P a g e | 1 9 NIGHT VICTORIA FALLS, HWANGE, MATOBO HILLS & GREAT ZIMBABWE SILVER (A) SAFARI 3 Nights Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 3 Nights Hwange National Park 2 Nights Matobo National Park 1 Night Great Zimbabwe Ruins 10 Days / 9 Nights Reference: IS-9A Starts Victoria Falls / Ends Bulawayo Airport Total Price 9 Nights: US$ 2689 (High season) / US$ 2569 (low season) per person sharing. Based on a minimum of 2 people travelling. The more people travelling (up to a max of 6) the cheaper the cost per person. P a g e | 2 Overview This trip takes you on a tour around the western part of Zimbabwe, starting in Victoria Falls and ending in Bulawayo. You will enjoy the wonderful activities in Victoria Falls; experience some Zimbabwean culture and enjoy great game activities in Hwange; learn some fascinating Zimbabwean history and be captivated by the views of the Matobo Hills; and amazed by historical magnificence of the Great Zimbabwe Ruins - all the while taking in the varying landscape that makes Zimbabwe an irresistible destination. It is a chance to visit three of Zimbabwe's five World Heritage Sites. Getting around to these destinations is ordinarily quite a task but we have teamed up with Travel Africa to provide a vehicle and personal driver and guide to escort you. P a g e | 3 Inspired Journey Overview Accommodation Night 1 – 3 Deluxe room at Bayete Guest Lodge Night 4 – 6 Elevated tree house at Ivory Lodge Night 7 – 8 Standard double room at Big Cave Camp Night 9 Standard double room at Norma Jeans Transfers Included Day 1 Road Transfer: Victoria Falls Airport to Bayete Guest Lodge Day 4 Road Transfer: Bayete Guest Lodge to Ivory Lodge Day 7 Road Transfer: Ivory Lodge to Big Cave Camp Day 9 Road Transfer: Big Cave Camp to Norma Jeans Day 10 Road Transfer: Norma Jeans to Bulawayo Airport (BUQ) Highlights Day 1 No scheduled activities Day 2 No scheduled activities P a g e | 4 Day 3 No scheduled activities Day 4 Hide sit, Game drive Day 5 Full day game drive, Hide sit w/ sundowners Day 6 Visit Dete Old Age Home, Visit local village, Afternoon game drive w/ sundowners Day 7 Morning hide sit Day 8 Rhino tracking, Visit San cave paintings, Visit Rhode’s grave/World’s View Day 9 Tour the Great Zimbabwe Ruins Day 1 – 3 Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe One of the original natural wonders of the world, the Victoria Falls is a World Heritage Site and an extremely popular tourism attraction. Known locally as ‘The Smoke that Thunders’, this spectacle is accessible from both Zambia and Zimbabwe and it is an ideal place to combine a game viewing and water sports. There is excellent fishing, a terrifying bungee jump and arguably the best commercial white water rafting in the world. Overnight: Bayete Guest Lodge Bayete offers comfortable and affordable accommodation and is situated in the heart of the Victoria Falls Residential Area. The lodge is 2 km away from the Victoria Falls Centre and 22 km from the airport. Recently renovated, this family run lodge has 25 rooms which are set in a lush tropical garden. Central to the lodge is the large tear drop pool which is hugged by the Caldecott Boma and Ngwezi Tavern. Breakfast is served in the Caldecott Boma every day. Lunch and dinner are also available on special request and are delicious home cooked meals. Buffets and BBQ’s are available for group bookings or by special request. P a g e | 5 Notes: Day 1, 2, 3 DAY 1 Upon arrival at Victoria Falls International Airport, you will be picked up for your transfer to Bayete Guest Lodge in town, a 30-minute ride on tarred road. Check into your room and relax, or get transport into town. From there, you may take part in any of the activities on offer which we can assist you with booking (activities can be found on our activities page). DAY 2 You have a full day in Victoria Falls (or you may sign up for a trip to Chobe National Park for a day). DAY 3 You have a full day in Victoria Falls. Activities Info Optional Victoria Falls activities. Ask us to pre-book your activities for you. P a g e | 6 Day 4 – 6 Hwange National Park Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s biggest reserve, home to a profusion of wildlife, including giraffe, lion, zebra and approximately 40 000 elephants. It provides sanctuary for all the country’s endangered species, including a population of wild dogs thought to be among the most sizeable surviving groups on the continent. Terrain ranges from desert dunes and savannah lands to rocky outcrops and sparse forests. Overnight: Ivory Lodge A small intimate lodge featuring 7 luxurious tree houses and 2 Presidential Elephant Suites set on elevated platforms amongst the indigenous flora of Hwange Game Park. Deep in the mystical teak forests of Hwange is this unobtrusive camp, bathed in the tales of pioneering hunters and explorers such as Fredrick Courtney Selous. Lumbering giants drift around your stilted platforms, their tusks glinting in salute to the sanctuary of shade offered up by these massive trees. This is Ivory Lodge – place of elephants. It is here that great herds of elephants are found – sometimes over 100 strong. Hwange is renowned for its huge tuskers – big old bulls with magnificent tusks. It is also here that the famous Presidential Herd drinks – these elephants’ home-range is amongst the dense feeding areas of the Sikumi Vlei and where they find refuge from the scorching heat at Ivory’s water hole. Silently, elegantly, the lodge stands over the waterhole…. watch by flood light under a star spangled African night sky – the elephants in their play-fighting….their display of instinctive rituals, their caressing and murmurings…all which speak of years gone by. P a g e | 7 Notes: Day 4, 5, 6 DAY 4 On this day, you will have your breakfast at Bayete Guest Lodge, and then you will be picked up for your drive out to Hwange. Ivory Lodge is about 180 kilometres from Victoria Falls town, mostly on tarred road up to the highway turnoff which is a few kilometres from the lodge. Check into your room and have lunch. The rest of your afternoon is at your own leisure, but spending some time in the private safari hide overlooking the salt lick and waterhole is highly recommended. Later, you will be taken on a game drive on the 6000-acre concession which will be concluded with sundowner drinks and snacks overlooking the Dete vlei. To follow, you will be driven back to camp after sunset for the opportunity to spot some nocturnal animals. A 3-course dinner will be served at the Captain's Table. DAY 5 An early wake-up call with tea/coffee starts your day before a full day game drive into Hwange National Park. A packed breakfast will be provided before you head off in an open game drive vehicle. It is an estimated 45- minute drive from Ivory Lodge to the Main park gate. You will be provided with wind breaker, fleece lined ponchos to keep you warm during the drive. You will also be offered teas and coffee's overlooking the waterhole at Nyamandlvou Pan, as well as lunch and snacks later on. In the late afternoon, you will go back to the lodge for some rest, sundowners and snacks in the hide before dinner. DAY 6 After a full continental breakfast, you will have the opportunity to visit the Dete Old Age home. This will allow you to interact with some of the elderly patrons of the Hwange region. The Local Village tour is a cultural experience for you to get first-hand experience of what life is like in a local African village, or if you prefer you can visit the Painted Dog Conservation centre. On your return to Ivory Lodge, lunch will be served and you have a chance to relax and enjoy your surroundings before a late afternoon game drive on the lodge's concession, which ends with sundowner drinks and snacks overlooking the Dete vlei. You will be driven back to camp after sunset for the opportunity to spot some nocturnal animals. Once at camp, continue with pre-dinner drinks in the hide or at the lodge campfire. A 3-course dinner will be served at the Captain's Table. P a g e | 8 Activities Info Game Drives Morning, afternoon & full day game drives can be arranged on the concession and into the National Park. An abundance of game species can be spotted within the concession and National Park including Elephant, Lion, Giraffe, Cheetah, Zebra, Sable, Wild Dog, Leopard and much more! Within the concession, evening game drives can be arranged with a sunset stopover for sundowners and your choice of beverage. Returning to the lodge by spotlight to find those elusive night animals & arriving back in camp in time to freshen up for dinner. Walking Safari After a fireside coffee and delicious muffins, journey into the bush on foot with your professional guide on a walking safari. Enjoy the early crisp mornings as you discover the wonders of the African bush and witness its wildlife come to life. Starting time is first light. Walking Safaris are carried out on our private concession of 6000 acres and are weather dependent. Walking Safaris only available upon request during reservation. Painted Dog Conservation Centre Zimbabwe boasts one of the largest populations of this endangered species.