Nestled in the heart of Victoria Falls, Ilala Lodge Hotel is more than just a place to rest and enjoy after exploring one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. We are also a hotel that prides itself on sustainability and providing our guests with fresh, locally-sourced food when they come and dine with us.
While our property offers the luxury of close proximity to Victoria Falls, our sister property The Palm River Hotel (located a few kilometres upstream from the Falls on the banks of the Zambezi River) is where the magic of our group’s sustainable garden begins.
The vegetables and fresh produce grown at The Palm River Hotel are essential not only to their on-site restaurant, but to our own award-winning Cassia Restaurant as well.
Both hotels benefit from this green initiative, which brings the freshest produce directly to the tables of our Victoria Falls restaurants!
The Palm River Hotel’s Vegetable Plantation
The vegetable plantation at The Palm River Hotel is grown in fertile soil fed by the waters of the Zambezi River.
This nutrient-rich environment offers an ideal setting to grow a wide range of vegetables, herbs, and even spices!
Through innovative sustainable practices, we have created a robust garden that supports the kitchens of both The Palm River Hotel and Ilala Lodge Hotel. Compost is collected from both properties and used to nourish the soil, ensuring that all the produce is organically grown and free from synthetic fertilisers.
The result? A consistent supply of high-quality ingredients that make their way into our kitchens, where they help to inspire delightful dishes for our guests.
From Garden to Plate
At The Palm River Hotel, our vegetable plantation spans both a large Potager Garden and a smaller Kitchen Potager, providing a wide variety of fresh produce.
This includes everything from leafy greens like Cos Lettuce and Wild Rocket to fragrant herbs like Rosemary, Mint, and Basil, all of which find their way onto the plates of diners at The Cassia Restaurant. We also grow vibrant flowers, microgreens, and exciting varieties like heirloom tomatoes and dragon fruit, each adding unique flavours and textures to our menus.
Whether it’s the crispness of freshly harvested lettuce, the zing of locally-grown lemongrass, or the fragrant rosemary used in our heartier dishes, our shared garden inspires our kitchen teams to keep dreaming up new flavour combinations to suit the season.
Dedicated to Sustainable Hospitality
Our group’s dedication to locally-sourced ingredients is central to our brand of hospitality, where sustainability and investing in the wider community takes centre stage.
We also like to think that incorporating food grown on one of our premises makes a unique and personal touch for our guests! After all, what could be more personal than knowing the food you’re eating has been grown especially for you?
To delve deeper into the ways our hotel group gives back to Victoria Falls as a whole, feel free to read all about Ilala Cares here.
Stay With Us
With our world-class amenities, personalised service and unbeatable location just minutes from the Falls, Ilala Lodge Hotel offers a truly unforgettable experience.
To book your stay, get in touch with our friendly reservations team at reservations@ilalalodge.co.zw or use our easy-to-navigate online booking platform to secure your dates.
We look forward to welcoming you to Ilala Lodge Hotel and sharing the fruits (and veggies!) of our labour with you.
Here is a photo of our Chairman, Tapiwa who attended the first monthly Victoria Falls Waste Management Meeting on the 7th May 2019. There was a big turnout from local entities such as Kingdom, Wilderness, AFRICA Travel, Shoestrings, the council and municipality as well as local enthusiasts to talk about the future of green development in Victoria Falls. We were humbled that our efforts at Ilala Lodge Hotel were mentioned – great motivation to continue with more ideas!