Zimbabwe Family Safari
Days 1, 2 and 3 – Nyamatusi Mahogany, Mana Pools National Park
On your arrival into Harare you will be met and assisted with your onward light aircraft flight to the world-famous Mana Pools National Park, situated on the Zambezi River. From the airstrip in Mana Pools you will be transferred by open safari vehicle to the beautiful Nyamatusi Mahogany Camp, the perfect Family Safari 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. For the kids on safari, guides are highly trained to take them on lighter bush walks in and around the camp learning about the tracks and signs left behind by the animals. For older kids, Mana Pools is an incredible area for walking safaris and getting close to the animals. 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 4, 5 and 6 – Bumi Hills, Lake Kariba
From Mana Pools you get a short flight further along the Zambezi River to the largest man-made lake in the world, Lake Kariba. Lake Kariba stretches over 260 kilometers from the mouth to the dam wall in Kariba Town and is a unique safari destination. Bumi Hills Safari Lodge is situated on top of a hill with magnificent views over the lake and islands below. Here the pace slows, and guests enjoy boating safaris on the lake, fishing, game drives and bush walks. For those looking for a little more pampering there is a spa, stunning pool and gym. The private concession of Bumi Hills offers guests some superb game viewing with large herds of elephants and buffalos taking advantage of the grazing out on the shoreline of the lake. Lion, leopard and cheetah are also resident in the area. One of the highlights of Bumi Hills is the village excursion. Most of the staff at Bumi come from the neighbouring villages, making the excursion even more special as they take pride in showing guests their home, introducing you to their families and friends and showing you, where they grew up. Bumi Hills and their company foundation is doing great work with the local villages, helping elevate wildlife conflict and helping build classrooms for the local schools.
Another highlight is the boat excursion on the lake which is often combined with a fishing trip. Even if you are not a fishing enthusiast, sitting in a quiet bay watching elephants, waterbuck and hippos nearby while you try and catch dinner, is quite a special way to fish.
With the variety of activities, slower paced safari and stunning pool, Bumi Hills Safari Lodge is the perfect destination for a family safari. Staying at Bumi Hills between Mana Pools and Hwange gives you a chance to relax a bit and enjoy the stunning location during your Zimbabwe safari.
Days 7, 8 and 9 – Somalisa Acacia, Hwange National Park
From Bumi Hills Safari Lodge you jump in a light aircraft and make your way across the country to Hwange National Park, renowned as having the largest population of elephants in Africa. Somalisa Acacia is the ideal family safari camp situated in the heart of the Hwange National Park. It has dedicated family safari tents and guides that are excellent with kids.
Hwange National Park is on the very edge of the Kalahari Desert and so is renowned for it 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 dependent elephants and buffalo. Predators in Hwange are plentiful with good lion populations as well as packs of wild dog, leopards and cheetah.
Somalisa Acacia 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, 11 and 12 – Victoria Falls
After the excitement of your family safari 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.
