The Cassia Restaurant

The Cassia sits inside Ilala Lodge in Victoria Falls, close enough to hear the falls from the terrace, and reviewers often mention wildlife wandering past during dinner. Ashley (March 2026) spotted “an elephant having a little snack” mid-meal, and Daniel (May 2025) had both elephants and warthogs stop by at lunch. A pianist, named as Miles by Sai in September 2025, plays most evenings and gets its own mentions across many reviews.

The menu runs from bao buns to game meats, and reviewers single out the ostrich and impala. Trice (March 2023) recommended “the ostrich steak, tempura hake, and the cheesecake with coconut ice cream”, while Lisa (November 2025) found the ostrich “melt in your mouth” but was less keen on the gaminess of the impala shank. Coleen (April 2024) called the Mushroom and Spinach Cannelloni generous enough for two and named the Malawi Shandy Mocktail the best in Victoria Falls.

Not every visit reaches that standard: Shailen found the atmosphere pleasant in a 2025 review but the food “just passable, nothing especially memorable”. Staff get named often, including Tatenda and Tendai, and the kitchen caters to gluten-free and dairy-free requests. The restaurant opens daily from 06:30 to 21:30.

Quotes are from Google reviews, credited by first name and month.