Iconic Zimbabwe Itinerary: Victoria Falls, Hwange, Mana Pools & Lake Kariba

Aerial view of the Victoria Falls at sunrise

What to expect on this itinerary

Zimbabwe's natural legends delight in their diversity. Gushing Victoria Falls, lions chasing wildebeest on the arid savannah, nomadic elephants swimming across rivers, and wilderness celebrated in contrasting national parks. Such diversity demands a privately guided safari, one that celebrates eclectic activities and captures the essence of Zimbabwe's endless appeal. This 11-day safari flies between the country's four famous natural legends, where private guides help to reveal all.

Countries Visited

Zimbabwe

Places Visited

Victoria Falls, Zambezi River, Hwange National Park, Mana Pools National Park, Lake Kariba, Matusadona National Park

Suggested Duration

11 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Victoria Falls – A Natural Legend Welcomes You to Zimbabwe

Tumbling powerfully into the abyss, Victoria Falls captures the essence of nature’s power, a legendary waterfall that impresses all the senses. It roars like thunder, growling continuously as hundreds of tons of water drop over the edge every second. For an introduction to the natural legends of Africa, there’s nowhere quite like Victoria Falls. You’ll be greeted at the airport and transferred to a beautiful lodge along the Zambezi riverfront, where monkeys jump around, and hippos can be seen in the distance. Spend the afternoon at Victoria Falls, exploring two-thirds of its length on the walking trail. You’re likely to get wet, the spray powering up from the canyon, showcasing why the locals call this the smoke that thunders.

What's Included:

Accommodation
Transfer
Tour
Dinner
Day 2

Victoria Falls – Lounging Around the River With Hippos Watching On

Day 3

Hwange National Park – Lions and Wildebeest on the Arid Savannah

Day 4 - 5

Hwange National Park – Exclusive Private Safari

Day 6

Mana Pools National Park – Delightful Safari Scenes

Day 7

Mana Pools National Park – Game Drives and Bush Walks

Day 8

Lake Kariba (Matusadona National Park) – Tranquility Along the Water

Day 9 - 10

Lake Kariba (Matusadona National Park) – Relaxed Safari Around Africa's Riviera

Day 11

Lake Kariba to Harare – Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Explore the wildlife wonder of Zimbabwe with a private guide, with every activity tailored to your interests and mood
  • Settle into the luxury of Zimbabwe's finest accommodation with handpicked lodges and camps in the heart of big-game landscapes
  • Lose count of the big cats you see in Hwange National Park, where an open savannah kindles all the imagination of wild Africa
  • Follow elephant herds on their nomadic journeys through Miombo woodland, then seek out the other hundred or so mammal species that live in Hwange
  • Admire the iconic oasis of Mana Pools National Park, where animals swim across the Zambezi River, and there are many ways to explore
  • Lounge along the shores of Africa's riviera, Lake Kariba, raising your head to spot hippos and giraffe in the water below
  • Uncover the delights of Matusadona National Park, a dense park that raises the heart-rate with intimate big-game encounters
  • Follow the roar and feast your eyes on Victoria Falls, a mile-wide sheet of water that disappears into a canyon on the edge of Zimbabwe
  • All destinations are connected by light aircraft, transferring you from one wilderness to another, maximizing the time on safari

Starting Price

$14,200 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 550 reviews

Carolyn T.
South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe Trip Review: Wildlife, Local Cuisine, 13-Day Trip

Wow, I ran out of superlatives–fantastic, awesome, amazing. Everything was well organized and the recommended accommodations were all top-notch. The guides were so expert in their field. Every activity was well worth the time. Every meal was delicious.

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Anil M.
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Tour Review: 10 Nights

Our first trip to southern Africa was amazing, exceeding all expectations. We saw everything we came to see, and more. The game rides were well structured and safe, the visuals were unbelievable, and taking a side trip to Victoria Falls was a great idea. The accommodations were quite luxurious, despite being considered mid-range. There was always someone there to greet us and guide us at every travel point.

Zicasso's tour operator tailored our itinerary to our wishes and was wonderful to work with. Things couldn’t have gone better.

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Nancy H.
South Africa, Zimbabwe Tour Review: Cape Town, Franschhoek, Wine Tasting, Elephant Experience, River Cruise, Wildlife, Nature, Scenery, 13 Nights

Zicasso's trip planner arranged the most fabulous trip for my family. She knew exactly what I wanted and delivered a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Africa! She always answered my questions promptly. She chose memorable experiences for us, our lodgings were top-notch, and she "kept in touch, behind the scenes," to ensure all elements were going smoothly. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone planning a trip to Africa!

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LESLIE W.
Rwanda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique Trip Review: Gorilla Trek, Bush Camps, 3 Weeks

It was very well planned. Zicasso's travel specialist was responsive and flexible in the planning process and throughout the final details.

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Catherine R.
South Africa, Zimbabwe Vacation Review: Safari, 11 Nights

The trip was amazing. Zicasso's trip expert did an awesome job planning the trip. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and exceeded all of our expectations. The “in-country” travel was seamless. Our accommodations and tours were all top-notch. I can‘t thank her enough for planning this awesome experience.

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bonnie A.
South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe: Safari, 13 Nights

The service before, during, and after our trip was totally "white-glove," and there were extra perks that we were surprised with each day of our trip. Zicasso's travel company listened to our goals and met and exceeded every one. We recommend them in every way and will be using them in the future!

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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