$6,454 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start date4x4 Transfer to Mana Pools National Park
Rendezvous at Sunbird Guest House in Harare at 6:00am for your 6:30am departure to Mana Pools National Park in your fully kitted 4x4 vehicle + Trailer. Stop at Lions Den, a small town in central northern Zimbabwe, for brunch (own account) before entering Zimbabwe National Parks Estate. From here, you will drive two hours on dusty dirt roads through the bush to your camp, arriving early in the afternoon. Set up camp alongside the Zambezi River with elephants, buffalos, eland, hyenas, hippos, and monkeys wandering freely through your unfenced campsite. You can take an afternoon game drive in the 4x4 before returning to the camp at sunset. Dine under the stars, and you will see the moonlight reflecting on the Zambezi just meters away. Did we mention we live here because we think Zim is the best country in the world? On your first night at Mana, you will understand why!
N.B. Bring single, compact, soft bag especially for groups of 7-8 guests where packing space is limited.
- Main Destination:
- Mana Pools National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Explore Mana Pools
Wake up to a chorus of birdsong after a night filled with the sounds of hippos, hyenas, and lions. Enjoy a quick cup of coffee before heading out for a guided walk with an armed, experienced ranger. (USD10/hr)
You will walk amongst the fauna and flora of the Mana Pools floodplain, as this is the best way to experience the African bush. As you walk, you will get fully immersed in the environment around you, a different experience from driving in a vehicle. This is what you came for, enjoy it!
Return to camp for brunch and sit next to the river for the rest of the day, watching the world go by. Then, an afternoon game drive in the vehicle followed by an early dinner and an early bedtime will ensure you are well-rested for more fun tomorrow.
- Main Destination:
- Mana Pools National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Explore Mana Pools
You will now be starting to get into the rhythm of bush living alongside the Zambezi River. Bush life rewards early risers who get out there early, and early risers get to see amazing things. You can drive the vehicle to collect your Zimparks Ranger and then drive you out into the bush with a qualified ranger for a morning and afternoon game walk whilst your camp assistant prepares brunch for your return. Afternoon siesta before your afternoon game-drive or walk. Sundowners then dinner will back at camp.
- Main Destination:
- Mana Pools National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Drive to Chitake Springs Camp
Drive to Chitake Campsite. Break camp after breakfast and drive 70km through the bush up to beautiful Chitake Springs, where the river bed couldn't be better laid out for photographing the massive herds of buffalo coming down to drink and the bushes turn into lions in front of your eyes. N.B. We insist all guests abide by the Zimparks Mana/Chitake code of conduct provided.
- Main Destination:
- Chitake Springs (Mana Pools NP)
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Experience Chitake Springs
N.B. no walking at Chitake (due to afore-mentioned tendency of bushes to unexpectedly turn into lions), rather sit quietly in your chair under the fig tree at the spring and wait for animals to come to the water below, or go view the Baobab forest), look for broken pottery shards on the ground, please do not remove these out of respect, they are Shona burial pots. Buffalo herds can arrive to drink at any time at the spring, their arrival heralded by a cloud of dust on the horizon. N.B. Lions are most active at night, do not stray from camp light at night.. Most action will happen early morning or at dusk so get up early and wait at the water till sundown. As the sun sets, if you sit quietly at the fig tree, thousands of sand grouse will whizz in centimeters above your head as they come in to drink from the spring. Within 15 mins they are done and will all be gone and the night will be filled with the sounds of lions roaring.
- Main Destination:
- Chitake Springs (Mana Pools NP)
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
4x4 Transfer to Karoi Working Tobacco Farm
You will break camp and drive back resupply in the town of Karoi, after which you will proceed to a working tobacco farm in the area to your private campsite in the bush overlooking the dam. The friendly farmer will no doubt stop in to meet you and I know for a fact his arm is easily twisted if sundowners are mentioned!
- Main Destination:
- Marongora (Area)
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
4x4 Transfer to Chizarira National Park
This will be a very long drive down a progressively worse road, it will take 10 hours min at 40km/h average speed. You will cross the supremely scenic Sanyati River Bridge and then thee Ume Rriver Bridge through wilderness with elephant dung on teh road interspaced with tribal land overtaking occasional scotch carts and donkeys following the Lake Kariba Shoreline all the way to Chizarira National Park 2/3 of the way up the lake- Zimbabwe's most beautiful National Park. Proceed to camp after a long day and enjoy the view.
- Main Destination:
- Chizarira National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Explore Chizarira National Park
Chizarira is an remote and unexplored National Park. There are plenty of animals in these here hills but they are hard to see due to the terrain. The best way to experience it is on fit, if you are up for it, we can arrange guided access for half-day or full-day hikes down steep elephant paths into the gorges and back up the river-courses for you. Absolutely stunning down there and not many people get to see it. If you are more genteel, you can sit at the Game Viewing platform and see what comes down to drink whist holding one of your own!
- Main Destination:
- Chizarira National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
4x4 Transfer to Sikumi Forest Reserve, Hwange National Park
Depart Chizarira back onto the scenic road to Hwange National Park. You'll experience the wide expanse of Africa along both sides of the winding narrow road with blue skies above. You will renew your optimism about the world and arrive at your campsite in Sikumi Forest Area of Hwange National Park.
- Main Destination:
- Hwange National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Explore Sikumi Forest & Hwange National Park
Morning Drive to the nearby wild dog conservation station, then on to Main Camp with the option of a self-drive game-drive through the Main Camp side of the Park (park entry fees for own account) or Game-walk to be arranged at Main Camp (also for own account).
- Main Destination:
- Hwange National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
4x4 Drive Through the Heart of Hwange National Park
You'll rise up early for a full day's drive from Main Camp side, through the heart of Hwange National Park, to the northwest side of the park. This will be a game-viewing and scenic drive that will take most of the day. You will stop at waterholes along the route for lunch and photo opportunities.
Establish your campsite and you can relax around the pool with the option of using the great restaurant and pub.
- Main Destination:
- Hwange National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Explore Western Hwange National Park
A full day to explore the Western Part of Hwange National Park in the vehicle. With your campsite established, you are free to explore the local area in teh vehicle or spend some time lounging around the pool with nearby Restaurant and Pub on site. There is also the option to join a guided game-drive (own Expense) from camp reception deep inside Hwange NP.
- Main Destination:
- Hwange National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
4x4 transfer to Vic Falls
After a hearty breakfast, our driver will drive you through the beautiful Matetsi Safari Area to Victoria Falls, home to one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World and is Africa's adventure sport capital. Your driver can drop you off at any accommodation within city limits and you will be able to get around town easily as Vic Falls has great infrastructure.
- Main Destination:
- Victoria Falls
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks: