Upon your arrival at Victoria Falls International Airport, you will be welcomed and transferred by road to Ilala Lodge, where you will stay for the night.
Perched just minutes from the world-famous Victoria Falls, Ilala Lodge offers a comfortable and welcoming base to experience one of Africa’s most iconic natural wonders. Each room is designed for relaxation, with views over the gardens and in the near distance the mist of the “Smoke that Thunders”, making it the perfect retreat after a day of exploration.
During your stay, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the iconic Victoria Falls as well as a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, two unmissable highlights of the region. Beyond these, you can also explore Victoria Falls town, browsing its charming cafés, bustling markets, and local craft shops. For those seeking even more adventure, optional activities include scenic helicopter or microlight flights over the falls, white-water rafting, bungee jumping, and the Gorge Swing. Wildlife experiences in nearby Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park add another layer to your stay, ensuring there is something for every kind of traveler.
After breakfast, you will transfer to the airport for your light aircraft flight to Robins Airstrip in Hwange National Park. From here, your guide will meet you and transfer you to Nantwich Lodge, your home for the next three nights.
Nantwich Lodge is set in the remote northwest of Hwange National Park. With only a few suites overlooking a busy dam, the lodge offers a quieter, more private safari experience. You’re likely to spot hippo, crocodile, elephants, as well as a variety of antelope and giraffe coming to drink from the comfort of the main deck. The lodge includes a pool with wide views over the plains and an underground hide that gives you a close-up, ground-level perspective of the waterhole—exclusively available at Nantwich.
Your first two days are spent settling in before heading out to explore this region of Hwange—often called “Lion Country”—on guided game drives across the open savannah and surrounding woodlands. Sightings may include elephants, buffalo, lions, and other predators.
On Day 4, your walking safari begins. Setting out early with your private guide, you will explore the surrounding wilderness on foot, learning to read fresh tracks in the sand and understand the subtle signs of wildlife movement. The walk starts in the early morning and lasts approximately four hours, continuing until late morning before you are transferred back to Nantwich on a short drive.
After returning to the lodge, you can enjoy a relaxed lunch followed by a slow afternoon at camp, whether cooling off in the pool or watching the steady movement of wildlife from the deck. You can also sit quietly in the hide for close-up photo opportunities. In the evenings, night drives on the private concession offer a rare chance to see nocturnal wildlife, including hyena, leopard, and smaller species you won’t find during the day. Dinners are served back at the lodge, with the sounds of the bush all around you.
On the following morning, the walk continues eastward through Hwange’s remote northern landscapes, gradually making your way toward the historic Bumbusi region. By midday, as the walk concludes, you will be transferred to Bumbusi Wilderness Camp for the next four nights.
Bumbusi Wilderness Camp is set in a remote part of northern Hwange, surrounded by rocky hills and sandstone outcrops. Its location near a permanent spring makes it a good spot for wildlife, with elephants often seen just below the main deck. With only a few stone-and-thatched chalets, the camp offers a quiet stay away from the busier parts of the park.
From Days 5 to 7, walking continues each morning with your private guide. You will be transferred to the starting point of the walk and continue on foot through Hwange’s remote landscapes, gradually exploring more of the Bumbusi area. Walks usually conclude by midday each day, after which you return to camp for lunch.
The afternoons are spent at your own leisure. You may relax on the deck as wildlife passes by, or enjoy tea from the kettle that’s always on the fire. In the evenings, sundowners in the bush mark the end of the day before returning to camp for dinner and time around the fire under the stars.
On your final day here, you may spend the day exploring the area at leisure, with the option to join additional walks or game drives. Walks may take you along the Deka River, through the dramatic Bumbusi Gorge, or across ancient wildlife paths used by elephants and other animals. You’ll also visit the nearby ruins, the Bumbusi National Monument, and rock etchings, which reflect the long human history of the area, one of the few places in Hwange where wildlife viewing and cultural heritage come together.
After breakfast at Bumbusi Wilderness Camp, you will transfer to Robins Airstrip for your light aircraft flight back to Victoria Falls International Airport, arriving in time for your onward departure.
