Wildlife & water: Hwange & Victoria Falls safari

Wander down to the Victoria Falls and enjoy a morning exploring with your private guide. Aside from walking around the falls, helicopter rides offer a great way to see the falls in all their glory.

A driver from the lodge will take you across the border to view the falls from the Zambian side, offering a different vantage point. You then have the rest of the afternoon to enjoy various activities in the area, such as zip-lining through the forest, browsing the artisanal markets, or savouring a classic afternoon tea with a view.

You’ll be transferred by vehicle to Hwange National Park. The first half of the journey will be along a good tar road, so sit back and relax. At the gate into the park, you’ll switch into an open wildlife viewing vehicle for the rest of the transfer to the lodge. This is where your safari experience begins, so the duration of the transfer will depend on how many animals you spot along the way. This afternoon, you’ll head out on a sundowner wildlife drive.

Enjoy safaris from the lodge, exploring the area and searching for wildlife. The lodge is situated on a vast private concession in the north of the national park, comprising mopane woodlands and open plains, making it a haven for elephant herds. Back at the lodge, large numbers of elephants and buffalo are known to frequent the waterhole.

Guided walks are a fantastic way to experience the bush. You’ll head out with your guide early in the morning or later in the afternoon, to avoid the hottest temperatures, tracking animal footprints and learning about smaller creatures and plant life. You'll stop along the way for refreshments under the shade of a tree with views of a waterhole.

Your morning drive will be a transfer from the lodge to a local railway siding, where you’ll board the Elephant Express, a single-carriage railcar. The journey along the 70 km eastern boundary will take approximately two hours, depending on what you see along the way. There’s plenty of game to spot, from elephant to wildebeest. You’ll arrive at your new lodge this afternoon in time for your afternoon drive.

Today, you’ll enjoy a full day on safari. You’re now based in the south of the national park, where the habitat consists of palm-fringed open plains, acacia woodlands and teak forests. Night drives are an excellent opportunity to spot the less-seen nocturnal creatures, including porcupines, springhares and nightjars, to name a few.

A wide range of activities is available in this area. Choose from horse riding, community engagement, spending time in the underground photographic hide or venturing out on a full-day wildlife drive and taking a picnic lunch.

Today you'll be driven back through the park to Victoria Falls for your onward travel arrangements.