A new 60-room property, Waterfalls Lodge, has officially opened in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Developed by Wild Horizons, part of the Tourvest Group, the lodge marks a shift in accommodation strategy for Tourvest, which has steadily been expanding its integrated tourism model in high-demand regional centres, across Africa and beyond. Waterfalls Lodge has been purpose-built in response to the region’s need for sustainable tourism growth, job creation, slow and eco-conscious tourism trends, and shared community development. 

Key highlights:

• Waterfalls Lodge is the first hotel-style property built by Wild Horizons. It moves away from fully inclusive safari lodges and responds to changing travel trends with a flexible, bed-and-breakfast format.
• The lodge was constructed within a hotel-zoned area and includes adjacent greenbelt restoration.
• The opening has already resulted in more than 70 direct local jobs, with further employment being created through contracted services, shuttle transfers and community-linked supply chains.
• Waterfalls Lodge includes water-saving systems, low-impact landscaping and locally sourced materials.

Gary Archer, Chief Executive Officer of Wild Horizons, says, “We are very excited about the opening of this new property, it is significant for a number of reasons. It’s the first hotel-style build for Wild Horizons in the region, and marks a change in hospitality strategy for Tourvest. We’ve designed Waterfalls Lodge to support longer guest-stays, provide stable jobs, and support meaningful integration into the local tourism economy. We believe tourism should be locally rooted, operationally strong and responsive to how people are choosing to travel.”

Tourism forms part of the economic backbone of Victoria Falls. Often referred to as the leading tourism revenue generator, it played no small role in the estimated Zimbabwe tourism receipts of nearly $1.5 billion in 2024[1].  The UN World Tourism Organisation and the World Travel & Tourism Council report that close to one in 10 jobs worldwide are linked to the tourism sector[2]. Recent data from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) suggests that tourism accounts for approximately 8.2% of the global workforce, highlighting its significant role in global labour markets[3]. In Zimbabwe, tourism employs a significant portion of the country’s workforce – while official figures vary, the total contribution is estimated at 3% as of 2023[4]. 

Looking at Victoria Falls specifically, the closure of the Kingdom Hotel, in early 2023, left a gap in the region’s mid- to high-end accommodation space and Waterfalls Lodge is filling that gap. Already having created more than 70 direct jobs, the lodge supports a wide range of secondary employment opportunities which include shuttle services, maintenance providers, and contract suppliers. In parallel, it adds to Wild Horizon’s’ growing footprint in the region which includes tour operations and excursions, restaurants, transfers and community-based partnerships. 

Green tourism without the noise

The Booking.com 2025 Travel and Sustainability Report found that 73% of global travellers want the money they spend to directly benefit the local community at their destination, and 93% want to make more sustainable travel choices[5]. It’s a shift in ethos and approach that’s reflected in the development of Waterfalls Lodge and the surrounding area.

Waterfalls Lodge incorporates sustainable practices with water-saving features, low-impact landscaping and an emphasis on locally sourced furnishings and materials. Wild Horizons is behind several long-standing conservation and community initiatives in the area which include the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, which focuses on anti-poaching, disease-tracking and environmental education. More than 1,000 children go through its wildlife training programmes each year - this includes teaching them how to act when encountering potentially dangerous wildlife (due to humans entering their habitat).

Income-generating micro-business models (beyond the lodge) are also encouraged, and invested in, by Wild Horizons. One of the most successful has been a raincoat rental initiative where tour groups are supplied with raincoats when visiting the Victoria Falls. These are owned and maintained by a network of more than 160 local vendors.

Wild Horizons has also taken responsibility for restoring and maintaining greenbelt land adjacent to Waterfalls Lodge. “It is”, says Archer, “part of our commitment to the long-term stewardship of this area.”

Important to note is that these locally focused programmes, via Wild Horizons, are all aligned to the Tourvest Group’s strategic “One Tourvest” approach. This centres around a commitment to making a meaningful and lasting positive impact across its broad footprint on the African continent, and across all continents (both directly and indirectly). It is about ensuring that “wherever we are, we are always local”. 

Responding to real shifts in travel patterns

There is a growing trend towards individual and slow travel. Forbes noted 34% of travellers want to embark on a solo journey by the end of 2025 – a trend that aligns with the growth in slow and wellness travel[6]. Travellers (73%) are looking for authentic, local experiences, especially when travelling with children[7]. 

Waterfalls Lodge is designed to encourage longer stays by providing more flexible and accessible accommodation alongside stunning (unique to the area) resort-style pools, shuttle services and an open design that supports both families and solo travellers. The lodge offers boutique accommodation in the four-star bracket at an affordable price point, making it accessible to a range of travellers from different parts of the world.

The design draws inspiration from the falls themselves with architecture referencing water flows, rainforest textures and open-plan social spaces. Its inclusion of an opportunity to dine at the popular Lookout Café, part of Tourvest’s restaurant network, builds on the Waterfalls Lodge experience.

“Waterfalls Lodge supports longer stays, slow travel moments, and solo travel. We have listened to the bigger conversations in tourism right now, and our approach answers them,” says Archer.

Waterfalls Lodge officially opened to guests on 21 July 2025. The property is now accepting bookings for domestic, regional and international travellers.