ZIMBABWE 9 Days
This itinerary covered Victoria Falls National Park, Hwange and Mana Pools National Park.
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa known for its dramatic landscape and diverse wildlife. It is a country of magnificents, thanks to Victoria Falls (the largest waterfall in the world) and Lake Kariba (the largest man-made lake in terms of volume). The combiation of Hwange and Mana Pools swarming with wildlife, down-to-earth people and gorgeous accommodations making Zimbabwe one of the continent's best places to go on safari.
Before you go:
When planning your safari adventure, Travelwildnow.com highly recommends using a tour operator. They offer exceptional customized itineraries to enhance your experience. It is crucial to select a reputable tour operator who will accompany you throughout your journey and tailor the itinerary according to your preferences.
To find a reliable tour operator, we recommend using trusted sources such as Bradt travel guides and Lonely Planet. They can provide valuable insights and recommendations for choosing the right tour operator for your safari adventure.
Below we have outlined a blueprint for what your safari adventure might entail.
A tourist Visa is required for visiting Zimbabwe. This can be done online or purchased upon arrival.
Before departing check for vaccine recommendations.
Type of travel adaptor used in Zimbabwe: Type D and Type G.
The US dollar is accepted in Zimbabwe. ATMs are not reliable in Zimbabwe so it’s recommended to bring US dollars on the trip.
Travel to Zimbabwe is safe, and it's rare for foreign visitors to be the victims of crime.
Best time to visit: late July to October are by far the best months.
DAY 1
Arrive at Victoria Falls airport, Zimbabwe and transfer to your hotel.
Most hotels in Victoria Falls are within walking distance of the mighty Falls.
Kingdom Hotel and Ilala Lodge are the closest hotels.
If time permits, walk over to Victoria Falls from your hotel for a quick view.
It is a 10-minute walk from town.
There is a easy trail that runs along the Falls. You don’t need a guide.
Overnight: Victoria Falls.
DAY 2
Following breakfast, walk the trail at Victoria Falls with its 16 viewpoints.
At various times of the day, the sunlight will change the appearance of the Falls.
The flat trail can be enjoyed in a 2 to 3-hours’ time frame. Great photo opportunities!
Victoria Falls is on the Zambezi River. The Falls are 1,708 meters wide and 108 meters high.
The Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The others are the Great Barrier Reef, the Grand Canyon, Northern Lights-Aurora Borealis, Paricutin volcano, the Harbor of Rio de Janeiro and Mount Everest.
Adventure activities include bungee jumping and the best white water rafting in the world.
For the brave, Microlight flights of approximately 15-minutes, circle Victoria Falls.
Depart in afternoon from Victoria Falls to Hwange Park.
Transfer by way of 4WD safari to Hwange National Park.
The drive take around four (4) hours because there are frequent stops to take photos of the wildlife on the way.
Make sure a quality dust-free bag always protects your camera. You will be driving on unpaved roads, dust easily gets into your jeep and may damage your camera.
A better & quicker option is to fly from Victoria Falls to your Hwange camp by a small aircraft arranged by your tour operator.<Read more below> The charter flight will take approximately 30 minutes.
Overnight: Hwange National Park (3 nights)
Distance: Victoria Falls —> Hwange camp, 3-4 hrs.
DAY 3 and 4
Explore two (2) full days in Hwange National Park.
Hwange Park is the largest & most popular park in Zimbabwe. It offers excellent wildlife viewing, including the Big Five.
The Belgium-sized park is also home to some 50 000 elephants and is known for regular sightings of cheetah, leopard and lion, as well as one of Africa’s largest populations of the endangered wild dog. Birdwatchers will be impressed with the 500 species recorded here also.
Throughout all the Zimbabwe Parks, games drives are scheduled in the early morning, afternoon, and evening.
One of our favorite tour operators, they specialize in luxury tented camps and offer excellent wildlife and safari experiences in some of Africa’s most untouched areas.
About your accommodations while on safari :
Many visitors ask what is the difference between a tented camp and a lodge? —A lodge has concrete structures, walls made of stone or wood.
—A tented camp consists of large safari tents. Don’t think of the small tents you pitch in your backyard or on a campsite. These safari tents are spacious sleeping-living tents with en-suite bathrooms.
View—a typical 4-star tent.
Getting to your camps:
Hwange camps are almost exclusively accessed by small aircraft, from Victoria Falls, Harare or the other parks within Zimbabwe.
The network of these small aircraft flights is usually dependable but delays do happen at times. Enquire with your tour operator.
The small planes usually have total weight restrictions of 15 kg for luggage and carry-on combined.
Make sure you check with your airline / tour operator. <Learn more>
Favorite Tour Operators:
Where to stay at Hwange Park:
The camp provides guests with breathtaking views of the golden savannah plains of Hwange.
Located in the private Linkwasha Concession – one of the most prolific wildlife areas in the Park.
The camp looks out across a pan with a permanent waterhole that attracts wildlife year-round.
Located on a private concession, the camp is on a open floodplain near mopane & teak forests.
Set beside a waterhole, The camp is a relatively simple facility, with accommodation in just 3 tents.
Hwange’s original intimate bush camp, the camp offers privacy, relaxation, and remoteness.
DAY 5
Depart Hwange to Mana Pools by light aircraft and 4WD.
The flight by small plane to Mana Pools takes about two(2) to three(3) hours, perhaps stopping for other passengers.
Overnight: Mana Pools camps, (3 nights)
DAY 6 and 7
Mana Pools National Park is in the far north of Zimbabwe. Enjoy two (2) full days.
The park is known for wildlife visibility beside the river and in the flood plains. Large populations of elephants, hippos and Nile crocodiles gather at sunrise in the Long Pool. In the park’s south, lions wait for prey around the waterhole at Chitake Spring.
Giraffe & Wildebeest are absent from the park due to the steep escarpment which rises to over 1,000 m from the valley floor.
Mana Pools is blessed with outstanding scenic, riverine beauty and is relatively little visited, when compared with Hwange Nat. Park.
The majority of visitors associate the Zambezi River with Victoria Falls. However, what many people do not realize is that the mighty Zambezi (the fourth largest river in Africa) banks Mana Pool National Park.
Canoe safaris are highly popular adventures due to the abundance of crocodiles and hippos in the famous river. Paddling down the river offers a unique combination of relaxation and excitement. You can enjoy the serene beauty of the channels one moment and suddenly find yourself in close proximity to a hippo the next.
Camp locations at Mana Pools <map>
Mana Pools Camps:
All of the camps are closed for the rainy season. January – March and the whole of December, except for Nyamatusi which remains open during December.
One of the best luxury camps is Ruckomechi Camp on the banks of the Zambezi River.
The camp is positioned on arguably the best wildlife concession in Zimbabwe, managed by Wilderness Safaris.
Other Mana Pool camps to strongly consider fitting your budget:
Mana Pools camps are almost exclusively accessed by small aircraft from Victoria Falls, Harare or the other parks within Zimbabwe.
The network of these small aircraft flights is usually dependable but delays do happen at times. Enquire with your tour operator.
The small planes usually have total weight restrictions of 15 kg for luggage & carry-on combined.
Make sure you check with your airline or tour operator. <Learn more>
DAY 8
After a morning game drive, depart Mana Pools to Victoria Falls by air.
Today's return trip to Victoria Falls takes approximately four (4) hours.
Overnight: Victoria Falls.
DAY 9
End of your safari adventure. Return home or extend your trip to another African destination.
Climate Guide:
The best time to visit Zimbabwe is from June to September.
At this time Victoria Falls is most impressive and wildlife viewing is excellent as animals congregate around the rivers and waterholes.
During this period, the average high temperature is between 70-80 degrees and the average low temperature is 40-50 degrees.
It gets cold at night and in the mornings; warm clothing is needed.
Virtually no rain, clear blue skies and sunshine; there are fewer mosquitoes.
The wet season (Summer) is November to March.
The scenery is greener and short afternoon showers.
Wildlife viewing is more difficult since there is more vegetation and animals no longer rely on waterholes.
The humidity combined with the higher temperatures in the low-lying parks can make it feel uncomfortably hot.
From October to December, the flow of the Zambezi river is at its lowest and Victoria Falls isn't at its best.
Average cost:
(EXCLUDING AIRFARE)
$$$ USD per person:
Budget: $3500
Moderate: $4800
Luxury: $6000 +
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