Zimbabwe is a song which, once heard, is never forgotten. The poignant notes of its marimbas beat out the rhythm as a sunset bleeds the sky over a quiet African village. It is an ancient country with a history that stretches as far back as the primeval mists when dinosaurs roamed freely. The Zambezi Valley once cradled the Brachiosaurus - the largest animal to walk the earth - and the Vulcanodon had its happy hunting ground where Lake Kariba is today. The first human inhabitants of Zimbabwe were the Bushmen, a small, nomadic people who recorded the beauty of their environment and experiences on the walls of their cave shelters. The mighty Zambezi river plunges 350 feet (108m) to form the spectacular Victoria Falls, known in the local language as the Smoke that Thunders! Below the falls, the river surges through stunning gorges in frenzied fury, making this stretch of white water Africa's most exciting rafting run.
LET'S GO WILD SAFARIS offers a tailor-made 14 day unforgettable experience for a maximum of six people at a time.
As soon as you arrive in Africa, let's switch to African Time - that means No worries! Let's relax! Come with us on a two week tour travelling across the African bush through villages and National parks. A true adventure of hot sunshine, dusty roads, simple food and a simply way of life. On the tour you will get to
LET'S GO WILD SAFARIS offers a tailor-made 14 day unforgettable experience for a maximum of six people at a time.
As soon as you arrive in Africa, let's switch to African Time - that means No worries! Let's relax! Come with us on a two week tour travelling across the African bush through villages and National parks. A true adventure of hot sunshine, dusty roads, simple food and a simply way of life. On the tour you will get to
- walk with lions,
- ride elephants,
- sample crocodile meat and
- listen to beautiful birdsong.
We will embark on a 4000 km journey around Zimbabwe, where you will experience the true nature of Africa; the simple life, unspoilt beauty in which wild animals walk their ancient paths. Here, we follow the rhythm of Africa so there is no need to rush and no deadlines to meet.
On an African adventure, things don't always go as planned and so, we take it as it comes. Flexibility is the key when touring in the bush and although we have made every effort to create a fun and exciting programme for you, some things are out of our control - like road works, electricity cuts, no hot water and so on. It is on this tour that you will experience the resilience and resourcefulness of the local people as well as their friendliness and charm.
Here is a brief overview of what you can expect on this tour.
Accommodation is basic but comfortable in the national parks of Zimbabwe. We will stay on average forr two nights at each destination. This gives us the opportunity to really appreciate the area. Wholesome home-cooked meals will be prepared by your guide, Barbara Green for most of the tour with fresh local and seasonal produce. Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements.
From Harare we will travel eastwards to Marondera which is our first overnight stop. Here, your guide will brief you on the programme as well as safety guidelines when on safari. The next morning we carry on eastwards to the Highlands of Zimbabwe where we will overnight in the Nyanga National Park. The scenery is spectacular with sweeping views of the Nyanga mountain range and the enormous granite Balancing Rocks that have dominated the landscape since time began. In this area, Mountain Acacias, with their wide flat umbrella-like crowns, shade the route The Savannah that covers the area, provides "wide spaces washed with the sun", making it a perfect cheetah hunting ground.
On an African adventure, things don't always go as planned and so, we take it as it comes. Flexibility is the key when touring in the bush and although we have made every effort to create a fun and exciting programme for you, some things are out of our control - like road works, electricity cuts, no hot water and so on. It is on this tour that you will experience the resilience and resourcefulness of the local people as well as their friendliness and charm.
Here is a brief overview of what you can expect on this tour.
Accommodation is basic but comfortable in the national parks of Zimbabwe. We will stay on average forr two nights at each destination. This gives us the opportunity to really appreciate the area. Wholesome home-cooked meals will be prepared by your guide, Barbara Green for most of the tour with fresh local and seasonal produce. Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements.
From Harare we will travel eastwards to Marondera which is our first overnight stop. Here, your guide will brief you on the programme as well as safety guidelines when on safari. The next morning we carry on eastwards to the Highlands of Zimbabwe where we will overnight in the Nyanga National Park. The scenery is spectacular with sweeping views of the Nyanga mountain range and the enormous granite Balancing Rocks that have dominated the landscape since time began. In this area, Mountain Acacias, with their wide flat umbrella-like crowns, shade the route The Savannah that covers the area, provides "wide spaces washed with the sun", making it a perfect cheetah hunting ground.
Then we travel 300km south to Lake Mutirikwi National Park, stopping for a cold lunch on the way. Our route takes us along the foothills of the Chimanimani mountains which act as a natural border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique. This area is high secured as it has diamond and gold mining operations which belong to the government. So, it is absolutely prohibited to take photos of anyone in uniform. Nevertheless, this is a part of Zimbabwe that seems to have stopped time. So, the photographic opportunities of giant baobabs, bright, colourful roadside fruit and veggie markets, vendors carrying their produce in heavy laden trays on their heads and the magnificent scenery are plentiful.
After going through the formalities at the entrance to the national park, we arrive at our lodge in time for dinner.
The next day begins at sunrise for a 3hr bush walk with an armed ranger. In this area there are white rhinos, giraffe, wildebeest, buffalo, leopard and zebra, kudu and other animals as well as plenty of birdlife.
Lunch is served at the lodge and there is time for a little siesta before a late afternoon game drive.
The day ends with a delicious barbecue where you can enjoy juicy top quality Zimbabwean steak.
The next day sees us heading west via Umzingwani to Matobo National Park. This World Heritage site is considered one of the richest areas of Bushman paintings, some of which are 13 000 years old! The area is also known for its magnificent scenery of massive granite boulders and is an ancient sacred site. Cecil John Rhodes, mining magnate and colonist, is buried there.
After going through the formalities at the entrance to the national park, we arrive at our lodge in time for dinner.
The next day begins at sunrise for a 3hr bush walk with an armed ranger. In this area there are white rhinos, giraffe, wildebeest, buffalo, leopard and zebra, kudu and other animals as well as plenty of birdlife.
Lunch is served at the lodge and there is time for a little siesta before a late afternoon game drive.
The day ends with a delicious barbecue where you can enjoy juicy top quality Zimbabwean steak.
The next day sees us heading west via Umzingwani to Matobo National Park. This World Heritage site is considered one of the richest areas of Bushman paintings, some of which are 13 000 years old! The area is also known for its magnificent scenery of massive granite boulders and is an ancient sacred site. Cecil John Rhodes, mining magnate and colonist, is buried there.
It's an early start the next morning to do shopping in Bulawayo. Here we can stock up on all that we need as there is precious little between here and Hwange National Park, our next stop. It's a long drive along a narrow tarred road with typical African scenery dotted with Mopane forests, to get to the park so we expect to arrive at day's end. Dinner will be at the Hwange Safari Lodge. Overnight at the main camp for two nights. The 14 650 square kilometre park borders Botswana and has the largest elephant population of all the parks in Zimbabwe. Here, sightings of the Big Five have been excellent. But, this is the bush and so patience and perseverance are needed to reap rewards. We will spend time travelling through the park, viewing game and then overnight at Sinamatela. We'll make extensive use of the platforms that provide shade and good picnic spots in the park. However, caution must be practiced all the time when leaving the car as this is lion country.
Victoria Falls is our next stop - only two hours' drive' from Sinamatela. We will stay in time share lodges - Lokotula - a five minute walk away from the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. It is here that the mighty Zambezi river plunges more than 350 ft (100 m) into a gorge below, creating the magnificent Victoria Falls - known to locals as Mosi-oa-Tunya - the Smoke that Thunders. It is considered the greatest wall of water in the world with it spray visible for kilometres. The basalt walls close by are covered with rain forest, fed by the permanent spray. In the rainy season more than 500 million cubic metres of water plummets over the basalt rock walls. A raincoat is essential although local vendors have a ready supply for those who don't have one.
There are plenty of things to do and see around Victoria Falls village:
We will spend three nights at Victoria Falls in order to appreciate the many activities on offer.Kufumba
On one of the evenings, we'll enjoy a sumptuous Boma buffet dinner served in the traditional way with local entertainment of drumming and dancing.
On the return journey to Harare, we will have to endure a long drive (about 9hrs) to the Antelope private game park near Gweru. But it is well worth it because it is here that you can walk with lions! We'll spend two nights in the park.
On the last stretch of our journey from Gweru to Harare, we'll stop for the night at Lake Chivero National Park where the animal and birdlife is diverse and prolific. The lake is 8km long and the park covers an area of 8 000ha.
Bilharzia is a parasitic disease caused by larval parasites which flourish in most lakes and rivers of Zimbabwe. These waters are also the habitat of the Nile crocodile and so swimming is strictly prohibited.
Sadly, our tour ends here and we have to say goodbye. Go well.
Fambai zvakanaka!
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There are plenty of things to do and see around Victoria Falls village:
- Scenic flight of angels - helicopter rides
- Gorge swinging
- Bungee jumping from a height of about 100m off a century old bridge.
- White water rafting
- Sundowner cruises on the Zambezi
- Horse trails
- Elephant back safaris
- Lion encounters
- Game drives
We will spend three nights at Victoria Falls in order to appreciate the many activities on offer.Kufumba
On one of the evenings, we'll enjoy a sumptuous Boma buffet dinner served in the traditional way with local entertainment of drumming and dancing.
On the return journey to Harare, we will have to endure a long drive (about 9hrs) to the Antelope private game park near Gweru. But it is well worth it because it is here that you can walk with lions! We'll spend two nights in the park.
On the last stretch of our journey from Gweru to Harare, we'll stop for the night at Lake Chivero National Park where the animal and birdlife is diverse and prolific. The lake is 8km long and the park covers an area of 8 000ha.
Bilharzia is a parasitic disease caused by larval parasites which flourish in most lakes and rivers of Zimbabwe. These waters are also the habitat of the Nile crocodile and so swimming is strictly prohibited.
Sadly, our tour ends here and we have to say goodbye. Go well.
Fambai zvakanaka!
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