Zimbabwe Safari IG9C

Two free nights, makes this luxury 9-night safari extremely affordable. Combining 3 fantastic destinations, namely Victoria Falls, Zambezi National Park and Hwange National Park, offering a balanced combination of game viewing, relaxation and sightseeing.

3 Nights Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
3 Nights Zambezi National Park, Zimbabwe
3 Nights Hwange National Park
10 Days / 9 Nights
Reference: IG-9C
Starts Victoria Falls Airport / Ends Victoria Falls Airport

Total Price 9 nights: US$ 5248 (high season) / US$ 3383 (low season)
per person sharing

*Only recommended for the months of July, August, September and October*

Safari Overview

This luxury 9-night safari combines 3 fantastic destinations, namely Victoria Falls, Zambezi National Park and Hwange National Park, offering a balanced combination of game viewing, relaxation and sightseeing.

Utilising sister camps, essentially means that 2 nights are for Free, representing tremendous value. Three nights in each location gives you time at each place to absorb what they have to offer. Starting at the upmarket Ilala Lodge, you get to see the magnificent Falls and enjoy some of the exciting activities on offer in and around town. Followed by Zambezi Sands not far from town for a variety of land and water based activities. A place to really unwind, relax and savour the beauty of the Zambezi River. Finally finish off a Nehimba Lodge, which is situated on a premier wildlife concession deep within the Hwange National park. During the dry season the close-up elephant encounters are life changing. This is as real as Africa gets!

Zimbabwe Safari IG9C Inspired Journey Overview

Day 1 to 3

Victoria Falls

One of the original natural wonders of the world, the Victoria Falls is a World Heritage Site and an extremely popular tourism attraction. Known locally as ‘The Smoke that Thunders’, this spectacle is accessible from both Zambia and Zimbabwe and it is an ideal place to combine a game viewing and water sports. There is excellent fishing, a terrifying bungee jump and arguably the best commercial white water rafting in the world.

Overnight: Ilala Lodge

The warmest of welcomes awaits you at Ilala Lodge Hotel. A gracefully distinguished ambiance. Attentive yet discrete service that always comes with a smile. The sublime surroundings of this boutique hotel will reawaken your senses while the power of the majestic Victoria Falls renews your spirit.

Relax in luxurious style. Listen to the meditative rhythm of the great Zambezi River as you drift off to sleep. As morning comes, gently awake and lift your head to see the spray of the majestic Victoria Falls across the unspoiled horizon – and let your soul sigh.

Feel at ease in the elegant and spacious rooms with African Teak furniture, soft, crisp linen – all en-suite facilities, bathroom with separate shower, air conditioning, overhead fan, satellite TV, hair dryer, tea & coffee making facilities, free Wi-Fi and a safe. The view from your room looks across the lawns to the National Parks where elephant, warthog, impala or the occasional buffalo might be passing by or simply grazing on the lawn or in the tree line.

Experience new tastes, indulge in unusual flavours and enjoy delectable dishes at our award winning restaurant - The Palm. Dine in view of the spray of the majestic Victoria Falls! Lodge also has a spa, where you can spoil yourself after that long safari!

Notes: Day 1, 2 & 3

DAY 1
You will be met at Victoria Falls airport by one of our representatives and transferred by air-conditioned minibus to Ilala Lodge arriving by mid-afternoon. This gives you time to settle in and relax or we recommend a sunset cruise or helicopter flight on this first afternoon. Dinner can either be at Ilala’s The Palm restaurant, which is excellent, or we can recommend other options in and around town. Although activities are not included in the package price, please let us help you to arrange an itinerary of activities suitable for you. Have a look at this Victoria Falls activities page to see what is on offer.

DAY 2 & 3
You have 2 full days to soak up the wonderful atmosphere of Victoria Falls. It is the adventure capital of Africa and there are activities on offer to cater for everyone’s needs. View the mighty Falls, partake in the many activities on offer or wander around the streets to do a bit of curio shopping, then finish off at a café for refreshments and a bite to eat. Please have a look at the available Victoria Falls Activities and contact us to arrange a suitable itinerary just for you.

Day 4 to 6

Zambezi National Park

Zambezi National Park together with Victoria Falls National Park cover an area of 56,000 hectares. The northern border of the Park is formed by the great Zambezi River which also forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia for much of its length.

A wide variety of larger mammals may be found within the Zambezi National Park including elephant, lion, buffalo and leopard. In addition, herds of sable antelope, eland, zebra, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck and impala as well as many of the smaller species of game can be viewed. The Zambezi River is home to over is 75 species of fish and is famous for its bream and fighting tiger fish.

Overnight: Zambezi Sands Camp

Zambezi Sands is situated on the banks of the Zambezi, in the western section of the Zambezi National Park about an hour’s drive from Victoria Falls rainforest. It provides a wealth of opportunities for drives and walks with experienced guides, while the Zambezi River itself invites exploration by inflatable canoe or motorised launch. However, relaxing in your private splash pool on your deck overlooking the Zambezi is also just as enjoyable. Elephant can be found loitering on the mainland or in the river, while hippo, waterbuck and bushbuck frequent the reed banks and islands. Lions can be heard calling at night and the birdlife is prolific - African finfoot, African skimmer, pratincoles and Pel’s fishing owl all occur here.

Notes: Day 4, 5 & 6

DAY 4
After breakfast at Ilala Lodge you will be picked up and transferred to Zambezi Sands River Camp. All of the enormous luxury tents have lovely views of the river and are the perfect place to relax and unwind whilst soaking up the essence of Africa. Zambezi Sands has a variety of water and land based activities, details of which can be seen in the Activities Info below. Arrange your schedule with the lodge managers onsite, tailored to your individual needs. A delicious 3 course dinner is served in the main dining area but private dinners on your own deck can be arranged.

DAY 5 & 6
Two full days of game viewing activities at Zambezi sands, tailor-made to suit your needs and influenced by what the wildlife at the time of your visit is doing. Typically, guests partake in early morning and late afternoon activities and then relax during the heat of the day.

Meals consist of early morning tea / coffee and continental breakfast, followed by a big brunch after your activity. Afternoon tea consists of something savoury and something sweet as well as hot and iced tea and coffee to wash it all down with. Dinner is a delicious 3 course affair. Drinks and snacks are provided on all activities.

Activities at Zambezi Sands

Sunset Drift
A wonderful cruise on the Zambezi River amongst the islands near the lodge – enjoy the river, its wildlife and a Zambezi sunset with complimentary drinks and snacks.

Village Visit & School Tour
Visit a nearby Village for an in depth look at life in a typical Zimbabwean village. The trip includes a tour of the school and a moving performance of traditional songs by the local school children.

Game Drives
Traditional open safari vehicles driven by licensed experienced guides, Land cruisers seat up to 9 guests and Land Rovers seat up to 7 guests.

Bush Walks
Conducted by a fully licensed and highly experienced professional guide, usually undertaken in the mornings, ideal for photography of big game on foot.

Canoeing
Guided Canoe trips along the mighty Zambezi River in the network of islands close to the camp. Picnic lunches on the islands is also on offer.

Fishing
Guided fishing in the Zambezi River - home to the fierce and powerful Tiger and many other fish species.

Day 7 to 10

Hwange National Park

Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s biggest reserve, home to a profusion of wildlife, including giraffe, lion, zebra and approximately 40 000 elephants. It provides sanctuary for all the country’s endangered species, including a population of wild dogs thought to be among the most sizeable surviving groups on the continent. Terrain ranges from desert dunes and savannah lands to rocky outcrops and sparse forests, and visitors have the choice of game drives, guided walks or horseback safaris as a means of experiencing the park and its creatures.

Overnight: Nehimba Lodge

Nehimba is a luxury safari Lodge remotely nestled away in one of the largest private concessions in the renowned Hwange National Park. Ideally situated in the central game rich section of the park, offering an all-inclusive, privately guided authentic African Safari, which will be hard to better anywhere in Africa.

A lodge where one’s experiences in camp can be life changing - dining with the elephants every night and usually also at breakfast and/or lunch time. In the height of the dry season they can drain the swimming pool in a night.

Seeing these huge animals interact with each other just a few metres away, in fact so close that you can count the eye lashes and look into the wise eyes of these magnificent animals, is a truly humbling experience.

The staff and guides of Nehimba make it a special experience – clients are made to feel that it is their home for the next couple of days. Meals are eaten with the management and guides, where you can enjoy and share their knowledge around the table – encounters of the day being discussed and plans made for the next day.

The lodge boasts seven luxurious raised chalets under traditional thatch unobtrusively positioned around a waterhole. Each chalet has its own en-suite slipper bath and adjoining outside shower. Decor is subtle yet elegant, furnishings are soft, cosy and tasteful. The rooms are designed to be spacious, airy, intimate and safe. Each chalet has its own private balcony that allows an un-obscured view of the waterhole and its thirsty visitors. One can view herds of elephant, buffalo, hyenas, kudu, lion and even wild dog if you are lucky enough.

Nehimba has its own private concession which ensures that you have an intimate and personal drive because you are the only vehicle in sight, so when you do meet up with the lions, it is just you and them!

Notes: Day 7, 8, 9 & 10

DAY 7
Wake up to another hearty breakfast this morning and then prepare for your transfer to Zambezi Sand’s sister camp; Nehimba Lodge, deep in the heart of Hwange National Park. It’s quite a long transfer taking probably 4.5 hrs but the bulk of this is through National Park which is a game activity in itself. On arrival at Nehimba familiarise yourself with the lodge and meet the staff. After what can seem like a long day, enjoy the cool of the evening sitting on the deck and watch whilst the “Elephant Show” unfolds in front of you. Dinner is served on the viewing deck allowing one to continue watching the elephants whilst enjoying a delicious dinner. After dinner and drinks you will be walked back to your room by a guide, as the elephants continue to wander around the camp.

DAY 8 & 9
No two days are the same at Nehimba and game viewing experiences are tailor-made to guest’s preferences, including game drives, walking safaris and night game drives on the private concession in search of nocturnal species of wildlife. Whether you choose to track a herd of elephant on foot with your highly trained guide at dawn or spend the afternoon relaxing overlooking the waterhole on the deck by the pool, this wild and unspoilt bush paradise will guarantee you leave with memories to last a lifetime!

DAY 10
An early departure is required in order to get to the Victoria Falls Airport in time for most international departures leaving around lunchtime. Early morning tea, coffee and breakfast is served, then it’s time to bid farewell to the staff who by now will feel part of the family. Drive out the way you came in through the National Park which takes approximately 3.5 hours.

Activities at Nehimba Lodge

At the Lodge
Nehimba is situated on its own private concession in the Northern area of the national park where many of Hwange’s wild residents enjoy wandering freely through the area. You may choose to relax on your private balcony with an early morning cup of coffee, or whittle away the last of the daylight hours on the main lodge deck with sundowners, where the animals amble by and pause at the nearby waterhole to quench their thirst.

Game Drive
Nehimba is situated right on the edge of the mopane woodlands of northern Hwange and the Kalahari sandveld of the west, and so offers the full spectrum and diversity of fauna that Hwange has to offer. The elephant hunting Lions of this area are famous. The area is well watered so is host to large numbers of animals throughout the year but particularly during the dry season. Game drives are conducted in specially modified Land rovers designed to provide wildlife enthusiasts with ideal opportunities for photography.

Game Walks
For an entirely different perspective, join one of the armed professional guides and get close to nature. During a game walk you can experience the thrill of approaching wildlife on foot. Your guide will also teach you the basics of how to track wildlife from the ground as well as interesting facts about the surrounding vegetation and ecology.

Night Drives
For those who would like to view Hwange in a different 'light', you are offered the opportunity to accompany a guide on a night drive. Filtered spotlights are used to pick out the various nocturnal species that can be found such as hyena, porcupines, civets, genet cats, and if you're lucky, perhaps even a leopard on hunt!

Visit The Nehimba Seep
This special designated conservation area is one of the only year-round, naturally occurring water supplies in the massive Hwange National Park. The seep is an ancient source of surface water that was once used by the San Bushmen. Today the area is frequented by elephant, who can be found digging for minerals as well as enjoying the water.

Visit Mandavu Dam
Situated in a scenic hilly spot only 15-kilometres from Sinamatella Camp, the Mandavu Dam is a wonderful location for both bird watching and game viewing. Take a leisurely morning drive to the dam before joining a variety of wildlife for a picturesque picnic brunch at the water’s edge.

Visit Mtoa Ruins
Mtoa Ruins are approximately a 2-hour drive from camp, and are well worth the journey! These ancient ruins are located on top of a low granite kopje and offer excellent views of the surrounding countryside. Enjoy a packed lunch at this ancient site before a meandering afternoon game drive from waterhole to waterhole back to Camp.
 

Price

Total Price for 9 Nights: US$ 5248 (high season) / US$ 3383 (low season)
Per person sharing

Included in this safari

ILALA LODGE
• Accommodation in a beautiful deluxe room with views of the National Park and the spray of the Victoria Falls
• Daily breakfast
• A Ra Ikane sunset Cruise; A dinner at The Palm Restaurant

ZAMBEZI SANDS
• Accommodation in a huge Bedouin Style tent facing, and on the banks of the Zambezi River
• All meals, soft drinks, beers, wines & local spirits
• Laundry
• 1 free return shuttle to Victoria Falls town per stay
• Zambezi National Park entry fees per paying night
• Two activities per paying night: Game activities as available by vehicle, foot or boat, Guided tour of Victoria Falls (Victoria Falls National Park fee not included), Canoeing, Fishing, Sundowner drift at the camp, Village visit and service of a licensed guide on safari.

NEHIMBA LODGE
• Accommodation in an elevated thatched chalet, giving a commanding view over an ever busy waterhole in front of the camp
• All meals, soft drinks, beers, wines & local spirits
• Laundry
• Activities: Game walks, drives, all day excursions, hide sits and night drives, and service of a licensed guide on safari
• National Park entry fees per paying night

TRANSFERS
• All road transfers between Ilala, Zambezi sands, Nehimba Lodge, and Victoria Falls Airport

Excluded

• Premium imported spirits and champagne
• All other meals, activities and park fees not mentioned
• Gratuities and items of a personal nature

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