Your tour begins at Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport in Zambia where a warm welcome marks the start of your safari adventure. You are driven to Thorntree River Lodge and check into your luxurious suite positioned on the edge of the Zambezi River. Thorntree is located within Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park where you are able to visit Victoria Falls, enjoy game drives, go rhino tracking on foot, and enjoy the sights and sounds of one of Africa’s mightiest rivers.

Waking up, you will feel as though you are floating just above the river, surrounded by riverine vegetation. Expansive glass windows and sliding doors transport you into the wild, and on your private deck you can take a dip in the plunge pool and enjoy the ambiance of the river with a romantic dinner for two.

Spend days at your own leisure, enjoying the excitement and adventure that Victoria Falls has to offer – like optional white-water rafting, helicopter rides, micro lighting and swimming at Devil’s Pool when water levels allow. Return to the tranquility of the lodge for a sunset cruise, a spot of fishing or a game drive. Other activities available include rhino tracking and visits to the local village or stepping back in time at the Livingstone Museum.

Today you depart from the Zambezi River and board a light aircraft to Hwange National Park – Zimbabwe’s flagship wilderness region famous for its massive buffalo and elephant herds. You will spend three nights at Somalisa Expeditions, an authentic tented-style lodge nestled in a shady acacia grove. The camp is located overlooking a small pool frequently used as a mud bath by elephants – providing close-up encounters and incredible photo opportunities of these majestic animals.

Somalisa Expeditions is set on a private concession, so you are able to enjoy a variety of activities not available in the national park including off-road game drives, bird watching, guided nature walks, game viewing and photography from secluded hides, atmospheric night drives and village visits. Some of the wildlife you will track on safari include the Big 5, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe and rare sable and roan antelope (among many other antelope species). Hwange is also an important breeding ground for endangered African wild dog and black rhino.

Bid farewell to Hwange and board a light aircraft flight to Mana Pools National Park for two days exploring this beautiful secret gem. You will stay at Kanga Camp, which is set in a remote region of the park and ideally positioned to give you the ‘armchair safari’ of a lifetime. From the camp’s deck, you are invited to sit back and watch the comings and goings of wildlife at the adjacent waterhole. Keep your camera, binoculars and cool drink to hand and watch how a variety of species interact as they quench their thirsts.

As a small camp, the personalised and authentic experience at Kanga is perfectly suited to being in one of Southern Africa’s most undiscovered safari destinations. The lodge is set at the only location that has a permanent water source throughout the year, making it a hub for wildlife and a great region to experience the thrill of game tracking on foot. Other activities include game drives, birding and stargazing. Day visits to Zambezi River can be arranged on request when booking a private vehicle, where you can enjoy canoeing and fishing.  

On your last day, it is time to say ‘goodbye’ or ‘sara mushe’ to Zimbabwe as you leave Kanga Camp and fly back to Victoria Falls International Airport. You will be leaving with nine days’ worth of extraordinary memories, from hearing fish eagles call over the Zambezi River to enjoying tracking big game through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country.