Luxury Zimbabwe Safari – Victoria Falls, Hwange & Mana Pools

Safari Overview

• Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights
• Destinations: Victoria Falls, Eastern Hwange & Mana Pools National Park
• Camps: Ilala Lodge Hotel, Wilderness Linkwasha, Wilderness Ruckomechi & Wilderness Chikwenya
• Best For: Luxury travellers, safari purists, photographers and guests wanting Zimbabwe’s most iconic regions in one itinerary

This itinerary is designed to showcase the very best of Zimbabwe, beginning with Victoria Falls, then moving into Hwange National Park for classic big-game safari before finishing in Mana Pools, one of Africa’s most atmospheric and rewarding wilderness areas. It is an ideal safari for travellers seeking both variety and depth.

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is one of the natural wonders of the world and one of Africa’s most iconic landmarks. Set along the Zambezi River, the Falls are known for their scale, drama and the huge volume of water that plunges into the gorge below.

Beyond the Falls themselves, the area offers scenic flights, river experiences and access to a wide range of adventure and safari excursions. It is an excellent way to begin or end a Zimbabwe journey.

Stay One: Ilala Lodge Hotel

Your safari begins with two nights at Ilala Lodge, one of the best-located hotels in Victoria Falls town. The property is close to both the Falls and the town centre, while still feeling secluded and elegant.

Wildlife occasionally wanders across the hotel lawns, and views of the spray rising from the Falls create a strong sense of place. This stay provides a relaxed and comfortable introduction to Zimbabwe before moving deeper into the safari regions.

• 2 Nights
• Closest hotel to the Falls and town centre
• Executive Suite
• Elegant start to the safari

Included: Bed and breakfast, tea and coffee facilities, minibar replenished daily, welcome sparkling wine, fruit, snacks, government levy and VAT.

Eastern Hwange National Park

Hwange is Zimbabwe’s largest national park and one of southern Africa’s most important wildlife areas. It is especially famous for its large elephant herds, but also supports lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, black rhino, sable, roan and an exceptional diversity of birdlife.

Open landscapes, waterholes and year-round game viewing make Hwange one of Zimbabwe’s most rewarding safari destinations.

Stay Two: Wilderness Linkwasha

Situated in a private concession in the productive southeastern corner of Hwange, Wilderness Linkwasha is one of the park’s most stylish and rewarding safari camps. It overlooks a plain and year-round water source that consistently attracts game.

The camp combines contemporary interiors with open, airy design and excellent viewing opportunities from both the main area and the guest tents. Walking safaris here are particularly rewarding and add another dimension to the experience.

• 3 Nights
• Private concession in Hwange
• Excellent elephant and predator viewing
• Walking safaris available

Included: All meals, twice-daily scheduled camp activities, park fees, laundry and local drinks, excluding premium imported brands and champagne.

Mana Pools National Park

Mana Pools is one of Africa’s most authentic safari destinations and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located along the Zambezi River, it is known for its floodplains, river frontage, albida forests and exceptional close-up wildlife experiences.

The park is especially famous for elephants, wild dogs, lions, leopards and outstanding photography, while the Zambezi itself adds canoeing and boating to the safari experience.

Stay Three: Wilderness Ruckomechi

Wilderness Ruckomechi lies in a large private concession on the banks of the Zambezi. It is one of Mana Pools’ most celebrated camps, combining beautiful river views, elegant tented accommodation and a wide range of activities.

The setting is particularly scenic, with views across the river to the escarpment and woodland. Boat cruises, canoeing, game drives and walks all reveal different sides of this extraordinary ecosystem.

• 3 Nights
• Zambezi River frontage
• Boating, canoeing and game drives
• Beautiful “bath with a view” and star bed experience

Included: Accommodation, all meals, twice-daily scheduled camp activities, park fees, laundry and local drinks, excluding premium imported brands and champagne.

Stay Four: Wilderness Chikwenya

The final stage of the safari is at Wilderness Chikwenya, overlooking a beautiful stretch of the Zambezi River in eastern Mana Pools. The camp offers views over open floodplains and dense woodland, with frequent wildlife activity visible directly from camp.

The area is particularly known for elephants, buffalo, hippo and eland, especially in the dry season when they concentrate near the river. Chikwenya provides a fitting end to the journey, with a wonderfully immersive river setting and a strong sense of wild Zimbabwe.

• 3 Nights
• Riverfront camp in eastern Mana Pools
• Excellent dry-season game viewing
• Boat transfer between camps

Included: Accommodation, all meals, twice-daily scheduled camp activities, park fees, laundry and local drinks, excluding premium imported brands and champagne.

Journey Highlights

• Victoria Falls and one of Africa’s greatest natural wonders
• Three nights in Hwange National Park with exceptional big-game viewing
• Six nights in Mana Pools, one of Africa’s most atmospheric safari destinations
• Walking, boating, canoeing and classic game-drive experiences
• Outstanding photography opportunities throughout
• A seamless combination of Zimbabwe’s most iconic regions

Travel Logistics

This safari begins in Victoria Falls, where you are met on arrival and transferred privately to Ilala Lodge Hotel. After your stay, a private road transfer takes you back to Victoria Falls Airport for a scheduled charter flight into Wilderness Linkwasha in eastern Hwange.

From Hwange, a scheduled charter continues to Wilderness Ruckomechi in Mana Pools. Later in the itinerary, a boat transfer links Ruckomechi and Wilderness Chikwenya, giving you a beautiful and practical river-based move between camps. At the end of the journey, a scheduled charter flight returns you from Chikwenya to Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare for onward travel. This routing creates a smooth, high-quality safari flow with minimal overland logistics.