Take the road less trodden with our 13-day, guided trip and explore the major natural and cultural highlights of Zimbabwe. From the massive Victoria Falls that makes a thundering, 108m drop into narrow Batoka Gorge on the Zambezi River to the stunning Great Zimbabwe Ruins, this private, mobile-camping tour will also take you to destinations like Hwange National Park, Matopos, Gonarezhou National Park, and the Eastern Highlands before coming to an end in the capital city of Harare.
Day 01: Victoria Falls
Meet your driver/guide on the first day of this trip and take part in a short briefing before heading for the Victoria Falls. You can explore the town of Victoria Falls if you want to. Enjoy a sundowner cruise on the Zambezi River later in the evening.
Check into your hotel for your overnight stay.
Day 02: Victoria Falls & Hwange National Park
Check out of your hotel after breakfast. We will pick you up from the hotel and drive you to the Victoria Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world. Enjoy a guided tour of the falls on the Zimbabwean side.
Head for Tuskers Campsite or similar near Hwange National Park after the sightseeing tour is over. Check into the camp on arrival and help set up the camp before enjoying your lunch. Next on the itinerary is a game drive.
Return to your camp after the game drive is over in the evening and have your dinner.
Day 03: Hwange National Park: Game drive & free time
Wake up for an early morning game drive followed by brunch in the camp. You have time to relax after you are done with the meal. Optional activities are available for today. Enjoy your dinner around the campfire sharing the day’s experiences before it is time to go to bed.
Day 04: Hwange National Park – Matobo National Park
Help dismantle the camp after breakfast and check out of the camp. Drive to Bulawayo. Help set up the camp on arrival at the campsite in or near Bulawayo. Enjoy a quick lunch. You are free for the rest of the day. Optional activities are available in the afternoon on request. Dinner will be served around the campfire late in the evening.
Day 05: Matobo National Park – Burkes Paradise – camp
Leave your camp after an early morning breakfast and head for Matobo National Park. Here you have the opportunity to see the endangered black rhino and visit the final resting place of Cecil John Rhodes, who died in Muizenberg, Cape Town.
Despite the fact that the Boer War was raging at around the time of Rhodes’ death, his body was sent on an epic railway journey through the war-torn South Africa to Rhodesia to be laid to rest at this spot. Return to the camp late in the afternoon. Enjoy your dinner and settle in your camp for the night.
Day 06: Matobo National Park – Masvingo
Dismantle the camp after an early morning breakfast and prepare for departure. Today, we will head for Masvingo, home to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins. Help set up the camp on arrival, have lunch and then head out to see the famous ruins.
Once Zimbabwe’s capital, the ancient city of Great Zimbabwe is the biggest and most significant stone archaeological complex in sub-Saharan Africa, second only to South Africa’s Mapungwe, and is thought to date back to the 11th century.
Composed entirely of rectangular granite blocks stacked on top of one another without the use of mortar, the walls and towers of the city measure up to 12 metres in places. Great Zimbabwe was designated a Unesco World Heritage site in 1986. You can look forward to wandering through these ancient stone structures and getting immersed in the history of this important heritage site.
Return to your camp later in the evening, enjoy your dinner and go to sleep.
Day 07: Masvingo – Gonarezhou National Park
Dismantle the camp after breakfast and start your journey to Chipinda Pools, located in Gonarezhou National Park. You will arrive in time for lunch at a camp before heading for an afternoon game drive in Gonarezhou National Park.
Gonarezhou, meaning ‘the place of elephants’, is Zimbabwe’s second-largest national park and home to over 10,000 elephants. The park extends across a vast area of floodplains, baobab-dotted scrubland, mopane woodland and pale orange sandstone cliffs.
Here you have the chance to see four of Africa’s big five, including elephants, leopards, lions and buffalos, as well as a variety of other animal and bird species. You will camp in an unfenced campsite for a truly close encounter with the spectacular wildlife at the park. Other highlights include seeing the beautiful Chilojo Cliffs towering over the scenic Runde River Valley and bird watching.
Return to your camp in the evening for your dinner and overnight stay.
Day 08: Gonarezhou National Park: Sunrise game drive
Return to your camp after an early morning game drive and enjoy your brunch. You have some time to rest and relax after that. There is an optional game drive after lunch around Chipinda Pools Camp.
This camp is located high up on the banks of the Runde River and offers views over extensive reed beds frequented by elephants. The riverine fringe provides excellent birding and with some luck one might get to see one of the resident Pel’s fishing owls.
Animals in the vicinity of the camp include groups of nyalas, kudus, impalas and elephants. Chipinda Pools Camp was completed in July 2012 through funding provided by the Frankfurt Zoological Society as part of the Gonarezhou Conservation Project.
Day 09: Gonarezhou National Park – Eastern Highlands
Check out of the camp after breakfast and make your way to Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands. This is the mountainous range in the eastern part of Zimbabwe. Have lunch on arrival at your camp and enjoy some leisure time.
You can also take part in some optional activities if you want to. These activities include visiting the local school and orphanage where donations are welcome. Dinner will take place around the campfire.
Day 10: Explore Eastern Highlands
Leave the camp after breakfast on a scenic drive to Vumba to visit its botanical gardens. The Vumba Botanical Gardens and Reserve were established on a portion of the farm formerly known as Manchester.
The well-wooded park includes landscaped gardens built around perennial streams which form a small lake. A network of footpaths enable you to explore the interior of the reserve that is endowed with indigenous orchids, ferns and strategically positioned flower beds. Birdlife is also abundant here.
Go back to camp for lunch. You are free for the rest of the day.
Day 11: Eastern Highlands – Nyanga National Park
Check out of the camp after breakfast and travel to Nyanga. Help set up the camp on arrival at the campsite close to Nyanga National Park before having your lunch. This national park is home to a multitude of scenic rivers, refreshing streams and breathtaking waterfalls.
The park boasts both Zimbabwe’s highest mountain peak and its highest waterfall. The elevated altitude provides a cool and pleasant climate and fresh mountain air, perfect for rest, relaxation and plenty of outdoor adventures. The mountainous terrain and fresh water sources offer excellent opportunities for fly fishing, sailing, canoeing, swimming and hiking.
You are likely to encounter a variety of fascinating wildlife during your stay here, including kudus, zebras, impalas, sables, and elands. Dinner will be served around the campfire.
The best time to visit Nyanga National Park is from November to April. The weather is at its best in this area between April to September (it hardly ever rains during these months).
Day 12: Nyanga National Park – Harare
Check out of the campsite and continue your journey to Harare after breakfast. You will check in at Bronte Garden Hotel (or similar) on reaching Zimbabwe’s capital city. You have the afternoon free for yourself to explore the city on your own or take part in optional activities.
Harare is the country’s most cosmopolitan destination, dotted with restaurants, bars, shops and markets. Its proud historical and cultural heritage is reflected in several old, well-preserved buildings and informative museums. Many parks and gardens provide a pleasant contrast to the bustling urban sector.
You may visit the Mukuvisi Woodlands, a natural wilderness; or Kopje, a rocky hill located in the southwest of the city. Other highlights include the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences, Chapungu Sculpture Park and the National Botanic Garden of Zimbabwe.
Day 13: Harare departure
Check out of the hotel. Get your airport departure transfer.You will have to reach the airport at least two hours before the flight. Leaving you with good memories of the best that Zimbabwe has to offer.
| City | Night (s) | Hotel / Camp |
| Victoria Falls | 01 | Victoria Falls Hotels |
| Hwange National Park | 02 | Camp |
| Matobo National Park | 02 | Camp |
| Masvingo | 01 | Camp |
| Gonarezhou National Park | 02 | Camp |
| Eastern Highlands | 02 | Camp |
| Nyanga National Park | 01 | Camp |
| Harare | 01 | Meikles Hotel |
– Meeting and assistance by our representative.
– Welcome with fresh flower garlands.
– 12 Nights accommodation
– Daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners.
– Local English-speaking guide
– All transfers, sightseeing, excursions as per the program by private vehicle.
– National Park Entrance Fees
– Light aircraft flight from Victoria Falls to Lake Kariba
– Transport, Parking, Gasoline & Toll ways.
– All present government taxes.
– International Airfare.
– Tips, gratuities, Portage, laundry, telephone calls, table drinks, camera/ video camera charges, or any other expenses of a personal nature.
– Visa fees, personal insurance.
– Any item not specified under cost includes.
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
– Sometimes, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.