12-Day Zimbabwe and Botswana Safari & Heritage Journey

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival in Victoria Falls and transfer to Hwange

On arrival at Victoria Falls International Airport, you will meet your Cuckoo Safaris representative and travel by road to Hwange Safari Lodge. After check-in, the rest of the day is free to settle in and enjoy the lodge surroundings. Please share your flight details in advance so your airport collection can be arranged.

Meals: None
Road transfer: Approximately 2–3 hours, depending on road conditions.

Main Destination:

Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe)

Best Time To Visit July to October (Middle and end of the Dry season)

High Season June to October (Hwange’s main area can become busy)

Best Weather April to September (It hardly ever rains)

Wildlife in Hwange NP

ElephantAbundant

GiraffeCommon

LionCommon

BuffaloCommon

ZebraCommon

WildebeestCommon

Show more

HippoCommon

HyenaCommon

CheetahOccasional

Wild DogOccasional

White RhinoVery Rare

Black RhinoVery Rare

LeopardRare

Activities:

Game drives (Minivan)

Accommodation:

Hwange Safari Lodge

• Mid-range lodge bordering Hwange NP (Zimbabwe) without fences

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Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Full-day safari in Hwange National Park

After breakfast, set out with your guide for a full-day game drive in Hwange National Park. Your route will follow the day’s wildlife activity and may take you through woodland, open plains and areas around the waterholes. Look out for elephants, buffalo, antelope, predators and birdlife. Stop for a packed picnic lunch during the day, then continue your safari before returning to the lodge in the late afternoon, usually around 4:30 pm.

Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch
Activity: Full-day game drive.

Main Destination:

Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe)

Activities:

Game drives (Open-sided 4x4 vehicle)

Accommodation:

Hwange Safari Lodge

• Mid-range lodge bordering Hwange NP (Zimbabwe) without fences

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Morning safari, Victoria Falls and Zambezi sunset cruise

Begin with an early morning game drive, when wildlife is often active in the cooler hours. Return for breakfast, check out and travel to Victoria Falls. After checking in at your lodge, you will be collected at approximately 3:30 pm for a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. Enjoy the river scenery and watch for birds and wildlife along the banks while snacks and local drinks are served on board.

Meals: Breakfast; snacks and local drinks during the cruise
Road transfer: Approximately 2–3 hours, depending on road conditions.

Main Destination:

Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

Activities:

Game drives (Open-sided 4x4 vehicle) & Boat trip

Accommodation:

Pioneers Lodge Victoria Falls

• Mid-range lodge located at Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• All drinks (Premium wines & liquors might be excluded)

Victoria Falls Guided tour

At approximately 8:30 am, depart for a guided walking tour of Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwean side. Your guide will lead you through the rainforest paths to a series of viewpoints, giving you time to take in the different views of the falls. The tour takes approximately three hours. The middle of the day is at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast
Activities: Guided Victoria Falls tour (3 hours).

Main Destination:

Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

Activities:

Game drives (Minivan)

Accommodation:

Pioneers Lodge Victoria Falls

• Mid-range lodge located at Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Cross into Botswana and Afternoon Game drive

After breakfast, depart Victoria Falls at approximately 10:00 am for the road transfer to Kasane. Your team will assist with the border crossing between Zimbabwe and Botswana before taking you to your lodge to check in. Later, enjoy an approximately three-hour game drive in Chobe National Park. The park’s riverfront is especially well known for its elephants, buffalo and varied birdlife.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Travel: Allow approximately 2–3 hours for the transfer and border formalities; crossing times can vary.

Main Destination:

Chobe National Park (Botswana)

Best Time To Visit April to October (Best at the riverfront area)

High Season July to October (The park gets crowded)

Best Weather May to August (Less hot during the day)

Wildlife in Chobe NP

ElephantAbundant

GiraffeCommon

LionCommon

ZebraCommon

WildebeestCommon

HippoAbundant

Show more

BuffaloCommon

HyenaCommon

LeopardOccasional

Wild DogOccasional

CheetahRare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

Activities:

Game drives (Open-sided 4x4 vehicle)

Accommodation:

Chobe Bush Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Chobe NP (Botswana)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Chobe game drive and river cruise

Leave early for a morning game drive in Chobe National Park. Your guide will look for wildlife along the park’s tracks and riverfront before you return to the lodge for breakfast. After some time to relax, board an afternoon cruise on the Chobe River. Viewing the park from the water offers opportunities to see elephants, hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds as the sun begins to set.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Activities: Morning game drive and afternoon river cruise.

Main Destination:

Chobe National Park (Botswana)

Activities:

Game drives (Open-sided 4x4 vehicle) & Boat trip

Accommodation:

Chobe Bush Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Chobe NP (Botswana)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Final Chobe safari and transfer to Elephant Sands

Start at approximately 5:30 am with a final three-hour game drive in Chobe National Park. Return to the lodge for breakfast, then check out and travel south towards Elephant Sands. After arrival, check in and spend time watching the lodge’s surroundings. An afternoon game drive is planned, subject to the activity arrangements and conditions confirmed for your travel date.

Meals: Breakfast
Road transfer: Approximately 3–4 hours.

Main Destination:

Elephant Sands (Botswana)

Activities:

Game drives (Open-sided 4x4 vehicle, Minivan)

Accommodation:

Elephant Sands Lodge

• Mid-range tented camp located at Elephant Sands (Botswana)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Elephant Sands to Matobo Hills Lodge

Depart after an early breakfast for a full travel day across Botswana and into Zimbabwe. The route takes you towards the Plumtree border, through the Bulawayo area and onward to Matobo Hills Lodge. Allow time for immigration, comfort stops and lunch along the way. Arrive at the lodge and enjoy a restful evening among the granite hills.

Meals: Breakfast
Travel: Full-day road transfer; timing depends on road and border conditions.

Main Destination:

Matobo National Park (Zimbabwe)

Best Time To Visit June to October (Middle to end of the Dry season)

High Season July to September (Matobo doesn't get too busy)

Best Weather April to September (Rains are a rarity)

Wildlife in Matobo NP

GiraffeOccasional

White RhinoOccasional

ZebraOccasional

WildebeestOccasional

HippoOccasional

HyenaOccasional

Show more

Black RhinoRare

LeopardRare

ElephantNone

LionNone

CheetahNone

BuffaloNone

Wild DogNone

Activities:

Game drives (Minivan)

Accommodation:

Matobo Hills Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Matobo NP (Zimbabwe)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Full-day exploration of Matobo National Park

Spend the day exploring Matobo National Park with your guide. The park is known for its distinctive balancing granite formations, wildlife and cultural history. Your day can include a guided game drive and visits to selected scenic or historical sites, with the exact route arranged according to access, conditions and your interests. Return to the lodge in the late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast
Activity: Full-day guided Matobo excursion.

Main Destination:

Matobo National Park (Zimbabwe)

Activities:

Game drives (Open-sided 4x4 vehicle)

Accommodation:

Matobo Hills Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Matobo NP (Zimbabwe)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Travel to Masvingo and tour Great Zimbabwe

After breakfast, depart Matobo Hills for Masvingo. Following the road journey and a lunch stop en route, visit the Great Zimbabwe National Monument with a local guide. Explore the stone-built remains, including the Hill Complex and Great Enclosure, and learn about the history of the civilisation associated with the site. Check in at Great Zimbabwe Hotel after the tour.

Meals: Breakfast
Travel: Allow most of the day for the drive and guided site visit.

Main Destination:

Great Zimbabwe (Ruins, Zimbabwe)

Activities:

Game drives (Minivan)

Accommodation:

Great Zimbabwe Hotel

• Mid-range hotelnear Great Zimbabwe (Ruins, Zimbabwe)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Transfer to Harare

Enjoy breakfast before departing for Harare by road. Stop for breaks and lunch along the way, then check in at your Harare hotel on arrival. The remainder of the day is free to rest and reflect on your journey through Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Meals: Breakfast
Road transfer: Approximately 4–5 hours, plus stops.

Main Destination:

Harare (City, Zimbabwe)

Activities:

Game drives (Minivan)

Accommodation:

Bronte Garden Hotel

• Mid-range hotel in Harare (City, Zimbabwe)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Departure from Harare

After breakfast, check out and transfer to Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport for your onward flight. Your airport pick-up time will be arranged once your departure flight details are received.

Meals: Breakfast.

Main Destination:

Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (Harare, Zimbabwe)

Activities:

Game drives (Minivan)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.