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Luxury Zimbabwe Safari Visiting, Victoria Falls, Hwange and Mana Pools

This carefully designed journey moves through four of Zimbabwe’s most iconic regions, from the banks of the Zambezi River and the power of Victoria Falls, known locally as “The Smoke That Thunders,” to the wildlife-rich plains of Hwange National Park, the shores of Lake Kariba, and the remote floodplains of Mana Pools National Park.

Designed for travelers who want more than a traditional safari, this itinerary combines classic game viewing with immersive experiences on foot and by water. Expect excellent wildlife encounters, a sense of true wilderness, and the opportunity to see conservation at work across some of Zimbabwe’s most important protected areas. Seamless light aircraft transfers connect each destination, allowing you to travel efficiently while taking in the country’s dramatic landscapes from above.

Ideal for first-time visitors to Zimbabwe as well as well-travelled safari guests seeking a more authentic, less commercial experience, this journey suits couples, families with older children, and small groups of friends who enjoy being active. A mix of game drives, walking safaris, and water-based activities is balanced with comfortable camps, allowing for both adventure and time to relax.

What Makes This Trip Extraordinary

  • A diverse safari circuit across four of Zimbabwe’s most iconic regions
  • Low visitor numbers for a more private and uncrowded experience
  • Exceptional guiding, with some of Africa’s most highly trained safari guides
  • A mix of land and water-based activities, including walking and canoe safaris
  • Access to remote and under-the-radar destinations such as Matusadona National Park
  • Strong conservation focus, including parks supported by African Parks
  • Set during the best months for game viewing in Zimbabwe

Day to day

Activities

Hotels & Meals

Day 1. Victoria Falls

Welcome to Zimbabwe. On arrival at  Victoria Falls International Airport, you will be met by a representative from King Salama Safaris and transferred to Old Drift Lodge, where you will settle in and relax after your journey. Afternoons will be spent on a sundowner game drive or river cruise.

Experience & Activities

Your time here can be tailored to your interests. Recommended experiences include a game drive, where you may encounter elephants, buffalo, giraffes, antelopes, and other wildlife in the surrounding parklands. A river safari on the Zambezi River offers a slower pace and excellent opportunities to spot hippos, crocodiles, birdlife, and animals coming to drink along the banks.

Victoria Falls Overview

Victoria Falls is one of the largest waterfalls on earth, where the mighty Zambezi River plunges into a dramatic basalt gorge. Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning “The Smoke That Thunders,” the falls create mist visible from miles away and offer one of Africa’s most iconic landscapes.

Beyond the falls themselves, the region is known for wildlife, river activities, adventure experiences, and beautiful sunset scenes, making it far more than a one-night stop and an exceptional introduction to Southern Africa.

Old Drift Lodge

Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and selected beverages and alcohol included

 

Day 2. Victoria Falls

A guided tour of Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side is highly recommended, allowing you to witness the scale and power of this UNESCO World Heritage Site (rainforest entry fees excluded). Optional experiences include guided walking safaris and lunch at the Lookout Cafe, spectacularly positioned above the Batoka Gorge with drinks included, allowing you to fully appreciate the scale and power of this natural wonder as the Zambezi River plunges into the gorge below.

For a different perspective, consider a river safari or sunset cruise along the Zambezi, where you may encounter hippo, crocodile, birdlife, and wildlife along the riverbanks. Game drives within Zambezi National Park also offer excellent opportunities to see elephant, buffalo, giraffe, and other plains game in a quieter setting close to the falls.

Old Drift Lodge

Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and selected beverages and alcohol included

 

Day 3 - 5. Hwange National Park

Today you will be transferred by light aircraft to Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest and most diverse wildlife area. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to The Hide, your home for the next three nights. Set overlooking a busy waterhole, the camp offers front-row access to wildlife throughout the day. After settling in, head out on your first safari activity to begin exploring this remarkable park before returning to camp for dinner and a relaxed evening.

Experience & Activities

Your time in Hwange is centered around exceptional game viewing. Morning and afternoon game drives explore a variety of habitats, with particularly strong sightings during the dry season when wildlife gathers around waterholes.  daily activities to suit everyone and the warm and welcoming staff, who make you feel like family from the minute you arrive.

One of the highlights at The Hide is the underground hide, offering a unique, eye-level perspective of elephants and other wildlife as they come to drink. Walking safaris with highly trained Zimbabwean guides provide a more immersive experience, allowing you to track animals and learn about the smaller details of the ecosystem.

Between activities, relax at camp while watching the constant flow of wildlife visiting the waterhole, often visible directly from the main area or your tent. Evenings are spent enjoying dinner and sharing stories of the day’s sightings.

For those who are a little more adventurous, The Dove’s Nest Treehouse is available at no extra charge. Located 10 minutes away from camp, this wildly romantic sleep out has the perfect vantage point from which to view wildlife safely, quietly.

Hwange National Park Overview

Hwange National Park covers nearly 15,000 square kilometres, making it the largest national park in Zimbabwe. Known for its vast elephant population, the park is home to one of the highest concentrations of elephants in Africa.

In addition to elephants, Hwange supports a wide range of wildlife, including lions, leopards, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, numerous antelope species, and a population of African wild dogs thought to be among the most sizeable surviving groups on the continent. The park’s network of waterholes plays a critical role during the dry season, drawing animals from across the region and creating outstanding viewing opportunities.

The Hide

Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and selected beverages and alcohol included

Extras: Laundry included

Days 6 - 7. Matusadona National Park

Today you will be transferred by light aircraft to the shores of Lake Kariba, where you will be met and transferred to Changa Safari Camp, your home for the next two nights. Set in a remote, scenic location within Matusadona National Park, the camp offers a different perspective on safari, where water, wilderness, and wide-open landscapes come together.

On arrival, settle into camp and enjoy time to relax before heading out on your first activity. Evenings are best spent watching the light change over the lake, followed by dinner under the stars in this peaceful and uncrowded setting.

Experience & Activities

Your time here combines both land and water-based safari experiences. Game drives explore the park’s varied terrain, while boat safaris on Lake Kariba offer a completely different perspective along the shoreline. Guided walking safaris are also available, allowing for a more immersive experience of the landscape and its finer details.

Matusadona National Park

Situated in northern Zimbabwe on the shores of Lake Kariba, Matusadona National Park is a vast expanse of pristine wilderness characterised by flat grassy plains and dramatic rugged mountains. From the vast woody escarpment to the dense bush of the Zambezi valley floor, this diversity of habitats provides important refuge for endangered species, sustaining a wide range of wildlife, including lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, zebra, and several antelope species. Its waterways support healthy populations of hippo, crocodile, and numerous fish species, while nearly 400 recorded bird species reflect the park’s exceptional ecological richness and vitality.

Changa Safari Camp

Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and selected beverages and alcohol included

Extras: Laundry included

Day 8 - 10. Mana Pools National Park

Today you will be transferred by light aircraft to Mana Pools National Park, where you will be met and transferred to John’s Camp, your home for the next three nights. Set along the floodplains of the Zambezi River, this is one of Africa’s most iconic and immersive safari destinations, known for its raw wilderness and exceptional wildlife encounters.

On arrival, settle into camp and take in the surroundings before heading out on your first activity. Evenings here are defined by the rhythm of the river, with dinner under the stars and the sounds of the bush all around you.

Experience & Activities

Your time in Mana Pools is centered around immersive safari experiences. Guided walking safaris are a highlight, offering the chance to explore the landscape on foot with some of Africa’s most highly trained guides. As well as catch-and-release fishing, canoeing along the Zambezi River provides a unique perspective and game drives.

Mana Pools National Park

Located in northern Zimbabwe, the life-giving power of the Zambezi River makes Mana Pools National Park one of Zimbabwe’s most lush and flourishing regions. Characterised by a diversity of landscapes, including floodplains, forests, and baobab trees, the park has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its natural beauty, making it a fantastic destination for photographers. It is an Important Bird Area and is also one of the continent’s premier game-viewing locations, known for its good chances of seeing elephants, wild dogs, lions, and leopards.

John’s Camp

Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and selected beverages and alcohol included

Extras: Laundry included

Day 11. End of Itinerary

After a hearty breakfast, you will wave goodbye to Zimbabwe for now. You will be transferred to Victoria Falls International Airport for your flight home.
Departure: Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA)
Let us give you the trip of a lifetime.

To book this trip or to get more information about this itinerary, please get in touch with us. We look forward to helping you plan your dream trip.

Meals & Drinks: Breakfast

  • All accommodation.
  • All meals and snacks.
  • Most drinks at all lodges (including all teas, coffees, soft drinks, house wines and local beers & spirits.)
  • Wildlife viewing activities (excl. private activities).
  • National parks fees (except in Vic Falls) and conservation levies.
  • All internal charter flights and road transfers between accommodations, starting from Victoria Falls International Airport and ending back at Victoria Falls International Airport at the end of the itinerary.
  • Please see Inclusions and Exclusions for each of the camps/accommodations in the Daily Information section of this itinerary.
  • International and regional flights to and from Victoria Falls at the beginning and end of the itinerary.
  • Visas.
  • Single supplements for solo travellers in a group of 3 pax or more.
  • Private activities.
  • Spa treatments.
  • Tips and gratuities (optional).
  • Personal travel insurance.
  • Please see Inclusions and Exclusions for each of the camps/accommodations in the Daily Information section of this itinerary.

Why Choose King Salama Safaris?

Planning a safari in Zimbabwe is different from other destinations. It is less crowded, more remote, and relies heavily on expert guiding and well-planned logistics.

At King Salama Safaris, every journey is designed from first-hand experience, focusing on the best locations, camps, and timing to make the most of your safari.

  • Tailor-Made Itineraries, Not Fixed Tours
    Every safari is built around you, from the pace of travel to the camps you stay in. You can include a range of experiences, from game drives and walking safaris to canoeing in Mana Pools and time at Victoria Falls, creating a journey that feels completely your own.
  • Handpicked Boutique Camps And Lodges
    We focus on smaller, boutique camps that offer a more personal atmosphere and a high level of service. Each one is carefully selected for its location, guiding quality, and overall experience.
  • Expert Knowledge Of Zimbabwe
    Zimbabwe is known for having some of the best guides in Africa. We design itineraries that take full advantage of this, especially in areas like Hwange and Mana Pools, where guiding makes all the difference.
  • Seamless Travel From Start To Finish
    Zimbabwe safaris often involve a mix of light aircraft flights and remote camps. We handle every detail, ensuring smooth connections and a stress-free experience throughout.
  • Access To Exceptional Wildlife Areas
    From elephant-rich Hwange National Park to the wild, remote landscapes of Mana Pools, we focus on the areas that offer the most rewarding and varied wildlife experiences.
  • Travel That Gives Back
    We are committed to sustainable travel and supporting local communities. We work with camps and partners who prioritise conservation, anti-poaching efforts, and community projects, ensuring each safari has a positive impact.
  • A More Personal Safari Experience
    You work directly with specialists who take the time to understand what you want and shape every detail around it, creating a safari that feels considered and personal.

Don’t Just Dream It… Live It!

King Salama Safaris expert team is here to ensure that you have the best safari. We are here to listen and craft the perfect trip. From the minute you book with us until we say goodbye to you at the airport, we are with you all the way.