7-day Southern Africa Safari Camping

Departing Victoria Falls we make our way to Hwange National Park, Zimbabwes largest and best known game park. In the early 19th century this area was part of the royal hunting grounds of the Ndebele warrior-king Mzilikazi, and it was only in 1929 that the land was set aside as a National Park. Today Hwange covers an area of over 14,600 sq kms and is known particularly for its populations of elephant. On our first night we game drive in a concession area adjacent to the National Park in search of the nocturnal wildlife of the area, including the ever elusive leopard.

Today we transfer to open safari vehicles and enter the Hwange National Park. Located in Zimbabwes far west, Hwange sits in a remarkable belt of Africa which extends across into neighbouring Botswana and allows wildlife and in particular elephant, to roam a huge area between Hwange and the nearby Chobe National Park. In addition to elephant, Hwange contains over 100 mammals including the other four members of Africas Big 5 leopard, lion, elephant, rhino and buffalo. The park is also known for its giraffe, cheetah, gemsbok, hyena and for the Wild Painted Dog.

Leaving Hwange, we drive south to Bulawayo, Zimbabwes second city. This pleasant city tree-lined city boasts a fascinating National History Museum with displays showing much of Zimbabwes traditional and colonial past and a lively curio market. Not far outside the city, we visit an important archaeological site the Khami Ruins, once the capital of the Kingdom of Butua of the Torwa dynasty. Dating back to 1450AD Khami was the site of the capital following the abandonment of Great Zimbabwe some 300km to the east. Granted UNESCO World Heritage Status in 1996, Khami holds special significance to the people of this area.

Matobo National Park is located a short distance outside Bulawayo. We visit the park accompanied by knowledgeable local guides. The wind-sculptured Matobo Hills is the site of numerous Bushman paintings and hold a special cultural and spiritual significance to the indigenous people here. The reserve has the largest concentration of Black and White Rhino in Africa and provided conditions are suitable guides will lead us on foot in search of these magnificent animals. At the end of the day, we return to Bulawayo for overnight and the option of venturing into town to sample some of the local nightlife.

Leaving Bulawayo we make our way across the border into Botswana and to the Elephant Sands Lodge. We normally arrive sometime in the early/mid afternoon and have the rest of the day at leisure. You wont have to go far to see wildlife - the camp has no boundary fences and wildlife can and does roam freely between waterholes and we may see elephant sometimes at remarkably close proximity, wander by during our stay.

We continue on to the small northern town of Kasane, the gateway to Chobe National Park. By size, Chobe is the third largest park in the country yet has the most diverse wildlife, including elephant, lion, buffalo, hippo and prolific birdlife. We take the famous Fish Eagle cruise on the Chobe River a wonderful opportunity to view hippo and perhaps elephant or buffalo coming to the river to bathe while we float by in the late afternoon sunshine.

This morning we head out to explore the Chobe National Park on an open vehicle game drive, our last opportunity on tour to view elephant and perhaps lion, antelope and buffalo. Eventually we take our leave of the park and Kasane and make the final short drive back to Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls. Arrangements end on arrival.