There are certain travel experiences that change you. That rewire the way you think about the world and your place in it. Sleeping in a star bed on the banks of the Zambezi River, with the Southern Hemisphere’s Milky Way blazing overhead and the distant thunder of Victoria Falls in the background, is one of those experiences.
At Old Drift Lodge, our Star Suites offer something you simply cannot find in a hotel anywhere in the world: a raised rooftop bed, open to the African sky, where you fall asleep to the sounds of the bush — hippos grunting in the river, owls calling through the trees, and the faint roar of the world’s largest waterfall just 4.5 kilometres away.
What Is a Star Suite?
A star suite is exactly what it sounds like — a fully dressed, comfortable bed positioned on an elevated, open-air deck where the roof is the night sky. At Old Drift Lodge, the Star Suites include a full luxury tented suite below (with air conditioning, en-suite bathroom, indoor and outdoor showers and private plunge pool) and a raised star bed on the rooftop deck above.
You have the choice: sleep inside in complete comfort, or ascend to the star bed for an unforgettable night under the stars. Most guests do at least one night on the star bed and describe it as the highlight of their entire African trip.
What’s It Actually Like?
As the sun sets over the Zambezi, the sky shifts through shades of gold, amber and deep crimson. After dinner at the lodge — a multi-course meal prepared by our chefs using locally-sourced ingredients — you return to your suite and climb to the rooftop.
The bed is made up with crisp linens and warm blankets (the African winter evenings can be cool). You settle in, and as the last glow of twilight fades, the stars begin to appear. First a handful, then dozens, then thousands. Without light pollution, the Milky Way stretches across the sky in a band so bright it casts shadows.
Below you, the Zambezi murmurs. Hippos surface and call to each other. Somewhere in the distance, an elephant moves through the bush. It’s impossibly peaceful and impossibly wild, all at once.
Who Is It For?
The star bed experience is especially popular with honeymooners and couples celebrating anniversaries or special occasions. Paired with our year-round Honeymoon Special — where the second guest pays just 50% of the nightly rate, with a romantic turndown and private dinner with sparkling wine included — it creates one of the most romantic safari experiences in Africa.
But it’s not only for couples. Solo travellers, photography enthusiasts and anyone who wants to disconnect from the noise of everyday life and reconnect with something elemental will find the star bed deeply rewarding.
Practical Details
- Availability: The star bed is part of the Star Suite category at Old Drift Lodge. Book a Star Suite to access the rooftop bed.
- Comfort: Full luxury bedding, blankets and pillows. You can return to the main suite at any time during the night.
- Safety: The raised platform is within the lodge grounds and fully secure. Mosquito netting is provided.
- Best months: May through September offers the clearest skies and coolest evenings — ideal star bed conditions.
Book a Star Suite at Old Drift Lodge and experience the African sky like never before
