Wildlife. Wilderness. Tranquillity.
GRAND TOUR OF ZIMBABWE WITH AFRICAN BUSH CAMPS
Journey to one of Africa’s best-kept safari secrets in luxury and style. This 11-night Grand Tour of Zimbabwe safari offers a unique opportunity to explore some of the country’s most diverse and outstanding safari locations, including Hwange National Park, Lake Kariba and Matusadona National Park, Mana Pools, and Victoria Falls. Known for its authentic and intimate wildlife experiences, Zimbabwe impressed audiences with its immersive safari opportunities and raw natural allure, confirming it as a standout destination for those seeking Africa’s wild heart.
Delve into the diverse landscapes and wildlife of Zimbabwe, where each destination offers its own unique safari experience. Zimbabwe has an array of luxurious, yet authentic African safari properties and we have included our firm favourites in this wonderful trip.
Explore Hwange National Park, renowned for its vast herds of elephants and rich biodiversity, and stay at the luxurious Somalisa Camp for an authentic taste of the African wilderness. Sail into the serene beauty of Lake Kariba, where Bumi Hills Safari Lodge provides unrivalled views and a range of water-based activities amid stunning sunsets. Finally, venture to Mana Pools National Park and Nyamatusi Camp, a remote haven where the untamed landscapes and abundant wildlife create unforgettable encounters. From game drives to canoeing safaris, Mana Pools offers a truly immersive and exhilarating safari experience, ensuring a journey through Zimbabwe’s wild heart that is as diverse as it is captivating.
Renowned for its high level of guiding and authentic safari experiences, Zimbabwe boasts some of the wildest and most untouched national parks in Africa. Whether you’re a seasoned safari-goer or a first-time visitor, you will be impressed by the expertise and dedication of the game rangers and guides, whose passion for wildlife and the environment is truly infectious and enhances every moment of your safari experience.
This itinerary will showcase the best sights and sounds Zimbabwe has to offer, with the comfort, service, and amenities of a five-star hotel combined with the intimacy of a small, authentic safari camp. African Bush Camps is a local company that started in Hwange and has grown to include some beautiful lodges in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana.
Grand Tour of Zimbabwe Rates for 2025
Rate is subject to change and is per person sharing, based on two travellers.
Rates are fully inclusive of accommodation, all meals, laundry, lodge activities, return vehicle airstrip transfers, alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages (excluding imported and premium drinks) & taxes. African Bush Camps Conservation and Community Levy of USD 85 per person per night at all camps. Internal transfers stipulated. All Scheduled light aircraft charter flights on a seat in plane basis per package details, flights from Victoria Falls to Hwange to Lake Kariba to Mana Pools to Harare. You can return to Victoria Falls as well.
Families are welcome on this safari.
Let’s chat about your Grand Tour of Zimbabwe
Day by Day itinerary
Days 01 to 03 – Victoria Falls River Lodge, Victoria Falls
Upon arrival at Victoria Falls Airport, you will meet your guide and transfer to Victoria Falls River Lodge.
Victoria Falls River Lodge, set on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River and within Zambezi National Park, offers a luxury escape into Zimbabwe’s wild beauty. This upscale lodge blends the grandeur of African nature with refined comfort, providing spacious canvas suites and lavish family suites. Each suite opens onto river views and features modern amenities, including private decks and plunge pools, allowing guests to unwind with uninterrupted vistas of the river and its wildlife. The suites have lounge areas, with tea and coffee-making facilities, indoor and outdoor showers and large soaker tubs.
The lodge offers diverse activities: embark on private game drives, sunrise and sunset river cruises, or even canoe safaris, all of which provide close encounters with elephants, hippos, and diverse bird species. Guests can also enjoy guided tours to the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls, just a short drive away, or indulge in relaxing spa treatments surrounded by nature. Victoria Falls River Lodge is ideal for travellers seeking both adventure and tranquillity, combining the thrill of the African bush with serene riverside luxury.
Days 03 to 06 – Somalisa Camp, Hwange National Park
Your adventure begins as you arrive at Victoria Falls International Airport, where you’ll connect to a scenic light aircraft flight to Hwange National Park, famed for its abundant elephant and wild dog populations. At Somalisa Camp, just 45 minutes from Victoria Falls, you’ll enjoy the ambiance of a bygone era, with suites designed for luxury and breathtaking views over the plains and nearby waterhole.
Somalisa Camp comprises seven beautifully furnished luxury tented suites that perfectly blend nature and sophistication. Each suite features a wood-burning fireplace, a copper slipper bath, a lavish king-size bed, as well as indoor and outdoor showers. The private viewing deck allows you to take in magnificent landscapes and search for majestic wildlife, ensuring a safari experience like no other.
Safari activities include game drives, birdwatching, and walking safaris, along with close-up encounters at the Elephant Pool and around camp. The camp’s seven luxury tented suites offer a harmonious blend of nature and sophistication, featuring wood-burning fireplaces, copper baths, king-size beds, and private decks.
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest, borders Botswana and spans diverse landscapes. Known for its lions, leopards, and cheetahs, the park offers day and night game drives as well as walking safaris, with exceptional wildlife viewing during the dry season from August to October.
Days 06 to 09 – Bumi Hills Safari Lodge, Lake Kariba
After breakfast and your morning activity, you’ll fly to Lake Kariba and transfer to Bumi Hills Safari Lodge, which offers panoramic views of the lake from its hilltop perch. Upon arrival, a scenic drive up the hill reveals breathtaking landscapes, merging authentic safari experiences with modern luxury.
After settling in, enjoy lunch before embarking on a sunset cruise, where you’ll encounter the haunting beauty of petrified trees and calls of fish eagles over Africa’s most stunning sunset views. Dinner back at the lodge is served with views of the lake and the twinkling lights of local fishing rigs.
You’ll have two days to explore the area through game drives, lake excursions, and fishing trips. In the late 1950s, the Kariba Dam flooded much of the middle Zambezi Valley, creating one of the world’s greatest man-made lakes: Lake Kariba. The valley’s prolific game was concentrated on its islands and southern shore, where Matusadona National Park was established. Around this shoreline, excellent safari lodges offer walks, drives, boat, and canoe trips to explore the lake’s inlets and creeks. The lake is a superb place to watch the sunset, with the Matusadona Mountains providing an excellent photo opportunity.
Bumi Hills Safari Lodge features 10 spacious suites, each complete with air conditioning, a freestanding bath, indoor and outdoor showers, a mini bar, and a private viewing deck extending towards Lake Kariba. The private Baobab Villa is perfect for families or friends, with two large suites, a living room, and indoor and outdoor dining areas. The Villa also includes the personalized services of a butler, a guide, and the exclusive use of a safari vehicle, ensuring every aspect of your experience is tailored to perfection.
Days 09 to 12 – Nyamatusi Camp, Mana Pools National Park
From Lake Kariba, you’ll fly by light aircraft to the wild lands of Mana Pools, a mecca for authentic safari experiences in southern Africa. Mana Pools is a magical region where African wildlife rules and humans are guests. The remoteness of these vast lands allows wildlife to thrive in an untouched environment, making Mana Pools a favourite among wildlife photographers and filmmakers.
You’ll stay at Nyamatusi Camp, one of the best-situated luxury camps in the region. This property offers an enviable location on the Zambezi River, overlooking open plains, woodland, and the mountains of the Rift Valley escarpment. Your experienced guide will offer key activities such as game drives, nature walks, boat safaris, and canoeing. Mana Pools is a rare, special place where animals rule, providing some of the best authentic safari experiences possible.
Activities at Nyamatusi Camp include game drives, fishing excursions on the Zambezi River, canoeing safaris, walking safaris, and birding expeditions. After a day of safari activities and wildlife interactions, there’s no better way to unwind than to witness the magnificent sunset over the Zambezi.
Nyamatusi Camp’s six luxury tented suites are each equipped with air conditioning, indoor and outdoor showers, a mini bar, a viewing deck with outdoor seating, and a private plunge pool. The suites are adorned with soft drapery, ensuring a serene and elegant ambience, and all boast uninterrupted views of the majestic Zambezi River.
Mana Pools National Park lies at the heart of the Zambezi Valley, a remote and beautiful place with spectacular views. The area offers large concentrations of buffalo and elephant, while predators such as lions, wild dogs, leopards, and cheetahs are often sighted. Birdlife is superb, with numerous local specials like collared palm-thrush and racket-tailed roller.
To complete your circuit, you’ll catch your final light aircraft flight back to Harare in time for your flight to Johannesburg. You can fly back to Victoria Falls, it is a longer flight with more stops en route.
