Witness the Victoria Falls from Ilala Lodge
You will be met at the airport and be driven to the hotel. Perched virtually on the edge of the Victoria Falls gorge, its relaxing atmosphere is offset by the rumble of 'The Smoke that Thunders' and the spray that rises from them day and night: it's just a 15-minute walk to the cascade. The town is close too, with its markets, shops and restaurants – and hustling vendors. This luxury retreat, with its discreetly elegant decor, thatched colonial buildings and beautiful gardens, is the perfect place to stay to visit the falls or take part in some of the adrenalin-spiking activities on offer.
op Skim the rapids on a raft, kayak on the Zambezi, bungee-jump from the Victoria Falls bridge, swim in the "Devil’s Pool" (a small rock pool right on the edge of the falls) or view the splendour from above in a light aircraft. Prefer less-frantic adventures? Explore the national parks, cruise on the river (lovely at sunset) or take a heritage rail trip. Activities can be arranged at the lodge.
- Main Destination:
- Victoria Falls
- Accommodation:
- Ilala Lodge Hotel
- Meals & Drinks:
Stay at an elegant tented camp in the home of the elephants
Somalisa lies in a private concession in Zimbabwe's biggest national park - Hwange - most famous for its huge population of elephants. The camp is tucked away in a camelthorn acacia island on the edge of an ancient watercourse which draws lots of game to its sweet grazing and thirst-quenching waterholes. The camp was recently rebuilt and now offers an extremely high level of comfort, while remaining true to its original focus: an experience of this great African savanna and its spectacular wildlife.
Game drives are most productive between June and October when the animals congregate around the park's waterholes. During these months you have a good chance of seeing thousands of elephants and buffalo in a single day, as well as lions, zebra, giraffe and much more. You might even glimpse a cheetah or the impressive roan and sable. You can request to sleep out at one of the camp's hides, or at least spend a few hours there during the day, observing the wildlife as you go unnoticed.
- Main Destination:
- Hwange National Park
- Accommodation:
- Somalisa Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Private reserve near to the elephant mecca of Hwange National Park
This fairly simple but warm and well-placed lodge sits adjacent to the southeast portion of Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park and the game-rich Ngomo Plains. During the dry season, Hwange becomes a hub for elephants in the region - large herds can be seen congregating at waterholes throughout the day. The region is also known for its reliable predators, especially lions and wild dogs. Because it's situated on a private reserve, Bomani enjoys considerably more freedom of movement - drives are not restricted to daylight hours and off-roading is possible. And, because of its positioning near a low-traffic area of Hwange, guests can expect to see little in the way of other vehicles even when inside the national park.
The 5000 acres of this private reserve is home to a host of big mammals and loads of birdlife but the best game viewing will be had in the neighbouring Hwange National Park. Thankfully, the park is easily reached through Ngamo Gate, just 1.5 kilometres away.
- Main Destination:
- Hwange National Park
- Accommodation:
- Bomani Tented Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
An exclusive mobile camp overlooking Mana Pools & the Great Zambezi River
The Mana Pools National Park is a World Heritage Site known for its wildlife-rich flood plains and spectacular views of the Zambezi River. Zambezi Expeditions - a luxury mobile camp set up alongside the floodplains of Mana Pools - brings you as close as possible to the magic. This 12-bedded camp takes 'glamping' to new heights and forms the perfect base for an adventurous wilderness retreat.
Zambezi Expeditions specialises in walking safaris through the park and canoeing safaris along the four pools after which the park is named. Some of the local residents you may encounter en-route include eland, elephant, African wild dogs, water buck, big herds of buffalo, kudu, lion and leopard. The river also boasts some of Africa's top Tiger fishing (catch and release), which can be undertaken either from the banks or off an island in the middle of the river. Daily game drives on an open 4x4 Land Cruiser are offered to all guests.
- Main Destination:
- Mana Pools National Park
- Accommodation:
- Mid-range camping
- Meals & Drinks:
End in Harare International Airport
You will be chartered to the airport for your onward journey.
- Main Destination:
- Harare International Airport (Harare)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks: