Expedition To Zimbabwe – 3 nights Victoria Falls | 3 nights Hwange National Park
Tour Consultant's Overview
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Tour Highlights
- Victoria Falls
- Sunset Cruise along the Zambezi River
- Big Five Game Viewing
- Romantic Accommodations
- Responsible Elephant Interaction
- Hwange National Park
- Exceptional Wildlife Sightings
- Bucket List Experiences
Itinerary
On arrival at Victoria Falls International Airport, you are met by your guide and transferred by road your exceptional tented camp, located within the teak woodland of the Victoria Falls National Park. Here, you are dropped off at your idyllic retreat, located minutes from the mighty Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
You are met at reception on arrival at The Elephant Camp and enjoy a refreshing welcome beverage before being assisted to your Luxury Tented Suite for your 2-night stay. You have the remainder of the day at leisure, you may decide to rest in the comfort of your Suite or explore and enjoy one of the activities included in your daily rate.
Besides being one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a World Heritage Site, Victoria Falls is the unchallenged adventure capital of Africa with more than 50 activities available.
At 1708 metres wide, Victoria Falls is the most expansive curtain of water in the world and drops more than 100 metres into the sheer Zambezi Gorge. Straddling the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, these Falls and the Zambezi River are the central points in an area of spectacular scenic beauty: from the Falls themselves to the broad, picturesque course of the Zambezi River upstream, the rainforest adjacent and the stark jagged gorge downstream, the power and timelessness of nature’s forces are evident throughout.
waken to the serene surroundings of the Victoria Falls National Park as you embark on your next adventure today. Once you have freshened up and enjoyed a delectable breakfast at your Tented Camp, you are met by your guide and transferred by road to the iconic wilderness that is The Hwange National Park.
Your road transfer takes you through villages and wildlife corridors of Zimbabwe as you approach the spectacular National Park.
Arriving at The Hide Safari Camp, you are met with a refreshing welcome beverage which can be enjoyed overlooking the wildlife-rich waterhole which is situated in front of the camp. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure, getting settled in and enjoying the comforts of your tented camp before a delectable dinner is served under the African Starry night.
Alternatively, embark on your first afternoon game activity before dinner is served at your camp.
Hwange National Park is a dedicated nature “nirvana” consisting of 14,651 unfenced square kilometres in the west of Zimbabwe. The Park extends westward to link with the Kasane Forest and Chobe region of neighbouring Botswana. This glorious National Park rightfully boasts the highest concentration of wildlife species (mammals, birds, reptiles & insects) of any safari region in Africa. Hwange National Park has earned a world-wide reputation for its large herds of resident buffalo, its predators & more especially so, huge numbers of African elephant.
Awaken to the natural nirvana that surrounds your luxurious tented camp as you enjoy a final morning game drive or simply spend the morning at leisure enjoying the facilities at the camp.
Once you have enjoyed brunch and freshened up, you are met by your guide for your road transfer back to the town of Victoria Falls.
Arriving at Ilala Lodge Hotel, you are met and assisted to your Deluxe Double Room for your overnight stay.
The late afternoon is spent cruising along the Zambezi River as you enjoy your final evening in Zimbabwe.
Awaken to the sound of the Victoria Falls roaring and the natural surroundings. You have time to freshen up and enjoy a scrumptious breakfast before you are met for your road transfer to the Victoria Falls International Airport.
Arriving at the airport, you connect with your Direct Flight to Johannesburg.
On arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, you make your way to the International Departures Terminal (A) and connect with your International Flight home.
Accommodation
Victoria Falls: The Elephant Camp
Situated on a private concession within the Victoria Falls National Park and bounded by the Masuwe River and the Zambezi gorges, The Elephant Camp has breath-taking views of the Victoria Falls’ spray, and the spectacular gorges which separate Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Elephant Camp is a luxury and intimate lodge under canvas within easy reach of Victoria Falls and all its attractions and activities yet secluded in its own private game reserve so as to allow close-up encounters with wildlife.
The main camp complex is a tented structure with a spacious deck, lounge, bar, dining area and a sun-kissed pool, offering sweeping vistas of the Batoka Gorge and the magnificent spray of the Victoria Falls. The Elephant Camp overlooks a waterhole that is fed by natural streams in the rainy season. With an emphasis on exclusivity, the 12 luxury tented suites all have private decks with magnificent views and plunge pools. The suites are all equipped with indoor and outdoor showers, huge baths, private lounges, mini bar and tea/coffee stations, overhead fans plus air conditioning and are all mosquito proofed.
The Elephant Camp offers close interaction with wildlife and all guests staying at The Elephant Camp will have an opportunity to meet the elephants at the Wild Horizons Sanctuary. Selected Spa Treatments are available in the privacy of your suite. The Elephant camp is situated only 10 minutes from Victoria Falls and complimentary shuttle transfers operate throughout the day.
Hwange National Park: The Hide Safari Camp
Situated on a private concession on the Eastern boundary of Hwange National Park and with stunning views across a natural waterhole, The Hide enjoys a perfect location. There are eight standard tents and two luxury or honeymoon tents.
Each tent is mosquito-proofed and has an en-suite bathroom, a fan for your comfort in summer and extra warm blankets and hot water bottles for the cool winter months. The hub of the camp is the signature “A” frame, which houses the dining room, a downstairs sun lounge and a large comfortable lounge/viewing area upstairs. There is also plunge pool near the main lounge and dining room.
Most meals are served in unsurpassed elegance and style, at the Main A Frame, around the magnificent 22-seater teak dining room table. Tea and cake is best enjoyed upstairs, in the A-frame, overlooking the water pan. Meanwhile, breakfast can be served Alfresco, under the Acacia trees.
The new Wine Cellar and Underground Hide at The Hide were planned, designed and created for the adventure-takers, the thrill-makers and the pleasure-seekers out there. Along a tunnel, you’ll walk for about 10 metres under the surface of the earth – and then emerge into a “window on the waterhole”, where you can sit quietly, the unobserved observing. It’s a special new addition and makes the experience of “game viewing” more intense and personal. Along the same tunnel, guests are delighted to find, hidden away in the wall, a real wine cellar. Perfectly cooled at a steady 17 degrees Celsius, ambient-lit and stocked with a small selection of fine wines from around the world, this is a welcome addition to an already all-sensory experience at The Hide. Guests are invited to choose the wine they’d like with dinner – or suggestions are made based on wine pairing experts’ recommendations.
Victoria Falls: Ilala Lodge
Ilala Lodge is the closest hotel to the mighty Victoria Falls, where attentive service is the order of the day. The National Park borders the front of the small property, with the spray of the Falls as the backdrop to the wildlife grazing on the lawn.
A stone’s throw from all the action, Ilala Lodge is a true haven. Guests can venture beyond the lodge’s confines to enjoy scenic flights over the falls and leisurely cruises along the river. Ilala’s Palm Restaurant is well-known for its à la carte menu showcasing the flavours of the region. Dine outdoors, against the backdrop of the world’s largest waterfall or indoors within the warmth of this spectacular restaurant.
Meals at Ilala Lodge consist of tasty cuisine prepared by the in-house chef and served on the dining deck to the sound of the thundering Falls. Enjoy à la carte dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and tuck into both Zimbabwean delicacies and international favourites.
Ilala Lodge offers Standard Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, two Standard Suite Rooms, and two Executive Suites. The décor recalls the early era’s quest for discovery in Africa. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms with a separate shower, air conditioning, satellite TV, and individual coffee and tea facilities. The rooms are spacious with railway sleeper teak furnishings, and patio doors open on to a private balcony or the rolling lawns.
INCLUDED IN PRICE Victoria Falls: Daily Activities Included at Elephant 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 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.
INCLUDED IN PRICE Victoria Falls: Elephant Art Safari
The Wild Horizons Elephant Sanctuary and Art of Africa have teamed up to create an eco-conscious and unique elephant experience, brought to life by the artistic strokes of your fingertips, while surrounded by the African bush.
An open-design thatch Boma gives you an uninterrupted view of the beautiful Masuwe River, and against this breath-taking back drop, you will be given an insightful and educational presentation on the Wild Horizons Elephant Sanctuary and Orphanage.
You will have an opportunity to talk to guides that have journeyed – physically and metaphorically, incredible distances with these elephants, and learn more about the complexities of the individuals and the herd structures. You will learn about the elephant as well as their history and how they came to be in the care of the Sanctuary as well as the threats facing elephant populations today, in an interesting and informative talk.
Once you have learnt more about these majestic beasts, you venture down to a waterhole and mud wallow where, under the shade of an enormous Mopane tree, you will find a chair and easel – each set up with a fresh sheet of paper. Brightly coloured aprons and palettes with bright splotches of paint will also be handed out.
A private tutor is provided to guide you through a painting workshop, using your sketch pads and brush to capture the moment. Soon your white sheets of paper will be transformed into a canvas with a glorious blue sky, sunshine, yellow, brown or green grass and of course elephants.
Once finished, you will go back to “The Wallow” for a delicious two course buffet lunch accompanied by a cold beverage rounding off a perfect morning’s experience.
After lunch you will be transferred back to your tented camp in the Victoria Falls National Park.
Rahul M & Nikita J, Spain, 14th June 2022
I am super grateful that I came across Pembury Tours where Anya was our tour consultant and created the perfect and unforgettable trip for us. Anya did an amazing job helping me to plan an unforgettable trip to Zimbabwe and helped me plan my proposal. It was our first time visiting Africa and the only thing I knew is that I wanted to propose next to the elephants. Therefore, Anya helped me and guided me to which country we should visit to enjoy the company of the elephants. Since it was our first time visiting Africa, and one of our first trips outside Europe after Covid, Anya’s guidance throughout and support were incredible. She prepared the most romantic and adventurous trip for us. From our VIP airport pickup to the romantic and incredible accommodations, every detail was taken care of, the only thing we had to do is create new memories. We started at Victoria Falls and then spent a couple of days at Hwange National Park where we created incredible memories and stories to share with our friends and family. The trip exceeded our expectations, both the camps and the lodge we stayed at were excellent! Apart from the trip, Anya helped me out organizing my proposal, my now fiancée had been wanting to see elephants for a long time, and with Anya’s help, I could propose to my other half in the company of the elephants at The Elephant Camp, something that we will forever cherish. We will not hesitate to book our next trip to Africa with Pembury Tours!