Some trips you plan for ages, others sneak up and surprise you in the best way. This one was a bit of both. From Victoria Falls to the wilds of Hwange, every day brought adventure, laughter, and a few heart-skipping moments (hello, elephants at midnight!). A big shoutout to my travel buddies Philip van Dueren, Shingai Matsanga, Jamie Le Roux, and Marietjie Thomas. You made this journey not just wild but also hilarious and unforgettable.
Victoria Falls (day 1)
After landing in Vic Falls, our cheerful driver Philani whisked us off to Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. After a welcome drink and a quick freshen-up later, we were on the Ra-Ikane Sunset Cruise from Palm River Hotel. The Zambezi came alive with elephants, hippos, crocodiles, bushbuck, impala and a whirl of birdlife. We even caught a glimpse of the spray from the Falls in the distance.
Dinner that night felt like something out of a dream. Just four tables set beneath fairy lights and lanterns, with hippos grunting in the background. I even braved crocodile for the first time (yes, it really does taste like chicken) while an acapella group filled the night with harmonies that gave us all goosebumps.
The next morning, we woke with the sunrise to explore the mighty Victoria Falls before catching a short flight to our next stop, Bumbusi.
Bumbusi Wilderness Camp (days 2&3)
Blessing, our Bumbusi guide, collected us for a game drive on the way to camp, where we spotted zebra, warthogs, roan and impala. After settling in, we enjoyed a delicious lunch and high tea. The highlight? Watching the resident monkeys “argue” with baboons, then teaming up with lodge manager Matt to chase them off. Who knew primates could be so strategic?
Our afternoon drive brought sightings of impala and bat-eared foxes, followed by sundowners with an incredible view and the sounds of the bush all around us. Back at camp, dinner by the fire was cozy and relaxed. Later that night, I was woken by baboon alarm calls, some growling which I thought might have been a leopard, and the soft sound of elephants grazing nearby.
The next morning started with a bang. Almost immediately, we bumped into “Kinky Tail,” a big male lion with his pride. Soon after, three lionesses appeared with two tiny cubs – this was an amazing sighting. Upon arriving at the gorge, Blessing and a park ranger shared fascinating insights about the local wildlife and plants. Our planned walk at the gorge turned unexpectedly adventurous (and long!) when an elephant blocked our path back to the vehicle. We sat there for some time before he finally moved off, and we made it safely back for lunch.
The afternoon was calmer, with impala and bushbuck wandering through camp, including Lucy, the well-known resident bushbuck. Later, we explored the ancient ruins and etchings, enjoyed sundowners on Pride Rock, and ended with a surprise bush dinner under the stars which was one of the trip’s true highlights.
On check-out day, we managed one last game drive with plenty of lion sightings. Back at camp for breakfast, two more lions even strolled right through. It was the perfect ending to our stay at Bumbusi.
Nantwich Lodge (days 4&5)
Blessing drove us to croc pools, where we met Julius, our Nantwich guide. On the way to the lodge, we spotted two lionesses and were greeted with singing and dancing upon arrival. Honestly, who wouldn’t be smiling from ear to ear with a welcome like that? After lunch, we settled in before an afternoon game drive and sundowners. During our game drive, we met a grumpy, trumpeting elephant who chased some impala away followed by a mother elephant who mock charged our vehicle!
The next morning started with sunrise coffee at the pool, followed by a half-day game drive. We were lucky to see two lion sightings, both with buffalo kills. The first, a mating pair with a huge buffalo – the lioness even turned it over herself showing us her incredible strength…The second sighting was a pride of ten lions, including cubs and one male, and they had taken down a baby buffalo.
Back at camp, we enjoyed brunch and a little downtime. Some of us visited the hide and spotted kudu, including a stunning male, along with warthogs, zebra, and impala stopping by for a drink. On the afternoon drive, Julius taught us how to differentiate between male and female buffalo and elephant skulls, he also taught us about tracking elephants, anthills, plants, and even a fascinating local spider. We also witnessed a hilarious territorial showdown between two bird species.
Sundowners on the kopje were full of laughs and funny stories, followed by dinner and charades – a perfect end to the day. We wrapped up our stay at Nantwich with a leisurely sleep-in and breakfast under the acacia tree, spotting some lions nearby.
Camp Mana (days 6&7)
Frank, our Camp Mana guide, greeted us at the airport, and on the way to camp we spotted impala, zebra, waterbuck, buffalo, baboons, hippos, and hyenas. By the time we arrived it was getting dark so we settled into our room and headed out to enjoy our first dinner. The evening was peaceful, filled with distant lion roars and hyena chuckles.
We kicked off the next morning with an early game drive, spotting plenty of birds, impala, waterbuck, and zebra. In the afternoon, we went on a walk to find Boswell, the resident elephant, who delighted us by retrieving branches from the top of a tree for himself and his friends which involved him standing on only his two back legs, how crazy?
Back at the lodge, we relaxed and enjoyed a delicious dinner. Jamie got startlingly close to an elephant named Tusker—almost two feet away! He was calm, but we definitely got a huge fright as you can imagine. LOL!
The following morning started with a quick walk into the flood plains, catching impala basking in the sunrise and a surprise appearance from Boswell. After breakfast, we headed off to meet our new guide, Tor, at Mhara River Camp.
Mhara River Camp (days 8&9)
On the way to Mhara River Camp, we spotted a herd of beautiful buffalo and had a light lunch before settling into our rooms. Philip and I explored the bird hide, spotting a variety of species coming to drink, then relaxed over high tea. Our afternoon game drive ended with sundowners overlooking a waterhole full of elephants and buffalo.
The next morning, I heard alarm calls from monkeys right ouside my room which hinted at a predator nearby. I guessed a leopard and practically ran to the main area, half-laughing half-terrified. Sure enough, a leopard had been spotted in the river bed just minutes before. After some rusks and coffee, Tor and Derrison guided us on a morning walk, teaching us about the bush and even showing us how to make a fire using just sticks.
Later, another elephant mock-charged our vehicle, making my heart leap, but our calm guide got us safely out of the way. After lunch, Philip and I visited the bigger hide further from camp, spotting lilian lovebirds, baboons, and warthogs. Liam, another guide, then walked us back for afternoon tea before a sundowner drive. The day ended in style with a bush dinner in the river bed, a perfect finale to our Mhara adventure. Full and happy, we returned to camp and turned in early, ready for our journey home the next day.
