Vagabond Travel | ZIMBABWE & ZAMBIA OVERLAND TOUR

ZIMBABWE & ZAMBIA OVERLAND TOUR

$3815 per person

Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful countries on the sub-continent, Zimbabwe boasts spectacular features, including ancient ruins from an unknown past, one of the largest rivers in Africa, an abundance of game and wildlife reserves, an efficient tourism infrastructure and a vibrant, friendly local population. Our tour is primarily a camping safari with limited comforts but unlimited adventure. Flexibility and an open-mind are essential.

VEHICLE USED:
Custom 17-seater adventure truck

INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS:
• Ancient monuments
• Historical sites
• Mountain walks
• African culture
• Zambezi canoe safari
• Save Game Reserve
• Kariba boat trip
• Victoria Falls National Park and entry fee
• Game walks
• Open vehicle game drives
• Hwange
• Matobo National Park
• Rhino tracking on foot

16 Days (3 nights Lodge, 12 nights Camping)

12+ Age

Africa

Destination

Africa
Departure

JOHANNESBURG/JOHANNESBURG
Departure Time

This tour departs every fourth Wednesday from Johannesburg at 0630.
Return Time

Late Afternoon 1700 +/-
Dress Code

Neat Casual
Included

Accommodation

Entry Fees

Group Equipment

Inclusions as per Itinerary

Most meals

Professional Guide
Not Included

Airfare/taxes

Alcohol & soft drinks

All Transport

Arrival Transfer

Bottled water

Departure Transfer

Items of a personal nature ie Laundry/telephone

Optional excursions

Permits

Taxes

Tips

Travel Insurance

Visas

Our gallery

DAY 1 : JHB – ZIMBABWE Distance: 630 km

Our journey begins on departure from the GREENFIRE LODGE JOHANNESBURG at 06h30. We will cover some distance today to reach and cross the border into Zimbabwe. The road will lead us north from Johannesburg and the scenery constantly changes as we pass Pretoria into the bushveld of the Limpopo province and finally as we cross the Soutpansberg Mountain range. After completing the formalities at the border we continue towards the Masvingo area and will spend our first night in Zimbabwe in relative comfort. Meals: own expense Accommodation: Lion and Elephant Included Highlights/Activity : Scenic drive through South Africa, Zimbabwe

DAY 2 : ZIMBABWE RUINS - SAVE RIVER GAME RESERVE Distance: 350 km

Rising with the sun, we continue our journey north and our first stop will be at the Great Zimbabwe Ruins. We visit the monument to view the magnificent structures and to ponder over the mystery surrounding their origin. Thereafter, we continue east to the Save River Game Reserve, an area offering some of the finest wilderness in Zimbabwe. We will spend two nights here in our private rustic bush camp and will explore the area both on foot and in an open vehicle, maximizing our game viewing experience. Meals: B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) - Save Included Highlights/Activity : Zimbabwe Ruins, Save River Game Reserve, Game Drive, Game Walk

DAY 3 : SAVE RIVER GAME RESERVE

As Above Meals: B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) - Save

DAY 4 : EASTERN HIGHLANDS Distance: 250 km

Leaving the Lowveld, we travel through Mutare and into the Eastern Highlands, a mountain range that extends for about 300 kilometres and creates a natural border to Mozambique. This is an area of spectacular scenery, forests, mountains and waterfalls. This afternoon we arrive at our camp for the night and after setting up, we conduct a short hike in the surrounding mountains. Meals: B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) Included Highlights/Activity: Short Hike, Eastern Highlands

DAY 5 : CHINHOYI Distance: 363 km

An early start, we travel westward along the winding descent into the capital city, Harare, where we enjoy a short stop for lunch (own expense). Leaving Harare, we continue to our overnight stop near Chinhoyi, where we spend the remainder of the day enjoying a walk in the wilderness surrounding our camp. Meals: B D (Lunch own expense) Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) Included Highlights/Activity: Walk to explore the area

DAY 6 : KARIBA Distance: 245 km

A short drive today before we descend into the Zambezi Valley on a road that follows ancestral elephant paths. Then it’s on to Lake Kariba, the third largest man-made lake in the world. After we settle into our accommodation, we enjoy an afternoon boat cruise on the lake. Meals: B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) – Kariba Included Highlights/Activity: Lake Kariba, Boat Cruise

DAY 7 : ZAMBIA Distance: 110 km

After exploring the town of Kariba, we cross the border over the dam wall to enter Zambia. Our next stop is Gwabi, at the confluence of the Kafue and mighty Zambezi rivers. It is from here that we will embark on a two day canoe trip on the Zambezi River. The afternoon is spent preparing for the upcoming canoe trip as we pack all the essentials we will need for our trip. We camp the night. Meals: B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) – Gwabi Included Highlights/Activity: Kafue River

DAY 8 : ZAMBEZI CANOE TRIP Distance: Roughly 40 km of down river

A mighty river literally boiling with hippo and crocodiles, and luring every imaginable animal to drink from its sandy banks, the Zambezi needs very little introduction - and justifiably so. We start our two day canoeing adventure from Gwabi and then continue down the river, past Mana Pools, at our own pace. Paddling with the strong current, we spend two days on the water, game viewing and bird watching, camping wild on islands each night. Meals: B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) – Wild Camping Included Highlights / Activity: Two day canoeing adventure, Game viewing from our canoes, Kafue River, Zambezi River

DAY 9 : ZAMBEZI CANOE TRIP

As Above Meals: B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) – Wild Camping

DAY 10 : ZAMBEZI CANOE TRIP

The trip ends at the Chongwe River. We transfer back by boat to overnight once again at Gwabi Camp where we enjoy a welcome restaurant meal (own expense). Meals: B L (Dinner own expense) Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) – Wild Camping

DAY 11: VICTORIA FALLS Distance: 495 km

An early start this morning, we travel through Zambia, via Livingstone, and then view the phenomenal Victoria Falls before crossing the original steel railway bridge to Zimbabwe. Here you are able to wander around and explore the multitude of curio stalls and the other attractions that this bustling town has to offer. We spend two nights at the GREENFIRE LODGE VICTORIA FALLS, giving those who wish to do so the opportunity of participating in a day of white water rafting below the falls (own expense). We will eat at a restaurant on one of these nights (own expense). Meals: B L D Accommodation: Greenfire Lodge Victoria Falls Included Highlights/Activity: Victoria Falls, Original Steel Bridge Optional Activities: Scenic Helicopter Flight , White Water rafting, Bungee jump

DAY 12 : VICTORIA FALLS

As above Meals: B (Lunch and Dinner own expense) Accommodation: Greenfire Lodge Victoria Falls

DAY 13 : HWANGE Distance: 185 km

Leaving the vibrant town of Victoria Falls, we head for our private bush camp in Hwange. This afternoon/evening we will conduct an extensive open-vehicle game drive/walk experience in search of the herds of game that this area is so well known for. We camp the night overlooking a waterhole teeming with wildlife. Meals: B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) – Ivory Lodge Included Highlights / Activity: Hwange National Park, Game drive in the Park

DAY 14 : BULAWAYO – MATOBO Distance: 320 km

An early start, after breakfast we head for the wide streets of Bulawayo, and then on to our camp nestled amongst the precariously balancing boulders of Matobo. We will spend the afternoon enjoying this beautiful area covered with granite boulders known in the local Ndebele nation as “Bald Heads”. We do a game drive and rhino tracking on foot within Matobo National Park. Meals: B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) Included Highlights/Activity: Matobo National Park, Rhino Tracking Experience on foot

DAY 15 : LIMPOPO Distance: 450 km

Continuing south today, we cross the border into Botswana. After completing the border formalities we continue to our bush camp situated on a private game reserve within the Limpopo valley. On arrival in the afternoon there will be time for a short walk in the surrounding bush. Meals: B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) Included Highlights/Activity: Private Game Reserve

DAY 16 : JOHANNESBURG Distance: 480 km

A leisurely start this morning, we pack up camp and continue south to arrive in Johannesburg in the late afternoon. Our tour will end on arrival at the GREENFIRE LODGE JOHANNESBURG. Meals: B (Lunch own expense) Included Highlights/Activity : Scenic Drive through the Northern part of SA Please note that we strongly advise against flying out on the day that the tour ends. Drifters will not be held responsible for missed flights on this day. We generally travel long distances and late arrivals are common.

Malaria precautions are necessary. A sleeping bag, towel and pillow are required for this tour. Our price includes transport from Johannesburg and back, food, coffee, tea, fruit juice at breakfast, group equipment, accommodation, canoe safari, permits and park entry fees and a professional guide, Victoria Falls entry, game drives and walks. A valid passport is required by everyone. The tour will visit Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa. It is the client’s responsibility to insure they have the appropriate visas required for this trip to all the countries we visit. Some nationalities might need to obtain visas before departure as they cannot be obtained at the border. The price does not include alcohol, bottled water and soft drinks, visas, tips, curios, restaurant meals, flights, airport tax and airport transfers and any optional excursions such as rafting and bungee-jumping. Before departure clients will be required to enter into an agreement pertaining to our booking conditions and general information as defined on our website and in our brochure. Clients are required to have their own comprehensive personal travel insurance. At time of going to print the above itinerary was correct but Drifters continually strive to offer our clients the best available tour options and as such we reserve the right to change aspects of the itinerary at our discretion. During the validity of the published itinerary conditions will change, roads are improved or deteriorate often opening up new routes, contracted camps and accommodation facilities change standards, optional activities become available or are discontinued, new border posts open and old ones become congested, etc. Drifters are continuously monitoring all of the factors that make up a successful tour and as such will make amendments to the published itineraries if circumstances demand or if we believe that the change will enhance the tour.