Welcome to Mpala Jena and the Mpala Jena Private Villa

Mpala Jena and the newly opened Mpala Jena Private Villa offer exclusive Victoria Falls luxury accommodation and safari experiences along the scenic, tree-lined banks of the Zambezi River within Zambezi National Park.

The team of architects, including Craig Hayman, Hannah Charlton, and interior designer Tracy Kelly, crafted a retreat that exemplifies “Barefoot Luxury” at its best.

Their goal was to blend natural elements with thatched roofs in the main areas of the camp and flowing canvas luxury tents for the bedrooms. The villa merges indoor and outdoor living spaces, built under thatch and stone, seamlessly integrating into its natural environment.

– Dereck Joubert

Welcome to Mpala Jena and the Mpala Jena Private Villa

Mpala Jena is the epitome of Victoria Falls luxury accommodation and is an intimate safari camp positioned along the beautiful tree-laden banks of the Zambezi River.

Mpala Jena and the newly opened Mpala Jena Private Villa nearby are situated on the white sandy banks of Zimbabwe’s Zambezi River and within the Zambezi National Park. 

The architect team of Craig Hayman and Hannah Charlton, along with interior designer Tracy Kelly, created a haven that epitomises “Barefoot Luxury” at its finest. 

The team aimed to incorporate natural elements by using thatched roofs in the camp’s main areas and flowing canvas luxury tents for the bedrooms. The villa is a blend of indoor and outdoor living spaces built under thatch and stone that seamlessly merge into its natural surroundings.  

– Dereck Joubert

The Camp

Nestled along the Zambezi River, within the Zambezi National Park and just upstream from Victoria Falls, Mpala Jena offers a wide range of refined, immersive safari experiences for guests seeking the ultimate in Victoria Falls luxury accommodation. With only five suites and a private villa option, it is ideal for guests seeking exclusivity with easy access to one of the natural wonders of the world. Enjoy river cruises, safari drives, and heartfelt hospitality in Zimbabwe’s most stylish riverside camp.

Guests can enjoy open vehicle safari drives, observe wildlife from the Zambezi River during boat cruises or on the unique Dhow, explore the area via guided walking trails, tour the famous Victoria Falls, or relax with cocktails from the camp’s swing chairs. Higher concentrations of buffalo and elephants are usually seen from June to October. There are more lions per km² here than in any other park in Zimbabwe.

In August 2025, the first of two new 3-bedroom Mpala Jena Private Villas opened. These unique villas are situated 5 kilometres upstream from the existing Mpala Jena.

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Mpala Jena is conveniently situated 19 kilometres inside the Zambezi National Park. It provides easy access to Victoria Falls town via an exhilarating 40-minute boat transfer. Road transfers are also available on request. Mpala Jena also organises guided tours of the Victoria Falls.

The sand floor in the main camp’s bar area and the neighbouring swimming pool create a perfect setting for guests to remove their shoes and unwind after their morning safari drive or river cruise. The pool lounge gives the impression that you are right on the river. Mpala Jena is highly sought after by those seeking the finest Victoria Falls luxury accommodation.

The first of two new Mpala Jena Private Villas opened in August 2025. Each villa features a private main area, swimming pool, three luxurious riverfront suites, and includes services of a private butler, safari vehicle, and guide.

Mpala Jena has a strong sustainability ethos. It is powered entirely by a solar plant and battery. Building materials and design elements were specified and sourced with a clear vision of minimising embodied energy and transportation miles.

Guests staying at Mpala Jena often continue their safari to Tembo Plains Camp or The Zanji Suite at Tembo Plains in our private Sapi Reserve and extend their African safari to our safari camps in Botswana.

Mpala Jena Safari Suite

At Mpala Jena’s main camp, guests have a choice of three large double or twin-bed configuration Suites, plus two 2-bedroom Family Suites, all under sand-coloured, flowing canvas, with canopy ceilings and open (yet netted) views of the river frontage.

The villa provides guests with a private retreat featuring three thoughtfully appointed suites. Perfect for families with children or groups of friends travelling together.

Tracy Kelly has beautifully decorated all the accommodations.

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Guests enjoy world-class facilities at this Victoria Falls luxury accommodation location. Each air-conditioned suite boasts a shaded, private veranda and ensuite bathroom facilities, including an indoor shower, a separate toilet, a heat pump for hot and cold running water, and double vanity basins. The suites’ highlight is the outdoor bathrooms, which feature a beautiful bathtub and an outdoor shower. Decking in front of the tent leads to views of the tranquil, peaceful waters of the Zambezi River.

One guide room is also available.

Rates

Mpala Jena
From $1,020 per person per night (sharing)

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The above rates are in US$. The Mpala Jena rates are based on a per person per night sharing basis. Single guest, child rates, private safari drive hire and guide rates are available on request.
The nightly rates include accommodation, wildlife viewing activities in the Zambezi National Park (wildlife drives, guided walks and boating on the Zambezi), all meals, a half-day tour of Victoria Falls (subject to a minimum 2-night stay), scheduled road transfers to/from Mpala Jena, the Zambezi National Park gate and/or boat transfers to/from Mpala Jena and the Kalambezi jetty, daily laundry, local alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Great Plains Conservation does not own or manage Mpala Jena and the Mpala Jena Private Villas. This is a preferred 3rd party property in Victoria Falls, where we hold an exclusive Sales, Marketing and Central Reservations arrangement. Mpala Jena employed staff care for all guests staying at this property.

Mpala Jena Private Villas

Just 5km upstream from Mpala Jena lies the luxurious 3-bedroom Mpala Jena Private Villa.

Maintaining the charm and aspects that are renowned at Mpala Jena, the villa incorporates elements of the renowned Puglia style of architecture and interiors.

Under steep thatch roofs, hand-hewn stone arches and open spaces designed to stay cool in summer but warm and cosy during winter. The interiors are bright and airy with earthy colours, complemented by textures and details that create a soothing atmosphere for your stay.

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The Mpala Jena Private Villa epitomises the finest luxury accommodation near Victoria Falls, providing unmatched privacy and exclusivity for families or small groups travelling together. The three-bedroom villa features a private main lounge, private swimming pool, three luxurious riverfront suites, and personal butler, safari vehicle, and guide services.

Each suite offers its guests private seating areas, a romantic bed covered with mosquito nets, walk-through closet spaces, and elegantly designed bathrooms. The shower facilities in the villa’s suites are also distinctive, offering views of the river as well as the night sky above.

Rates

Mpala Jena Private Villas
From $6,370 per villa per night

More Details

The above rates are in US$.
The Mpala Jena Private Villa rates are per villa per night and include safari vehicle and guide services.
The nightly rates include accommodation, wildlife viewing activities in the Zambezi National Park (wildlife drives, guided walks and boating on the Zambezi), all meals, a half-day tour of Victoria Falls (subject to a minimum 2-night stay), scheduled road transfers to/from Mpala Jena, the Zambezi National Park gate and/or boat transfers to/from Mpala Jena and the Kalambezi jetty, daily laundry, local alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Great Plains Conservation does not own or manage Mpala Jena and the Mpala Jena Private Villas. This is a preferred 3rd party property in Victoria Falls, where we hold an exclusive Sales, Marketing and Central Reservations arrangement. Mpala Jena employed staff care for all guests staying at this property.

Safari Experiences

Mpala Jena provides expertly guided wildlife viewing opportunities from their open safari vehicles and guided walks in the Zambezi National Park.

Guests can also enjoy flat-bottomed motorised boats and a traditional Zanzibari dhow. Water activities depend on water levels.

Tours to the famous Victoria Falls are also available, along with the many other activities offered in the town.

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Custom-built Land Cruisers, fully equipped with reference books, drinks, and snacks, are provided. During their stay, guests can also enjoy a trip to Victoria Falls town, including a visit to the spectacular and mighty Victoria Falls waterfall.

The Zambezi National Park hosts many large mammals, including the African elephant, lion, Cape buffalo, hyena, and rare leopard sightings. Antelopes and other grassland species include sable antelope, common eland, common zebra, southern giraffe, greater kudu, waterbuck, wildebeest, and impala. When out with your guide, approximately 400 bird species can be identified, with Pel’s fishing owl, African skimmer, collared palm thrush, Lanner falcon, goliath heron, African finfoot, rock pratincole, and long-toed lapwing being possible, notable sightings.

Birdwatching is spectacular throughout the year, with the most incredible species diversity observed from November to April.

Catch-and-release fishing is a popular activity and reaches its peak during the Tiger fishing season from June to December.

Explore the river either on motorised, flat-bottomed boats guided by an expert river guide, or glide along the Zambezi on a wooden dhow, listening to the sounds of nature all around whilst gazing out along the winding course of the river.

The Zambezi National Park is located upstream from Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe. It was separated from Victoria Falls National Park in 1979 and covers an area of 56,000 hectares. Most of the park lies within the eco-region of Zambezian and Mopani woodlands, while a small part in the south is within the Zambezian Baikiaea Woodlands. The park mainly features two habitats – riverine and Chamabonda vlei.

The park boasts a wide variety of indigenous tree species. Its terrain ranges from riverine woodland, dry riverbeds, rocky outcrops, and spring-lines to a gradual escarpment leading to the Kazungula road split. Soil types include alluvial, Kalahari, riverine sand, and pockets of black cotton soil.

Additional cost activities are available for those who wish to partake in the diverse adrenaline-fuelled and more leisurely pursuits that Victoria Falls has become renowned for. A variety of activities exists, including navigating some of the world’s most intense white-water rafting, engaging in the numerous high-wire activities at the Gorge / Lookout Cafe, participating in a cultural village tour, enjoying a guided high tea tour with historical insights, or simply wandering the streets of this lively tourist town.

Helicopter transfers to and from Mpala Jena and the Mpala Jena Private Villa, as well as aerial tours of the Victoria Falls, are also available at an additional cost.

Mpala Jean combines perfectly with Tembo Plains Camp, situated in the private Sapi Reserve on the eastern border of the Mana Pools National Park.

Drift along the Zambezi River under sail in a wooden dhow

View the majestic Victoria Falls with your guide

Dine under the stars alongside the Zambezi River and listen to the chorus of nearby hippos

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Lasting Impact

Zambezi Parks Support Foundation

Mpala Jena, along with other stakeholders in the Zambezi National Park, has played a key role in establishing the Zambezi Parks Support Foundation (ZPSF). This foundation has made significant strides in conservation and anti-poaching since 2023. The ZPSF operates in the Zambezi National Park and partners with the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, focusing on several key initiatives.

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These initiatives include Scout Deployment, where 13 scouts patrol critical areas of the park to prevent poaching, monitor wildlife, and maintain the ecosystem’s integrity; Vehicle and Logistics Support supporting the foundation’s operations; Anti-Poaching Infrastructure, which provides for the upgrading anti-poaching bases and improved infrastructure in the Park, and to various other initiatives that directly Support the National Park. Additionally, Mpala Jena donated a riverboat to assist with river patrols, further enhancing ZPSF’s ability to protect the park’s waterways and wildlife.

These initiatives demonstrate the strong commitment of Mpala Jena to conservation and anti-poaching efforts, aiming to protect the wildlife and ecosystem of Zambezi National Park.