Lake Safari Lodge — Hotel in Southern Province

I visited Lake Safari expecting a beautiful experience, but unfortunately, it was the opposite. We waited over 2 hours for food, and when it finally came, we were told that our kids could not eat from the buffet as promised because there wasn’t enough food. Later, we were informed that the food was reserved for another group coming for a function.

This completely defeats the purpose of offering a buffet — it should mean guests can eat freely, but here it seems to come with hidden restrictions.

To make matters worse, the supervisor, Brialliant Chimunye, was extremely rude and dismissive. Instead of handling the situation professionally, he told us “we can go to hell and do whatever because those are the rules.”

Overall, this was a very disappointing experience. If you’re considering the buffet at Lake Safari, be aware that it may not be what’s advertised, and the customer service leaves a lot to be desired.

Response from the owner 16 hours ago Dear Paty,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are truly sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. At Lake Safari, we always strive to offer warm hospitality and a relaxing environment for all our guests.

For clarity, on the day of your visit, your group first arrived around 15:00 but opted to dine elsewhere. Later in the evening, you returned and chose our buffet instead of the à la carte menu. Our buffet is indeed “all you can eat” for guests dining with us, but as clearly stated on the signage, it does not include take-away portions. This policy is in place to ensure all diners can enjoy a fair and plentiful experience. We understand that this may have caused some frustration.

Even when your transport unfortunately broke down later that night, our team extended a complimentary room so that the infant in your group could rest comfortably while the bus was being repaired. We offered this gesture in the spirit of care and concern for your family’s comfort.

We regret if communication around the buffet rules was misunderstood and if you felt the service was not up to standard. We take your feedback seriously and will continue to train our team to handle such situations with greater professionalism.

We do hope you will consider visiting us again under different circumstances, so we may provide you with the positive Lake Safari experience that so many of our guests enjoy.

⸻

Response to Owner:

Dear [Owner’s Name],

Thank you for your response and for clarifying the situation. I truly appreciate the complimentary room that was offered for the infant in our group while we waited for transport repairs. A special thanks to Elvis and the other two staff members who assisted us with the transport and the resting room — their kindness was very much appreciated.

That said, my main concern was about the buffet. The issue was not only the rules, but also how they were communicated and enforced. Clear explanation and respectful service are part of the dining experience, and unfortunately, that’s where things fell short. I recommend making the buffet guidelines much clearer from the beginning, ideally through clear signage or a simple explanation on the menu. This would help avoid any confusion and set the right expectations for guests.

Equally, supervisors and staff should be trained to address such situations with professionalism and courtesy, rather than in a dismissive manner. Policies are important, but how they are presented and handled is what leaves a lasting impression on guests.

I hope this feedback helps improve both the clarity around your buffet service and the consistency of guest interactions...

The lodge is situated at the edge of the lake, offering a full view of the lake and the island. The beautiful garden with lots of coconut trees gives a sense of being by the seaside. The room was equipped with Aircon and a TV, and it also had a patio. However, one issue was that the light bulb in front of our room was burnt, so there was no light at night. We had to rely on the light from the neighboring rooms. Additionally, there was no light in the yard and the gardens during the night.

The service was quite slow, but the waiters were very helpful and friendly. Kudos to the staff for their hospitality. The speed of service could use some improvement, especially when it comes to drink orders.

Now, for the best part, I must give my highest rating to the chef. The food was amazing! The chef made the perfect lasagna, and we enjoyed it at the buffet so much that we had it for lunch the next day as well. We also tried the curry, which was wonderful. It had a well-balanced blend of spices, and it was just perfect without being too spicy. We also tried the drumsticks, pizzas, and more, and they were all perfect. Keep up the great work, chef!

Overall, our stay was good. I'm giving a 3-star rating for you to consider working on maintenance and the speed of service.

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Lake Safari Lodge is a majestic place to stay in Siavonga. In terms of rooms, views and location it is excellent. We arrived in December 2023 and sadly the room had no water or coffees and milks upon arrival. They did bring it to us once we said something. Then when we went to take a jacuzzi the geyser was off and no hot water was available that first night. This was rectified on day 2. The service in restaurant certainly needs some upgrading. The waiters are uninformed and speak back to customers when we specifically requested to speak to a manager. Wine bottles were opened before they arrived at our table. The food was average and I did expect better. Lake Kariba Inns is a far better place to eat with friendly, informed waiters and waitresses.Generally I would recommend Lake Safari Lodge as a place of choice in Siavonga and I would return. They just need to work on the restaurant service to get that back to standard. The room service however was good. If you are looking for a place with majestic views and clean rooms, Lake Safari Lodge is a great place to stay. If you place your preferences on culinary delights however, I would look elsewhere. The management are super friendly and willing to help as much as possible if the waiters were just willing...