This 9-Day Best of Zimbabwe Safari includes three of the most popular destinations in Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls, a 7th Wonder of the Natural World and renowned adventure capital; Hwange National Park, the jewel of Zimbabwe and its largest national park, home to large herds of elephants and healthy wild dog populations; and Mana Pools, World Heritage Site and pristine wilderness. Explore Mana on foot and by boat along its myriad waterways teeming with wildlife.

Highlights
  • Best of Zimbabwe in nine unforgettable days
  • Two nights at Victoria Falls
  • Three nights in Hwange National Park
  • Three nights at Mana Pools
  • Incredible game viewing opportunities
  • Combination of road and air transfers

Map of 9 Day Best of Zimbabwe Safari

Day 1

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge

You'll be met on arrival at Victoria Falls airport and transferred by road to the majestic Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, overlooking the Zambezi National Park. It's a mere 3 km from the world-famous Victoria Falls. You'll spend the first night of your Zimbabwean adventure here with breakfast included.

The views from the lodge are spectacular, and a great variety of wildlife can be spotted at and around the nearby waterhole, such as large herds of elephants, buffalo, kudu, waterbuck and other smaller animals.

9 Day Best of Zimbabwe Safari 1

View from Victoria Falls Safari Lodge

(Image: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge)

Why not dine at the well-known The Boma – Place of Eating, an open-air restaurant where you'll be immersed in a cultural experience of note? After donning a traditional garment, you'll enjoy customary pre-dinner handwashing, taste the local beer and be entertained by traditional Ndebele dancers and singers.

Day 2 to Day 4

Hwange National Park

Somalisa Expeditions

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, you'll be transferred by road to Main Camp at Hwange National Park. On arrival, you'll be met by your guide from Somalisa and driven through the park to the camp, game viewing guaranteed along the way. You'll spend the next three nights at Somalisa Expeditions all-inclusive of meals, local beverages, laundry and two game activities daily.

Somalisa Expeditions is set in the heart of Hwange National Park, known as the 'land of giants' for its big elephant herds. It's an authentic bush camp, combining charming old African elegance with an authentic safari experience.

9 Day Best of Zimbabwe Safari 2

Somalisa Expeditions elephant pool

(Image: Somalisa Expeditions)

Ideal for those seeking a traditional adventure, Somalisa Expeditions features six Meru-style tents, all elevated on decking for prime views of the surrounding savannah. One is a family tent, with separate rooms perfect for children or teens, while the other five are luxury tents.

Each tent is equipped with an en-suite bathroom and charging points. The main area includes a lounge and dining space overlooking a small, well-frequented elephant pool. Guests can enjoy close-up views of the herds of elephants that gather daily to drink, providing endless opportunities for wildlife photography.

Activities include guided walks led by qualified, passionate guides who will share their knowledge and love of the bush with you, game drives in open safari vehicles, an optional cultural tour and seasonal birding. On foot or game drives, you'll have the chance to spot lion, elephant, kudu and sable antelope, zebra, wildebeest, gemsbok, the rare and endangered roan antelope, buffalo, giraffe, white rhino, cheetah, leopard, hyena, and many other wildlife species.

After breakfast on your last morning at Somalisa Expeditions, you'll be driven to the airstrip for your charter flight to Mana Pools National Park.

Day 5 to Day 8

Mana Pools

Kanga Expeditions

Nestled in a secluded part of Mana Pools National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kanga Expeditions is situated by the edge of the Kanga Pan. Away from the floodplain, this pan is the only permanent water source within a 20km radius, making it the heart of the safari experience. The abundance of wildlife, especially during the dry season, makes it the perfect spot for the renowned "Couch Safari."

The camp consists of six simple yet sophisticated Meru-style tents with mesh windows and private raised decks overlooking the pan. Each tent is equipped with fans, a dressing area, and an en-suite outdoor bathroom with a shower, flush toilet, and basin with running hot water. The family tent offers a spacious wraparound terrace with private seating and dining areas, and the honeymoon tent features a rolltop bath on a private deck, perfect for a romantic starlit soak.

9 Day Best of Zimbabwe Safari 3

Game drives in Mana Pools National Park

(Image: Kanga Expeditions)

Relax on the upper deck lounge shaded by a mahogany tree, or sit by the splash pool and take in the charm of Kanga Expeditions – a blend of old Africa in a modern setting. Guests often witness nocturnal wildlife at the pan during dinner or while gathered around the campfire.

Each day at Kanga Expeditions, you'll explore different inland river beds, pans and open plains of the National Park by game drive and guided walks with your armed, professional guide, well off the beaten track. Your chances of encountering hippos, crocodiles, lions, wild dogs, leopards, hyenas, elephants, buffalo, waterbuck and many other antelope are good.

Day 8 to Day 9

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge

After enjoying your final breakfast at Kanga Expeditions, you'll be returned to the airstrip for your charter flight to Victoria Falls Airport. On arrival there, you'll be met once more and transferred to Victoria Falls Safari Lodge for your last night. Once again, you'll have a superb breakfast and be transferred to the airport to catch your onward flights.

Customize this trip idea:

This 9-Day Best of Zimbabwe Safari is a trip idea, not a fixed itinerary. It's based on a comfortable amount of time at each destination to afford you a full appreciation of the area. You can easily extend this trip idea to include extra nights.

Approximate cost:

The rates below are an estimate only. Contact us for a detailed quote. It costs less to book through us than to book everything direct. Our comprehensive proposals contain all the details about the logistics of your trip, what you can expect from the destination, descriptions of your accommodation with photos of your room(s), all costs, what is included and excluded, and general information about us and how to proceed with the booking.

A proposal is free of charge, and there is no obligation to book.

Rates
Period Price per person (pp)
July 1, 2024 - October 31, 2024
$6,595
£5,035
€6,010
R115,794
April 1, 2025 - May 31, 2025
$5,220
£3,985
€4,757
R91,652
July 1, 2025 - October 31, 2025
$6,650
£5,077
€6,060
R116,760

This is an estimated price per person based on two people sharing. Your exact quote may differ depending on the number of people in your group and your choice of room type. Kanga Expeditions is closed during the green season from December to March, but alternatives are possible if you wish to travel during this time. Special offers may apply, so please ask us.

All rates on our website are provided to give a price estimate only and should not be seen as a firm quote. Likewise, our currency converter will give you a rough idea of the price in another currency, but should not be seen as a firm quote. It is only intended as a guideline, based on the daily interbank exchange rate. The total price includes our tour arrangement fee and local support fees, if applicable. Please contact us to check availability and receive an accurate, free quote with no obligation.

Includes
  • Eight nights accommodation
  • Bed and breakfast at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
  • All meals, drinks and alcoholic beverages (except premium brands) at Somalisa and Kanga Expeditions
  • Two game activities per day at Somalisa and Kanga Expeditions
  • All road and air charter transfers between destinations
  • Laundry
Excludes
  • Airport departure taxes
  • International flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas
  • Additional meals and drinks at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
  • Activities in Victoria Falls
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Staff gratuities (optional)
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