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Zimbabwe & Botswana: Chobe, Hwange & Lake Kariba

10 days, Victoria Falls to Victoria Falls

Map of the route for Zimbabwe & Botswana: Chobe, Hwange & Lake Kariba
Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Itinerary

Day 1Victoria 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.

Airport Transfer
Victoria Falls International Airport – Victoria Falls15m-30m22km

Sit back and scan the scenery from the comfort of your complimentary arrival transfer.

Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Evening

Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Accommodation

Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (or similar)
Lodge

Meals included:

Dinner

Day 2Victoria 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.

Victoria Falls Tour
Victoria Falls

Head out for an unforgettable experience at Victoria Falls. Explore the rainforest and learn about the geology, history, and local legends of this world wonder. After your immersion, get up close to the falls and discover the beauty of “the smoke that thunders.” Be sure to have your camera ready!

Your Foodie Moment: The Eatery Pot Dinner Experience

Dinner this evening will introduce you to traditional Zimbabwean ingredients and dishes. The meal will be various traditional stews prepared in 'potjie' pots and left to simmer. The food will be enjoyed family style along the Zambezi River.

Your OMG Day: Hike and Adventure Jet Boat Excursion or Historic Bridge Tour

Option 1: Get your adrenaline coursing on an adventure jet boat ride through the Zambezi. Hike down to the boat jetty for pick up, then cruise up the rapids and right under the thundering falls. Feel the power and intensity of the falls as you become covered in their spray. Leave the Boiling Point behind and begin the fast-paced ride through the Batoka Gorge.

Option 2: Travel back 100 years as you learn about the tragic and transfixing history of Victoria Fall's most prominent landmark. Admire this engineering masterpiece, revolutionary for its time and hear about how the bridge was central to Cecil John Rhodes’ vision of a Cape to Cairo railway.

Accommodation

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (or similar)
Lodge

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 3Chobe: 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.

Chobe River Cruise
2h30m

Depart from the safari lodge jetty and launch into the Chobe River for a different perspective of one of Botswana's national parks. Search for the resident wildlife like elephants, crocodiles, and hippos. Sit back, relax, and soak in the unbelievable scenery. Lunch will be had at a floating raft restaurant.

Chobe National Park Safari Drive
Chobe National Park2h30m 100km

Immerse yourself in Chobe National Park in an open-backed, open-seated safari vehicle, and experience the stunning wilderness of the game-rich park in the care of a very knowledgeable and friendly guide. Explore with your eyes as the tour drives along routes that overlook the beautiful Chobe River and keep an eye out for the remarkable variety of animals that are drawn to this permanent water source.

Private Vehicle
Victoria Falls – Chobe National Park2h-2h30m86km

Leave Victoria Falls behind and travel to the border to cross into Botswana. Finish the transfer at the location where the group will board the river cruise through the park.

Accommodation

Chobe Glamping Experience (or similar)
Campground

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 4Hwange 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.

Private Vehicle
Chobe National Park – Hwange National Park4h30m-5h30m385km

Sit back and scan the scenery from the comfort of your private vehicle. Cross the border back into Zimbabwe and stop near Victoria Falls for lunch before continuing on to Hwange National Park.

Elephant Express
Hwange National Park4h30m-5h30m 70km

Enjoy a leisurely ride on the Elephant Express, a unique rail car designed to deliver an unforgettable safari experience in Hwange National Park. The rail car has open sides to enhance the wildlife viewing, and drinks and snacks will be served during the experience. Sit back, relax, snap some photos, and get ready for the safari experience of a lifetime!

Accommodation

Camelthorn Lodge (or similar)
Lodge

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 5Hwange: 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.

Afternoon Wildlife Safari Drive in Hwange National Park
Hwange National Park – Hwange3h

Enjoy a wildlife safari drive in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe's largest park, and home to elephant herds, lions, and the rare African wild dog. Get your cameras ready and keep an eye out for Africa's "big five," as well as other predators, over 300 bird species, and discover a remote portion of Hwange National Park where you will seldom see another vehicle.

Morning Walking Safari in Hwange National Park
Hwange National Park1h

There are many ways to experience a wildlife safari, but doing it on foot is one of the most exciting ways to immerse yourself in your surroundings. Follow an expert guide into the bush in the early morning and keep your eyes peeled for lions, elephants, and buffalo. The golden morning light also offers amazing opportunities for landscape photography.

Accommodation

Camelthorn Lodge (or similar)
Lodge

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 6Hwange: 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.

Hwange Safari Lodge Morning Drive
Hwange National Park – Hwange3h

Join experienced guides in traditional open safari vehicles. On your morning wildlife safari drive you will pause for tea, coffee and biscuits while you enjoy the serene environment. Sit back and scan the scenery of the calm morning in search of wildlife and Africa's Big Five in Zimbabwe's largest wildlife reserve.

Free Time
Hwange Afternoon

Spend a free afternoon enjoying the amenities at the lodge and optional activities in the area. Opt to book a spa treatment to sooth those sore neck muscles from safari drives, or soak in the cool waters of the shipping container and view wildlife. You can also choose to go birding or canoeing in the national park.

The Look Up Hide
Hwange National Park

Climb into a modified steel shipping container that has been sunk deep into the Hwange sands, creating a cool and secure place to watch various wildlife come get a drink in the nearby water source. The closeness to these magnificent creatures provide a big thrill and your spot in the sand allows for ample photo opportunities.

Night Safari Through Hwange National Park
Hwange National Park

Engage all your senses on a night drive through the wildness of Hwange National Park. Your trackers will operate powerful spotlights to seek out some of the less-seen nocturnal creatures. Possible wildlife spotted could include porcupines, genets, springhares, and pennant winged nightjars.

Accommodation

Camelthorn Lodge (or similar)
Lodge

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 7Lake 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.

Private Vehicle
Hwange National Park – Hwange Airport3h155km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Plane
Hwange Airport – Kariba1h

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Lake Kariba Visit
Kariba1h

Hop on a scenic boat ride to your lodge at the Changa Safari Camp. Lake Kariba is 2,150 square miles and about 140 miles long by 20 miles wide. The lake formed after the damming of the Zambezi River. Scan the banks for the numerous species of flora and fauna here and travel to Matusadona National Park on the lake's shores and the destination of your safari camp stay.

Hwange Safari Lodge Morning Drive
Hwange National Park – Hwange3h

Join experienced guides in traditional open safari vehicles. On your morning wildlife safari drive you will pause for tea, coffee and biscuits while you enjoy the serene environment. Sit back and scan the scenery of the calm morning in search of wildlife and Africa's Big Five in Zimbabwe's largest wildlife reserve.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 8Lake 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.

Walking Safari or Game Drive
Kariba4h

Option 1: Start the morning with a safari walk in Matusadona National Park. Track animals on foot with your expert guide and feel the thrill of being part of the landscape these beautiful creatures call home. Search for hippo, crocodile, elephant, buffalo, waterbuck, impala, and kudu.

Option 2: Hop in the open game drive vehicle as the morning light spreads across the landscape. Explore the diverse landscape and discover the area's wildlife along the way with the commentary of your expert guide without breaking a sweat.

Free Time
Kariba Afternoon

Spend the afternoon enjoying the property's amenities and activities on your own. Choose to relax with yoga or the spa. Or try fishing in the lake.

Kariba Sundowner
Kariba

As the day comes to an end toast one of Kariba's amazing sunsets as the light fades from the bush.

Lake Kariba Fishing
Kariba

Kariba is home to plenty of freshwater species including Bream, and Africa's finest fresh water fighting fish, the Tiger Fish. Spend time fishing in the lake's waters and see what you coax to the surface.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 9Victoria 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 an optional helicopter ride over the falls to close out the adventure of a lifetime.

Free Time
Victoria Falls Afternoon

Take advantage of free time in Victoria Falls to partake in the optional helicopter ride over Victoria Falls.

Theatre Performance & Dinner
Victoria Falls1h30m-2h

After dark sit down to watch the lively new production of "Simunye-We are one". Dinner will be served after the engaging performance as an African-themed dinner buffet where you will have the opportunity to interact with the cast.

Plane
Kariba – Victoria Falls1h30m-2h

After a return boat trip to Kariba Town, board a quick flight back to Victoria Falls.

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Optional Activities - Day 9 HideShow

Victoria Falls Helicopter Ride - 15 Mins
Victoria Falls

You don't want to miss the opportunity to see Victoria Falls from above. Watch the Zambezi River make its way toward the gorge and form the largest waterfall in the world. During your 15-minute ride, you will have time to take in the incredible views over the falls, Livingstone Island, and Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park while snapping as many pictures as you like. You may be lucky enough to see some giraffes and elephants in the surrounding landscape and even catch a rainbow over the falls. Includes pick-up and drop-off from hotel and a 12-15min flight.

Please note there is a cost for an additional park fee paid for on-site at time of the activity.

Accommodation

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (or similar)
Lodge

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 10Victoria Falls

Your adventure comes to an end, and you can depart at any time today.

Departure Day

Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Your OMG Stay

Changa Safari Camp

Kariba, Zimbabwe

2 nights (Day 7 - 8)

Changa Safari Camp is a stunning camp on the shore of Lake Kariba at Matusadona National Park. Arrive to the camp by boat, crossing the width of Lake Kariba. Your tent is furnished with a comfortable bed and en suite bathroom. The pool on the property provides a great place to relax after a day of safari.

Why we love this stay

  • Changa makes sustainability a priority by running its entire property on solar power.
  • Changa offers unparalleled access to Matusadona National Park.
  • You and your fellow Geluxe travelers will be the only guests at Changa during your stay, ensuring an intimate and immersive experience.

Zimbabwe & Botswana: Chobe, Hwange & Lake Kariba

| 10 days - Victoria Falls to Victoria Falls - from $7199 USD