Zimbabwe Active Tour

Land in Harare - Transfer to Eastern Highlands Immediately after Completing Customs formalities at Harare Airport, you will meet our tour leader, who will greet and escort you on an overland trip to the Botswana Eastern Highlands. Passengers who arrive ahead of time and join our small group can be picked up at the pre-tour hotel or meet us at Harare Airport. The overland drive will take approximately 5 hours (excluding stops) to reach Mutare, located in the Eastern Highlands, where we will stay for the next three days, exploring the region. Our lunch will be on the road, and dinner and accommodation will be provided at an ecolodge in Mutare. L.D.

Hiking day at Mount Nyangani Start the day with a sumptuous breakfast, then prepare for a mild hike in the nearby mountains for the remainder of the morning, walking through the picturesque valley of Eastern Botswana. We will pass by a small Zimbabwean ruin and a local Bushman Rock Painting Site before reaching a panoramic viewpoint with Mt. Nyangani as a backdrop, which we will explore the following day. After lunch, we will depart in our overland 4x4 to the highest peak in Zimbabwe, aiming to reach our destination: the summit of Mt. Nyangani (2,592m). This is a moderate hike to the peak, although it includes some steep sections. Our hiking time could be up to 3 hours. We will get to our lodge for lunch, overlooking the panoramic view of these ranges. We aim to arrive in time to enjoy our picnic lunch and admire the panoramic view. Dinner and accommodation will be in our eco-lodge. B.L.D.

Trekking from Chimanimani Mountains to Bridal Veil Falls Our traveling day will start with a drive south to the Chimanimani Mountains, a volcanic outcrop with scenery to explore, including volcanic peaks, deep valleys, and gorges. The Chimanimani National Park has preserved the pristine wilderness of the mountains, with most of the park accessible only on footpaths. We will be traveling for three hours to reach our destination by lunchtime. Our transfer is expected to take approximately 3 hours, and we aim to arrive at the lodge around lunchtime. Our afternoon will be devoted to trekking the indigenous forest to the stunning Bridal Veil Falls, which tumble 180 feet over a cliff into a tranquil glade. We hike to the top of the falls before returning to the lodge for dinner and accommodation.

Trekking the Chimanimani Mountains

After breakfast, we will take a short drive to Chimanimani National Park, where we will spend the full day hiking and trekking the breathtaking landscapes of this part of Zimbabwe. Our hike will be in steep terrain, which involves some scrambling; canyoning takes us up the quartzite ridges of the Chimanimani Mountains. We will be hiking up to reach a large plateau overlooking the highest peaks, where panoramic views stretch as far as the eye can see. From Mt Binga, you can enjoy the view of the Mozambican border and beyond. We will follow a path that crosses valleys and ridges, leading us back to our starting point later in the afternoon. We will ride back to our lodge for dinner and accommodation. B.L.D.

Explore Great Zimbabwe Monuments

Today, we will travel overland from the eastern highlands to the hinterland of Zimbabwe, exploring the marvels of the Great Zimbabwe ruins. These unique monuments date back to the 11th century and are documented to be the greatest ancient artificial landmarks in Southern Africa. It has become the Emblem of Zimbabwe as the country‘s modern name, “Zimbabwe,” is just a translation of “Stone Houses” in the Zimbabwe vernacular. We will take a break for lunch. Afterward, we will explore the site on an informative walk around the ruins, learning about their history and the people who built them and lived here. We will retreat to our lodge for dinner and a good night's sleep in the evening. B.L.D.

Matobo National Park and Cave Paintings

After breakfast, we continue our quest via the cities of Masvingo and Bulawayo to the Matobo National Park. We will check into our lodge just outside the park. The park (also known as Matopos National Park) is famous for its giant boulders precariously balanced on top of each other, known as kopjes, the burial place of the first land claimer of former Rhodesia, Cecil Rhodes. Upon arrival, we walk through granite ridges and domes to visit troglodytes who document the art and history of Bushmen cave paintings. We enjoy a sundowner in the bush before returning to our lodge for the night. Our trip today consists of a three-hour walk. Our dinner and accommodation will be at Hermit Peak Lodge or a similar establishment. B.L.D.

Matobo National Park Safari Day

Our Safari Day will start early in the morning with a drive through Matobo National Park, one of the best places in the world to spot both Black and White rhinos, as well as other emblematic African wildlife, such as leopards. We set off on a game drive, searching to spot a diverse array of wildlife roaming in the area. On our safari walk, we will covet to spot the local White rhino herds and other animals set amidst the granite backdrop of the park. We will get back to our Land Cruisers and drive to visit the historical site of Cecil Rhodes’ grave. The colonizer largely picked this ancient Ndebele site for his grave due to its unsurpassed panoramic views. We later return to our lodge, where we have time to explore the local area individually or retreat to the lodge and sit back, relaxing in the surroundings. Today’s walking and driving time is not limited, as it depends on what game we may encounter in our overland Safari at Matobo National Park. B.L.D.

Hwange National Park Safari

After breakfast, we will drive to our next destination for most of the morning. We will reach Hwange National Park around lunchtime. The largest national park in Zimbabwe, Hwange, spans an area of approximately 10,100 square miles. It is Famous for its large elephant herds. In the afternoon, we will arrive at our lodge, located in the game management area that borders the park. Once there, we have a couple of water-based options: walk down to a watering pond to observe animals gathering to quench their afternoon thirst, or take it easy and hang out around the pool in our lodge. We will be staying at Miombo Lodge or a similar establishment. B.L.D.

Game Vehicle Viewing at Hwange National Park

We will devote our full day to a wildlife viewing Safari at one of Africa’s most naturally beautiful National Parks, especially with the big five beasts. Get your cameras rolling as we overland the terrain in our 4x4 game-viewing vehicles, exploring diverse natural sights and wildlife. Large herds of elephants are easily spotted. We will search for other animals, such as lions, giraffes, hippos, rhinos, leopards, cheetahs, and even Wild dogs. Hopefully, we will encounter all of these and more, but if we miss one of these species of your choice, there is nothing we can do. We will return to our lodge for dinner and accommodation. B.L.D.

Guided Tour of Victoria Falls

Today's overland trip is a relatively short drive (approximately 3 hours, plus stops) to our final destination, the town of Victoria Falls, situated just a short walk from the mighty Falls themselves. After Dr. David Livingstone, the first European to see the falls, looked upon the natural wonder, he wrote: "Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight." The falls drop about 360 feet and span a width of over a mile. Victoria Falls is known as the 'largest' falls in the world, as when in full flow, they have the largest single sheet of water tumbling over. At its peak, usually in April, the spray typically rises 1400 feet into the air, giving it its local Tonga name, Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning 'the smoke that thunders. We will devote our afternoon to a guided walking tour of the falls' southern exposure from the Zimbabwean side, offering a spectacular view of the tumbling Zambezi River as it rushes over basalt cliffs. Water, Air, and walking excursions and activities will be provided to those who wish to explore more of this world's natural wonders. We will also be able to book any optional activities for tomorrow. Our dinner and accommodation will be at the hotel.

Victoria Falls Airport

After breakfast, we will transfer you to the Airport to connect with your flight back home, suitcase full of great memories from your Zimbabwe walking tour and Safari. We hope that we meet your expectations. Come back and revisit us on one of our Zimbabwe overland tours and safaris. A travel extension is also available to you if you wish to participate in additional activities in Victoria Falls.