12-DAY ZIMBABWE TOUR

On arrival at the Victoria Falls Airport, you will be met by your guide who will transfer you to the hotel. You will partake in our sunset cruise trip on the mighty Zambezi River with lots of complimentary drinks and snacks just to get you settled after the long flight. We will have our first meeting – trip briefing – at the hotel before dinner.

Main Destination:

Victoria Falls (Highlight, Zimbabwe)

Accommodation:

Elephant Hills Resort

• Mid-range resort located in or near Victoria Falls

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)

After breakfast, you will be picked up for the guided tour of the Victoria Falls. This is a 3-hour tour where you will be shown the big tree (the 1500-year old baobab tree in the Victoria Falls National Park) and the 2 km stretch of the Zambezi River before the waterfall. You will then do the 2-hour walk in the Victoria Falls rain forest.

After the Victoria Falls, you will be taken to the Open Curio Market where you will have a chance to put your bargaining skills to the test. You will be amazed by these wonderful works of art and most of them at give away prices.

You will have the remainder of the day at leisure or partake in many of our touring activities that Victoria Falls has to offer and these may include; Helicopter flips over the falls, elephant back safaris, walk with the lions just to mention a few.

Dinner will be at the award-winning Boma Restaurant at 19:30.

Main Destination:

Victoria Falls (Highlight, Zimbabwe)

Accommodation:

Elephant Hills Resort

• Mid-range resort located in or near Victoria Falls

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

On this day you will be collected from your hotel at 0730 hours for the full day safari in the Chobe National park of Botswana. You do not have to wait until you cross the border into Botswana to start enjoying the game viewing as we will be driving through the Zambezi National Park for 70 km to the Botswana border.

The safari starts with a boat game cruise on the Chobe River. This will be a 3-hour game viewing experience from the Chobe River and lunch will be at the Chobe safari lodge.

After lunch you will be picked up for another 3 hours of game viewing in the Chobe National Park in custom made 4x4 safari jeeps. You will visit the upper Chobe River part of the park that is not accessible by boats. This is where we get to see the shy predators (lions, hyena, painted dogs, and sometimes leopards) and at times on their kills.

You will leave the park at about 16:30 for the drive back to Victoria Falls in comfortable air-conditioned mini-busses.

Main Destination:

Chobe National Park (Botswana)

drive

This day you leave Victoria Falls for Hwange National park.

This is one of the best national parks of the region and is still a renowned big five park with an area of 14000 km2, more than 100 species of wildlife, and 450+ species of birdlife.

You depart at 10:00 for us to be in time for lunch at the Hwange Safari Lodge, almost 200 km from Victoria Falls. After lunch, we will take a late afternoon game drive that runs from 16:00 and well into the night.

During the winter to the dry season, game viewing is very easy as it is just a question of visiting the waterholes where the game can be encountered on its way to or from days drink. There is also a chance to do the night game drive (optional) within the Hwange Safari lodge estate where the shy nocturnal game can be seen. This is when most predators will be active and hunting and the chances of seeing them are so high.

Main Destination:

Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe)

The park has one of the highest animal diversity of any national park in the region and hosts Africa's Big Five. It is justifiably famous for its massive elephant herds (70,000+) and has one of Africa's largest sable antelope populations. Hwange National Park has an extensive network of loop roads and viewing platforms, ideal for game drives.

Today you take a full day safari in the Hwange National park, depart at 07:00 soon after breakfast and you will be back at the lodge at about 18:00. Picnic lunch and refreshments (bottled water and soft drinks) will be served at any one of the many game viewing platforms dotted around the park. With luck on your side, you will able to see the big five.

Refreshments are served throughout the trip.

Dinner and overnight at the Hwange safari lodge.

Main Destination:

Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe)

You will depart for Bulawayo soon after breakfast, a journey of 240 km which will take approximately three hours of safe driving. After check-in and lunch you will take a two-hour tour to the Khami Ruins/Monuments.

The Khami Ruins are located about 10 km to the west Bulawayo. The site represents all that remains of the capital of one of southern Africa’s great empires which were at its peak from 1450-1650. Archaeological finds which include 16th century Rhineland stoneware, Ming porcelain pieces which date back to the reign of Wan-Li (1573-1691), Portuguese imitations of 17th-century Chinese porcelain, 17th-century Spanish silverware, etc, indicate that Khami was a major center of trade, presumably linked (like Mapungubwe and Great Zimbabwe before it) to the Swahili ports on the East Africa coast.

Overnight at Hotel B/B.

Main Destination:

Bulawayo (City, Zimbabwe)

This is a small park, full of our history as it is home to Cecil John Rhodes`` final resting place, offering visitors dramatic and panoramic landscape views and compelling cultural sites. The extraordinary Matobo Hills are full of hidden caves, sacred places, and Bushman paintings. The park has more than 3000 rock art sites dating back from 320-500 AD, and other historical treasures such as 20,000-year-old stone tools and; are home to both, Black and White Rhino. It has one of the highest concentrations of spotted hyenas within the country. Black eagles soar on thermals and are one of the park's flagships. Colorful reptiles-lizards are found, dotting Matopo rock outcrops. Little furry creatures - Rock Hyraxes - can be spotted in many rock crevices or basking atop on outcrops; incredibly they're one of the closest elephant relatives.

You will depart for the park at 07;30 and will be back at the hotel at about 18:00 lunch and refreshments and included.

Main Destination:

Matobo National Park (Zimbabwe)

Soon after breakfast, you depart for the Great Zimbabwe Monument, three-hour drive southeast of Bulawayo. You will be in Masvingo Town, home to this great Zimbabwe, in time for lunch. After check-in and lunch in the hotel, you embark on the tour of the monument.

These ruins are one of the most important and best-preserved archaeological findings in Africa. Great Zimbabwe was built between 1100 and 1200 AD. It consisted of impressive stone buildings spread over an area of 720 ha. The stones seen today are the remains of a large city, which at its peak between the 13th and 15th century, counted 11,000 to 20,000 inhabitants. The population lived in huts, which were built from stone and clay, while the homes of important persons were standing in the walled part of the city. All kinds of studies have shown that this was the work of an African nation, namely Shona speaking farmers.

Dinner and overnight at the Hotel.

Main Destination:

Great Zimbabwe (Ruins, Zimbabwe)

The Eastern Highlands is one of Zimbabwe's breath-taking destinations, scenically, it is truly a marvel and the weather is kind throughout the year. This destination caters to those at peace with nature and who would love to travel placidly, away from the noise and haste of exploited sites.

It comprises of the mountain ranges of Chimanimani, Vumba, and Nyanga. The lush vegetation of both indigenous, exotic, and eucalyptus species. Famed botanical gardens, dotted along its length, will provoke the botanist in you. The scenic panoramic views into Mozambique are magnificent and offer a sense of tranquillity. The parks have numerous trails, plenty of birdlife, and trout-filled streams making it an ideal destination for trekkers and fishers, and a striking landscape with plenty of history.

You will depart great Zimbabwe at 07H30 and you will be at your hotel in Nyanga at around 15H00.

Main Destination:

Nyanga National Park (Zimbabwe)

The day is yours to explore or relax. One may choose to relax in the lounge with a book, and take in the panoramic view, or stroll down to the dam to watch the rainbow trout diving through the waters. Optional activities are available at the resort as well as a full day Nyanga National Park Tour (own account). Here you will experience a village from the Stone Age known as pit huts and a rainbow trout hatchery set in the natural pools of the sparkling river. Scramble down the mountainside to see exceptional views of the local falls.

Main Destination:

Nyanga National Park (Zimbabwe)

This is the last day of our real adventure; we take the dirt road to Rusape via the rural areas en-route to the capital city - Harare. After check-in and lunch at the Harare Holiday Inn (or similar) we visit Mbare Musika/market (optional and own account). This is the country's main market for anything from vegetables, artifacts, used car parts, to second-hand clothing, and is also the main bus terminus to all parts of the country. We may also visit some of the many art galleries around town.

Main Destination:

Harare (City, Zimbabwe)

Accommodation:

Holiday Inn Harare

Depending on flight departure times, you may find time to do some shopping and local tours before transferring to Harare International Airport. Transfer to Harare Airport and time to say our farewells- hopefully to meet again soon.

Main Destination:

Harare International Airport (Airport/Airstrip, Zimbabwe)