The Hide Safari Camp is fortunate to have the best of both worlds. While located within the Hwange National Park, it is also surrounded by a private concession, which allows them to offer activities not otherwise permitted. Hwange is a vast playground worth exploring so you do not have to worry about being bored. Early morning walks are there for the thrill of encountering wildlife on its own terms and exploring the little surprises of the bush.

The rest of the day can be spent further afield on game drives in search of predators and prey alike. The guides at The Hide are very much part of the family and have worked at The Hide for many years. They have undergone some of the most rigorous training in Africa and their passion for and knowledge of the bush is often what makes a safari so special.

There is no typical day at The Hide as it really depends on you how much or little you would like to do. As a general rule, safaris start at the same time as the animals – usually mornings and late afternoons or evenings. However, the scope and scale of Hwange’s wildlife is such that there is generally always something to see. There is no limit on the number of activities you can do, so if you can’t sit still, you could do an early morning walk followed by a morning drive after breakfast. In the afternoon you could head out again, stopping off for a sundowner and a night-drive back to camp.

If you are really looking for value, you could venture out after dinner to see if you can find anything out on the prowl. The waterhole at The Hide is particularly special, being the only source of permanent water for a good-sized area. So even if you don’t feel like venturing out, you will still be able to enjoy the daily visitors to the camp, which often include elephant, giraffe, zebra, impala, waterbuck and kudu. Lion come in from time to time and wild dog have even made kills in full view of the camp.

At Elephant Camp there are several different activities available to keep you busy. It’s a truly awe-inspiring experience – the sight, the sound, the smell; the humbling feeling that here indeed is Nature’s Supreme Masterpiece. Enjoy a Guided Tours of the Victoria Falls during your stay.

You can meet the Wild Horizons elephant or enjoy Birding and Nature walks. These are offered on the concession where an experienced guide will make the bush come alive. Guests enjoy a short transfer to a scenic spot on the Elephant Camp concession and enjoy sundowners overlooking the Batoka Gorge and surrounding bush. Guests can enjoy a rural village tour where they will see local villagers going about their daily tasks and will be able to interact with them. This tour will allow you to see rural Zimbabwean life first hand.

Lunch at the Lookout Café (Including drinks) – Guests enjoy complimentary transfers and the fully inclusive use of the Lookout Café. Perched 120 metres above the turbulent rapids of the Zambezi River, the café overhangs the spectacular chasm of the Batoka Gorge, just down from the iconic Victoria Falls Bridge, which forms part of its backdrop. The Victoria Falls Canopy Tour offers fantastic views of Zambezi rapids, Victoria Falls Bridge & the spray of the Falls.

Visiting the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust – Guests visit the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust (VFTW), a non-profit organisation whose mission is to advance environmental conservation through hands-on wildlife research, the management of a veterinary laboratory and rehabilitation facility and the education of local peoples in the sustainable usage of natural resources.

Sunset Cruise:
The Ra-Ikane is a small luxury cruise boat that is out-fitted to suggest, in exquisite detail, an ambiance of a bygone era. This cruise boat is exclusive (14 guests only) and personalised – period decor, historic memorabilia, fine cuisine and refreshments offer a level of comfort and grace unsurpassed on the Zambezi. As afternoon fades into twilight, animals come down to the river to drink as you go by.

Dinner Cruise:
The dinner cruise is an enjoyable and relaxing way to spend your evening in Victoria Falls. It truly is a luxury safari on water. Enjoy a Zambezi style gourmet dinner above the Victoria Falls. The Victoria Falls dinner cruise serves a four course meal that includes drinks (wines, local beers, coffee) delicious starters, soup, main course and dessert.

The dinner cruise departs from the Zambezi River cruise terminal and initially cruises downstream towards the Victoria Falls. As the sun goes down you are served the first course of your dinner. You will continue to cruise upstream as you enjoy the warm African evening, and you are served your delicious dinner. All the meals served have been freshly prepared on board by the experienced chefs.

Victoria Falls is the unchallenged adventure capital of Africa with more than 50 activities available. Here is our selection of the best:

Canoeing:
Paddle slowly down the Zambezi River in a canoe with some of the best wildlife guides in Africa and enjoy the beauty, peace and wildlife of this unique place. Explore islands and waterways and learn about the birds and animals you come across along the route.

Flight of the Angels Helicopter Flip:
At ground level you can feel the enormous power of the Victoria Falls as tremendous volumes of water pound into the chasm below. But it is only when you take to the air that you can take inthe whole panorama and enormity of this mighty spectacle.

Jet Boat Extreme:
Speedboats powered by huge jet engines shoot down the rapids below the Victoria Falls at 100 km an hour. Enjoy a thrilling half hour spent “flying” over the water.

Day and night safaris in open Land Rovers, led by highly trained Game Rangers and qualified Trackers, follow the animals on and off-road, deep into the heart of the wild African Bushveld.

The morning safari starts at first light, when the bush is already alive, the air filled with birdsong as the rising sunlight dances off beads of dew on spiders’ webs. The tracker will watch the road for spoor, leaning forward intently to find any print left by a predator during its hunt in the dark. You return to the lodge for a grand brunch.

After brunch walking safaris allow guests to feel the pulse of untamed Africa through the soles of their feet. As evening falls you depart on the night safari. As the fierce heat of the day cools, the inhabitants of the bush become restless, and the animals move out of the shade of the trees. As the sun dips behind the horizon your Ranger will choose a spot where you can stretch your legs and enjoy sundowners alongside the vehicle.

There is a lull as the animals sense the transition into a time of increased danger. It is during evening safaris that the nocturnal hunters start stirring, and their prey needs to be alert for survival through the night. You return to the lodge for a safari cuisine supper.

Hamiltons Tented Camp is situated within the Kruger National Park, which boasts one of the most diverse game viewing experiences in South Africa and is home to an estimated 1,500 lions, 12,000 elephants, 2,500 buffalo, 1,000 leopards and 5,000 rhinos. The “Talamati Pride” are frequent visitors to the area. Leopards are shy animals that hunt at night. Hamiltons is fortunately in a high leopard density area and sightings are frequent. Spotting the tawny-yellow body with black rosette spots, as it blends in perfectly into its surrounds is a definite highlight of any nocturnal safari.

This provides ideal habitat for large herds of zebra, wildebeest and other plains animals. White rhino enjoy the numerous pans and wallows, whilst the shyer and more elusive black rhino can be found in the more thickly wooded areas. Herds of buffalo roam through grasslands seeking the succulent grasses, before moving down to rivers to amble slowly through the reeds. Elephants can frequently be seen all over the concession and in the river in front of the lodge is a favourite place for them to spend hours at a time. Guests relaxing at the lodge pools can find themselves enthralled, watching elephant families equally enjoying their own pools, particularly if the families include endearing babies.

Where you find animals, you find the predators. Tracking lions in open vehicles is one of the most exciting things to do and guests will never forget the spine chilling and awesome sound of a lion roaring at close quarters. Leopards are also found at Lukimbi, more difficult to spot, but guests are rewarded with the sight of one of the most beautiful animals in the world. Twice-daily game drives are conducted in open vehicles, led by an experience field guide and local Shangaan tracker.