"Zimbabwe game cooking on a deck above a floodlit waterhole — warthog, kudu and Zambezi bream. Book an anniversary table at sunset."
About Victoria Falls Safari Lodge Restaurant
The Victoria Falls Safari Lodge restaurant is MaKuwa-Kuwa, set on an open-sided deck above the Buffalo Bar at the lodge, about four kilometres from the Falls in Victoria Falls. It anchors part of our Victoria Falls coverage as the town's signature waterhole-dining room, looking out over Zambezi National Park.
The lodge opened in 1994, and its restaurant has built a reputation as one of Zimbabwe's finest, trading on a setting no city table can match: a floodlit waterhole where elephant, buffalo and kudu come to drink while you eat.
The Kitchen
The à la carte dinner menu pairs local game and river fish with global technique. Flame-grilled warthog, seared kudu fillet, crocodile stir-fry and Zambezi bream headline the list, alongside a coconut-crusted bream fillet and slow-cooked coffee-infused beef short ribs. A continental and à la carte breakfast runs each morning; lunch donates a dollar from selected dishes to the lodge's vulture-conservation programme.
Prices are à la carte in US dollars in the upper-mid range for the region, and Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted. Bookings are essential for dinner.
The Room
The dining room is open on three sides, pitched above the Buffalo Bar so the waterhole sits in full view below. By day giraffe and buffalo drift past; after dark the hole is floodlit and the bush noise takes over. Dinner runs 7pm to 10pm, with breakfast from 6:45am and lunch from 12:30pm.
It is a relaxed safari-lodge room rather than a formal dining hall — the wildlife, not the white tablecloths, is the event. Sundowners at the Buffalo Bar below are the standard prelude.
Not for
Not for travellers who want to walk from town or eat late — it sits four kilometres out, closes at 10pm, and the wildlife, not fine-dining polish, is the point.
Frequently Asked
What is the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge restaurant called?
The lodge's main restaurant is MaKuwa-Kuwa, an open-sided à la carte dining room on a deck above the Buffalo Bar, overlooking a floodlit wildlife waterhole and Zambezi National Park.
What food does MaKuwa-Kuwa serve?
A modern African menu built on local game and river fish: flame-grilled warthog, seared kudu fillet, crocodile stir-fry, Zambezi bream and coconut-crusted bream, plus coffee-infused beef short ribs.
Where is it and how do I get there?
At Victoria Falls Safari Lodge on Squire Cummings Road, about four kilometres from the Falls. The lodge runs a courtesy shuttle to and from the town centre through the day.
Do I need to book?
Yes — bookings are essential for dinner, served 7pm to 10pm. Breakfast runs from 6:45am and lunch from 12:30pm, and the waterhole view makes any seating worth reserving ahead.
Is it good for a special occasion?
Yes. Sunset over the floodlit waterhole, with elephant and kudu drinking below, makes it one of Zimbabwe's best anniversary and celebration tables; pair it with sundowners at the Buffalo Bar first.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge Restaurant
Bookings are essential for dinner (7pm–10pm). Find MaKuwa-Kuwa at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Squire Cummings Road, about 4km from the Falls.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
RestaurantMaKuwa-Kuwa
SettingVictoria Falls Safari Lodge
CuisineModern African · game & river fish
SignatureFlame-grilled warthog; Zambezi bream
PriceÀ la carte, USD ($$$)
Dinner7:00pm–10:00pm, booking essential
Opened1994 (with the lodge)
