Intimate Zimbabwe Lodge Safari

Day 1:  Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
On arrival at Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe you will be met and transferred to Ilala Lodge.  This afternoon we explore the mighty Victoria Falls on a guided tour.

Accommodation: Ilala Lodge or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)

Day 2 & 3:  Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
After breakfast we depart Victoria Falls and make our way to Hwange National Park.  The afternoon is spent on a game drive with a visit to the Painted Dogs Conservation Centre. Hwange National Park is one of Africa's finest havens for wildlife and is home to vast herds of elephant, buffalo, and zebra as well as a very large concentration of giraffe. It is also home to many predators and endangered species plus very large and varied birdlife.  The whole of the next day is spent exploring this magnificent area. [BLD, BLD]

Accommodation: Ivory Lodge or similar (Chalets with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)

Day 4:  Hwange National Park to Matopos, Zimbabwe
We leave the beauty of the Hwange National Park behind us and head to Big Cave Camp in the Matopos area.  The Matopos Hills comprises of an extraordinary collection of huge bare granite hills with gravity-defying boulders scattered all over the countryside to create a unique and rather mysterious landscape. The national park is famous for its outstanding views, San (bushman) painted caves, wildlife (especially the Black Eagle) and as the chosen burial place of Cecil Rhodes who named this his favourite spot.  We visit the grave of Cecil John Rhodes on our way. [BLD]

Accommodation: Camp Amalinda or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, restaurant, bar, & swimming pool)

Day 5:  Matopos to Great Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
This morning we drive to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins via Gweru.  According to an age-old legend the ruins were built to replicate the palace of the Queen of Sheba in Jerusalem, and are a unique testimony to the Bantu civilization of the Shona between the 11th and 15th centuries. They cover an area of 1800 acres and are some of the oldest and largest structures located in Southern Africa. [BLD]

Accommodation: Norma Jeane’s Lake View Resort or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)

Day 6 & 7:  Great Zimbabwe to Nyanga National Park, Zimbabwe        
Today we head off to the Nyanga National Park and have this afternoon and the following day to spot the wildlife of the country on game drives..  Nyanga National Park is situated in one of the most scenic areas of Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands. Rolling green hills and perennial rivers transverse the 47 000 hectare Park.  Wildlife to look out for are Wildebeest, kudu, zebra, waterbuck, impala, sable and eland as well as smaller mammals. [BLD, BLD]

Accommodation: Pine Tree Inn or similar (Rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)

Day 8:  Nyanga National Park to Mbizi Game Park, Zimbabwe
We travel towards Harare to the Bushman Rock Estate, operational since the mid 1900’s it is one of the few estate wineries in the country.  After we have settled in to our rooms, high tea is served on the veranda.  We take a leisurely guided walk through the vineyards to the pontoon, for a sundowner cruise.  Thereafter we get to sample up to 9 of the estates private wines on a tutored wine tasting, followed by 3 course dinner. [BLD]

Accommodation:Bushman Rock or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool and tea garden)

Day 9 & 10:  Mbizi Game Park to Mana Pools, Zimbabwe
An early wake up call, leads us on a walk to the Bushman Rock, where we explore the ancient art adorned caves and granite kopjies.  After breakfast at the lodge we continue our journey to one of Zimbabwe’s greatest national parks – Mana Pools, where we have the afternoon and the whole of the next day available to search for African wildlife in the park on game drives and on canoe excursions.  Mana means ‘four’ in Shona, in reference to the four large permanent pools formed by the meandering Zambezi River.  This World Heritage site has the country's biggest concentration of hippos and crocodiles as well as large populations of elephant and buffalo. En-route we stop at Chinhoyi Caves for lunch.  The caves are composed of limestone and dolomite and are the most extensive cave system in Zimbabwe that is accessible to tourists. [BLD, BLD]

Accommodation: Nyamepi Camp or similar (tents, communal ablutions with hot water)

Day 11 & 12:  Mana Pools to Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe
A short drive today (approximately 4 hours) brings us to Lake Kariba.  After lunch we take a speedboat trip across the lake to Rhino Camp, which lies on Elephant Point in the Matusadona National Park, where we spend the next two nights.  Kariba is a place of outstanding beauty, a great inland sea, nested in mountains, guarded by enormous reserves of game and made beautiful and savage by sun and storm, as well as by earth and water. [BLD, BLD]

Accommodation: Rhino Camp or similar (Chalets with en-suite bathrooms)

Day 13:  Lake Kariba to Chizarira National Park
After breakfast the speedboat takes us back to the Kariba mainland and our journey continues to Chizarira National Park.  Once we have checked in at Chizarira Lodge, we take a drive through the park to see what this unique piece of Zimbabwe has to offer.  This large remote area of 192 000 hectares of wild, untouched flora and fauna is endowed with magnificent gorges, plateaus and flood plains, which make this pristine park a spectacular destination for any visitor. Because of its wild and remote nature, the tranquility and rugged beauty of Chizarira National Pak is indeed unequalled. [BLD]

Accommodation: Chizarira Lodge or similar (Rooms with en-suite bathrooms)

Day 14:  Chizarira National Park to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
After breakfast we drive back to where our adventure started – Victoria Falls.  There will still be time for optional activities like boat cruises, bungee jumping and elephant back safaris (optional and for own expense). [BL]

Accommodation: Amadeus Garden Guesthouse or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)

Day 15:  End of tour
Depending on your departure time, you will be taken to Victoria Falls Airport for your onward flight.  We hope to welcome you on one of our adventures again soon.