16 DAYS ZIMBABWE & BOTSWANA

Day 1 Victoria Falls  to   Bulawayo  

We leave Victoria Falls and drive south to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city. This afternoon is yours at leisure to explore the city. Bulawayo is a pleasant city with broad tree lined avenues and wide open spaces. There is a fascinating National History Museum, which recounts much of Zimbabwe's traditional and colonial past; also near the Old Town Hall is a vibrant curio market that you can explore and try your bartering skills if you see a bargain. The curio markets also have a wide array of handicrafts and artwork that are on display made by skillful local craftsmen and woman. 

Accommodation: Camping in Bulawayo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance Covered: +/- 450kms
Approximate Driving Time: Half a day 

Day 2 Bulawayo/Matopos National Park 

Matopos National Park is located a short distance outside of Bulawayo. The wind-sculptured Matobo Hills are the site of numerous Bushman paintings and the area holds a special culture and spiritual importance to the indigenous people. In the morning we will be picked up by knowledgeable guides that will take us to this beautiful National Park to embark on our game drive and provided the conditions are right we can view the game by foot as this reserve has the largest concentration of Black and White Rhino.

Trip Highlights: Motopos National Park, Game drives, Rhino tracking
Accommodation: Camping in Bulawayo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance Covered: +/- 20kms
Approximate Driving Time: 30mins driving 

Day 3 Bulawayo to Great Zimbabwe National Monument

Leaving Bulawayo we head East of the country to a small town of Masvingo. Nearby is one of the most important archaeological sites in Southern Africa: the Great Zimbabwe National monument. Once a home to an indigenous population of some 10,000 people dating back to 1200AD, the area holds special significance to the country which took it's name. We camp nearby for easy access and ample time to explore the ruins at leisure.        

Trip Highlights: Masvingo, Great Zimbabwe National Monument

Accommodation: Camping

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance Covered: +/- 350kms
Approximate Driving Time: 5Hrs

Day 4 Great Zimbabwe to Antelope Park 

Located on Zimbabwe's central plateau; we pass through the town of Gweru and make camp at the Antelope Park Private Game Reserve. This is home to numerous antelope as well as zebra and giraffe. Here we have opportunity to try various (optional) activities including game drives, (or walks), elephant back riding, river cruise, horse riding or even try 'Walking with the Lions' where you will 'join the pride' and venture out into the bush with several 6-18 month old lion cubs. Walk where they walk and go where they go; enjoy their play and exploration of their world - a real African experience! 

Trip Highlights: Antelope Park, optional activities
Accommodation: Pre-erected Safari Tents, twin share, en suite
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance Covered: +/- 250kms
Approximate Driving Time: 3Hrs

Day 5 Antelope Park to Hwange National Park

In the morning you have the opportunity to do further activities before leaving Antelope Park and head for the worlds famous Hwange National Park - Zimbabwe's largest and best known game reserve, which is home to 400 bird species and 105 species of mammals including the ‘Big Five’. Once the royal hunting grounds to the Ndebele warrior-king Mzilikazi, Hwange was set aside as a National Park in 1929. The park covers an area of over 14,600 sq km and is particularly known for it's elephant populations and its concentrated with lots of animal species and amazing Bird life. Overnight in the Park  Campsite , Main Camp 

Trip Highlights: 
Accommodation:  Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance Covered: +/- 450kms
Approximate Driving Time: Half a day

Day 6 Hwange National Park 

Today  in the morning we start our Fully Day Game Drive in Hwange National Park. Located in the far west of the country, Hwange sits in a remarkable belt of Africa, extending into neighboring Botswana. As well as elephants, the park contains over 100 mammal species including Africa's 'Big 5' (leopard, lion, elephant, rhino and buffalo), giraffe, gemsbok and the brown hyena. We overnight in the Campsite

 

Day 7 Victoria Falls 

Today in the Morning we start with a very exciting excursion A nature Walk in the Park with a Professional Ranger  before leaving to Victoria Falls. On the way we visit the Hwange Wild Dog project. Here we see the efforts made to rehabilitate and release injured and orphaned wild-dogs. This is extremely valuable work on a species thought to number a mere 3000 remaining individuals in all of Africa. We end our day with  enjoying  the spectacular Victotira 'Falls' themselves. and the mighty Zambezi River and the activities that  a surrounding

Trip Highlights:  Painted WildDog Research Project, Roaming wildlife, Victoria Falls
Accommodation: camping 
Meals Included: Breakfast
Distance Covered: +/- 200kms
Approximate Driving Time: 3hrs

Day 8 Victoria Falls

This day is busy with Optional activities White Water Rafting, Canoeing, Bunging Jumping ,Lion Walk, Elephant Back Safari .or you can have it  for leisure 

Breakfast Only

 Day 9 Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park

In the morning you are picked up from your accommodation and transferred to the border with Botswana. After border formalities you travel the short distance to Kasane. In the afternoon we a going to do a Boat Cruise along Chobe National Park, following the Chobe River. Chobe is renowned for its huge herds of elephants that migrate between Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe and the Okavango Delta.

Trip Highlights: Chobe Boat Cruise
Accommodation: camping
Meals Included: Breakfast
Distance Covered: +/- 200kms
Approximate Driving Time: 3Hrs

Day 10 Chobe National Park  

Accessible by 4x4 wheel drive only , a morning and afternoon game search on a drive to view all animal species mostly including the Giant mammal –African Elephant and many more. On these game drives nothing is more than guaranteed but yes a good chance of seeing all is available. The splendid trip one is allowed to take a camera and a video for wildlife shots.

Day11 Kasane  to  NATA

In the morning a drive linking the next sites will be Kasane to Nata of 4hrs - Makgadikgadi Pans – vast shimmering salt flats on the edge of the Kalahari basin. Sleeping out under the night sky under a blanket of stars is something. A marvelous sunset will be an experience around late afternoon hours of the, sightseeing that includes snacks.

Trip Highlights:  Makgalakgadi Pan
Accommodation: Camping,
Meals Included: Breakfast ,Lunch ,Dinner
Distance Covered: +/- 300kms
Approximate Driving Time: 4Hrs

Day 12  Nata to  MAUN  
Early morning breakfast then road to Maun of about 4 hrs drive in preparation for the Delta – shopping and a day to rest at leisure. Internet and connecting with friends from home about the progress in Africa , expedition .Optional scenic flights

Trip Highlights:  Male Boabob Tree,
Accommodation: Camping 
Meals Included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Distance Covered: +/- 300kms
Approximate Driving Time: 4Hrs

  Day 13 / 14  Maun to  Okavango Delta

In the morning we leave Maun on 4 x 4 vehicles into the Okavango Delta and journey for a day into the ‘Delta’ in mokoros (dug out canoes) and take a game walk in search of elephant, wild dog, buffalo, lion and more. 2 nights in The ‘Delta’a huge inland water system dotted with thousands of islands that are a haven for a diverse array of wildlife. This is a unique environment where dry land and water collides.

 Trip highlight Okavango Delta,Moremi Crossing, Game Walk

Accommodation: Camping 
Meals Included: Breakfast,Lunch, Dinner
Distance Covered: +/- 60km
Approximate Driving Time: 2Hrs

Day 15 Okavango Delta - MAUN

We leave in the morning from Okavango to Maun, sleep over there…time to recap all experiences and a lot more info from the guide on general information about Botswana and other day forth coming excursions

Accommodation: Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast
Distance Covered: +/- 60km
Approximate Driving Time: 3Hrs

Day 16 Maun  to  Victoria Falls

In the morning, we drive from Maun to Victoria passing through Immigration allowing us entry into Zimbabwe

Accommodation: Camping 
Meals Included: Breakfast,Lunch
Distance Covered: +/- 600kms
Approximate Driving Time: 8Hrs