Wildlife Tour In Zimbabwe, Mozambique & South Africa

This incredible adventure begins before the thundering cascades of Victoria Falls, one of the planet’s most spectacular natural wonders. Called Mosi-oa-Tunya by the indigenous peoples (The Smoke that Thunders), the falls of the Zambezi River plummet over a sheer cliff wall that spans more than 1676m, dropping some 100m into the abyss below. This afternoon we take a tour of Victoria Falls, located on the southern bank of the mighty Zambezi, seeing for ourselves one of the most breathtaking sights on earth. Whilst neither the highest nor the widest set of falls in the world, it is the largest, and at its peak an astonishing 550,000 cubic metres of water cascade into the Zambezi Gorge every minute.

Overnight Standard Camping (C+)

With a free day today you may like to take advantage of some of the many optional activities on offer in the area, with whitewater rafting on the Zambezi and scenic helicopter flights over the falls available. Other options include kayaking trips, bungee jumps and elephant and horse safaris, whilst for those looking for something a little less adventurous, perhaps a visit to a local village or a sunset cruise on the Zambezi.

Overnight Standard Camping (C+) Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we drive on to Zimbabwe’s largest game reserve, the expansive Hwange National Park on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. Covering some 14,600 square kilometres and home to over 100 species of mammals, the park is blessed with a rich assortment of game that includes large numbers of gemsbok, brown hyena and elephant, as well as one of the largest populations of African wild dogs on the continent. Encompassing a variety of landscapes, from desert sands and sparse woodland, to open savannahs and granite outcrops, the park is one of Africa’s finest wildlife refuges and over the next two days we will have an opportunity to discover something of its natural treasures. On our first afternoon we will pay a visit to the Painted Dog Conservation Centre, a vital refuge that is working to protect the endangered African wild dogs from the devastating consequences of illegal poaching. At one time these phenomenally successful predators ranged across the entire continent and numbered in the hundreds of thousands. Sadly today those numbers are estimated to be as low as 3000-5000, placing them on the verge of extinction. Our second day in the park sees us enjoying a full day’s game drive, searching out some of the large herds of herbivores that live here and hopefully catching sight of some of the large carnivores that hunt them. 

Overnight Standard Camping (C+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Heading for the granite kopjes and wooded valleys of the Matopos Hills today, we drive towards the ancient landscapes of Zimbabwe’s oldest national park. The Matopos Hills lie to the south of Bulawayo, encompassing a landscape of wooded valleys and granite kopjes that cover over 420 square kilometres. Home to the San bushmen over 2,000 years ago, the weathered granite rocks present a surreal backdrop to an area that is staggeringly rich in flora and fauna. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2003, the region can boast over 200 species of trees and some 175 species of birds, along with white rhino, sable, leopard and the densest concentrations of black eagles on the planet. Established in 1926, the park was originally established as a bequest from Cecil Rhodes, the ardent imperialist and the founder of the state of Rhodesia. Rhodes is still buried amongst these landscapes that he loved so much, and today we will make a stop en route to our camp to visit his grave on Malindidzimu Hill.

Overnight Standard Camping (C+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we visit one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in sub-Saharan Africa, the stunning ruins of Great Zimbabwe. The remains of a ruined city that was the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe from the 13th-16th centuries, the complex was built by the indigenous ancestors of the country’s present occupants. Built of imposing granite blocks, with walls measuring 6 metres thick, the city once lay at the heart of an empire that spread across vast swathes of the African continent. At their height these people were trading with the Arabs and the Portuguese and the discovery of Chinese pottery amongst the ruins suggests that their trading influence may even have extended farther still. It is unsure why the great city was eventually abandoned, but when its vast ruins were discovered, the colonial powers refused to believe that they could possibly have been constructed by blacks and for years theories abounded that they were the work of everyone from the Phoenicians to the Queen of Sheba. Today this incredible complex has been adopted by the Zimbabweans as a national monument and this afternoon we will get an opportunity to explore its ruined towers and temples before we head on to our evening’s camp.

Overnight Standard Camping (C+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our destination today is the city of Manica, close to the border of Mozambique. En route we will visit Mutare which lies to the north of the Bvumba Mountains.  The city began life as a fort, built by gold prospectors at the junction of the Sambi and Umtara Rivers in the latter years of the 19th century. During its formative years the settlement then moved three times, until the arrival of the railway between Salisbury (Harare) and the port of Beira in Mozambique saw its finally settle on its present location. Today it is the fourth largest city in the country and provides us with our gateway onto the beautiful beaches of the Indian Ocean. We will then continue across the border to Manica into Mozambique.

Overnight Standard Camping (C+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we head south towards the sleepy fishing village of Vilanculos and the azure waters of the Indian Ocean. History says that it was originally the rumour of beautiful pearls that attracted the Portuguese to these shores in the early 18th century. Today it is pearls of another kind that attracts people here these days, namely the strings of beautiful islands, long white beaches and stunning coral reefs that make up the Bazaruto Archipelago. It will be a long day’s drive to reach the village, but the promise of golden sands and pristine reefs should more than compensate for the journey.

Overnight Standard Camping (C+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today has been left free for you to enjoy this captivating setting at your own pace. The Barazuto Archipelago is a tropical haven that offers an incredible diversity of attractions, from relaxing on the beach to a full day’s sail on a traditional dhow. Spread over 5 islands, the protected national park encompasses pristine reefs, freshwater lagoons and remote sheltered bays. These waters are home to dolphins and whales, dugongs and turtles and they provide some of the most stunning snorkelling and diving opportunities in the Indian Ocean. The islands are also a bird watchers paradise, with over 160 different species being identified in habitats that range from coastal dunes to acacia woodland. Vilanculos also has an interesting market and once the afternoon catch of fish is landed, the whole place is alive with activity!

Overnight Standard Camping (C+) Included meals: Breakfast

Continuing to follow the eastern coast this morning, we head next for the town of Inhambane, a sleepy colonial settlement lying besides the waters of Inhambane Bay. One of Mozambique’s more charming towns, established in 1534 as a trading post by the Portuguese, Inhambane today still retains a captivating collection of former colonial architecture, its cathedral and the old Governor’s Palace being of particular interest.

Overnight Standard Camping (C+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Inhambane is one of the oldest settlements on the East Coast and was once an important port for the Portuguese and Arab traders. Also known as the Coconut Coast, it can boast the largest number of coconut palms in Mozambique and, although the large trading ships seldom call here any longer, it still has the largest fleet of working dhows in the country. Today is free for some personal exploration, affording an ideal opportunity to visit the town’s 19th century Cathedral, or perhaps to take in the former governor’s house and the old railway station (reputedly home to a workshop filled with old stream trains and memorabilia). Like all Mozambique towns, the mercado (market) sells a colourful array of produce, from spices and prawns, to vegetables and cashew nuts and provides the perfect setting for some fascinating interaction and some priceless photo opportunities. For those feeling a little more adventurous, you might like to try joining one of the local dive or snorkelling trips, or perhaps take a sunset dhow cruise. With a seemingly endless choice of beaches and markets, cafes and catamarans on offer, you really can choose to do as much, or as little, as you like.

Overnight Standard Camping (C+) Included meals: Breakfast

Our final day in Mozambique is spent enjoying more of its beautiful eastern coast, as we drive south towards the town of Xai Xai on the banks of the Limpopo River. Well known for its lovely beaches, the off shore reefs are home to a myriad of fish and at low tide the women and the children of the town are often seen amongst the numerous rock pools gathering shellfish from the exposed reefs.

Overnight Standard Camping (C+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Crossing into South Africa this morning we pass from the Limpopo Trans-Frontier Park and into the rich reserves of Kruger National Park. We travel via the Massingir Gate, travelling through the farmlands of southern Mozambique and along a pitted road towards the impressive Massingir Dam. This region brings us into the landscapes of the Olifants Gorge, a spectacular corner of Kruger that is home to large numbers of Nile crocodiles. Once we have completed the border formalities we complete our journey to our campsite in Kruger.

Overnight Standard Camping (C+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today we explore what is considered the crowning jewel of the South African parks system and one of the world’s premier game reserves. Kruger National Park was estab-lished in 1898, initially to protect the big game that had almost been hunted to extinction. Today it covers an area of nearly two million hectares (larger even than the entire state of Israel) and is one of the most prolific animal habitats in South Africa. Committed to animal conservation and patrolled by armed rangers, the park is home to a staggering multitude of wildlife, including elephant, lion, black and white rhino, leopard, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, wild dog, hyena, wildebeest and almost all of South Africa’s species of antelope. Bird life too is just as impressive, with crowned cranes, bee-eaters, sunbirds and vultures in abundance. With a full day to enjoy this natural bonanza, we will hopefully experience some incredible wildlife encounters including, with any luck, a chance to see some or all of Africa’s Big 5.

Overnight Standard Camping (C+) Included meals: Breakfast

Heading across the majestic landscapes of Mpumalanga, we have a full day’s drive to Johannesburg today, where our tour will end. There will be an opportunity to freshen up on our arrival in the city, before heading out to the airport to catch the overnight flight back to London this evening.

Included meals: Breakfast