15 days – Zimbabwe and Zambia Old Pathways camping tour

Magnificent Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. David Livingstone ‘discovered’ the falls in 1885 and named them after Queen Victoria. The scene he encountered was a mile-wide sheer basalt fault line over which the mighty Zambezi tumbled to a depth of 100m, creating a cloud of spray which feeds a surrounding tropical rainforest. The falls are also the centre of a wide range of activities, including white water rafting on the mighty Zambezi, scenic flights or a 111m bungee jump (own expense).

A long drive takes us across the rolling Miombo forested hills of southern Zambia to the Kafue River where we camp the night. We spend the afternoon preparing for our canoe expedition down the Zambezi River.

We paddle down the mighty Zambezi River, home of the tribal mythical god – Nyami Nyami. Canoeing past local riverside villages and magnificent scenery. We camp wild on the banks of the Zambezi in the heart of untamed Africa. The following morning we continue our canoe safari through an area teeming with elephants, hippos and other wildlife. We will be collected by a motorboat, and are transferred back up river to our starting campsite.

We cross into Zimbabwe at the Chirundu border post and traverse the Hurungwe Safari area to our next stop at Chinhoyi Caves. Crystal clear, cobolt blue water lies at the bottom of the “pool of the fallen”. The extensive system of caves and tunnels were used as a place of safety for Mashona tribesman against the Matabele raiders.

We spend two days exploring Nyanga Mountain National Park. The park offers breath taking vistas and diverse landscapes with Mount Nyangani, Zimbabwe’s highest point at 2592m above sea level. As we explore its trails, you’ll encounter lush forests, cascading waterfalls, and serene lakes. The air is crisp, and the sounds of nature surround us, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
The variety of ecosystems and climate in the area make it a birders haven. Interesting birdlife includes the Blue Swallows in summer and Wattled Cranes breed in the area during the winter months, and a variety of raptors.

In the morning we walk through Honda Valley before we make our way to Chimanimani National Park, were we make camp for the next two nights. The scent of wildflowers fills the air as you explore the winding trails, immersing yourself in nature’s beauty.

On day 9, we embark on a full day walk in Chimanimani National Park. The park offers breathtaking landscapes and abundant wildlife. The Afro-Montane forests are home to 74 species of endemic birds, eland, bushbuck and blue duiker.

We make our way to the town of Masvingo and the Great Zimbabwe Monuments. The well preserved ruins are some of the oldest and largest stone structures in Southern Africa and were built during the 11th to 14th Centuries. We explore on foot and wonder at the mysteries of these ancient stone structures and the civilization that built them.

Moving on to Bulawayo, we arrive in the late afternoon and set up our camp on the outskirts of the park, before enjoying a sundowner and an evening around the campfire.
An exciting day follows as we head into the Matobos National Park with a local guide exploring an area of granite koppies and wooded valleys. On our open vehicle game drive we visit World’s View and the historical site of Cecil John Rhodes’ grave and discover the unusual rock formations characteristic of this area. As part of our visit we take a guided walk to track and hopefully find endangered white rhino, as well as other wildlife, and view bushman rock paintings.

Named after a local Nhanzwa chief, Hwange National Park is the largest Park in Zimbabwe occupying roughly 14 650 square kilometres and is located in the north-west corner of the country. It is famed for its large elephant population. Our camp is in the game management area that borders the park, and we explore the park with our local guide, on a full day game drive in an open 4WD game viewing vehicle.

On our final day we have a short transfer from our last camping site to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe where the tour ends around lunchtime.

Please note: The distance and travel times quoted above are an estimate only, and subject to local road conditions and photo stops!.

This trip starts in Livingstone, Zambia at 14:00. There is no need to overnight in Livingstone before departure, and you can fly into Livingstone airport (LVI) or Victoria Falls (VFA) on the day of departure.

This safari ends in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe at 12:00. You can therefore book your flight out of Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) or Livingstone Airport (LVI) on the last day of the trip.

Please indicate if you require assistance with airport transfers and hotel reservations in the notes section of the booking process.

Responsible Tourism
The Painted Dog Conservation Centre, outside Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, works to rehabilitate and release injured and orphaned wild dogs. A fascinating, beautiful and social species which is critically endangered. www.painteddog.org

Overnight: 15 nights participation camping at formal campsites and wild camping. The tour will provide a bucket shower with warm water off the fire. We also provide mats and chairs with backrests. Tents are large and easy to erect.

Meals: 15 breakfasts, 12 lunches and 11 dinners will be provided by the crew, prepared at the vehicle and eaten around the camp fire or in a boma.

Transport: Transport in safari truck

Limited Participation: An essential part of your safari is participation. From putting up your tent to packing the truck in the morning – it’s all part of your adventure. Your tour leaders will do all the meal preparation but we do ask the clients to help (on rotation) with the washing up. There are some long travel days which means early morning starts so we all need to get involved to make the day run efficiently.