15-day Intimate Zimbabwe Lodge Safari

This is a 15-day lodge safari through Zimbabwe.  Explore this Southern African hidden safari treasure!  Dive into lush vegetation and enjoy the incredible kindness of the Zimbabwean people.  A true intimate experience awaits you here in the heart of Africa.  Venture through Zimbabwe's most famous national parks such as, Hwange, Nyanga, Lake Kariba, Mana Pools and Chizarira during the day, and be spoilt by African hospitality at night.

Highlights: Guided Tour of the Victoria Falls, Painted Dogs Centre, Game Viewing in Hwange National Park, Rhodes Grave and Matopos National Park, Visit to Great Zimbabwe Ruins, Wildlife in Nyanga National Park, Harare city tour, Mana Pools, Lake Kariba and Matusadona National Park, Chizarira National Park

Group Size: maximum 10 people
Type of Safari: Lodge safari
Accommodation: Rooms, chalets or permanent en-suite tents.

2010 Price: From USD$2950 per person sharing

Local Payment: USD 195

Includes:  Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary, all transport in fully kitted 4x4 safari vehicle, game drives as mentioned, meals and activities as mentioned in itinerary, park entrance fees, experienced local guide.

Excludes: International flights, taxes, visas, meals not mentioned in the itinerary, all personal expenses, insurance for luggage, tips, drinks, laundry.

Day 1: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
On arrival at Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe you will be met and transferred to Lokuthula Lodges. This afternoon we explore the mighty Victoria Falls on a guided tour.

Days 2 & 3: Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
After breakfast we depart Victoria Falls and make our way to Hwange National Park. The afternoon is spent on a game drive with a visit to the Painted Dogs Centre. Hwange National Park is one of Africa's finest havens for wildlife and is home to vast herds of elephant, buffalo, zebra and has a very large concentration of giraffe. It is also home to many predators and endangered species plus very large and varied birdlife. The whole of the next day is spent exploring this magnificent area. [BLD]

Day 4: Hwange National Park to Matopos, Zimbabwe
We leave the beauty of the Hwange National Park behind us and head to Big Cave Camp in the Matopos area. The Matopos Hills comprise an extraordinary collection of huge bare granite hills with gravity-defying boulders scattered all over the countryside to create a quite unique and rather mysterious landscape. The national park is famous for its outstanding views, San (bushman) painted caves, wildlife (especially the Black Eagle) and as the chosen burial place of Cecil Rhodes who named his favourite spot. We visit the grave of Cecil John Rhodes on our way. [BLD]

Day 5: Matopos to Great Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
After breakfast this morning we drive to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins via Gweru. We visit the ruins, before checking into our accommodation for the evening. The ruins, which are also known as the capital of the Queen of Sheba, according to an age-old legend - are a unique testimony to the Bantu civilization of the Shona between the 11th and 15th centuries. The city, which covers an area of nearly 80 ha, is renowned as an important trading centre from the Middle Ages onwards. [BLD]

Days 6 & 7: Great Zimbabwe to Nyanga National Park, Zimbabwe
We head off to the Nyanga National Park after breakfast. We have this afternoon and the following day to go on game drives in the park. Nyanga National Park is situated in one of the most scenic areas of Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands. Rolling green hills and perennial rivers transverse the 47 000 hectare Park. Wildlife to look out for are Wildebeest, kudu, zebra, waterbuck, impala, sable, eland and smaller mammals can be seen in the Park. [BLD] [BLD]

Day 8: Nyanga National Park to Harare, Zimbabwe
Today we travel to Zimbabwe's capital, Harare. The capital city of Zimbabwe, Harare, is a beautiful, light-filled, open city; high on the country's central plateau. Once we arrive in Harare, we embark on a short orientation city tour. [BLD]

Days 9 & 10: Harare to Mana Pools, Zimbabwe
Leaving the city life of Harare behind us, we continue our journey to one of Zimbabwe's greatest national parks - Mana Pools, where we have this afternoon and the whole of the next day available to search for African wildlife in the park. En-route we stop at Chinoyi Caves for lunch. Mana Pools has the country's biggest concentration of hippo and crocodiles and large dry season mammal populations of elephant and buffalo. This really is as wild a place as you will find in Zimbabwe. [BLD] [BLD]

Days 11 & 12: Mana Pools to Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe
A short drive today (approximately 4 hours) brings us to Lake Kariba. After lunch we take a speedboat trip across the lake to Rhino Camp, which lies on Elephant Point on the lake in the Matusadona National Park, where we spend the next two nights. Kariba is unique and a place of outstanding beauty, a great inland sea, nested in mountains, guarded by enormous reserves of game and made beautiful and savage by sun and storm, as well as by earth and water. [BLD] [BLD]

Day 13: Lake Kariba to Chizarira National Park
After breakfast the speedboat takes us back to the Kariba mainland and our journey continues to Chizarira National Park. Once we have checked in at Chizarira Lodge, we take a drive through the park to see what this unique piece of Zimbabwe has to offer. This large remote area of 192 000 hectares of wild, untouched flora and fauna is endowed with magnificent gorges, plateaus and flood plains, which make this pristine park a spectacular destination for any visitor. Because of its wild and remote nature, the tranquility and rugged beauty of Chizarira National Pak is indeed unequalled. [BLD]

Day 14: Chizarira National Park to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
After breakfast we drive back to where our adventure started - Victoria Falls. There will still be time for optional activities like boat cruises, bungee jumping and elephant back safaris (optional and for own expense). [BL]

Day 15: End of tour
Depending on your departure time, you will be taken to Victoria Falls Airport for your onward flight. We hope to welcome you on one of our adventures again soon.