7-Day Victoria Falls, Hwange and Mana Pools Safari with Flight of Angels

• On arrival at Victoria Falls Airport, your guide will meet you and transfer you to your selected accommodation. This adventure tour takes you to see Victoria Falls at Livingstone in Zambia, then crosses into beautiful Zimbabwe for a classic Big Five safari in Hwange National Park and a more water-based safari in Mana Pools National Park along the meandering Zambezi River. Your accommodation ranges from one of Livingstone's most luxurious lodges, hotels, and tented camps to two strategically set in prime game-viewing areas. A comprehensive briefing will be held later this evening, but until then, you can leisurely explore Victoria Falls town and take a river cruise along the Zambezi River. Adventurous clients may also wish to arrange an activity such as a helicopter flight over the falls or bungee jumping at an additional cost.
• Zambezi River Sunset Cruise: This afternoon at about 15:30, we set off on a two-hour sunset cruise along the Zambezi River towards Victoria Falls. The laid-back boat cruise takes us downstream as far as Palm Island, from where we can see the spray of the mighty waterfall. Soak up the scenery and watch for wildlife and birds as we enjoy sundowners and snacks, which are included. Hippos, crocodiles, and antelopes are often spotted, along with other animals including elephants, giraffes, buffalos, and even rhinos. All of the Big Five are easily spotted as we leisurely cruise along the Zambezi River. This is the perfect way to end your first day on safari in Africa, easing into holiday mode while watching a beautiful sunset from the water.
• Cultural Boma Dinner: Returning from our lazy sunset boat cruise, we head to The Boma restaurant for a unique African dining experience prepared just for you to taste different Zimbabwean delicacies. Taste various traditional foods and enjoy warm Zimbabwean hospitality under the stars at the Boma amid indigenous trees. It's an evening to delight the senses, filled with new aromas, sights, flavours, and vibrant African rhythms. Tuck into Zimbabwean specialities such as game, potjiekos (meat stew), fish, and vegetarian dishes. The Boma is famous for its warthog fillet, and the adventurous can try ethnic delicacies such as mopane worms, deep-fried kapenta fish, and groundnuts. Amakwezi traditional performers entertain us with lively singing and dancing, and after dinner, a local sangoma (traditional healer) enthrals us with old tales of Zimbabwe. Local customs such as beer tasting and handwashing rituals add special detail to the night, and the mysterious witch doctor adds intrigue to this cultural feast.

The evening ends on a high note with a live drumming session, which you are invited to join.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Hotels, lodges and tented camps (or similar)

Includes: Zambezi River Sunset Cruise and Cultural Boma Dinner.

• After breakfast, day two begins with a 07:30 departure for Chundu, where our half-day canoeing trip begins. Enjoy some game viewing en route to Chundu in Zambezi National Park. The paddle begins after a safety briefing by the professional river guide and canoe riders, followed by a quick practice session on the water. We canoe along the island-dotted channels of the Upper Zambezi River above Victoria Falls for about 15 km. This is a leisurely paddle with a few small rapids. Canoeing experience is not required, as the excursion is not challenging but focuses on taking in the scenery and watching for animals and birds instead. Canoeing along the banks of Zambezi National Park, we may encounter hippos, buffalos, crocodiles, elephants, kudus, impalas, and other animals, as well as over 50 kinds of birds, including martial eagles. After canoeing, we relax on the riverbank and enjoy a picnic lunch with drinks included.
• Victoria Falls Guided Tour: This afternoon, the adventure continues with a guided tour of the natural wonder of Victoria Falls. Our guide first leads us to an ancient majestic baobab tree in the forest to watch and admire the 16 m-thick giant called the Big Tree. Then, we walk through the lush rainforest to Victoria Falls, looking out for bushbuck and other animals.
• Your knowledgeable guide explains the geology of Victoria Falls and shares more details about this massive waterfall as you walk along its entire length. The walk takes you from Livingstone View to the Devil's Cataract and on to the Main Falls before heading to the Rainbow Falls and Danger Point, offering a full range of stunning views.

Includes:

Meal plan: Full board - breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Accommodation: Hotels, lodges and tented camps.

• Helicopter Flight of Angels: Today, we lift off on our thrilling helicopter flight at 08:00 in the morning. This Flight of Angels takes you on a scenic chopper ride over the thundering Victoria Falls waterfall, providing a new perspective on the world's largest waterfall. The 15-minute helicopter flight offers an uninterrupted bird's-eye view of the breathtaking Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River, and the surrounding bush. We fly upstream over Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, where we may see game roaming, and downstream over the impressive Batoka Gorge. This scenic Flight of Angels is conducted in a helicopter designed to offer each passenger the best visibility possible.
• Cultural Village Tour: After our unforgettable helicopter flight, we return to the hotel in Victoria Falls and check out by about 09:30. Then, we visit a local village with a skilled guide, gaining insight into the lives of local Zimbabweans and their rich traditions. We visit Mpisi Village to see how the Matabele people live and learn more about their unique history and customs.
• After our cultural experience, we hop into our comfortable microbus and drive south to Hwange Safari Lodge, located on the border of Hwange National Park. The transfer from the village near Victoria Falls to Hwange takes about two and a half hours, bringing us to the safari lodge at about 13:00. First, we have lunch and relax at the lodge until tea time and our afternoon game drive, departing at about 15:30 for the Hwange sunset game drive. After coffee, tea, and a sweet snack at 15:30, we set off on our two-and-a-half to three-hour sunset game drive. The game drive will be either in the Hwange Conservation Area or in Hwange National Park, in which case entry fees to the national park are not included and are payable at the gate. Game viewing in Hwange is a magical experience.
• We link up with our local guide and transfer south to the famous Hwange National Park. A vast area of wilderness, it gives us a great chance to locate some of this region's incredible wildlife. Our key focus will be the African wild dog, which persists in good numbers throughout Hwange. Hwange is also famed for its high density of elephants and plains game, including giraffe, buffalo, zebra, greater kudu, and much more.
• We search for many wild animals found in the Hwange ecosystem, from lions to giraffes and zebras. We will surely see elephants, as the Hwange area is famous for its abundance of African elephants and hosts one of the largest populations on the continent.
• At the lodge, dinner is served from 19:30, a time to dine, unwind, and enjoy the bush setting. Sit around the campfire under the stars, compare notes with your guide, or have a drink at the bar before retiring.

Meal plan: Full board - breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Accommodation: Hotels, lodges and tented camps (or similar)

Main activities include Flight of the Angels and Cultural Village Tour.

• The day begins with an early wake-up call at 05:30. We start with a continental breakfast of cereal, fruit, toast, juice, coffee, and tea. Breakfast is served in the dining area, where you can watch the bush come to life and possibly spot your first wildlife of the day. By 06:30, we depart for our game drive in the 14,651 km² Hwange National Park, with entry fees payable directly at the park entrance in cash. Hwange National Park is home to massive elephant herds, impressive buffalo herds, and healthy populations of the other Big Five - lion, leopard, and rhino. Keep your eyes open for endangered African wild dogs, as Hwange is one of Africa's significant strongholds for these social canids. All of Zimbabwe's endangered species are represented in Hwange, from sable and roan to wild dog. We may also encounter cheetahs, jackals, brown and spotted hyenas, and various antelopes.
• After our exploration, we return to the safari lodge, where you have time to freshen up, enjoy a hot and cold brunch, and take it easy. Swim in the pool, nap, or read a book in the shade before meeting again for tea, coffee, and a sweet treat.
• At 15:00, we embark on our second game drive, returning to the world-famous Hwange National Park for more wildlife action. We head back to the lodge at about 18:30 and arrive at about 19:30 in time for dinner, enjoying our night under the stars.

Meal plan: Full board - breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Accommodation: Hotels, lodges and tented camps (or similar)

Includes: Full-day game drives in Hwange National Park.

• This morning, we have another wake-up call for a final game drive in Hwange. As well as over 100 species of mammals, Hwange is home to magnificent birdlife. Bird lovers will be impressed by the more than 500 species found here, particularly the vast population of raptors. We return to camp, where a full breakfast is served as we check out from our hotels and lodges before making our way out of magnificent Hwange Game Park and heading to Lake Kariba. Mlibizi is a village on the southern shore of Lake Kariba.
• Mlibizi is situated in Matabeleland North Province in Zimbabwe. It is a popular fishing resort and the terminal of the Kariba Ferries car and passenger ferry. For those taking the waterway route, we make brief stops along scenic Lake Kariba, passing fishing villages and spectacular landscapes. We arrive at Matusadona National Park in time for lunch. This is one of Zimbabwe's less-visited safari parks; however, that is good news for clients because it offers excellent game viewing with few other vehicles around. You will enjoy the superb game watching this afternoon that this area has to offer. We also have choices from game drives, cruises along Lake Kariba, fishing, and hiking. The drive takes around 5 hours, giving us plenty of time to soak in the changing landscape and the increasing lushness of the surroundings as we approach the vast lake.

Main destination: Matusadona National Park (town)

Meal plan: Full board - breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Accommodation: Hotels, lodges and tented camps (or similar)

In or near Matusadona National Park.

• After breakfast, we proceed for the morning game drive, which continues until 09:00, when it is time to exit and depart for Mana Pools. Chitake Springs is our first area to explore, a rare water source in the dry interior of the park.
• This water attracts large herds of buffalo and elephants, which in turn attract predators. In particular, a resident pride of lions often gives excellent viewing, and African wild dogs frequent this area too. This wonderful area is best explored on foot, so this afternoon we approach the springs on our first walking safari, hopefully allowing us great views of some of the big game that thrives within this ecosystem. We split our time over the coming days between Chitake Springs and Nyamepi, enjoying various game drives and walking safaris during our stay in Mana Pools. Our focus will depend on your desires, interests, and preferences among the numerous exciting activities on our to-do list, but we should expect a focus on lion and African wild dog in Chitake, with a higher chance of leopard, cheetahs, other big cats, and large packs of African wild dog in the floodplains near Nyamepi. Nyamepi is a sensational game-viewing area, and visitors should expect to see eland, zebra, hippo, elephant, buffalo, and much more here to explore extensively. The views from the camp are truly incredible, as is the birding. Among the unique wildlife attractions is a small collection of elephant bulls that have learned to feed on the highest branches of trees by standing on their hind legs - an incredible sight.

Main destination: Mana Pools National Park

Accommodation: Hotels, lodges and tented camps (or similar) inside Mana Pools National Park

Meal plan: Full board - all meals included.

Selected drinks included, except spirits and liquor.

• We have another early wake-up call this morning for a final pre-dawn game drive before breakfast. Tea or coffee is served with snacks to wake you up for this brief but extensive game drive as we prepare to exit Mana Pools in the mid-morning hours.
• We depart the park with en route game viewing as we head south to Harare for your homeward flights.

Main destination: Harare (city)

Accommodation: No accommodation (end of tour)

Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch

Except for drinking water, other drinks are not included.