Classic Zimbabwe
9 days, 8 nights
Price Range:
$8,440 – $16,784
(all-inclusive price per person, depending on dates & camps selected)
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Zimbabwe is a bit of a secret as brilliant safari destinations go—off the well-trod routes, big on genuine wilderness, small on crowds—unless they’re crowds of elephants, like those that lumber through Hwange, or hippos, like the noisy pods that fill the channels in Mana Pools. This immersion in Zimbabwe’s remote wildlife meccas features three days in each national park, plus a visit to Victoria Falls, arguably the most extraordinary waterfall on the planet.
Our Expert Says
Zimbabwe has fallen off the radar for many travelers, but the wildlife here is truly not to be missed. Scout for the Big Five amid genuine wilderness, and add the majesty of Victoria Falls--this is a country that will not disappoint!
– Aly Jacobsen
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Days 1-2: Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe side)
One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls is the largest sheet of falling water on earth: over a mile wide as it plunges 350 feet into the Zambezi Gorge. The thundering cataract straddles the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, churning up a deluge of spray. This is adventure country: see the falls from a helicopter or microlight, raft the rapids, canoe the placid current or enjoy a sunset cruise above the falls.
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Days 3-5: Hwange Nat'l Park
Bordering the Kalahari Desert on Zimbabwe’s western edge, Hwange is the country’s largest national park. Its 5,600 square miles of desert sand, sparse woodland, grasslands and granite outcrops shelter vast herds of elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe and a vital predator population, including lion, leopard and cheetah. You may even see one of Hwange's select few resident white rhinoceros. Other endangered residents include gemsbok, brown hyena and African wild dog.
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Days 6-8: Mana Pools Nat'l Park
Mana Pools lies on the southern bank of the Zambezi River, bordering Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia. Together the two parks protect a riverine environment that supports an intense concentration of wildlife, ideal for exploring by canoe safari. “Mana” means four in the Shona language, referring to the four large pools, remnants of ancient oxbow lakes, which sustain great numbers of hippo, crocodile, elephant, buffalo, waterbuck and aquatic birds on islands and sandbanks.
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Day 9: Harare/Home
Your safari adventure ends today in Harare, Zimbabwe.