13-Day Zimbabwe Safari with Victoria Falls, Hwange and Mana Pools

Arrive at Victoria Falls International Airport, where you will be welcomed and transferred by road to Ilala Lodge, your accommodation for the next two nights. Located just minutes from the world-famous Victoria Falls, Ilala Lodge offers a comfortable and welcoming base from which 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 cafes, 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 traveller.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Victoria Falls Airport for your flight to Robins Airstrip. On arrival, your guide will meet you for a short game drive through Hwange National Park as you make your way to Nantwich Lodge, where you will spend the next three nights.

Set overlooking a busy waterhole in a remote corner of Hwange, Nantwich Lodge offers a peaceful and intimate safari setting with only a handful of suites. From the main deck, it is common to see hippos, crocodiles, and elephants gathering at the water's edge. The lodge also features a swimming pool with views across the surrounding plains, as well as an underground hide that provides a unique, ground-level perspective of wildlife visiting the waterhole.

During your stay, guided game drives explore this part of Hwange, often referred to as "Lion Country," where open savannah and woodland attract elephants, buffalo, lions, and other predators. Seasonal bush walks may also be available, allowing you to experience the landscape on foot while learning about the smaller details of the ecosystem from your guide.

Between activities, there is time to relax back at camp. Guests can cool off in the pool, watch wildlife from the deck, or spend quiet moments in the hide waiting for animals to approach the waterhole. In the evenings, night drives within the private concession offer the chance to spot nocturnal species such as hyena, leopards, and other creatures rarely seen during the day. Dinner is served back at the lodge, with the sounds of the surrounding bush completing the experience.

During your stay, guided game drives explore this part of Hwange, often referred to as "Lion Country," where open savannah and woodland attract elephants, buffalo, lions, and other predators. Seasonal bush walks may also be available, allowing you to experience the landscape on foot while learning about the smaller details of the ecosystem from your guide.

Between activities, there is time to relax back at camp. Guests can cool off in the pool, watch wildlife from the deck, or spend quiet moments in the hide waiting for animals to approach the waterhole. In the evenings, night drives within the private concession offer the chance to spot nocturnal species such as hyena, leopards, and other creatures rarely seen during the day. Dinner is served back at the lodge, with the sounds of the surrounding bush completing the experience.

During your stay, guided game drives explore this part of Hwange, often referred to as "Lion Country," where open savannah and woodland attract elephants, buffalo, lions, and other predators. Seasonal bush walks may also be available, allowing you to experience the landscape on foot while learning about the smaller details of the ecosystem from your guide.

Between activities, there is time to relax back at camp. Guests can cool off in the pool, watch wildlife from the deck, or spend quiet moments in the hide waiting for animals to approach the waterhole. In the evenings, night drives within the private concession offer the chance to spot nocturnal species such as hyena, leopards, and other creatures rarely seen during the day. Dinner is served back at the lodge, with the sounds of the surrounding bush completing the experience.

After coffee and a light breakfast, you will set out on a game drive through Hwange National Park as you make your way toward Bumbusi Wilderness Camp, where you will spend the next three nights.

Located in a remote section of northern Hwange, the camp is surrounded by rocky hills and sandstone outcrops that give the landscape a distinctive character. A nearby natural spring attracts wildlife throughout the year, and elephants are often seen moving through the area below the main deck. With only a small number of stone-and-canvas chalets, the camp offers a quiet and secluded stay away from the busier regions of the park.

During your stay, activities combine wildlife viewing with opportunities to learn about the cultural history of the area. Guided game drives and bush walks explore the surrounding terrain, including sections of the Deka River and the dramatic Bumbusi Gorge. Visits to nearby historical sites such as the Bumbusi National Monument and ancient rock engravings provide insight into the long human presence in this part of Hwange.

Life at camp moves at a relaxed pace. You may choose to spend time on the deck watching wildlife pass through the area or enjoy tea prepared over the fire while taking in the surrounding wilderness. Evenings are simple and unhurried, with dinner followed by time around the campfire under the night sky.

During your stay, activities combine wildlife viewing with opportunities to learn about the cultural history of the area. Guided game drives and bush walks explore the surrounding terrain, including sections of the Deka River and the dramatic Bumbusi Gorge. Visits to nearby historical sites such as the Bumbusi National Monument and ancient rock engravings provide insight into the long human presence in this part of Hwange.

Life at camp moves at a relaxed pace. You may choose to spend time on the deck watching wildlife pass through the area or enjoy tea prepared over the fire while taking in the surrounding wilderness. Evenings are simple and unhurried, with dinner followed by time around the campfire under the night sky.

After breakfast, you will transfer back to Robins Airstrip for your flight across Lake Kariba to Ruckomechi Airstrip in Mana Pools. On arrival, your guide will meet you and transfer you to Mhara River Camp, where you will spend the next four nights.

Situated inland from Mana Pools National Park on a private concession along the Chitake River, the camp offers an intimate wilderness setting. A small number of canvas tents are positioned beneath the shade of mature trees, overlooking the riverbed and surrounding cliffs. Wildlife moves freely through the area, with elephants often passing quietly through camp and a variety of birdlife active throughout the day.

During your stay, activities focus on exploring the region both by vehicle and on foot. Game drives follow river loops and dry riverbeds, venturing into the surrounding bush where sightings may include lions, leopards, elephants, and a wide range of bird species. Guided walks provide another way to experience the landscape, whether tracking wildlife through the hills or exploring the rugged scenery of the Chitake Gorge.

Night drives are also possible in this area, offering a chance to encounter nocturnal wildlife and predators rarely seen during the day. Back at camp, the pace slows. Meals are often enjoyed outdoors, and evenings are spent around the fire while the sounds of the surrounding bush settle in for the night.

During your stay, activities focus on exploring the region both by vehicle and on foot. Game drives follow river loops and dry riverbeds, venturing into the surrounding bush where sightings may include lions, leopards, elephants, and a wide range of bird species. Guided walks provide another way to experience the landscape, whether tracking wildlife through the hills or exploring the rugged scenery of the Chitake Gorge.

Night drives are also possible in this area, offering a chance to encounter nocturnal wildlife and predators rarely seen during the day. Back at camp, the pace slows. Meals are often enjoyed outdoors, and evenings are spent around the fire while the sounds of the surrounding bush settle in for the night.

During your stay, activities focus on exploring the region both by vehicle and on foot. Game drives follow river loops and dry riverbeds, venturing into the surrounding bush where sightings may include lions, leopards, elephants, and a wide range of bird species. Guided walks provide another way to experience the landscape, whether tracking wildlife through the hills or exploring the rugged scenery of the Chitake Gorge.

Night drives are also possible in this area, offering a chance to encounter nocturnal wildlife and predators rarely seen during the day. Back at camp, the pace slows. Meals are often enjoyed outdoors, and evenings are spent around the fire while the sounds of the surrounding bush settle in for the night.

After breakfast at Mhara River Camp, you will be transferred by road to Ruckomechi Airstrip, where you will board your flight back to Robert Mugabe International Airport, arriving in time for your departure flight.