At sundown in Victoria Falls, you feel Africa in all her glory. Apart from the beauty of the heavy golden light, the urgency the day carried quietly falls away. This is the hour of the sundowner – and we’ve turned it into an art form!
What Is a Sundowner?
Those of us from Zimbabwe and surrounds have a mild obsession with sundowners, always attempting to gather our nearest and dearest for said event in whatever location we deem worthy. The view should be special; that much is agreed upon.
At Ilala Lodge Hotel, a sundowner is more than a drink at sunset. It is a deliberate pause at the end of the day, a moment to reflect. The sun sets every day, but how many of us actually stop to appreciate it? While any beverage will do as the light fades, the traditional drink of choice is a gin and tonic, and the reason for this might surprise you.
Sundowners finds its roots in the early 18th century, when quinine (an extract from the bark of the South American cinchona tree, known as the fever tree) was found to be effective in treating and preventing malaria. British colonial troops stationed across India and later Africa were given doses of quinine as a matter of course. The problem was the taste. Bitter, harsh, and difficult to swallow, the solution was to dissolve it into water with sugar and lime, creating the earliest version of “tonic” water. Gin, already part of the standard British military ration, was a natural addition. The habit of drinking it in the early evening, when mosquitoes came out and the malaria risk was at its highest, became ingrained. (We always knew G&T’s were medicinal!)
As the story goes, Winston Churchill once remarked that the gin and tonic had saved more Englishmen’s lives, and minds, than all the doctors in the Empire.
And while modern medicine has largely attended to malaria in the regions where the tradition took root, the ritual of “sundowners” never left.
All boat images courtesy of @raikanerivercruise (Instagram).
Where Can I Watch The Sunset in Victoria Falls?
Now that you know what a sundowner is; the next step is to find a view worthy of it during your stay in Victoria Falls.
If you opt to take an afternoon game drive in one of the surrounding game reserves, the odds are your guide will find you a picturesque spot in the bush from which to enjoy a drink and a chat. (Perhaps with a few animals to keep you company.) However, if you’re looking for something more considered, we have two very special suggestions:
- The Ra-Ikane Sunset Cruise
- The terrace of Cassia Restaurant
1. The Ra-Ikane Sunset Cruise
Victoria Falls sits at one of the great natural crossroads of southern Africa, where four countries meet along the Zambezi River. At sunset, that geography becomes something worth stopping for. The spray of the falls catches the last light, hippos surface in the shallows and the bush settles. When you’re witnessing all of this from a boat, well, it feels very surreal indeed.
The boats we have in mind are the Ra-Ikane Fleet, operated by our sister property Palm River Hotel, just a few kilometres upstream from the Falls. This fleet of three intimate river cruise boats is named after one of David Livingstone’s guides – the man who led him to the falls when Livingstone first encountered them in 1855 – and a lifelong friend and confidant.
The boats are small by design, carrying a maximum of 16 guests, which means the experience is intimate and unhurried. Their shallow draft allows them to move through the narrower side channels of the Zambezi, away from the main flow, into the kind of stillness that the larger cruise operators can’t access. From the water, the bush along both banks feels very close. Elephant come down to drink, hippos eye the boat from the shallows, twitching their little ears, and crocs hold their position on sandbanks. That’s not to mention the extraordinary birdlife!
The sunset cruise Victoria Falls experience aboard the Ra-Ikane River Cruisers runs for approximately two hours, with canapés and a fully stocked bar included throughout. Winter departure times are around 3.30pm; summer departures are around 4pm, meaning that you will witness the sun set while returning to the jetty in front of Palm River Hotel itself.
Getting to the launching site is seamless for guests of our hotel, with a complimentary shuttle running between our two properties regularly. Simply chat to our friendly team at reception and we’ll organise the excursion for you!
2. Sundowners at Cassia Restaurant
Our very own Cassia Restaurant is widely regarded as one of the best dining experiences in Victoria Falls. Our food is wonderful, but our view is equally special – and that’s what we’re highlighting here.
With golden shower trees (Cassia fistula) framing the evening and the spray of the Falls visible from the terrace, every afternoon of your stay can be “sundowner” worthy while you’re with us.
And while you can never go wrong with a gin and tonic, you might like to try something more colourful from our cocktail menu to suit the occasion.
Stay With Us
The sundowner is best observed from the right vantage point. Ilala Lodge Hotel sits within walking distance of Victoria Falls National Park and a short transfer from the Ra-Ikane jetty at Palm River Hotel, placing you at the centre of everything you need for a spectacular sundowner experience in Victoria Falls.
Whether your evening ends on the Zambezi or on the Cassia terrace, the view is worth the trip, and the art of the African sundowner is one we’d be proud to introduce you to! If we do it right, it’s a tradition you can take back to your own home – always remembering to savour the close of the day with those you treasure most.
To book your stay, contact our reservations team at onlinereservations@ilalalodge.com or make use of our seamless online booking platform to secure your dates.
We look forward to welcoming you and yours to Ilala Lodge Hotel.
