9-Days Zimbabwe & Wilderness

Your safari begins in the vast wilderness of Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest and most diverse wildlife reserve. Covering more than 14,600 km², Hwange is renowned for its extraordinary elephant population one of the largest concentrations in Africa as well as excellent sightings of lions, leopards, cheetahs, and the endangered African wild dog.

After a gourmet lunch and afternoon tea, embark on your first late-afternoon game drive, transitioning into a night drive to spot nocturnal species like leopard, honey badger, or the rare pangolin.Luxury stay at Wilderness Linkwasha: The camp offers an exclusive experience in one of Zimbabwe’s most wildlife-rich private concessions. Situated in the southeastern corner of Hwange National Park, the camp overlooks the prolific Ngamo Plains, where a permanent waterhole attracts elephants, lions, and buffalo year-round.

Dedicate the morning to a guided walking safari led by Zimbabwe’s world-class professional guides, focusing on tracking and ecology or expert-guided game drives, where trackers search for predators across the plains. Guests often spend time at underground photographic hides positioned at waterholes, allowing incredibly close encounters with elephants and other wildlife or enjoying  an “armchair safari” from the camp’s multi-level decks.

Evenings are spent around the campfire beneath the vast African night sky, listening to the distant roar of lions and the rumble of elephants moving through the bush.

Highlight: A private “log-pile” hide session to photograph elephants just inches away.

Luxury Stay at  Linkwasha Camp: Situated in the private Linkwasha concession in southeastern Hwange, this contemporary safari camp offers front-row views of a wildlife-rich waterhole and open plains frequently visited by elephants, buffalo, and predators.

Venture into the vast, golden expanse of the Ngamo Plains for a full-day immersive safari. This is an untamed theater of wildlife where you’ll track the elusive cheetah and witness the rhythmic movement of massive herds across the horizon. Midday, enjoy a secluded bush picnic under the shade of an ancient acacia, surrounded by the stillness of the wild.

Your journey culminates in the ultimate connection to nature: a night on a private “star bed” deck. Drift into sleep beneath the crystalline canopy of the Milky Way, lulled by the distant roar of a lion and the rhythmic symphony of the African night.

After Hwange National Park, the journey transitions from the wilderness to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World Victoria Falls. The Zimbabwean side offers breathtaking panoramic views of the falls, framed by lush rainforest and the Zambezi River.This section combines adventure, romance, and indulgence, with opportunities to explore the falls with a private guide, enjoy sunset cruises on the Zambezi, or take optional helicopter flights over the falls for the ultimate aerial perspective.

After a private transfer to the lodge, settle into your suite and enjoy a late lunch overlooking the Zambezi. In the afternoon, set out on a private sunset boat cruise directly from the lodge’s jetty. This is a prime time for spotting hippos, crocodiles, and elephants crossing the river against the backdrop of a classic African sunset.

Luxury Stay at Matetsi Victoria Falls: Nestled on a private stretch of the Zambezi River, Matetsi Victoria Falls is a boutique luxury lodge that offers intimate, exclusive riverfront living. The property blends modern architecture with African design elements, creating a stylish and serene retreat.

Victoria Falls reveals itself in layers, shifting from a distant whisper to a visceral roar as you approach. Begin at the precipice, where a boat carries you to the very edge of the abyss. Here, the river’s momentum is absolute; the air vibrates with a low-frequency thunder that you feel in your chest long before you hear it.From the water, transition to the mystical rainforest trail. The falls play a game of hide and-seek through the ancient canopy, shadowy glimpses of white water framed by emerald ferns until the trees suddenly fall away. You are left standing before the “Smoke that Thunders,” a mile-wide curtain of falling water that dissolves into a brilliant, chaotic spray. Getting soaked is not just an occurrence; it is a rite of passage, a cooling baptism in the heart of the chasm.

To truly grasp the scale, you must take to the sky. From a helicopter, the perspective shifts from the intimate to the infinite. Below, a kaleidoscope of colors emerges: the deep indigo of the winding Zambezi, the sun-bleached floodplains, and the stark, narrow crevasse that swallowed the river whole. Watch as the rising plumes of mist create permanent rainbows against the Zimbabwean horizon.

Matetsi Victoria Falls is a masterclass in contemporary African design, reclaimed by the wild. Sprawling along a vast, private reach of the Zambezi, this boutique sanctuary replaces traditional lodge aesthetics with sleek, light-filled architecture and raw, natural textures.

Trade the thunder of the falls for the emerald pulse of the Lower Zambezi. Arrive via a scenic light aircraft flight into Jeki Airstrip, followed by a short game drive to camp. You will be introduced to your Muchinda (private butler), who will look after your every need. In this corner of Zambia, the wildlife is not just present; it is performative. While lions are a constant presence their manes catching the golden light as they survey the plains it is the sheer abundance of life that defines the experience. Great herds of elephant and buffalo are so woven into the scenery that they become the backdrop of your day, yet the protective energy of a breeding herd never fails to steal your breath. The magic, however, lies in the nuance.

You’ll begin to spot the subtle shifts: the distinct patterns of regional zebra, the rare flash of a wild dog’s painted coat in the leadwood thickets, and a diverse gallery of antelope that call these floodplains home. As the days unfold, you realize that a safari here isn’t just about “seeing” animals; it’s about witnessing nature’s theater. You aren’t watching a documentary; you’ll sitting in the front row of a private performance, observing the complex social dances and survival instincts of Africa’s most iconic species. In this wilderness, you don’t just have a guide you have a backstage pass.

Your sanctuary is a luxury tented camp that redefines the concept of wilderness living. While the canvas walls allow the orchestral sounds of the African night the distant cough of a leopard or the rhythmic splashing of elephant to drift through your suite, any resemblance to traditional camping ends there.

Within, you’re enveloped by refined elegance: polished teak floors, crisp linens, and bespoke furnishings that mirror the earth tones of the valley. It is an immersive experience where the boundary between the wild and the sophisticated dissolves, offering a front-row seat to nature’s theater without ever compromising on world-class comfort.

A branch shivers. In the emerald density of the riverine forest, your eyes scan the tangle of shadows until the green canvas yields a secret: a sudden, electric shock of gold and rosette-black. A leopard serene, sublime, and perfectly still watches the river below with eyes like polished amber. She is the forest’s silent sovereign, and as your focus narrows, you discover the charm within the camouflage: a cub, clumsy and endearing, practicing its balance on a leadwood limb.

But the wilderness is a place of shifting moods. On another drive, that same serenity evaporates, replaced by the cold, liquid precision of a hunt. You might witness a lioness, usually a picture of heavy-lidded lethargy, transform into a shadow of pure muscle as she stalks through the tawny grass. As the safari progresses, you move beyond the “sighting” and into the soul of the savanna. You aren’t just watching a predator; you’re experiencing the story from every angle. You feel the leopard’s coiled intensity, then pivot to witness the electric tension of a shivering impala herd, their ears pricked to the wind. Finally, you encounter the profound, heavy silence of a herd in mourning a moving reminder that in this theater, every life is connected, and every moment is earned.

This section of your journey emphasizes both water- and land-based safaris. Guests can glide silently past elephants and pods of hippos on a canoe, enjoy a sunset cruise with cocktails, or venture on traditional 4×4 game drives to track lions, leopards, and large buffalo herds.

Highlight: A “floating lunch” where your table is set up in the shallow waters of the Zambezi.

Luxury Stay at Sausage Tree Camp: Nestled among ancient sausage trees along the riverbank, Sausage Tree Camp offers an intimate safari experience with only seven luxury tents and exclusive access to the river.

Experience the bush at eye level with a guided walking safari, focusing on tracking and the intricate details of the ecosystem. In the afternoon, try your hand at catch-and-release tiger fishing, a signature adrenaline-pumping activity on the Zambezi.

Return for a Luxury stay at Sausage Tree Camp : This camp sits in graceful seclusion along the banks of the Zambezi, anchored by the ancient, sweeping canopies of its namesake trees. With only seven expansive luxury suites, the camp offers a rare, high-touch intimacy where the river isn’t just a view—it’s your constant companion. Here, “white-glove” service meets the wild, providing an exclusive gateway to one of Africa’s most pristine ecosystems.ight drive to find nocturnal species like civet, porcupine, or honey badger.

Enjoy a final sunrise game drive through the mahogany forests or a quiet birding excursion. After a hearty brunch, your Muchinda will assist with your departure transfer to Jeki for your flight back to Lusaka. Transfer across the border to Livingstone for your flight home.