Zimbabwe - The Path to the Smoke that Thunders

Our VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Harare.

On arrival, we transfer to Pamuzinda, where we stay in a lodge set in wilderness along the banks of the Serui River. Africa tours are all about wildlife experiences - and this afternoon, enjoy the heart-thumping anticipation of our first game drive together. Perhaps we’ll spot a lumbering elephant, an elegant giraffe or hear the distinctive bark of the jackal. This evening, sample the local culture with a traditional barbecue dinner and dance show.

Excursions & visits:
• Game drive (evening)

There is a selection of morning activities available today, including a walking safari, horse riding, canoeing and fishing. This afternoon, we’ve arranged a visit to a school. After, look forward to another game drive, looking for wildlife. We finish at Ayre’s Rock for a tipple as the sun sets, and then a Mongolian braai (barbecue) under the stars.

Excursions & visits:
• Choice of activities (morning)
• Visit to a local school (afternoon)
• Game drive (evening)

We leave our enchanting lodge behind and make tracks for the shores of Lake Kariba, via the Chinhoyi Caves. Sacred spirits are said to watch over ‘The Wonder Hole’, a spectacular cavern with a 150ft vertical drop into a cobalt-blue pool.
Arriving at our next lodge, relax before an evening sundowner on the viewing deck, watching one of the famous Kariba sunsets.

Excursions & visits:
• Visit the Chinhoyi Caves (morning)

Our tour of Kariba includes the massive dam across the Zambezi River, and the beautiful little church of St Barbara. The dam’s assembly was set back several times by floods, said to be the work of an angered mythical creature - Nyami Nyami. Throughout the town, you’ll find art depicting the half-serpent, half-fish spirit.
Spend the afternoon relaxing in your tranquil surroundings, or join us for a guided nature walk in the local forest. We’ll head to the beach at sunset, drinks in hand and toes in the sand.

Excursions & visits:
• Tour of Kariba (morning)
• Guided nature walk (afternoon)

We board our ship and cruise across the lake to Matusadona National Park, one of the last wild sanctuaries of the Zambezi River. We’ll have exciting opportunities to go fishing or cruising in game viewing tender boats, heading along the rivers and inlets looking for wild inhabitants. It’s a great place for spotting lions and elephants.

Excursions & visits:
• Choice of game viewing and fishing activities (afternoon)

After a morning of game viewing in our water wonderland, relax and enjoy the views as we cruise along Lake Kariba. We moor again late afternoon and take another tender boat excursion to hopefully spot some lion and hippos emerging from the water, ready for an evening grazing on the grassy banks.

Excursions & visits:
• Game viewing by tender boat (morning)
• Game viewing by tender boat (afternoon)

Enjoy a morning of game viewing before we cruise to our final mooring spot. We’ll hop into tender boats this afternoon for more wildlife viewing or fishing, followed by a barbecue either on the beach or back on board our boat.

Excursions & visits:
• Game viewing by tender boat (morning)
• Game viewing by tender boat (afternoon)

A short flight will take us to Hwange National Park. The park is home to a diverse roll-call of animals, including lions, elephants and the unusual black sable antelope. We take a safari to see what we can find. Back at our tented camp, we’ll enjoy dinner and a Boma fire, keeping an eye out for the elephants who come here for their evening drink.

Excursions & visits:
• Game drive (afternoon)

We have a full-day safari in Hwange National Park, with a picnic lunch in the bush. With over 100 mammal species roaming through vast areas of forests, semi desert scrub, granite hills and water holes, there’s a lot to see today. Will you tick off all of the Big Five? Will you spot a cheetah chasing its prey?

Excursions & visits:
• Game drive (morning)
• Game drive (afternoon)

We catch a short flight to our final lodge, on the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls. We head into Victoria Falls Town for lunch and time to explore and reconvene later for a Boma dinner.

Excursions & visits:
• Visit Victoria Falls Town (afternoon)

Early this morning, we board the Bamba Tram, an authentically styled 19th-century tram which follows tracks out into the wilderness. We’ll watch the sun rise, whilst enjoying interesting details about the area’s history. We’ll get breathtaking views of the falls from the bridge before heading back to the lodge for breakfast.
Visiting Victoria Falls is a true highlight of holidays in Africa. Every minute, millions of gallons of water plunge over the edge of the world’s largest waterfall. The constant rush of the Zambezi River has carved out a series of precipices stretching over a mile. Later this morning, experience the great roar when we view Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwe side (often considered the best side), and admire Victoria Falls Rainforest, soaked by the Falls’ tremendous spray.
This afternoon we’ll take to the waters of the Zambezi River to enjoy a dinner cruise as the sun sets on our final night in Zimbabwe.

Excursions & visits:
• Sunrise journey on the Bamba Tram (morning)
• Visit Victoria Falls and Victoria Falls Rainforest (morning)
• Dinner cruise on Zambezi River (afternoon)

We travel to the airport for the return flight to the UK.

Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.