9 Day Zimbabwe Heritage and Wildlife Safari, From $2,300

Experience Zimbabwe’s breathtaking and endless beauty, home to one of the world’s seven natural wonders. Explore the country’s rich ancient cultural heritage, hike to the historic Great Zimbabwe Monument in Masvingo, see the Matobo Hills, and explore the incredible Hwange National Park and Victoria Falls.

Day 1- Airport pick up and Introductory Sightseeing Tour

Upon arrival at the Robert Mugabe International Airport, the guide will transfer you to your accommodation for dinner and a one-night stay. Depending on your arrival time, we will take you on a complimentary introductory sightseeing tour to familiarise yourself with the Zimbabwean lifestyle.

Day 2- Great Zimbabwe Monuments

We depart for the most significant mediaeval city in Sub-Saharan Africa. Great Zimbabwe Ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are impressive, built over hundreds of years between the 11th and 14th centuries. The massive site covers almost 1800 acres (7km²) and includes some incredible architectural details in the staircases, interlocking walls, granite boulders, and mortarless walls. The site also contains a small museum with houses, artefacts, displays of building techniques, and a history of the site. The modern state takes its present name, Zimbabwe, from this national monument. The beautiful setting also has home to impala and eland.

We will have lunch at the lodge and tour the ruins in the late afternoon.

Day 3- Transfer to Matobo Hills Lodge

We will transfer you to Matobo National Parks for a two-night stay at Matobo Hills Lodge. The lodge is situated within a private wildlife reserve bordering Matobo National Park (424km²). Matobo Hills is an area of exquisite beauty. The lodge’s accommodation units are built upon a granite outcrop with sweeping panoramic views over the surrounding hills.

Guests can choose what to do in the afternoon. All activities are for your own account.

Day 4- Matobo National Park Game Viewing

Shortly after breakfast, you do the Matopo tour. Matopo National Park is 424km² and has approximately 3,000 San (Bushman) paintings, some more than 15,000 years old. Today’s excitement starts with a morning hike to see some of these impressive ancient San paintings. Later, we will visit the grave of Cecil John Rhodes. Zimbabwe, known as Rhodesia up until 1979, was named after Rhodes. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a game drive and search on foot for resident black and white rhinos with your knowledgeable, professional guide.

Day 5- Transfer to Hwange Safari Lodge

We will pick you up from Matobo Hills Lodge and transfer you to Hwange National Park. Our guides will help you to check in at Hwange Safari Lodge. Hwange is renowned for its giant 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, where they find refuge from the scorching heat at Ivory’s waterhole.

Day 6- Game Viewing Safari in Hwange National Park

You will enjoy a full-day game drive to explore the superb wildlife in the park. We will set out very early in the morning and again late afternoon as these are the best times for wildlife viewing as animals are most active during the cooler times and often rest during the midday heat. A packed lunch will be served at a picnic site in the bush. Hwange ranks among the top national parks in Africa in terms of size, diversity, and quantity of game. Big game includes lion, leopard, buffalo, and some of Africa’s largest elephant herds. In the expert hands of our guides, you will find yourself heading out through the acacia-fringed grassy vleis and the teak forests in search of Hwange’s Big Five. Game drives are the best way to see the variety of wildlife and scenery of the park, and they almost always yield unexpected sightings.

Day 7- Victoria Falls

Soon after the morning game drive, we will say goodbye to Hwange National Park and transfer in an air-conditioned van to Victoria Falls. You will stay two nights at Shongwe Lookout on a bed-and-breakfast basis. The transfer will be approximately 2.5 hours. Late afternoon, you will be picked up for a dinner cruise along the mighty Zambezi River, and in the evening, you will enjoy dinner while on the cruise. At 4:00pm, you will meet with your driver-guide for a pick-up to the dinner cruise. Experience the beauty and the excitement of one of Africa’s most stunning destinations on this Zambezi River dinner cruise. Get an up-close look at the iconic Victoria Falls and enjoy Zambezi-style cuisine as you float along this famous river. Enjoy world-class service and meals prepared by an executive chef.

Day 8- Victoria Falls Tour and a Night Game Drive with a Bush Dinner

Day eight commences with a morning pick-up at 8:30am by our driver guide from the hotel reception. We depart for a guided tour of Victoria Falls that takes you through parts of the Victoria Falls rainforest to the cliffs opposite the massive cascade. At 4:00pm, we depart for a private reserve located approximately 7 miles (11 kilometres) from the centre of town. Here, you will enjoy a late afternoon game drive until sunset. Meander in an open, well-kitted 4×4 vehicle through a changing landscape of scenic basalt plains to the Kalahari sands and teak forests of the Nakavango Private Game Reserve. At sunset, you will stop at a splendid vantage point to enjoy some drinks and snacks, stretch your legs, and chat about the afternoon’s adventures with fellow travellers. At dusk, the spotlight comes out to allow you to see what happens at night in the African bush. The 3-course BBQ meal is complemented by wine, cold beer, and light refreshments.

Day 9- Victoria Falls Airport Drop-Off

After the wonderful adventure, we will provide a transfer back to Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA). Pick-up times depend on your flight details, but Cuckoo Safaris will ensure you are at the airport two hours before your flight departs.