A week of natural wonders begins at the widest cascade of water on earth, Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls; seeks out Africa’s ‘Big Five’ on safaris in Hwange National Park; and crosses to Botswana for the huge herds of elephants in ‘the Land of Giants’, Chobe National Park
Save up to £200
(7 June & 2 August)
Flight - 1 night
Victoria Falls - 3 nights
Hwange NP - 2 nights
Chobe NP - 2 nights
Flight - 1 night
Packing fantastic experiences into just one week, this tour dives in at the deep end, Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, where, every minute, 600million litres of Zambezi River water crashes over the 110m-high cataract, creating a permanent heavy spray which, in turn, creates a thriving rainforest on the waterfall’s banks. In a change of scene and tempo, we tour from here to the untamed reserves and abundant wildlife of Zimbabwe and Botswana, where landscapes (and safaris) change with the seasons, from lush long-grass plains during ‘the rains’, usually November to March, to the sun-baked dry months of April to October, when animals are more readily seen as they gather at water resources. Our first visit is to the Painted Dogs Centre, a project protecting the ’wild dogs’, one of the world’s most endangered predators, their coats multi-toned in camouflage colours. We explore Hwange National Park, the former hunting ground of a Matabele king. Now the biggest and, arguably, the best reserve in Zimbabwe, it is regarded as one of Africa’s premier conservation areas; and in Botswana, the Chobe reserve is renowned for its concentration of game, and for the world’s largest population of elephants.
Wildlife & Natural Wonders
Jules Verne Sightseeing
Open Vehicle Game Drives
Open Game-Viewing Cruises
UNESCO Site: Victoria Falls
1 Lunch & 4 Dinners
Local Expert Guides
Day 1 Fly overnight from London Heathrow to Victoria Falls, via Addis Ababa or Johannesburg.
Day 2 On arrival, transfer to the 3-star A’Zambezi River Lodge, with a pool and peaceful gardens, on the bank of the upper Zambezi, for a three-night stay.
Day 3 Twice as wide and twice as deep as Niagara, the spectacular Victoria Falls are more evocatively known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, ‘the smoke that thunders’; the constant spray soaking the surrounding rainforest, which is buzzing with birds, insects, and small mammals. Tour the Falls this morning and, in the early evening, enjoy a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. (B)
Day 4 Among optional tours available today, perhaps experience a bird’s-eye-view of the unrivalled cascade with a helicopter flight (12 minutes, £150). (B)
Day 5 Visit the Painted Dog Centre, dedicated to the preservation of the wild dogs. With Zimbabwe one of the species’ last strongholds, the conservation project was founded on research carried out by Hwangwe National Park. Continue to the reserve, its very diverse landscapes sprinkled with waterholes and salt pans, and teeming with wildlife including the Big Five – lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant herds. Two nights at the Hwange Safari Lodge, set by the main gate and boasting its own waterhole. (B, D)
Day 6 In the early morning and afternoon, enjoy open-vehicle game drives in the park, where over 400 species of resident and migratory birds join a hundred types of mammals from cheetahs and warthogs to zebras and giraffes. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Travel through Zambezi National Park and across the Botswana border to Chobe National Park. Spread around the banks of the Chobe River, its floodplains and mahogany forests are home to brilliant birdlife, big cats, buffalo, plains game, waterbuck and, of course, the elephants. Two nights at the Cresta Mowana Safari Lodge, in a super-scenic spot by the Chobe River. (B, D)
Day 8 On an open-vehicle game drive this morning, look out for nimble impala and majestic kudu, wildebeest, civets, and hyenas; and perhaps share the river with hippos and crocodiles during a sunset game-viewing cruise, when elephants are often seen at the water’s edge. (B, D)
Day 9 Travel by road back to Victoria Falls for your return flight via Addis Ababa or Johannesburg. (B)
Day 10 Arrive at London Heathrow.
A 3-star hotel scenically located on the upper Zambezi, 5 kms from Victoria Falls. Bar, lounge, pool, restaurant and WiFi (free). 87 air-conditioned rooms with private facilities, mosquito nets, hairdryer, mini-bar, tea/coffee making facilities and satellite TV.
An older style, 3-star lodge. Restaurant, bar, pool, shop and WiFi (free). 100 air-conditioned rooms with views of the pool, the savannah or the watering hole. All rooms have private facilities, mosquito nets, hairdryer, fan and tea/coffee making facilities. Includes half board and a game drive each day. Upgraded accommodation will receive a suite room.
Situated on the banks of the mighty Chobe River. Restaurant, bar, gym, pool and spa. 114 air-conditioned rooms with private facilities, mosquito nets, hairdryer, safe, mini-bar, tea/coffee making facilities and satellite TV.
Fridays
per person in a twin/double room
Ethiopian Airlines from Heathrow
Save up to £200
(7 June & 2 August)
Supplements per person
Single Supplement
Single supplement £495
Flight Options
Ethiopian Airlines Business Class - On request
British Airways from Heathrow - On request
Optional Excursions
Helicopter flight over the falls £150
Tour Only
Save £800
Arrival transfer add £20
Departure transfer add £50
Price Includes
Air travel and taxes, transfers, 7 nights’ accommodation, breakfast daily, 1 lunch and 4 dinners, park fees, itinerary as described, services of guides and local representatives. If our specially negotiated airfares are unavailable at the time of booking, a supplement may apply.
Not Included
Travel insurance, visa procurement, optional excursions, tipping, porterage, any government taxes or compulsory charges introduced after publication.
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