Best of Zimbabwe

Upon your arrival at Victoria Falls International Airport, you will be welcomed and transferred by road to Ilala Lodge, your accommodation for the next two nights.

Perched just minutes from the world-famous Victoria Falls, Ilala Lodge offers a comfortable and welcoming base to experience one of Africa’s most iconic natural wonders. Each room is designed for relaxation, with views over the gardens and in the near distance the mist of the “Smoke that Thunders”, making it the perfect retreat after a day of exploration.

During your stay, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the iconic Victoria Falls as well as a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, two unmissable highlights of the region. Beyond these, you can also explore Victoria Falls town, browsing its charming cafés, bustling markets, and local craft shops. For those seeking even more adventure, optional activities include scenic helicopter or microlight flights over the falls, white-water rafting, bungee jumping, and the Gorge Swing. Wildlife experiences in nearby Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park add another layer to your stay, ensuring there is something for every kind of traveler.

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Victoria Falls Airport for your flight to Robins Airstrip. Your guide will meet you there for a short game drive through Hwange National Park until you reach your next three-night stay at Nantwich Lodge.

With only a few suites overlooking a busy dam, the lodge offers a quieter, more private safari experience. You’re likely to spot hippo, crocodile, and elephants coming to drink from the comfort of the main deck. The lodge includes a pool with wide views over the plains and an underground hide that gives you a close-up, ground-level perspective of the waterhole—exclusively available at Nantwich.

During your three-day stay, you’ll explore this region of Hwange—often called “Lion Country”—on guided game drives across the open savannah and surrounding woodlands. Sightings may include elephants, buffalo, lion, and other predators. If conditions allow, you can join a seasonal bush walk to track animals on foot and learn about the ecosystem from your guide.

In between activities, there’s time to relax back at camp. You can cool off in the pool, watch animals from the deck, or sit quietly in the hide for close-up photo opportunities. In the evenings, night drives on the private concession offer a rare chance to see nocturnal wildlife, including hyena, leopard, and smaller species you won’t find during the day. Dinners are served back at the lodge, with the sounds of the bush all around you.

After coffee and a light breakfast, you will go on a game drive through Hwange National Park until you reach Bumbusi Wilderness Camp, your wilderness oasis for the next three nights.

Set in a remote part of northern Hwange, surrounded by rocky hills and sandstone outcrops. Its location near a permanent spring makes it a good spot for wildlife, with elephants often seen just below the main deck. With only a few stone-and-canvas chalets, the camp offers a quiet stay away from the busier parts of the park.

Your time here will be spent blending wildlife viewing with cultural history. You will explore the area on game drives and guided bush walks along the Deka River or into the Bumbusi Gorge. You’ll also visit the nearby ruins, the Bumbusi National Monument, and rock etchings, which reflect the long human history of the area, one of the few places in Hwange where you can combine game viewing with historical interest.

Back at camp, the pace is slower. You can spend time on the deck, where elephants often pass by, or enjoy tea from the kettle that’s always on the fire. Evenings are simple and relaxed, with dinner and time around the fire.

After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Robins Airstrip and catch your flight over Lake Kariba to Ruckomechi Airstrip in Mana Pools. Your guide will pick you up and transfer you to your exclusive camp, where you will spend the next four nights, Mhara River Camp.

Located inland of Mana Pools National Park, on a large private concession on the banks of the Chitake River. The camp itself is small and unfenced, with just a few canvas tents scattered beneath trees with views of the riverbed and cliffs. Elephants move quietly between the tents or down to the river below, and birdlife is active throughout the day, creating a peaceful and immersive experience.

During your stay, you will explore the area by vehicle and on foot. Your game drives will take you along river loops, driving on dry riverbeds and into the surrounding bush, with the chance to see lions, leopards, elephants, and a variety of rare birds (like the African Pitta seen seasonally). Guided walks offer a different perspective, whether you’re tracking wildlife into the hills or walking through the Chitake gorge.

This area also allows for night drives, a rare opportunity in Mana Pools, to spot nocturnal species and predators after dark. Back at camp, there’s space to relax. Meals are eaten outdoors, and evenings usually end around the fire, with the sounds of the bush all around.

After breakfast at Mhara River Camp, you will be transferred by road to Ruckomechi Airstrip, where you will board your flight back to Robert Mugabe International Airport, arriving in time for your departure flight.