9-Day Epic Safari From Zimbabwe to South Africa
Explore Tours
Discover three of southern Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife destinations – Hwange National Park, Kruger National Park, and Matobo National Park – in a quest to see the world’s most magnificent animals. Over nine days, search for the Big Five (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo) and more on this journey through South Africa and Zimbabwe. Additionally, you’ll spend time in a traditional village in Limpopo province and explore South Africa’s modern capital, all while experiencing Africa’s remarkable and diverse natural beauty.
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Tour Amenities
Tour Plan
Mhoro! Welcome to Zimbabwe and the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls. Your adventure kicks off with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you get here early, consider exploring some of the optional activities available around Victoria Falls. The Zimbabwean side provides the most expansive view of this magnificent natural wonder, and scenic helicopter flights are truly breathtaking. For those flights, the Zambezi Helicopter Company (CAA Zimbabwe) is the only operator endorsed by Intrepid. Since this trip doesn’t feature activities in the Victoria Falls area, it's advisable to arrange any optional activities in advance and plan to arrive a bit earlier.
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
Some optional activities require the National Park and Fuel surcharges to be paid for in cash. Please refer to the above list for further information.
You may notice businesses offering an optional Walk with the Lions experience. We ask all Intrepid travellers to avoid this activity as it is contrary to our Responsible Travel policy. While wildlife viewing is a big part of many of our itineraries, we strive to only view animals in their natural habitats and to do so with the greatest level of respect. The lion walking industry directly contributes to the captive breeding and canned hunting of lions.
While at Victoria Falls you may hear about Devils Pool. Intrepid does not recommend the activity here due to the high risk involved. Our leaders cannot assist in organizing this activity.
If you haven't visited Victoria Falls yet, this morning is your final chance. Arrive at opening time (6 am from September to April and 6.30 am from May to August) to catch the falls at sunrise, a magical time with unique lighting and few tourists. Afterwards, depart Victoria Falls and head to Hwange National Park, stopping by the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust—a project supported by The Intrepid Foundation. Here, you'll learn about wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, human-wildlife conflict, and anti-poaching efforts, and you might even meet some rescued or orphaned animals. Hwange National Park, once the royal hunting grounds of the Ndebele warrior-king Mzilikazi in the early 19th century, became a national park in 1929. Today, it features an impressive array of wildlife, with over 100 mammal species and nearly 400 bird species. The park is renowned for its large elephant population, one of the largest in Africa. This afternoon, explore Hwange in an open 4WD vehicle with expert local guides.
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
The Victoria Falls entrance fee is not included, as it’s mandatory for tour groups with pre-purchased tickets to have a local escort. We feel that seeing these waterfalls for the first time should be an uninterrupted experience.
At tonight's camp, there is optional accommodation upgrades (subject to availability).
Head towards Matobo National Park this morning. Shortly after departing from Hwange, make a stop at the Painted Dog Conservation Centre. Habitat loss and poaching threaten the painted dog, pushing it towards extinction. Discover their conservation efforts aimed at protecting and expanding the painted dog population in Zimbabwe and the Hwange ecosystem. Next, continue to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second-largest city. Wander through its streets flanked by historic buildings and enjoy a meal at a local cafe or restaurant before heading to your camp for the next two nights. Matobo National Park is home to a significant population of black and white rhinoceroses, which can be tracked on foot. Additionally, it is where Cecil John Rhodes, the founder of Rhodesia and the De Beers diamond company, is buried. The Matobo area holds deep spiritual and cultural importance for the local community, with numerous sites in the park hosting important ceremonies.
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
Your campground tonight has shared facilities, wi-fi access and optional upgrades (subject to availability). Please speak to an Intrepid booking agent or your leader for more information.
Matobo National Park has an incredibly diverse range of birdlife and wildlife and is home to both Black and White rhino. This morning, you have a unique opportunity to track white rhinos on foot with the help of an expert local guide. There will also be the chance to spot other game – the park is home to klipspringers, leopards, warthogs and springhares. You can also learn about the various local plants and trees, including wild pear and paperbark, while discovering San paintings and the rock formations of the park. After lunch, venture to a nearby village and meet some of the local people. Learn about how it was when they were living in the hills and meet with some of the local personalities – including elderly chief Pondo.
This morning, bid farewell to Zimbabwe and navigate through a bustling border post, the sole direct crossing between Zimbabwe and South Africa. By late afternoon, you'll reach your campsite situated on the outskirts of Honnet Nature Reserve. Unwind and take advantage of the array of amenities offered, such as indoor and outdoor pools, putt-putt, nature trails, and optional game drives.
Your travel time today will be approximately 6 to 8 hours.
This evening you leader will provide a briefing on the homestay and village visit for tommorrow including the types of activities you will be participating in and the positive impact our visit has on the wider community.
Make your way to Makushu – a small village in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. When you arrive, you’ll be met by a local village guide. You’ll be staying with homestay host mothers in their family homes. With no two days the same for local villagers, you might be taking part in activities like beading, dancing, beer tasting and cooking. Tonight, you can interact with the local villagers and learn the traditional Venda ways.
At your homestay tonight, each room is equipped with a double bed, with some hosts having two or three guestrooms. When you arrive at your home and meet your host, you’ll receive a homestay kit. Each kit is fitted with clean linen (duvet, pillow, towel, face cloth, sheet), a roll of toilet paper, hand sanitiser, mosquito repellent, tea, coffee, cup, sugar and milk. True South African long-drop toilets situated outside of each home are available. These facilities are clean and well kept. Homestay hosts supply guests with hot water every morning and evening via portable bucket baths.
Following breakfast, embark on the remarkable journey towards Greater Kruger National Park. En route, there will be an opportunity to halt at a shop or market to procure any camping essentials required by you or the group. Tonight presents an extraordinary chance to camp at the headquarters of the Black Mambas, situated just outside Kruger National Park. Supported by the Intrepid Foundation, the Black Mambas represent the world's pioneering all-female anti-poaching unit, comprising 36 young African women. Challenging the traditional male-dominated landscape, they employ their female skills to safeguard the wildlife of Kruger National Park in an innovative manner. Join them on a bush walk to learn firsthand how they detect and dismantle snares set by poachers. As evening descends, savor dinner illuminated by lantern light, then unwind by the campfire, absorbing personal anecdotes from the members of The Black Mambas.
Your travel time today will be approximately 9 hours.
Begin your day bright and early with a light breakfast and coffee, then set off on a comprehensive full-day 4WD game drive in Kruger National Park. As one of Southern Africa's largest game reserves, Kruger National Park boasts an impressive array of wildlife, including over 500 bird species, 100 reptile species, and 150 mammal species, encompassing the famed Big Five and the endangered African wild dog. Your wildlife encounter commences upon entry into the park, with immediate immersion into prime game viewing areas where you may encounter a diverse range of species, from antelopes and elands to cheetahs and rhinos. Later in the day, venture out on a night drive led by local park guides to observe nocturnal animals and perhaps catch a glimpse of nighttime predators. Night drives offer the chance to observe elusive nocturnal creatures and witness their behaviors in their natural habitat. Typically lasting between 2 to 3 hours, these drives afford sightings of a wide variety of nocturnal species such as nightjars, servals, African wild cats, springhares, and owls.
On occasion, especially during the peak months of May to September and December we are not able to secure campsites within the Kruger National Park. In this instance we will camp at a backpackers outside the park.
It's time to head to Johannesburg. Along the way, you’ll take in amazing vistas at the 3 Rondavals viewpoint over Blyde River Canyon and Bourke's Luck Potholes. This is a magnificent lookout where cloud cover is usually at a minimum. Your African safari adventure comes to an end when you arrive in Johannesburg this evening. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
Your travel time today will be approximately 10 hours.
No accommodation is provided for tonight, but this can be arranged when you book this trip. If you're wanting to catch an outgoing international flight, it's important to book it for 10 pm or later, to allow for delays that your group may encounter.
