honeymoon Room, the King Room and the Deluxe King Patio room.

Our beds are extra length 2m long. The only exception is the single beds in the Family room lofts which are standard length.

The voltage in Zimbabwe is 220-240v

We have power sockets in the room that cover most international plug options, including the unique South Africa round plugs, which are incorporated into our headboards. There are international power outlets on both sides of the headboard, including USB charging ports.

There is a hairdryer in each room. Hairdryers do not work in the bathrooms; they only work in the bedrooms.

We do not have a heated swimming pool.

There are electronics safes in each room. Guests are able to enter their own unique code when locking the safe.

All rooms have keycard entry for enhanced security.

To enhance security, our property is kept locked at all times. Guests have access through the main pedestrian gate using their room keycards. The property is patrolled by a security guard from 19:00 to 07:00

Failures of the national power grid do occur. They are more common during the rainy season. Sometimes routine maintenance of the national grid can also cause a loss of power. In the event of a power failure there is an inverter system which keeps the Lodge powered. If the batteries on the inverter system get low, then a generator will automatically start. We also have a second standby generator.

There are times when the municipal water supply is not available. This usually occurs when there has been a grid power failure and pumping has not been possible. Pamarah holds water reserves of 40000 litres to cover any periods where the municipal water supply is erratic. We also pressurize our own water supply to ensure of guests never go without water.

There is a Doctor who is able to attend to our guests in their rooms should they become unwell. There are several pharmacies in Victoria Falls. There are basic hospitals and clinics available in Victoria Falls.

We have an activity brochure with all the must do activities. Most guests will do a river cruise of some sort: sunrise, lunch, sunset or dinner. There are many cruise options available, and our team will happily discuss the offerings with you to ensure you get the experience best suited to your expectations. Helicopter rides are a wonderful way to experience the magnificence off the Falls. Consider doing a game drive, elephant encounter, or adrenaline activity! The options are comprehensive. Do not make the mistake of visiting Victoria Falls for too short a stay. The highlight of your visit will no doubt be the waterfall…but there is definitely so much more to enjoy.

Yes, you can book all your activities through the Lodge. Our front desk team can build a bespoke itinerary for you based on your activity choices. All activities can be booked and paid prior to arrival using a secure online payment link. Activity bookings can only be confirmed when paid. It is possible to book your activities when you arrive at Pamarah, but there is a good chance that the premium activities will be sold out, particularly in the peak seasons.

Game drives are usually done early morning, or late afternoon/evening. Helicopter flights are most likely to be smoother early morning or late afternoon. Consideration should be given to the temperatures at the time of day/year you are going to experience them. Many activities have scheduled times; therefore the time is determined by the activity.

You can pay for activities upon arrival, however, we recommend guests book and pay for activities in advance to avoid the disappointment that comes with finding their desired activity fully booked.

The Falls are magnificent at all times of the year. When the Falls are at their peak flow (April to June) visibility may be impaired by the mist in places, and it is likely that you will get soaked by the spray. During low water (October to December) there are sections on the Zambian side that dry out; you are unlikely to get very wet. Choosing what time of the day to visit is very much a personal choice. Sunrises over the Falls are very beautiful if you don’t mind waking up early on your vacation; you will certainly beat the crowds. Rainbows are great in the afternoon, but there is never a bad time to visit the magnificent Victoria Falls!

It costs US$50 per person for international visitors, US$30 per person for SADC residents (with proof of residence) and US$7 per person for Zimbabwean residents (with proof of residence). These rates are current and subject to change.

The Falls open at 6am.

It is approximately 3.6 km from the Lodge to Victoria Falls Entrance.

It is at the guest’s discretion whether they would like to hire a car however, most activities include transfers and for local transfers a taxi can be used. Generally, guests do not hire cars as the taxis are likely to work out cheaper than the day car hire. Taxis are readily available.

The United States Dollars is the commonly used currency in Victoria Falls.

It is a 25-minute drive from the VFA Victoria Falls Airport to the Lodge.

Kasane is approximately 80 kilometers from the Lodge, the specific travel time is determined by the time spent at the border.

We can arrange transfers to and from Livingstone Airport in Zambia. Bear in mind that it will require a border crossing which could take time. Also consider the Visa implications. There will be a change of taxi company as you transit from one country to the other.

You may book the transfer with our Front Desk team. They are reachable through email, WhatsApp and calls. We use Sheppy Taxis for all our transfers. If you provide our team with your flight details, the taxi driver will meet you in the arrivals hall after you exit the Immigration and Customs area.

Local transfer fees vary depending on distance, however they range between US$5 and US$10. The fee from Victoria Falls Airport to Pamarah is US$30.00 for a taxi for less than 4 people. A taxi is US$35.00 for 5 to 7 people. All taxi fees are payable directly to the driver. If payment is done through the Lodge, we charge an extra US$5.00 for bank charges.

All travellers must apply through the government EVisa website: https://evisa.gov.zw/

Please kindly note that all travellers are advised to check the visa regulations for entry to Zimbabwe and it is the responsibility of the traveller to ensure they have the required documents in place to enter the country.

If you are planning to include any single day trip activities into Zambia or Botswana, we recommend that you buy a KAZA UniVisa. The KAZA UniVisa allows cross-border excursions into neighbouring countries, but is not applicable when staying overnight. Not all nationalities are eligible for the KAZA UniVisa.

VERY IMPORTANT

Travel with Minors (Under 18) to Botswana:

Strict entry requirements apply for minors entering Botswana. Guests traveling with children under 18 must carry the following documents, even if both parents are travelling:

* An unabridged birth certificate listing both parents (mandatory).

* Affidavit(s) in the following cases:

* If traveling with one parent: affidavit from the non-traveling parent.

* If traveling without either parent: affidavits from both parents.

* Please note: Abridged birth certificates are not accepted.

Failure to produce these documents may result in denied entry into Botswana, causing complications such as delays for other travellers and difficulties in returning to the point of departure.