Zimbabwe Adventure Safari
Days 1, 2 and 3 – Chilo Camp, Gonarezhou National Park
From Johannesburg you get a flight north to Buffalo Range in Zimbabwe where you are met and transferred to Gonarezhou National Park. Gonarezhou National Park is the far south of Zimbabwe and is seemingly untouched by tourism, therefore offers an incredible wilderness experience. Chilo Gorge Tented Camp is one of few lodges in the area situated overlooking the Runde River. Guides from Chilo Gorge Tented Camp take guests into the park on the morning, afternoon and sometimes full day game drives. One of the highlights of Gonarezhou is a visit to the stunning Chilojo Cliffs. The national park has a wide range of habitats ranging from wetlands, to grasslands to forests and because of this there is a wide variety of animals in the area. Because of lower tourist numbers, the animals are slightly shyer and so you have to work a little harder to find them when compared to the busier national parks in Africa. The park is home to lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, elephants, buffalo and plenty other animals.
Days 4, 5 and 6 – Mana Pools National Park
From Gonarezhou National Park you continue north to Mana Pools National Park, via Harare. From the airstrip in Mana Pools you will be transferred by open safari vehicle to the rustic Zambezi Expeditions Camp, the perfect adventure style camp in the heart of the Mana Pools National Park. Mana Pools is famous for its beautiful scenery of forested floodplains, the mighty Zambezi River and the stunning Zambezi Escarpment on the Zambian side of the river. Safaris in Mana Pools include morning and afternoon game drives, walking safaris and canoeing safaris. The area is famous for having very relaxed lions, wild dogs and large bull elephants that allow guests to get up close to them whilst on a walking safari.
Days 7, 8 and 9 – Hwange National Park
Hwange National Park is on the very edge of the Kalahari Desert and so is renowned for its mixed habitats ranging from open grasslands, acacia forests, teak forests and ancient sand dunes. This mixed habitat means there is a variety of animals that can be seen, including desert adapted oryx, steenbok and eland as well as water dependant elephants and buffalo. Predators in Hwange are plentiful with good lion populations as well as packs of wild dog, leopards and cheetah.
Somalisa Expeditions offers guests one of the best wildlife experiences in Africa. They have a famous elephant pool right in front of the camp. Daily, herds of elephants come down to drink the fresh water from the pool before going and throwing mud over themselves at the nearby waterhole. The elephant pools allow guests the opportunity to safely get close to these incredible animals as they drink only meters away from you.
Activities from Somalisa include morning and afternoon game drives as well as walking safaris. The guides and hosts are great with kids and will tailor activities around them, to ensure they are getting the most from your family safari experience.
With the variety of landscapes, wildlife and activities between Mana Pools, Lake Kariba and Hwange, this is the perfect Family Safari Experience through Zimbabwe.
Days 10 and 11 – Victoria Falls
After the excitement of your safaris in Zimbabwe, head to one of the Natural Wonders of the World, the mighty Victoria Falls. There is so much to do in Victoria Falls that can be tailored to suit everyone. Whether you are looking for a heart pumping bungee jump, gorge swing or white-water rafting or looking for something a little more relaxing like an afternoon sunset cruise on the upper Zambezi, we can design your itinerary around your interests and needs. One thing we highly recommend is the scenic helicopter flight over the falls. Our top tip for visiting the falls, is to go as early as possible to avoid the crowds and heat, but it also offers the best light for photographs. The sun rises over Zambia, so it is possible to take photos with a beautiful pink hue in the sky.
