Day 1 – 3: 2 Nights in Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Victoria Falls

Upon arrival, you will be met and assisted at the airport by our representative. You will then be road transferred to the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, where you will spend two nights on a Bed and Breakfast basis.

The Victoria Falls Safari Lodge is a luxury haven in an un-spoilt area of Zimbabwe. The property is set high on a plateau overlooking the Zambezi National Park, and a mere 3km from the Victoria Falls.

The views from the lodge are spectacular and a great variety of wildlife can be spotted at and around the nearby waterhole. These include elephant, kudu, buffalo, waterbuck and various other smaller animals. The entire lodge has been built to afford its guests the best views of the bushveld, the National Park and the waterhole. Each room has its own private balcony to ensure great views, and binoculars are available from reception if you’d like to get a close-up view.

The lodge is decorated in warm African patterns and colors, creating a very homely feeling. We loved the extra length beds and the remote-controlled air-conditioners. And if that doesn’t sound like luxury – consider the fact that there are phones in the bedrooms, bathrooms and lounges of the suites. The top floor has a small lounge and the most spectacular look-out spot of all. We could easily see some kudu and impala having a drink in the distance. The lodge’s Buffalo Bar is also situated on one of these levels and overlooks the beautiful rock pool and its lush surrounds.

Dining at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge is quite an experience, especially if you choose to dine at the nearby The Boma – Place of Eating, an open-sided restaurant sheltered by the indigenous Gusu forest. Here you will be subject to a cultural experience of note. The evening kicks off with the custom of pre-dinner hand washing and tasting of the local beer, followed by a performance by traditional Ndebele dancers and singers.

Day 3 – 5: 2 Nights in Somalisa Camp, Hwange National Park

On your last morning at Victoria Falls, you will enjoy breakfast in the hotel, before road transferring to Hwange Main camp. On arrival at Hwange Main Camp, you will be met by your guide from Somalisa and game drive to camp. Stay 2 Nights on an All inclusive basis.

Somalisa Camp is set in the heart of Hwange National Park, and is known as the land of the giants for its big elephant herds. Nestled in a stunning location tucked away on an acacia island along the edge of an ancient seasonal flood plain, Somalisa provides guests with breathtaking views of the savannah plains across the famous Kennedy Vlei line. At Somalisa Camp, you will experience the heightened romance of the African Bush in one of the most natural environments in Africa. This is the way Africa was meant to be explored.

Consisting of only six elegantly furnished canvas tents with en suite bathrooms, flush toilet and romantic al fresco bush showers.The décor in the main lounge and dining area, echoes of an era extending from the colonial day and age to the ancient tribes of Africa and tells stories from all corners of this magnificent continent. The main decking area includes a small splash pool overlooking the natural pan where herds of game congregate to drink and where guests can relax whilst soaking in the African bush.

Activities include guided walks lead by qualified and passionate guides who will share their knowledge and love of the bush with you, game drives and night drives. Wildlife sightings include elephant, kudu, sable antelope, zebra, wildebeest, gemsbok, the rare and endangered roan antelope, buffalo, giraffe, white rhino, lion, leopard, hyena, and many other wildlife species.

Day 5 – 7: 2 Nights in Changa Safari Camp, Matusadona

Following breakfast at Somalisa Camp, you will be game driven to the airstrip to catch your Scheduled Charter to Fothergill where a representative from Changa Safari Camp will meet you at the airstrip and transfer you to the camp.

Changa Safari Camp’ is situated in a private concession area within the Matusadona National Park in Kariba. The camp will be a fully catered facility offering luxury tented accommodation, game viewing by boat and vehicle, game walks, birding safaris, fishing safaris and similar activities within the Matusadona National Park. The site chosen for the tents and ancillary facilities faces south looking across what is known as Hydro bay, with a view of the Matusadona Range of mountains. Changa Safari Camp is located approximately 45 km’s east of Tashinga where the main base camp and office of the National Parks Authority governing the Matusadona National Park is located.

The Matusadona National Park is some 338 000 acres in area, it is bounded on the west by the Ume river and on the east by the Sanyati river. Two thirds of it lies south of the Zambezi Escarpment, formed by the one thousand nine hundred and sixty eight foot high ‘Matuzvaidonha” hills from which it takes its name. From the plateau the park falls abruptly to a flat, low-lying area covered mainly with mopane scrub and woodland and dense patches of Jesse bush. The entire northern boundary of the park is created by the lakeshore itself which is characterized by “drowned forests” containing dead trees standing more than 50 years after the filling of the lake. Many of the animals rescued during “Operation Noah” when the lake was filling were released into Matusadona, which now holds strong populations of most mammals occurring in the Zambezi valley. Lion, leopard, hyena and other predators occur in good numbers throughout the park. In fact, the Matusadona National Park once held the greatest concentration of lion in the world. Cheetah were reintroduced to the park in 1995 and they appear to be doing well. A good cross section of plains game occur throughout the Park, and there is a small but important population of the endangered black rhinoceros, found mainly along the foot of the escarpment. One of the Matusadona’s most compelling features is its luxuriant birdlife: over 240 species have been recorded in the park, and, as one would expect, the shoreline is inundated with water fowl.

Day 7 – 9: 2 Nights in Kanga Bush Camp, Mana Pools

After your last morning activity at Bumi Hills Lodge you will be transferred by light air charter to Mana Pools where you will spend two nights at Kanga Bush Camp. Here you will stay for the first two nights of your safari in Mana Pools, exploring the inland river beds, pans and open plains of the National Park by game drive and guided walks with you armed professional guide.

Kanga Bush Camp has six tents set in the heart of Mana Pools National Park. The main area of the camp is on decking overlooking the pan. A relaxing lounge area under the shade of large trees overlooks the pan.

There is the choice of taking game drives in open-topped four-wheel drive vehicles or walking with professional guides. The opportunity to leave one’s vehicle and track game on foot is an experience rare in the national parks of Africa and in Mana Pools in particular this provides the visitor with the chance to track game in safety with an experienced professional guide. Other activities canoeing which is organised on request. Game abounds on the flood plains and in the Mopane woodlands of Mana Pools. Kanga Pan particularly attracts great game in big concentrations as it is the only water found in the floodplain above the river.

The predators, including lion, wild dog and leopard are often sighted and large concentrations of buffalo can be found in the Mopane woodland and open plains studded with Ilala Palms. Kudu, zebra, impala and waterbuck can be seen on the surrounding plains. Elephant take advantage of the plentiful "albida" trees in the area. Bird watching is also a great attraction of the area.

Day 9: Mana Pools – Victoria Falls Airport

After your last morning in Mana Pools you will be transferred by light air craft to Victoria Falls Airport and your onward travel arrangements.

End of Safari