Itinerary Details
G Adventures: Zimbabwe & Botswana: Chobe, Hwange & Lake Kariba
Day 1: Victoria Falls: A Waterfall Welcome
In most cultures across the globe, waterfalls symbolize peace and serenity. They demonstrate at once power, and tranquility. Waterfalls are nature's reminder that things are in an ever constant state of movement and change. We welcome you to Victoria Falls, and to Africa, and invite you to find your inner waterfall.
Arrive at any time. After meeting fellow travellers during the welcome meeting, tuck into a delicious dinner on the hotel veranda. Now is the time to recharge, refresh and prepare yourself for the adrenaline rushes on the horizon.
Day 2: Victoria Falls: Your OMG Day
Mosi-oa-Tunya -the original name for Victoria Falls, means "the smoke that thunders". You can almost feel the cold mist on your face and the loud cracking noise just from those words. Experience the smoke and thunder from above and below, by foot and by boat, enjoying a perfectly customized experience. Who says your first day of adventure can't be exactly as you imagine it?
First things first. Head straight into a fully guided tour of Victoria Falls. No trip would be complete without it. Then in the afternoon, the choice is yours. Journey through over 100 years of history on an exciting and informative tour of the Bridge over Victoria Falls. A team of guides takes you through the remarkable history of this iconic structure and offers an engaging look into the past, while serving up an extraordinary birds eye view of the falls. Or keep the blood pumping and join an adrenaline-packed jet boat experience.
Day 3: Chobe: A Window to Africa's past
Step back in time to a scene straight from a hundred years ago-a turn of the century explorers camp setup. Sip a gin and tonic around the fire listening to a story of those who explored this very spot before you were alive. Sleep in the bush with the call of lions in the distance and the sound of your breath keeping time.
Like the true adventurer you are, cross the border from Zimbabwe to Botswana, entering Chobe National Park. Float downriver on board a small vessel and spot elephants, crocodile and hippo. Continue the safari on land en route to our exclusive bush camping experience. Your tent is up, the sun is setting, your headlamp is affixed, and the sounds of Africa surround you.
Day 4: Hwange National Park: A Ride on the Elephant Express
The second day of safari begins and the pace of safari life is starting to sink in. Waking at dawn, as the wildlife emerges for the day, is uniquely rewarding in Africa. Traverse back through Botswana, back to Zimbabwe. Your chariot awaits. In this case, your chariot is a converted 22-seat train car, whisking you through Hwange National park as you spot elephants and zebra as you reach your next destination.
Continuing our journey through time, we bid farewell to Botswana and greet Hwange National Park, crossing back into Zimbabwe. After brunch en route, get your first glimpse of Hwange on board nothing other than a purpose-built railroad car. With open air sides, the train car brings us face to snout with the wildlife of Hwange before we have even arrived at our lodge.
Day 5: Hwange: The Circle of Life from the Ground Up
Walking through the bush on foot, you gain an additional perspective on the life circle of life in Africa. From high up in the vehicle, its difficult to notice the small dung beetles, waddling their way through the dirt, their role in the eco-system just as crucial as the lion, the giraffe and the elephant. Begin your morning on a guided safari bushwalk to discover Africa's smaller creatures and then kick your feet up on a safari drive in the afternoon looking out for those not-so-small elephant.
A full day of safari-on foot and by road-is complimented by a delicious lunch served in the open bush. Its a day full of adventure-but we made sure to leave some time for a cheeky dip in the pool.
Day 6: Hwange: An Elephants' Playground
Hwange National Park is most known for its enormous population of elephant. It's hard to overstate how majestic they are to witness in real life. Crawl into an underground hide to view the elephants at ground level as they drink from the watering hole and move about their daily life.
An early morning safari drive awaits before a slower morning to enjoy the hotter part of the day at our lodge. A refreshing trip to the pool should be in order. After viewing the elephants from our unique vantage point this afternoon, a nighttime safari drive allows an opportunity for unique nocturnal wildlife viewing.
Day 7: Lake Kariba: Lakeside Safari
Lake Kariba is the world's largest man made lake by volume-created by the damming of the Zambezi back in 1959. Now, it's home to cormorants, tigerfish, crocodile and hippo. Swimming in the lake is out of the question, unless you fancy a swim with a hippo, but your lakeside lodge offers the unique opportunity to marvel at Africa's water dwelling wildlife.
A final morning safari drive in Hwange offers one final chance to take in the serenity of this magical place. Take a short flight Hwange over to Kariba. The adventure continues aboard a boat bound for your lodge across Lake Kariba on the southern side. Situated on the lakeshore next to Matusadona National Park just, your lodge is one of the only in the area to offer both water and land wildlife experiences.
Day 8: Lake Kariba: Matusadona National Park and Kariba Sundowners
Matusadona National Park is a story of revitalization. Now under a 20 year agreement under African Parks, Matusadona is fast returning to its former glory as a permanent home for elephant and black rhino. Investment into the local communities has encouraged legal fishing practices to be resumed and local communities to again take pride in becoming stewards and partners in the protection of the area in which they live and work.
On a safari walk in Matusadona early in the morning, you'll keep your eyes peeled for elephant, cape buffalo, and impala. The afternoon offers an opportunity to get out onto the lake to traverse through Sanyati Gorge. The gorge affords you views that rival those of the Fjords of Europe or New Zealand, with an abundance of birdlife and even the occasional antelope dwelling nearby. Sundowners back at the lodge are well earned this evening.
Day 9: Victoria Falls: The Curtain Closes
As you return to Victoria Falls, back to where it all began, the evening comes to a close with an exciting performance. Once night falls, be some of the first guests to see the exciting new local production "Simunye-We are one". This fusion of theatre, dance and song is a thrilling and poignant way to bid farewell to your African adventure.
Victoria Falls welcomes you again, for one final day of adventure. A morning flight awaits, and the afternoon is yours to enjoy as you see fit. Before the evening performance, there is ample time to embark on a helicopter ride over the falls to close out the adventure of a lifetime.
Day 10: Victoria Falls
Your adventure comes to an end, and you can depart at any time today.
