ZIMBABWE TOUR

INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS!
* Chinhoyi Caves
*Lake Kariba
*Zambezi River Canoeing
*Victoria Falls (VF)
*Hwange National Park (HNP)
*Rhino Walk And The Matopos
*Great Zimbabwe
*Eastern Highlands Nyanga
*Mutarazi Falls Skywalk
*Scenic drive to Harare

On this tour, we kick-start our safari with visits to Imbashiri, Snake Park, and Lion Park, all in the Harare environs. After our drive around, we then head back to our retreat in the mid-afternoon. Tonight, we will enjoy an “at your own expense” dinner in the city.

Today, we are leaving the Sunshine City and heading west towards the town of Chinhoyi, where we will be spending the night. By midday, we expect to arrive and enjoy lunch at our campsite before we set off to explore the Chinhoyi caves and their surroundings.

An early start this morning as we head west towards Lake Kariba. This lake was completed in 1959 and is the largest man-made lake in the world by volume and the second largest by surface area. An inland sea, it seems to the locals and travelers alike, offering splendid tiger fishing, sailing safaris, boating or just enjoying a cruise on one of the many houseboats. This is one of the destinations not to be missed on the journey through this beautiful country. We expect to reach the lakeside town of Kariba by midday to enjoy lunch at one of the vantage points in town which gives us a panoramic view of the lake. Soon afterwards, we will take a short drive to the harbor where we will meet our captain and cruise off to spend one night on a local houseboat on Lake Kariba.

After a night on the lake, we have a leisurely start as our boat captain carefully cruises us back into the harbour in Kariba. Having finished with the lake experience, we now head towards the Kariba-Siyavonga border to cross into neighboring Zambia. The guide will explain in detail how the border formalities work for both countries. To take in the full view of the impressive engineering of the late 50s, we recommend walking the 650m long crest of the bridge from “Zimbabwe to Zambia” while taking maximum opportunities for pictures. After all formalities are completed, we take a scenic drive meandering through this Mopani country parallel to the Zambezi River on the way to our base camp on the banks of the Kafue River in Zambia.

Waking up with the sunrise today, we get ready for the adventure: we gather canoes and all the required gear for the river, and pack them. We have a quick breakfast with our river guides who help us with the final check. Ready to paddle, we first go along the Kafue River and then we get onto the mighty Zambezi; the river which needs no introduction. The Zambezi River borders two countries, with Zambia to the north and Zimbabwe to the south. We paddle for most of the day on these adventurous waters, stopping along the river for breaks and lunch. After lunch, to the right of the river, or the Zimbabwean side, is the famous Mana Pools National Park: an area with abundance of wildlife that can satisfy even the seasoned traveller. And to the left of the river, or the Zambian side is a Game Management Area.

After a good day’s paddle, we reach our campsite, an island on the Zambezi River, to set up camp. Tonight we camp wild among the abundant game that call this place home, and sleep to the sound of the bush fire, the flowing river, the frogs, the hippo, the hyenas, and the rather frequent roar of the lions of Mana Pools reminding us who the King of this jungle is.

WILD CAMPING ON THE RIVER ISLAND

“An early wake-up call was made today to enjoy the sunrise. Once we were ready, we cruised back to the base camp slowly, taking every opportunity to capture pictures of the area and its fauna and flora. Our knowledgeable guides were with us to share insights every step of the way. We expected to arrive at the base camp before lunchtime. Thereafter, those who were interested could take part in an optional walk to the nearby Farao Village (at their own expense). As the day ended, we enjoyed dinner at the camp’s restaurant.”

“On this day, we are leaving the camp to drive through the southern part of Zambia. We will pass by the sugar plantations of Mazabuka and the evergreen farms of Choma as we head towards the city of Livingstone. Later today, we will cross back into Zimbabwe, and arrive at the vibrant resort town and adventure capital of Africa- Victoria Falls. Affectionately known as the Queen of Waterfalls, the Victoria Falls is found on the course of the mighty Zambezi River, situated where the river runs approximately 1800m wide. It is a spectacular sight to see. For the adventurous type, reliable adventure centers located in the town offer a wide variety of activities. Prices and activity timing will be discussed upon arrival. A detailed briefing will also be conducted to help clients plan their activities during their stay in Victoria Falls. Afterward, we will have a traditional dance show that showcases our heritage and culture. Clients can relax, enjoy drinks and dinner while watching the performances in the lodge’s spacious garden. We will spend the next two nights in Victoria Falls with relative comfort.”

Today, we will have a flexible itinerary. The timing for breakfast will depend on the activities that individuals in the group will participate in. A suitable schedule will be arranged with the guide. Lunch and dinner will be at your own expense and should also be arranged with the guide.

“After two days of adrenaline pumping, we hit the road again. From Victoria Falls, we continue our adventure to Hwange National Park, the country’s largest national park. The park is teeming with wildlife and is home to large herds of buffalo and elephants, making it one of the prime game viewing areas in Southern Africa. We’ll be spending two nights in the park where we’ll do nature walks and day and night game drives.”

We spent the day game viewing and learning about African wildlife from our knowledgeable guides. We also took the time to visit a conservation project focused on Painted Dogs that is located in the area.

This morning we will depart from Hwange and head to the second largest city in the country, Bulawayo – also known as “The City of Kings”. Lunch on this day will be at the client’s own expense. After a walk around the town, we will drive a short distance to our campsite, which is hidden amongst the granite boulders of the Matopos National Park.

Today, we spent the day in Matopos. We went for a walk with the rhinos of Matopos, enjoyed a game drive through the park with a local guide who explained the fauna and flora of the area. We also visited the Cecil John Rhodes monument and watched a stunning sunset view amongst the boulders while enjoying the traditional dancers of the area to wind up our marvelous day. All in all, it was a great experience, and it allowed us to view, visit, and understand Matopos National Park in a very interactive way.

“Today, we will drive to the city of Masvingo, considered to be the first stop of the Pioneer Column on their exploration and colonization mission. Masvingo is home to the original Karanga-Rozvi people. Just 30 km outside of town, we will reach our destination: the World Heritage Site of Great Zimbabwe. Located here are dry stone walls like those found nowhere else, along with a lot of history that explains what we know as the country of Zimbabwe today. This place is commonly referred to as the Birthplace of Zimbabwe. We will be accompanied by a local guide/historian from the area, who will shed more light on this once-grand city, its kings, its people as well as its downfall in the mid-1450s. Following our historical tour of this magnificent area, we will spend the night camping on comfortable grounds while discussing what we’ve learned around a fire.”

After visiting this historical monument, we’re now headed to the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, specifically to the Nyanga mountain range. It’s a place where you can easily get lost in thoughts while gazing at the farthest point visible to your eyesight. A cool breeze blows past and brings you back to Earth, making you realize that this is indeed the apex of this beautiful country. During our visit, we’ll be heading to the highest point in Zimbabwe along this mountain range. Lastly, we’ll spend our last two nights in comfort in Nyanga.

We will wake up early and then enjoy a day filled with adventures, visiting numerous locations of interest in the area. Several waterfalls, hikes, and notably the Skywalk at Mutarazi Falls are activities that should not be missed. After our adventures today, we will return to our retreat in the late afternoon. A traditional braai will be prepared for dinner as we wind down and celebrate a successful tour.

After a delicious breakfast, we pack up and start the easy drive down the hills and valleys, heading back to the Sunshine City. We will be having lunch at our own expense on the way back to Harare. The tour is expected to arrive in Harare in the late afternoon.

**END OF TOUR**