Arrive Harare Airport.
On arrival you are met and driven to Pamuzinda Safari Lodge, a nice comfortable stop to relax after your long flight. The lodge is about 1.5 hours drive from the airport.
Ease yourself into the feel of the African bush with a leisurely day on Pamuzinda's private game reserve.
Chose from one of the many activities on offer here: canoeing and fishing, game drives and walks and even horse riding (additional cost).
Alternatively chill by the pool with a book and enjoy the tranquil surroundings.
Optional activities:
Horse riding, canoeing, game drives, bush walks, and fishing
After an early breakfast set off on a road transfer with your guide for the remote and incredibly beautiful Mana Pools National Park. This is one of the least developed National Parks in Southern Africa and a stunning haven for wildlife. Mana is home to the largest concentrations of hippo and crocodiles in Zimbabwe, and in the dry season (June to October) large herds of elephants and buffalo are seen, as well as many antelope species. There is also quite a high density of predators from lions to leopards, spotted hyenas and rare African wild dogs.
Arrive at the 4-star Mana Pools Safari Lodge around late afternoon in time for sundowners on the banks of the Zambezi River.
Scheduled game viewing activities
A full day of exciting safari activities!
After an early morning wake up call, you'll have a light breakfast and depart for a game drive. Predators are more likely to be active at this time of day, so some time is often dedicate to finding them first thing...
In the afternoon there's a chance for a siesta or time by the pool, before you head out again for an afternoon safari and some more wonderful wildlife viewing.
Game drives are done in the camps open safari vehicles, so you have great views and can really feel close to nature.
Walking safaris led by excellent guides are also available and are one of the highlights of this park as the game is relatively relaxed when encountered on foot.
Morning and afternoon game activities.
After a morning safari, set off by boat to Chirundu and from there take a two-hour drive through the dramatic scenery of the Zambezi Escarpments to the town of Kariba.
Stay at Kariba Safari Lodge with its panoramic views over the world's largest man-made lake. Big sky sunrises and sunsets here are absolutely magical!
Optional Activities:
Half–day tour of Kariba to visit the 128-metre dam wall and Santa Barbara Chapel, which was built for project workers and dedicated to those who lost their lives during the build. Perched 600m above the lake, on Kariba Heights, the church provides stunning panoramic views of the lake and surrounding countryside.
This morning, board your luxury houseboat and meet the friendly, professional crew who will look after you for the next three days as you enjoy your exclusive cruise on Lake Kariba with its prolific wildlife and iconic submerged forests.
A typical day on board starts with an early morning continental breakfast, followed by game-viewing from tender boats, allowing you to explore the expansive waters of Lake Kariba. You can also try your luck fishing for Kariba Bream or the famous, fighting Tigerfish.
Back at the boat, a delicious brunch is served on deck before sailing off to the next destination. On arrival you can explore the nearby creeks and inlets with hippo and crocodile populations or just relax on deck with a cool drink and solitude and splendid views of the lake and its rugged southern shore.
Leisurely sundowners are followed by a delicious dinner on board in romantic surroundings with the lake waters gently lapping the boat below and the stars brilliant in the vast tropical night sky above.
A day of leisurely lake-safari game viewing.
As you sail towards the shores of Matusadona National Park, look out for elephant and buffalo coming down to drink and hippo wallowing in the shallows. The wildlife is relaxed allowing you to get pretty close! The bird life amongst the bays and islands is varied and you should see a good number of herons, egrets, kingfishers, darters, cormorants, plovers, thick-knees as well as many fish eagles.
As dusk approaches, the skies turn shades of molten oranges and reds, the water a golden silky reflection, with Kariba's legendary drowned forests silhouetted in the foreground against a purple blue mountain backdrop....
Today the boat will gently make its way towards the mouth of the Sengwa River. The river basin is rich in bird life and upstream the landscape of the steep-sided rocky gorge is impressive. Small antelope called “klipspringers” (literally meaning rock jumpers) and rabbit-sized rock-hyraxes live among the tumbling boulders.
This morning you will board the tender boats to spot wildlife and see what this wild water wilderness has in store for you today.
Back on the houseboat, lunch is served while the boat completes the final leg of its cruise to Binga, a town that was built to rehome the BaTonga people whose homelands were flooded when Lake Kariba was created.
Check into the comfortable Masumu River Lodge, located on a hill top with spectacular views of the Lake.
After breakfast, depart Binga for Victoria Falls. This is a long drive of around 4.5 hours but passes through some interesting points on the way - the coal-mining town of Hwange, the stunning gorges of Gwaai and Kamativi River and traditional rural villages and farmsteads of Matabeleland.
Check in to Pioneers Victoria Falls, located in a quiet residential suburb of town, a mere 2.5km from the magical Victoria Falls.
A full day to explore Victoria Falls; aside from the lure of the Falls themselves, there are numerous activities on offer here including boat trips and canoeing excursions upstream of the Falls, scenic flights over the Falls, walking and cultural tours, and a raft of adrenaline sports such as bungee jumping, white-water rafting, and highwire slides.
You can book activities in advance through Close Encounters or through the hotel when you arrive.
After breakfast transfer to Victoria Falls airport for your onward flight home.
