Protea Hotel by Marriott Zambezi River Lodge

The pool water had gone bad, and I’d avoid this place if you have the choice. At the bar, there were no price lists, they told you one price and charged another, and they always added an extra service fee without any information. If you do go, pay for drinks directly in cash.

The rainy season had left the place a bit run down. Otherwise, the location and food were great, and it was clean.

At 300 NAD ppn, this campsite is absolutely overpriced. The beautiful spot directly on the Zambezi is really its only positive. The toilets and showers are old, partly broken, and have broken tiles. There’s no hot water in the large bathrooms and almost no toilet paper. There’s no running water at the pitch, the concrete tables are broken, and everything feels very run-down. Despite the security (?), various street vendors came right to our breakfast table in the morning. The reception staff didn’t really make an effort, as long as we paid immediately. All together, definitely not recommended!!!

The location, and the staff at reception and in the bar, were the positives. Nearly everything else was a letdown: many areas are run down, the doors don’t fully work, the wallpaper is damaged, the pool is dirty, and the water pressure is too low for the toilet flush to refill. The outside chairs are broken, and the internet is inconsistent. I can’t understand why the property markets itself as a Brand by Marriott and an "upscale lodge with refined rooms". The truth is different.