Tour Zimbabwe & Zambia - Ancient Pathways

Accommodation

13 nights on safari designated campsites, in national parks and towns. Campsites have hot showers. Please note there is 1 night of wild camping when canoeing on the lower Zambezi.

Others

Entrance to see the Victoria Falls, Zambia. 1½ day canoe safari on Lower Zambezi with local river guide. Entrance fee to the Chinhoyi caves. Entrance to Nyanga National Park. Entrance fees to Honda Valley and Chimanimani National Park. Entrance and guided tour of the Zimbabwe Ruins. Entrance to Matobos National Park and game walks. Entrance fees, full day game drive in open 4WD game viewing vehicle (Hwange National Park).

Meals

14 breakfasts, 12 lunches and 11 dinners will be provided by the Sunway crew, prepared at the vehicle and eaten around the camp fire or in the boma. 1 lunch will be provided by the lodge. 3 dinners will be own expense meals in local restaurants.

Guide

Sunway tour guides – group leaders are the key to any safari. On a Sunway safari you will travel with 2 qualified and registered field guides (Field Guides Association of SA). Two guides as crew, not a guide and a driver, means interesting trips with maximum knowledge and information. Our guides have a passion for Africa, her people and wildlife, and they love nothing more than sharing their knowledge with you.

Transport

Due to sometimes poor roads we only use Sunway Safari trucks for this tour. Potholes, damaged gravel roads and livestock on the roads can make travel slow, you’ll pass through villages and witness the local lifestyle all the way. For the game drives in Hwange National Park we use open 4WD.

Not included:

Insurance

Full medical and travel insurance required.

Flights

International flights are not included.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Livingstone/ Victoria Falls
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Livingstone/ Victoria Falls

Our journey begins with the incredible views as the mighty Zambezi River plunges 110 meters over the Victoria Falls. We spend the afternoon exploring the mile wide waterfall and the surrounding rainforest that is created by the spray. We settle into camp in the late afternoon with the guides briefing before having dinner (own expense) at a local restaurant. Optional activity of a flight over the falls or a sunset river cruise may be possible (own expense).
Day 2 Day 2: Kafue River
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Kafue River

We pack up camp and depart Livingstone for the long drive across southern Zambia to our camp on the Kafue River. We pass small villages, and the rolling landscape offers interesting views before we drop down into the lower Zambezi River valley. We spend the late afternoon in preparation for our canoeing expedition down the lower Zambezi River.
Day 3 Day 3-4: Lower Zambezi Canoeing
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3-4: Lower Zambezi Canoeing

True adventure begins. This morning we pack our canoes and head out onto the Zambezi River. Home of the tribal mythical god – Nyami Nyami. The River is lined with small villages and diverse scenery. For the entire day birdwatching and photographic opportunities abound. We paddle with the river current and take time to enjoy the calm and serenity, new views are offered as the river snakes its way through the valley, and the sound of the African fish eagle can be heard as it calls from the tree tops. We stop for a rest and lunch on the banks of the river before heading out again for the afternoon.

Our camp is wild on the riverbank in the heart of untamed Africa. The following morning we canoe further downstream into a wildlife rich area with opportunities of seeing hippos, elephants and other wildlife. Before we are collected by motorboat and make our way back to the starting campsite.
Day 4 Day 5: Chinhoyi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Chinhoyi

We cross into Zimbabwe at the Chirundu border post and traverse the Hurungwe Safari area to our next stop at Chinhoyi Caves. Crystal clear, cobalt 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.
Day 5 Day 6-7: Nyanga National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6-7: Nyanga National Park

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.
Day 6 Day 8-9: Chimanimani National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8-9: Chimanimani National Park

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 breath taking landscapes and abundant wildlife. The Afro-Montane forests are home to 74 species of endemic birds, eland, bushbuck and blue duiker.
Day 7 Day 10: Great Zimbabwe Monuments
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Great Zimbabwe Monuments

Dating back to the 11th century, Great Zimbabwe was the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe. These are some of the oldest stone structures in Southern Africa. The remnants of a civilization of up to 20,000 people surviving on trade in gold, cattle and crops. The word Zimbabwe means “houses of stone”. The complex drystone walls and ruins leave archeological clues as to the lifestyle of the people of the area. We explore this national monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site on foot with a guided walk through the hill complex and valley ruins.
Day 8 Day 11-12: Matopos
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11-12: Matopos

Bulawayo is our next destination and the Matobos National Park. Arriving in the late afternoon, we set up camp on the outskirts of the park. We spend the following day exploring the park. Matobos National Parks’ giant granite boulder landscapes, ancient rock art and surrounding wildlife make this a highlight of the tour. We embark on an open game drive into the reserve, where we take a guided walk to get closer to nature and hopefully track the endangered white rhino. After lunch we learn about the bushman paintings that adorn some of the rock overhangs.

We visit the site of Cecil John Rhodes’ grave and enjoy the magnificent sights from World’s View. We return to our camp in the late afternoon and enjoy a sundowner and evening around the campfire.
Day 9 Day 13-14: Hwange National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13-14: Hwange National Park

One of the most famous wildlife reserves in Southern Africa, Hwange National Park, the biggest game reserve in Zimbabwe, is our next stop. We camp on a wildlife concession bordering the park and spend the following full day in search of big game on an open vehicle game drive.

Proclaimed in 1928 this reserve forms an important conservation area along the Zimbabwe and Botswana Border. Photographic opportunities abound, as we search for the large herds of elephant, buffalo and plains game that inhabit the park. Great birdwatching with 420 species recorded in the park, and if we are lucky, we might spot some of the elusive predators. The waterholes also offer good opportunities as the wildlife comes down to drink. We stop for a rest and lunch at a picnic site in the park before enjoying the afternoons sightings. We head back to camp in the late afternoon for our final night around the campfire.
Day 10 Day 15: Victoria Falls – Tour Ends
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 15: Victoria Falls – Tour Ends

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

Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

15 days tour

Zimbabwe & Zambia - Ancient Pathways

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Zimbabwe & Zambia - Ancient Pathways

Day 1: Livingstone/ Victoria Falls

Day 2: Kafue River

Day 3-4: Lower Zambezi Canoeing

Day 5: Chinhoyi

Day 6-7: Nyanga National Park

Day 8-9: Chimanimani National Park

Day 10: Great Zimbabwe Monuments

Day 11-12: Matopos

Day 13-14: Hwange National Park

Day 15: Victoria Falls – Tour Ends

Experience Style

Accomodation level

Experience Type

Physical Rating

Age range

Who talk about us:

Best cities to travel to

America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania