HIGHLIGHTS
GREAT FOR
Families – plenty of adventure for older children in unfenced camps
Honeymooners – perfect blend of adrenalin and relaxation
Photographers – different landscapes allow for varied images
AVAILABLE ACTIVITIES
Game drives
Nature walks
Cultural tours
Birding
Boating
Kayaking
Starbed sleepout
Victoria Falls excursions
BEST TIME TO GO
High Season⊕: July to November
Green Season⊕: December to March
Shoulder Season⊕: April to May, and November
OVERVIEW
Zimbabwe’s three ‘biggies’ make up this itinerary idea: Hwange, Mana Pools and the Victoria Falls. All lying in the upper half of the country, Mana Pools and the Falls border the massive Zambezi River while Hwange is a very sizable park of grasslands, mopane woodlands (a favourite of the thousands of elephant that live here) and life-giving pans, often with concealed hides.
This holiday plan starts off with gentle ‘roughing it’ in very comfortable tented camps before ending with pampering upstream from Mosi-Oa-Tunya or the Smoke that Thunders, the traditional name for the Falls. It combines authentic camps in unspoilt areas with genuine Zimbabwean hospitality and the chance to experience the very best of a dry-season safari.
TRIP SUMMARY
DURATION
8 Nights / 9 Days
DESTINATIONS VISITED
Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
ACCOMMODATIONS VISITED
DAILY ITINERARY
It’s almost a rule that no Zimbabwe safari is complete without time in Hwange National Park. Founded in 1928, it is a haven for the majority of the country’s elephant populations plus healthy prides of lion and packs of wild dog.
Taking off from Victoria Falls International Airport, you land at the Manga Airstrip for your first game drive to Somalisa Expeditions. Your time here is filled with nature walks, birding, cultural tours and – of course – more game drives.
Why we love Somalisa Expeditions:
- Perfect location in the Somalisa private concession
- The atmosphere of an old-fashioned mobile camp
- An active elephant pool right at the lodge
- Eco-friendly solar power keeps the lights on
After getting your fill of classic bush activities, it’s time to add some water. Or a lot of water in the case of Mana Pools, which is named after four large bodies that lie alongside the great Zambezi River. Taking off and bidding goodbye to Somalisa Expeditions, you’re soon landing at Mana Main Airstrip where the team from Zambezi Expeditions is waiting to welcome you.
Get your fill of boating, cruising and kayaking, often in the company of Mana Pools’ famously agile elephants.
Why we love Zambezi Expeditions:
- An intimate camp right on the Zambezi River
- Built in the shade of mature winterthorn and ebony trees
- Solar powered to minimise carbon creation
- Being able to track game along the water’s edge
If you’ve been lulled into too much serenity over the past few days, today changes all of that with a turbo-charged visit to Africa’s adventure capital. Your flight will wing you back to Victoria Falls and all the excitement this burgeoning town has to offer. Besides touring the Falls, you can go micro-lighting, white-water rafting, bungee jumping and even walk under the old railway bridge!
‘Home’ is the Old Drift, a modern lodge in a historic setting upstream from the Falls.
Why we love Old Drift Lodge:
- Lovely setting on the banks of the Zambezi River
- Contemporary design with quirky features
- All suites have starbeds, plunge pools and outdoor tubs
- Starting the day with hot coffee on a dawn river cruise
A lot can happen in nine days – and this sample itinerary proves it! As you fly out of Victoria Falls International Airport, you might cast your mind back to nights around the campfire, hearing the chortle of hippos and the call of a far-off hyena, smelling elephants in the bush before you see them… All precious memories to enjoy once you’re back home.
This trip can also begin at the Falls and have more days at Hwange and Mana Pools.
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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