SAFARI PACKAGE

Northern Hwange Walking Safari Trail

Package Overview

Price

From USD 5,715 per person sharing

Nights

8 Nights

Where You Will Go

Zimbabwe

Package Overview

This 8-night safari offers a deeper way to experience Hwange, combining time at Victoria Falls with a walking safari through two remote regions of Zimbabwe’s largest national park. It is designed for travelers who want to slow down and connect with the landscape, exploring Hwange step by step while still enjoying the comfort of two distinctive camps.

Your adventure begins at Victoria Falls, where rainforest trails and viewpoints bring you face to face with the power of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. After your stay at Ilala Lodge, a light aircraft flight carries you into Northern Hwange and Nantwich Lodge, set on a private concession in a quieter part of the park. Known as cat country, this region is rich in wildlife, including lion prides, buffalo herds, and plains game.

Here, there is time to rest and settle in before the first walks begin. Mornings are spent moving quietly through the bush, learning to read fresh tracks in the sand, understanding animal behaviour, and experiencing the landscape at a slower pace. Each walk returns to camp around midday, allowing time to relax before afternoon activities.

The walk then continues east toward Bumbusi, an area known for its rugged terrain, hidden water sources, and remarkable history. Walking routes follow natural game paths through riverbeds, forest, and rocky ridges, while ancient ruins and rock etchings offer glimpses into the region’s long human story. Elephants, antelope, and the occasional big cat move through this landscape, encounters that feel especially immersive and raw when experienced on foot.

With private guiding throughout and a rhythm that balances walking, wildlife encounters, and time to simply watch the bush unfold around camp, this itinerary offers a meaningful exploration of Hwange’s wilder side. It’s a safari that invites patience, curiosity, and a true sense of connection with the land.

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Your Route

Northern Hwange Walking Safari Trail

Tour Highlights

  • Visit Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, with rainforest walks and breathtaking viewpoints.
  • Explore Northern Hwange on foot, learning to track wildlife and read the bush alongside experienced private guides.
  • Experience two contrasting sides of Hwange, from deep, historical wilderness to predator-rich grasslands, for a well-rounded safari.
  • Stay at Hideaways Nantwich Lodge, set on a private concession in Hwange’s remote north, known for its strong lion populations and diverse wildlife.
  • Continue to Hideaways Bumbusi Wilderness Camp, where rugged terrain, hidden water sources, and historical landmarks shape the safari experience.
  • Encounter elephants, antelope, and other wildlife around secluded waterholes in one of Hwange’s quieter regions.
  • Track lions and other predators in the sweeping savannas of North-Western Hwange, renowned as “lion country.”

Your Itinerary

Upon your arrival at Victoria Falls International Airport, you will be welcomed and transferred by road to Ilala Lodge, where you will stay for the night.

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.

In the afternoon, you’ll enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, one of Victoria Falls’ signature experiences. As you drift along the river, keep an eye out for hippos, crocodiles and elephants coming down to drink, while enjoying spectacular views as the sun sets over the water.

Beyond the sunset cruise, 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 visit the iconic Victoria Falls on a guided tour, discovering the viewpoints, rainforest and fascinating history behind one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Following your tour, you will transfer to the airport for your light aircraft flight to Robins Airstrip in Hwange National Park. From here, your guide will meet you and transfer you to Nantwich Lodge, your home for the next three nights.

Nantwich Lodge is set in the remote northwest of Hwange National Park. 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, elephants, as well as a variety of antelope and giraffe 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.
Head out on guided game drives to explore this region of Hwange—often called “Lion Country”— across the open savannah and surrounding woodlands. Sightings may include elephants, buffalo, lions, and other predators.
Your walking safari begins. Setting out early with your private guide, you will explore the surrounding wilderness on foot, learning to read fresh tracks in the sand and understand the subtle signs of wildlife movement. The walk starts in the early morning and lasts approximately four hours, continuing until late morning before you are transferred back to Nantwich on a short drive.
After returning to the lodge, you can enjoy a relaxed lunch followed by a slow afternoon at camp, whether cooling off in the pool or watching the steady movement of wildlife from the deck. You can also 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.

In the morning, the walk continues eastward through Hwange’s remote northern landscapes, gradually making your way toward the historic Bumbusi region. By midday, as the walk concludes, you will be transferred to Bumbusi Wilderness Camp for the next four nights.

Bumbusi Wilderness Camp is 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-thatched chalets, the camp offers a quiet stay away from the busier parts of the park.

The walking continues each morning with your private guide. You will be transferred to the starting point of the walk and continue on foot through Hwange’s remote landscapes, gradually exploring more of the Bumbusi area. Walks usually conclude by midday each day, after which you return to camp for lunch.

The afternoons are spent at your own leisure. You may relax on the deck as wildlife passes by, or enjoy tea from the kettle that’s always on the fire. In the evenings, sundowners in the bush mark the end of the day before returning to camp for dinner and time around the fire under the stars.

On your final day here, you may spend the day exploring the area at leisure, with the option to join additional walks or game drives. Walks may take you along the Deka River, through the dramatic Bumbusi Gorge, or across ancient wildlife paths used by elephants and other animals. 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 wildlife viewing and cultural heritage come together.

After breakfast at Bumbusi Wilderness Camp, you will transfer to Robins Airstrip for your light aircraft flight back to Victoria Falls International Airport, arriving in time for your onward departure.

Quick Facts

8 Nights
2 x Shared Light Aircraft Flights

Pricing Overview

From $5 715.00

PER PERSON SHARING

View All Rates

INCLUDES

  • 8 x breakfasts
  • 7 x lunches
  • 7 x dinners
  • Transfers and Activities as specified in the itinerary
  • Selected drinks
  • Services of an English-speaking private guide for the duration of the itinerary
  • Park entrance, river usage fees, and Grow Africa levies, unless specified otherwise

EXCLUDES

  • International & domestic flights
  • Pre & post tour accommodation
  • Optional activities
  • Imported and premium brand drinks
  • Personal expenses such as gratuities, telephone calls, curios, travel insurance, etc.

What's Included?

  • 8 x breakfasts
  • 7 x lunches
  • 7 x dinners
  • Transfers and Activities as specified in the itinerary
  • Selected drinks
  • Services of an English-speaking private guide for the duration of the itinerary
  • Park entrance, river usage fees, and Grow Africa levies, unless specified otherwise
  • International & domestic flights
  • Pre & post tour accommodation
  • Optional activities
  • Imported and premium brand drinks
  • Personal expenses such as gratuities, telephone calls, curios, travel insurance, etc.

Choose Your Season

Discover the best time and rate for your safari adventure.

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01 Jun – 31 Oct 2026

$7,199

per person sharing

(applicable to 6 pax booking)

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01 Nov – 30 Nov 2026

$5,715

per person sharing

(applicable to 6 pax booking)

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01 April – 31 May 2027

01 Nov – 30 Nov 2027

$6,150

per person sharing

(applicable to 6 pax booking)

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01 Jun – 31 Oct 2027

$7,813

per person sharing

(applicable to 6 pax booking)

The above rates are based on 6 guests travelling together.
For groups of 1-5 guests, a supplement will apply.

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Do You Have Questions?

Still looking for the right safari itinerary? We’re here to help. Whether you need advice on our existing tours or want to combine different options into a personalised itinerary, our expert travel planners—like Farenaaz and Julize—are ready to assist. From the moment you get in touch to the day your safari ends, we’ll guide you through every step, making sure the journey suits your interests, timing, and budget. Get in touch with our reservations team and let us help you plan a safari that fits you perfectly.

Still looking for the right safari itinerary? We’re here to help.

Whether you need advice on our existing tours or want to combine different options into a personalised itinerary, our expert travel planners, like Farenaaz and Julize, are ready to assist. 

Enquire here