HIGHLIGHTS
GREAT FOR
Families – boating, the ‘beach’ and the bush make for an exciting holiday
Honeymooners – great for outdoorsy couples who enjoy nature
Photographers – private concessions mean fewer vehicles at sightings
AVAILABLE ACTIVITIES
Sleepout
Nature walks
Canoeing
Game drives
BEST TIME TO GO
High Season⊕: June to October
Green Season⊕: November to April
OVERVIEW
How about two of Zimbabwe’s best game-viewing areas with a secret ‘island’ destination between to break up the itinerary? If that is not enough, how about the fact that all your accommodation in private concessions or private wilderness reserves, giving you a more exclusive experience with fewer other visitors and controlled numbers at sightings?
On this 11-day trip, you will have four nights in Mana Pools National Park and three in Hwange. Your middle three nights are spent in a unique part of Matusadona National Park which is slowly being returned to being a wildlife stronghold. This safari mini-break puts you on the water’s edge – always calming and soothing – and gives you a time at a truly family-friendly lodge.
TRIP SUMMARY
DURATION
10 Nights / 11 Days
DESTINATIONS VISITED
Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe
Matusadona National Park, Zimbabwe
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
ACCOMMODATIONS VISITED
DAILY ITINERARY
Whether you are coming in from Victoria Falls or even Harare, your destination is the same: Mana Main Airstrip. Your flight might have given you a glimpse of the Zambezi River and some of the four large pools (or ‘mana’ in the local language) that give this pretty national park its name.
Your next destination for two nights is Ingwe Pan Camp. Unusually for the park, it is set away from the river, giving it a more remote and exclusive feeling.
Why we love Ingwe Pan:
- Remote camp near the Mana floodplain
- Elephants peacefully feeding in camp
- Armchair game viewing at the camp waterhole
- Beneath a canopy of baobab, albida and mopane trees
Now that your ‘safari eye’ is ‘in’, you can head off on the second part of your Mana Pools journey. A road transfer doubles as a game drive as you move from Ingwe Pan to Ruckomechi. This change puts you on the shores of the Zambezi with the escarpment of Zambia clearly visible on the other side of the water.
This is a wonderful chance to see more aquatic species such as hippo, crocodile and waterfowl especially on boating, fishing and canoeing excursions.
Why we love Ruckomechi:
- Spectacular location on the Zambezi River
- Game passes through the unfenced camp
- Chance to sleepout under the stars
- Friendly staff and knowledgeable guides
After four nights in Mana Pools, it is time for a complete change of scene. Taking off from Mana West Airstrip, you will soon be in sight of Lake Kariba and Matusadona, a national park that is undergoing a careful and successful rewilding conservation project.
The team from Fothergill Island will be waiting for you at Fothergill Airstrip, ready to introduce to you this little-visited slice of Zim. Fothergill encourages a relaxed atmosphere that belies the staff’s attention to detail.
Why we love Fothergill Island:
- Boating to Sanyati Gorge to see the crocs!
- Following fresh tracks on the sandy riverbed
- Fenced so that children can wander more freely
- Mix of fun activities including archery
End off with a bang – that’s how your Zimbabwe safari draws to its close with three nights at Linkwasha. You fly into Linkwasha Airstrip and the game viewing in this immaculate concession begins immediately. Adventurous guests can also opt to join night drives, a prime time to spot owls, porcupines, aardvark, genet and other less commonly seen animals.
If you prefer to stay in camp, the hide provides almost endless comings and goings of wildlife, especially of Hwange’s famous elephant herds.
Why we love Linkwasha:
- Time in the photographic hide at the waterhole
- Exhilarating night drives to see nocturnal creatures
- Air-conditioned tents for the hotter months
- Siesta time next to the refreshing swimming pool
INCLUDED*
EXCLUDED*
* Subject to change. Your personal consultant will confirm all the details with you while helping you plan your safari to Africa so you have a full understanding of costs with no surprises.
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