Discovery and Adventure in Zimbabwe

On arrival at Harare International Airport you will be met and greeted by our representative and transferred by road to Norma Jeane's Lakeview Resort situated near the famous Great Zimbabwe. Drive time is approximately 4 hours.

Formerly know as Inn on Great Zimbabwe, the resort is known for its beautiful gardens, home-style cooking, comfortable accommodation and friendly service. It is part of the history of the area, as it was built around the tin-roofed homestead of Murray MacDougal, the man responsible for the building of Lake Mutirikwi, which is the third largest dam in Zimbabwe and was built to provide much needed water for the vast agricultural irrigation development surround Masvingo.

Overnight: Norma Jeans Lakeview Resort

After breakfast you will travel with your knowledgeable Zimbabwean guide to the famous Great Zimbabwe ruins.

There are essentially three parts of the ruins that deserve a visit: the Hill Complex, the Valley Complex and the Great Enclosure.

Somewhat like Stonehenge in that no one is certain who originally built the city and why, Great Zimbabwe is the most well-known of the hundreds of megalithic ruins dotting the landscape of Southern Central Africa.

You will learn about the ancient history of Great Zimbabwe and the bushmen that inhabited the area and left their mark in the many painted caves and overhangs in the Granite Hills around Masvingo. One of the most intriguing of these sites is Chamavara Cave, also known as the Cave of the white lady, depicting a figure said to be a lady in oriental dress, even with pointed slippers on her feet.

End your adventure with a visit to the museum before heading back to the resort.

Spend the afternoon at leisure.

Overnight: Norma Jeane's Lakeview Resort.

After an early breakfast, travel with your guide to Camp Amalinda nestled amid the scenic rock formations of the majestic hills of Matobo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The drive time is approximately 4 hours arriving at the camp in time for lunch.

A cozy library contains some of the old "African Classics", while a secluded chess room, located amongst the three tops guarantees peace and tranquility. Sundowners can be enjoyed around a warm fire in the enclosed "boma" area. At the base of the camp is a large swimming pool with comfortable loungers and a bar, all over-looking a waterhole for prime wildlife sitings. The Heritage Spa is an irresistible treasure worth experiencing amidst a most miraculous backdrop.

Overnight: Camp Amalinda - Matobo National Park

After breakfast, experience the wonders of the Matobo Hills, extraordinary granite rock formations which have exerted a strong presence over the whole area, both in natural and cultural terms.

The highest concentrations of rock art in Southern Africa, dating back at least 13 000 years has been discovered in the hills. The paintings illustrate evolving artistic styles and also socio-religious beliefs. There is evidence that the Matobo Hills have been occupied for at least 500 000 years and archaeologists reveal a very full picture of the lives of foraging societies in the Stone Age and the way agricultural societies eventually came to displace them in the Iron Age.

The Mwari religion is still practiced in the area and may actually date back to the Iron Age. The Matobo rocks are seen as the seat of god and of ancestral spirits. Sacred shrines within the hills are places where contact can be made with the spiritual world. The living traditions associated with the shrines represent one of the most powerful intangible traditions in southern Africa and one that could be said to be of universal significance. This is a community response to a landscape rather than individual ones.

Overnight: Camp Amalinda

After breakfast you will be transferred by road to Hwange Main Camp. From there you will enjoy a game drive en route to your accommodation at The Hide, arriving in time for lunch. Drive time approximately 4 hours.

Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe's largest national park of 14 561 sq kilometers. Formerly home to the San bushmen the Nhanzwa, and later the royal hunting ground for Matabele King Mzilikazi, the area was transformed into a wildlife conservation area in 1928.

A significant feature of Hwange National Park is the absence of permanent surface water. Animals rely heavily on a series of waterholes, many of which dry up during years of drought. The Friends of Hwange now maintain a number of these waterholes throughout the year ensuring the livelihood of thousands of animals. An abundance of wildlife are found at these water hole making for excellent game viewing. The landscape is diverse, dense teak forests in the north, and Kalahari sandveld in the south. Grassy plains lined with Acacia tress lie alongside Mopane woodland and islands of Ilala palms.

Overnight: The Hide

Set off after breakfast to enjoy the wildlife of Hwange National Park. A haven for over 100 mammal and 400 bird species, the park protects populations of all Zimbabawe's endangered species as well as home to over 20 000 elephants, and one of the largest populations of African wild dog. Large prides of lion and buffalo are often sighted as well as the elusive leopard , rhino, cheetah and spotted hyena.

Overnight: The Hide

After breakfast you will transferred by road to the Victoria Falls Safari Club enjoying game viewing on your trip.

The drive time is approximately 2 hours. The Victoria Falls Safari Club offers luxurious accommodation with uninterrupted views of unspoiled bush veld and spectacular African sunsets.

After enjoying lunch at the club, and some leisure time, enjoy a relaxing sun downer cruise on the Zambezi River on the Zambezi Royal. Enjoy cocktails as the sun sets on the river and capture the incredible beauty of the sunset.

Return to the club to freshen up before dinner.

Overnight: Victoria Falls Safari Club

After breakfast, you will be collected from the club to enjoy a guided tour of the Victoria Falls. "Mosi-oa-Tunya" or "The Smoke that Thunders" presents a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur and is situated on the Zambezi River, forming a border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Columns of spray can be seen from miles away and you may event catch a glimpse of rainbows arcing the sky in the mist.

Visit the rain forest, and take a trip on a helicopter through the gorges viewing the incredible rapids that so many wish to challenge. Certainly exciting and a wonderful ending to the day.

Return to the club to freshen up before dinner.

Overnight: Victoria Falls Safari Club

After breakfast and depending on the time of your outward bound flights, you will be collected from the Victoria Falls Safari Club and transferred to the Victoria Falls Airport for departure home.