Wildlife & Community Safari (9 nights)

Experience gourmet dining in Victoria Falls at the top-rated Cassia Restaurant. Centrally located only minutes from the Victoria Falls at Ilala Lodge Hotel, the newly-renamed restaurant offers a delicious breakfast buffet, lunch and al fresco evening dining under the starry African sky.

The Cassia Restaurant delivers an unmatched menu, paired with an extensive wine list comprised of carefully selected wines from South Africa’s top vineyards. The calming and tranquil ambience is further complemented by the gentle rumble of Victoria Falls in the background. A truly unforgettable dining experience not to be missed.

You know what they say about the early bird? If you are a passionate birdwatcher, don’t miss out on this river cruise! Keen bird lovers will delight in marking off their sightings in the birding booklet provided on board while enjoying a delicious continental breakfast including fruit platters, fresh pastries and a variety of cheeses and biscuits. Rare birds such as the African Pitta and the Narina Trogon have been sighted here, as well as hundreds of other bird species. The knowledgeable and experienced guides conduct these early morning river cruises.

Enjoy freshly brewed coffee and a continental breakfast as you cruise up the Zambezi River towards Kandahar Island while enjoying the sounds of the diverse birdlife and the African bush come to life in the early morning. Breakfast includes freshly baked pieces of bread and pastries, fresh fruit platters, jams, yoghurts and cheeses as well as an assortment of teas and coffee.

Sit back and relax while sipping a cold drink and enjoying a few quiet hours along the banks of the Zambezi River. Our lunch buffet includes cold meats, fresh salads and a wide selection of biscuits and cheeses, all catered by the award-winning Palm Restaurant at Ilala Lodge Hotel. The fully stocked bar is available throughout the cruise and the attentive crew is at your service.

There simply is not a better way to enjoy the dazzling African sunset than from the comfort of a Ra-Ikane boat on a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. Our ever-popular sunset cruise offers a unique way to explore the channels of the river and to get an up-close view of the pristine wilderness and African game along its banks. Enjoy an array of canapés, a full bar and a charming crew who can impart a bit of interesting Victoria Falls history with you on board the Ra-Ikane.

Nehimba is situated on its own private concession in the Northern area of the national park where many of Hwange’s wild residents enjoy wandering freely through the area. You may choose to relax on your private balcony with an early morning cup of coffee, or whittle away the last of the daylight hours on the main lodge deck with sundowners, where the animals amble by and pause at the nearby waterhole to quench their thirst. We highly recommend one day having an arm chair safari

Elephants drinking from the pool Credit: Imvelo Safari Lodges

Aerial view of Nehimba Lodge and its waterholes Credit: Imvelo Safari Lodges

Elephants drinking from the pool Credit: Imvelo Safari Lodges

Around the campfire with elephants Credit: Imvelo Safari Lodges

Elephants bathing at Nehimba Lodge Credit: Imvelo Safari Lodges

Dinner with the elephants at Nehimba Credit: Imvelo Safari Lodges

Credit: Imvelo Safari Lodges

Dinner with the elephants at Nehimba Credit: Imvelo Safari Lodges

Nehimba is situated right on the edge of the mopane woodlands of northern Hwange and the kalahari sandveld of the west, and so offers the full spectrum and diversity of fauna that Hwange has to offer. The elephant hunting Lions of this area are famous. The area is well watered so is host to large numbers of animals throughout the year but particularly during the dry season. Game drives are conducted in specially modified Land rovers designed to provide wildlife enthusiasts with ideal opportunities for photography. During drives, our expert guides enjoy sharing their extensive knowledge with you - be it while watching the African bush come to life as the sun starts to rise, or whilst marvelling at a large elephant herd drinking at a waterhole as the sun slips behind the horizon.

For an entirely different perspective, join one of our armed professional guides and get close to nature. During a game walk you can experience the thrill of approaching wildlife on foot. Your guide will also teach you the basics of how to track wildlife from the ground as well as interesting facts about the surrounding vegetation and ecology.

For those who would like to view Hwange in a different 'light', we offer our guests the opportunity to accompany one of our guides on a night drive through our concession. Filtered spotlights are used to pick out the various nocturnal species that can be found such as hyena, porcupines, civets, genet cats, and if you're lucky, perhaps even a leopard on hunt!

This special designated conservation area is one of the only year-round, naturally occurring water supplies in the massive Hwange National Park. The seep is an ancient source of surface water that was once used by the San Bushmen. Today the area is frequented by elephant, who can be found digging for minerals as well as enjoying the water.

Situated in a scenic hilly spot only 15-kilometres from Sinamatella Camp, the Mandavu Dam is a wonderful location for both bird watching and game viewing. Take a leisurely morning drive to the dam before joining a variety of wildlife for a picturesque picnic brunch at the water’s edge.

Cuan Rush - Imvelo Safari Lodges Credit: Cuan Rush - Imvelo Safari Lodges

Elephants drinking Credit: Imvelo Safari Lodges

Crocodile and birds Credit: Imvelo Safari Lodges

Hippo wallowing Credit: Imvelo Safari Lodges

Cuan Rush - Imvelo Safari Lodges Credit: Cuan Rush - Imvelo Safari Lodges

• Traditional open safari vehicles driven by licensed experienced guides

• Morning game drives with tea, coffee and biscuits and afternoon drives with drinks and snacks

• Night drives on the way back to camp from activities in the evenings with animal friendly red filter

spotlights to view the nocturnal wildlife in the area.

• Conducted by a fully licensed and highly experienced professional guide (usually undertaken in the

mornings)

• Here you will follow a network of ancient elephant paths which provide great walks along the fossil

dunes.

• Imvelo Safari Lodges operate 18 pumping stations for the wildlife of Hwange.

• Transfers to and from Jozibanini from Bomani or Camelthorn include doing pump runs along the way

to supply pump attendants with new supplies and to make any necessary repairs.

• Experience Hwange’s giants up close and only a few meters from the watering hole from the safety of

this specialized underground blind. Can also be used for game viewing by moonlight.

• Experience Hwange from a very unique perspective - on a mountain bike!

• Deep Kalahari sands make much of this area inappropriate for biking, but geography and elephants

have worked together to make it a possibility here.

EXPERIENCE

• Visit the sanctuary headquarters and home of the Cobras – hear a short talk on the CRCI project, rhino security, and future plans.
• Walking tour to join the rhino and the Cobras guarding them; lots of photo opportunities and time to appreciate Thuza and Kusasa in their new home (how close visitors will be able to get to the rhino is subject to conditions on the ground).

Please note:
Subject to availability and terms and conditions apply.

Experience our one-of-a-kind unique Elephant express rail car which is an
exceptional activity and a definite highlight of a stay at Camelthorn Lodge!

The Elephant Express was introduced in 2015; it is a unique railcar, ingeniously designed and built to offer an unforgettable activity to and between our camps in Southern Hwange National Park.The Elephant Express makes daily return trips as necessary between Ngamo Siding, near Camelthorn to Dete Railway station. It is a 2.5hr ride and a great game viewing opportunity. It is at an additional cost, please contact reservations on prices and how to use it to transfer guest in and out of camp.

• Accommodating up to 22 passengers, the railcar has a safari design with open sides, an engine at the front and back and specially trained drivers. It offers individual coach seating at teak tables and a chemical loo on-board.
• Soft drinks, beers, wine and snacks are provided and lunch is served whilst the railcar is stationary before the return trip.
• The railcar is spacious with large aisles to allow your guests to walk around within and spot wildlife.
• There is a highly experienced knowledgeable guide is on board to answer all your questions and help make the trip as enjoyable as possible.

•Traditional open safari vehicles driven by licensed experienced guides

•Morning drives with tea, coffee and biscuits and afternoon drives with drinks and cooked snacks

•Land Cruisers seat up to 9 guests and Land Rovers seat up to 7 guests

•Conducted by a fully licensed and highly experienced professional guide

•Usually undertaken in the mornings

•Ideal for photography of big game on foot

•Night drives within the lodge’s private concession to view the array of wildlife, particularly nocturnal

creatures.

•Usually undertaken upon return from the afternoon activity or alternatively after supper, particularly

when lion are heard calling nearby.

•We have a spacious 20 ft game viewing hide at one of our waterholes ideal for

wildlife photography. There is a flush loo available.

•Imvelo Safari Lodges operate 18 pumping stations for the wildlife in this region of the National Park, the furthest of which is 55 km away. A popular activity is to take an all day trip into the Park to visit the waterholes to drop off fuel and oil for the motors as well as rations and supplies for the pump attendants

•A picnic lunch is then enjoyed near one of the waterholes followed by a leisurely game drive back to lodge in the afternoon.

•Fifteen minutes drive from the lodge our guests have the opportunity to enjoy a real life look at

village life in rural Matabeleland. A fascinating experience of a variety of typical daily village

activities is followed by a tour of one of the nearby schools conducted by the Headmaster where

guests are given the opportunity to hear traditional songs sung by the children and enjoy a ‘class

interaction’.