The Boma Records Best Year Ever with 80,404 Dinner Guests in 2025

Traditional Dance At Boma

By Staff Reporter

The Boma Dinner & Drum Show, in Victoria Falls, closed 2025 with its strongest performance since opening in 1992, recording a historic 80,404 dinner covers for the year, an average of roughly 220 guests per night. The milestone caps more than three decades of resilience and steady reinvention, and management says it reflects a renewed energy and a series of enhancements introduced across 2024 and 2025 that resonated strongly with both first‑time visitors and returning patrons.

Africa Albida Tourism (AAT) managing director Nigel Frost described the achievement as a testament to the dedication and creativity of The Boma team. He credited the record year to consistent service delivery, refreshed programming, and operational improvements that elevated the guest experience. “This record‑breaking year is a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to the dedication, creativity, and hard work of the entire Boma team,” Frost said, noting that the restaurant’s cultural authenticity remains its defining strength.

The Boma’s offering combines traditional Zimbabwean cuisine with live drumming, dance, and storytelling, packaged as an immersive cultural evening that has become a must‑do for visitors to Victoria Falls. Over the years, the venue has balanced authenticity with hospitality standards expected by international tourists, and the 2025 figures suggest that balance is paying off commercially. Management attributes growth to targeted enhancements from menu refinement and improved front‑of‑house service to refreshed entertainment segments and stronger marketing partnerships with tour operators.

Part of the Victoria Falls Safari Collection, The Boma benefits from being integrated into a broader hospitality ecosystem operated by AAT. The collection includes the flagship Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, the premium Victoria Falls Safari Club, Victoria Falls Safari Suites, Lokuthula Lodges, Victoria Falls Safari Spa, and Queen Nandi Place, a conferencing facility. Located on the Safari Lodge estate just 4km from the falls, these properties create cross‑selling opportunities that help drive consistent footfall to The Boma, particularly during peak tourist seasons.

Industry observers say The Boma’s success is notable in a regional context where competition for tourist spend is intense, and visitor expectations are rising. The venue’s ability to sustain high nightly covers across an entire year points to effective operational planning, strong staff engagement, and a product that continues to meet market demand. For local suppliers and performers, the uptick in business also translates into broader economic benefits, from increased demand for local produce to more performance opportunities for cultural artists.

Looking ahead, AAT and The Boma plan to build on the momentum by expanding community linkages, refining guest feedback loops, and exploring new programming that deepens the cultural narrative while maintaining high service standards. For Victoria Falls, The Boma’s record year is both a commercial success and a cultural win proves that authentic experiences, when well delivered, can remain central to the destination’s appeal.