12 Nights Best of Zimbabwe
Day 1: Welcome to Zimbabwe – you will be met at the airport, and transferred by road to the Gorges Lodge, the road transfer will only take 30 minutes.
Day 1 – 3: Welcome to Zimbabwe
Gorges Lodge is a mere 30-minute drive from Victoria Falls town and offers a unique Victoria Falls experience from a peaceful and idyllic base on the edge of the Batoka Gorge – a perfect choice for your Victoria Falls safari adventure!
At Gorges you can relax away from the hustle and bustle of Victoria Falls town – the peaceful guest accommodation is nestled in a landscaped garden that makes walking to your room a joy, and the staff are renowned for their warm hospitality.
Gorges is famous for its spectacular views, described by some as the best in southern Africa; whether you are enjoying a cup of coffee at sunrise on your private veranda or a cool refreshment by the pool at sunset, you will be constantly drawn to the stunning vistas provided by the Batoka Gorge and the rushing waters of the Zambezi River below.
Activities on offer are:
- Guided tour of Victoria Falls
- Sundowner Cruise on the Zambezi River
- Guided tour of the craft village
- Visit to the local village
- School tour (not available in the school holidays)
- Evening traditional dancing show
- Gorge-edge walk with snacks.
- Black eagle viewing with sundowners and snacks
Day 3 -9: Safari in Hwange
On day 3, you will be transferred to Dete Siding, this road transfer will take approximately 2 hours, you will meet the famous Elephant Express this train journey will take you to Ngamo Siding near Bomani and this transfer takes a further 2 hours. The railway line borders Hwange National Park and game is often seen during the journey. It was the longest stretch of perfectly straight rail line in the world – 120 kms – when it was built in the early 1900’s. The northern section runs through magnificent indigenous hardwood forest, while the south crosses the Ngamo Plains and ancient palm forests. The rail car seats 22 passengers and has a chemical toilet. Scheduled departure from Dete Railway Station to Ngamo Siding is at 14h00 and scheduled departure on return from Ngamo siding is at 11h00.
You will stay at Bomani Lodge where you do not have rigid schedules and timetables. Instead Bomani prefers to tailor your time around you – it’s your safari after all! Choose to be woken with coffee in bed, before joining your guide on a sunrise game drive inside the Park or, opt for a relaxing lie-in before visiting the nearby village and school for insight into the daily lives of the local people.
If you are looking for an exciting safari destination – in a remote and exclusive area – with great game viewing all year round, and one that actually makes a difference to the local communities and wildlife, then you need look no further than Bomani.
After breakfast on day 6 you will depart Bomani and travel by road to Nehimba Lodge in the Northern part of Hwange National Park, this transfer is treated as a game drive and can take anything from between 3 to 5 hours depending on what you see.
Deep inside a private concession, nestled inside the remote northern region of Hwange National Park, hides Nehimba Lodge. By combining luxury living with ultimate elegance and lashings of African charm, this Lodge is designed to create the most exceptional safari experiences. The main guest area and 9 spacious guest accommodations are thatched tents built on teak decks, overlooking the magnificent lodge pan – a favoured spot frequented by a variety of wildlife and large numbers of elephants, particularly in the dry season.
Nehimba sits firmly on the edge of the mopane woodlands associated with the north of the park and the kalahari sandveld of the south and west. All the diversity of Hwange’s fauna and flora is within easy reach. No two days are the same at Nehimba and game viewing experiences are tailor-made to our guest’s preferences, including game drives, walking safaris and night game drives on the private concession in search of nocturnal species of wildlife. Whether you choose to track a herd of elephant on foot with your highly trained guide at dawn or spend the afternoon relaxing overlooking the waterhole on the deck by the pool, this wild and unspoilt bush paradise will guarantee you leave with memories to last a lifetime!
Day 9 – 12: Zambezi National Park
After breakfast, today you will be transferred to Giraffe Springs airstrip, this is only a 20-minute drive from camp. On arrival, you will board your light aircraft and fly to Victoria Falls airport where a representative from Zambezi Sands will be waiting for you. The road transfer from Victoria Falls airport to Zambezi Sands will take 1 hour and half of the transfer is done as a game drive in the Zambezi National Park.
Zambezi Sands offers a wealth of picturesque game viewing opportunities – whether you chose to drive or walk – our experienced guides take great pleasure in introducing you to the camp’s pristine and tranquil surroundings. You can even explore the Zambezi River by inflatable canoe or motorised boat.
However, relaxing in your private deck splash pool – whilst overlooking the Zambezi – is perhaps just as enjoyable. Elephant can be found loitering on the mainland or in the river, while hippo, waterbuck and bushbuck frequent the reed banks and islands. Lions can be heard calling at night and the birdlife is prolific – African finfoot, African skimmer, pratincoles and Pel’s fishing owl all occur here.
Day 12: Farewell to Zimbabwe – on day 12 you will be transferred back to Victoria Falls International Airport to make your flight home.
