Big wildlife sightings and bucket-list sights come thick and fast on this 13-day itinerary. After a stylish stay at Victoria Falls, visit Africa’s largest man-made lake and experience the vast elephant herds of Hwange National Park on safari. Unforgettable light aircraft flights offer thrilling vistas of Zimbabwe from above.

Itinerary
9 nights
Safari

£9,425 - £15,675pp including international flights

Itinerary overview

Day 1

Arrival in Victoria Falls

Welcome to Zimbabwe. Upon arrival in Victoria Falls, a local representative will be waiting for y...

Day 2

Victoria Falls

Today you’ll get to see the star attraction, the UNESCO-listed Victoria Falls, where you’ll follo...

Day 3

Victoria Falls

If you’ve an appetite for adventure there’s plenty of fun to be had in and around the Falls. Opti...

Day 4

Victoria Falls & Hwange National Park

This morning, transfer to Victoria Falls Airport for your flight towards the golden plains of Hwa...

Day 5

Hwange National Park

Keep your eyes peeled again this morning, on your second game drive. The park is also home to imp...

Day 6

Hwange National Park

Make the most of your final day in Hwange by heading off on safari or spend the day relaxing in c...

Day 7

Hwange National Park & Lake Kariba

After breakfast, enjoy a memorable light aircraft flight to Lake Kariba. It’s not every day you g...

Day 8

Lake Kariba

Today is all about wildlife spotting. Set off on a guided walking safari, head off on a boat to s...

Day 9

Lake Kariba

Enjoy further safari activities on another full day around the lake. Bumi’s private concession cr...

Day 10

Lake Kariba & Mana Pools

The wildlife-rich Mana Pools National Park is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Game drive...

Day 11

Mana Pools

The wildlife-rich Mana Pools National Park is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Game drive...

Day 12

Mana Pools

Make the most of your final day in this spectacular park. Head out on another game drive or on a ...

Day 13

Mana Pools & Departure

Your trip comes to an end today. After breakfast you’ll transfer to Harare for your return flight...

Day 1

Arrival in Victoria Falls

Welcome to Zimbabwe. Upon arrival in Victoria Falls, a local representative will be waiting for you at the airport. You’ll transfer to your comfortable hotel, just a 10-minute walk from the Falls and certainly within earshot. It’s a short stroll into Victoria Falls town for local markets, crafts shopping, cafés and restaurants. Or relax poolside under a thatched gazebo, enjoy high tea on Stanley’s Terrace or sink a sundowner at Stanley’s Bar. Overnight at the Victoria Falls Hotel.

Ra-Ikane River Cruise

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Step back in time to a more gracious era with an indulgent late-afternoon Zambezi cruise on an elegant vintage-style boat. The three vessels in the Ra-Ikane fleet were inspired by the design of David Livingstone’s expedition craft, the Ma-Robert, and feature plenty of gleaming teak and brass. Carrying just 12 to 16 passengers, along with a captain-guide and a waiter, they’re a wonderfully stylish and intimate venue from which to drink in the beauty of the pristine wilderness. You’ll depart from the jetty 3.5km above the Falls and glide quietly up the Zambezi and then down in a circular route, admiring the scenery while the crew keep you supplied with canapės and your choice of drinks. This stretch of the river is broad and shallow, and the captain will skillfully steer you through narrow channels between islands teeming with game, sharing his knowledge of local history and wildlife. The Ra-Ikanes’ small size allows them to go where the larger boats can’t, so you’re all but certain to have close encounters with hippos, crocodiles and elephants, along with a host of other animals and birds, along the way. The grand finale to the 2-hour trip is a dazzling African sunset, with the changing colours of the vast sky reflected in the lake-still water for as far as the eye can see – a truly breathtaking sight. As darkness begins to fall, you’ll return to the jetty for your return transfer to your local hotel.

Day 2

Victoria Falls

Today you’ll get to see the star attraction, the UNESCO-listed Victoria Falls, where you’ll follow footpaths for jaw-dropping views and a get a good soaking by clouds of spray. Don’t miss the optional ‘Flight of the Angels’ helicopter trip over the Falls. Watching the world’s largest body of water cascading over the edge of a plateau and flying through that legendary mist is an unforgettable experience. Overnight at the Victoria Falls Hotel.

Flight of the Angels helicopter flight over the Falls

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

When David Livingstone first saw Victoria Falls, he called it ‘a sight so wonderful that angels must have gazed down on it in flight’. Nowadays, mere mortals can also enjoy a privileged aerial view of one of the world’s greatest natural wonders on a breathtaking helicopter ride, during which you’ll be able to appreciate not just the magnificent waterfall but the sheer scale of the Upper Zambezi and the landscape through which it flows. For the 12-minute trip, inevitably known as the Flight of Angels, you’ll be collected from your hotel for the 5-minute drive to the helipad site, with the plumes of spray from the Falls providing an impressive backdrop. After a short safety briefing, you’ll climb aboard a 4-seater or 6-seater Bell helicopter and, with a whirr of the rotor blades, lift off into the sky for your first bird’s-eye glimpse of ‘the Smoke that Thunders’. The pilot will fly left-hand and right-hand circuits over the waterfall in both directions, giving passengers the best viewing, filming and photographing opportunities, before turning to head upstream over the vast Upper Zambezi for about 4km. From here, you’ll return to the helipad over the Zambezi National Park, keeping a lookout for wildlife below you. For even more of an indulgence, there’s also a 25-minute Zambezi Spectacular option, which includes a loop over the dramatic Batoka Gorge below the Falls.

Day 3

Victoria Falls

If you’ve an appetite for adventure there’s plenty of fun to be had in and around the Falls. Optional activities range from ziplining and white-water rafting to a dare-devil free-fall gorge swing - how brave are you feeling? This evening you may want to indulge at the hotel’s opulent restaurant, The Livingstone Room. Alternatively, tuck into the African fusion menu at Jungle Junction where alfresco dining comes with a side order of stargazing. Overnight at the Victoria Falls Hotel.

Day 4

Victoria Falls & Hwange National Park

This morning, transfer to Victoria Falls Airport for your flight towards the golden plains of Hwange National Park. On arrival you’ll transfer to your base for the next three nights, a luxury tented lodge pitched in a private concession at the heart of the park. Hwange is a big game heavyweight populated by lions, leopards and buffalo and is known for its impressive elephant population. In the migration season it’s not unusual to see herds numbering 100 or more, roaming the savannah, forest and mopane woods of this former royal hunting ground. You’ll get your first taste of the park as you head off on safari with one of the camp’s passionate guides. Overnight at Somalisa Camp.

Day 5

Hwange National Park

Keep your eyes peeled again this morning, on your second game drive. The park is also home to impala, kudu, zebra, giraffe, antelope, wild dogs and the elusive leopard and cheetah. If you wish, there’s also an opportunity to gain insight into village life and learn a little about behind the scenes conservation during a guided tour of Somalisa Village. You’ll meet and chat with local inhabitants, then enjoy a traditional meal prepared at a homestead. Overnight at Somalisa Camp.

Day 6

Hwange National Park

Make the most of your final day in Hwange by heading off on safari or spend the day relaxing in camp. Here you can still observe game from the camp hides, or watch the elephants, buffalo, lions and other wildlife that flocks to the local waterhole. Overnight at Somalisa Camp.

Day 7

Hwange National Park & Lake Kariba

After breakfast, enjoy a memorable light aircraft flight to Lake Kariba. It’s not every day you get to fly over Africa’s largest man-made lake and get a bird’s-eye view of elephants at the shoreline. This flight across the African bush will be a highlight of your trip. Your base for the next three nights is a luxury lodge with spectacular views over Lake Kariba. Overnight at Bumi Hills Safari Lodge.

Board the ultimate scenic flight from Bumi Hills Safari Lodge

Lake Kariba

Flying across the African bush on a light aircraft is always a fantastic experience, but flying into and out of Lake Kariba is an experience you’ll never forget. Kariba, on Zimbabwe’s northern border, is the world’s largest manmade lake, in terms of volume of water. Seeing it from the air makes you appreciate its vastness – you feel like you’re at the edge of the sea.  Guests book the flight as a way of travelling from A to B and getting between camps but it’s a very special flight. As you cross the countryside on the Bumi to Mana Pools flight, part of the Zambezi river comes into view. You get plenty of time to appreciate the spectacular landscape beneath you while enjoying views of the rugged Matusadona mountain terrain, the islands and the petrified trees. Flying times are dependent on whether a Cessna or Caravan is being used but the flight from Somalisa to Bumi is around 1 hour 15 minutes and from Bumi to Mana is around 1 hour and 20 minutes. Sometimes you get a glimpse of the Kariba dam wall – a must for any engineers – with its magnificent concrete arch. The amount of water that pours over is quite phenomenal. The pilot will give commentary especially if they see wildlife as sometimes you can see elephants grazing at the shoreline.\

Day 8

Lake Kariba

Today is all about wildlife spotting. Set off on a guided walking safari, head off on a boat to spot crocodiles and hippo on the riverbank, or take the opportunity to spot some of the 480 birds in the area with an expert. In between safari activities make the most of your stylish suite and feast your eyes on the expansive views over the ‘inland sea’ in front of you. Overnight at Bumi Hills Safari Lodge.

Day 9

Lake Kariba

Enjoy further safari activities on another full day around the lake. Bumi’s private concession creates plenty of game-viewing opportunities and you may even spot warthogs, porcupine and mongoose wandering around the camp itself. A night game drive is also possible which is particularly good for seeing lions. As always in the bush, don’t forget to look up at those star-studded skies. Overnight at Bumi Hills Safari Lodge.

Day 10

Lake Kariba & Mana Pools

The wildlife-rich Mana Pools National Park is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Game drives, canoeing safaris, birding walks and catch-and-release fishing are all on the agenda over the next two days. Keep your binoculars to hand and prepare for some thrilling sightings of hippos, crocodile, elephants, buffalo and an array of aquatic birds. After a busy day exploring, head back to camp for a relaxing dip in your private plunge pool or further wildlife viewing around the lodge’s waterholes. Overnight at Nyamatusi Camp.

Canoeing and fishing on the great Zambezi

Mana Pools National Park

Canoeing trips normally take place in the afternoon when you’ve got the sun on your back and you’re just flowing down the River Zambezi. Canadian-style canoes made from fibre; two-man seaters or three-man seaters depending on the number of people are used. You can canoe yourself or you can be accompanied.   You may find elephants feeding by the river and sometimes they may cross right in front of you. Keep an eye on the shoreline as lions, waterbucks, impalas and birdlife come to drink in the river. Sundowners are normally set up by the water just when the sun is setting behind the escarpment on the Zambian side. You may hear the hippos honking and elephants from behind you and sometimes you get to hear lions calling. Fishing is best in the mornings. Fishing is on a catch-and-release basis and done from the banks of the river except during the rainy season when you will fish from a boat. You don’t need to be an expert, you'll be taught by your guide. There’s a large number of bream species, tiger fish, barbel, bubblebarb squeaker, chessa, nkupe among a few of the many fish found in the Zambezi.

Day 11

Mana Pools

The wildlife-rich Mana Pools National Park is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Game drives, canoeing safaris, birding walks and catch-and-release fishing are all on the agenda over the next two days. Keep your binoculars to hand and prepare for some thrilling sightings of hippos, crocodile, elephants, buffalo and an array of aquatic birds. After a busy day exploring, head back to camp for a relaxing dip in your private plunge pool or further wildlife viewing around the lodge’s waterholes. Overnight at Nyamatusi Camp.

Canoeing and fishing on the great Zambezi

Mana Pools National Park

Canoeing trips normally take place in the afternoon when you’ve got the sun on your back and you’re just flowing down the River Zambezi. Canadian-style canoes made from fibre; two-man seaters or three-man seaters depending on the number of people are used. You can canoe yourself or you can be accompanied.   You may find elephants feeding by the river and sometimes they may cross right in front of you. Keep an eye on the shoreline as lions, waterbucks, impalas and birdlife come to drink in the river. Sundowners are normally set up by the water just when the sun is setting behind the escarpment on the Zambian side. You may hear the hippos honking and elephants from behind you and sometimes you get to hear lions calling. Fishing is best in the mornings. Fishing is on a catch-and-release basis and done from the banks of the river except during the rainy season when you will fish from a boat. You don’t need to be an expert, you'll be taught by your guide. There’s a large number of bream species, tiger fish, barbel, bubblebarb squeaker, chessa, nkupe among a few of the many fish found in the Zambezi.

Day 12

Mana Pools

Make the most of your final day in this spectacular park. Head out on another game drive or on a guided walking tour for the chance to spot leopard, lion, hyena, cheetah, wild dogs, impala and baboons. Or try a new activity like canoeing and watch hippos wallowing in the shallows. Spend a relaxing evening on the camp’s deck, enjoy a meal around the campfire, and compare wildlife notes with your guides and fellow guests. Overnight at Nyamatusi Camp.

Canoeing and fishing on the great Zambezi

Mana Pools National Park

Canoeing trips normally take place in the afternoon when you’ve got the sun on your back and you’re just flowing down the River Zambezi. Canadian-style canoes made from fibre; two-man seaters or three-man seaters depending on the number of people are used. You can canoe yourself or you can be accompanied.   You may find elephants feeding by the river and sometimes they may cross right in front of you. Keep an eye on the shoreline as lions, waterbucks, impalas and birdlife come to drink in the river. Sundowners are normally set up by the water just when the sun is setting behind the escarpment on the Zambian side. You may hear the hippos honking and elephants from behind you and sometimes you get to hear lions calling. Fishing is best in the mornings. Fishing is on a catch-and-release basis and done from the banks of the river except during the rainy season when you will fish from a boat. You don’t need to be an expert, you'll be taught by your guide. There’s a large number of bream species, tiger fish, barbel, bubblebarb squeaker, chessa, nkupe among a few of the many fish found in the Zambezi.

Day 13

Mana Pools & Departure

Your trip comes to an end today. After breakfast you’ll transfer to Harare for your return flight to the UK or onward travel.

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Guide price information

Low Season

01 Dec - 31 Dec (Green Season)

£9,675

Mid Season

01 Apr - 31 May, 01 Nov - 30 Nov

£9,425pp

High Season

01 Oct - 31 Oct

£12,225pp

Peak Season

01 Jun - 30 Sep

£15,675pp

Guide price information is based on the included flights from London, accommodation, transport and experiences detailed in the itinerary above. Guide prices do not include optional things to do. Call us for up to date prices – the cost of your holiday depends upon the time of year you travel, how long you go for, preferred departure airport, airlines, hotels and things to do. Based on 2 people sharing.