12-day Zimbabwe Safari Tour to Plan with Friends and Family

Day 1: Arrival in Zimbabwe

The first day of the trip will mainly be spent on traveling - first the flight and then a short drive to the hotel. You will reach your hotel in the late evening at the time of the dinner. Hence, no activity or trip would be offered on the very first day. All you can do is relax and sleep tight to wake up with a fresh mind on the next day.

Day 2-3: Getting started with the majestic Victoria Falls

This one of the world’s seven natural wonders deserves to be on the top of your Zimbabwe Safari tour. The scenes are serene and stunning which your eyes are gonna love a lot. After a short drive from your hotel, you will reach the destination and will be transferred to one of the many famous backpacker hostels. No matter what hostel you choose - you are going to enjoy the basic as well as advanced facilities to spend a couple of joyful nights in the area. A basic backpacker will serve you with a pool, bar, café, communal kitchen and free wifi. However, the more luxury you expect, the more the prices will become.

When visiting Victoria Falls, do not miss to get indulged in some of the activities on offer in this adventure capital of Southern Africa. The best part is you can get them booked via backpackers. If you have the budget, you can go for the bungee jumping, white water rafting and even peering over the edge of the falls from Devils Pools. In case, you are running tight on budget, go for a simple afternoon walk along the Zimbabwean side of the falls and capture the spectacular and dramatic flow of water in just $30 USD.

Day 4-5: Hwange National Park

Being the largest national park of Zimbabwe and the 10th largest park of Africa, Hwange National Park definitely deserves your visit. You can stay in one of the camps available in the park to experience better game driving. Staying in a camp rather than a hotel/lodge allows you to experience both evenings as well as night game drives which further enable you to spot more wilderness than the previous one.

Your visit to the park will put you in front of a number of wild animals including African kangaroos, bush babies, hippos, elephants, baboons, wildebeest, and hyenas. However, to spot the hyenas, you really have to peel your eyes as they are too quick to vanish in the bushes.

Day 6-7: Houseboat on Kariba Dam

If you are on a friends trip, this is the perfect place you can marvel at with your buddies. Known as the playground of Zimbabwe for a long time, Kariba Dam is the place where friends can spend some leisure time with the stunning sunset views.

To experience the beauty of the dam, it would be good to rent a houseboat from the Kariba town. Board the boat with a bunch of friends and sail this one of the largest yet the best artificial lakes in the world. There are a couple of islands which you can explore while sailing the lake. So, do book at least two days to explore the dam and the lake to the fullest.

Day 8-9: In the Matopos National Park

The next two days of your Zimbabwe Safari Tour will take you to the land of the boulders. Matopos National Park is famous for two things - one the numerous gigantic boulders that rest on the top of each other and second are the rhinos that are a part of its walking safari.

You can start with the boulders to witness some striking geological formations here that seem to defy gravity! Since it would be a two-day trip to the park, you can reserve the second day for a delightful walking safari in the midst of the rhinos.

Day 10: Watch the freely roaming lions and elephants in Mana Pools National Park

The Mana Pools National Park is famous for its wild and raw nature. The park is an ideal place if you are looking for some close and adventurous encounters with the wild especially lions and elephants. There are no fences in the park which allow animals to roam freely without any constraints. You can also walk freely in the park but walking along with a local ranger would be a better and safer idea.

Another thing that makes Mana Pools an interesting park is the cruising. You can cruise on the Zambezi River to capture some scenic game views. You will get to spot a couple of hippos, crocodiles, elephants and countless birds on the river which will collectively add value to your Zimbabwe Safari Tour.

Day 11: Matobo Hills National Park

Enjoy a relaxed walking safari in the beautiful Matobo Hills National Park before heading to the last day of your trip. The park is famous for the endangered white and black rhino species which only a few parks in Africa boast. A morning safari in the park will take you close to the rhinos who look spectacular from a distance. Apart from the rhinos, the Matobo Hills National Park also known for a large concentration of leopards and black eagles which you should not miss spotting. A full-day guided tour to the park is enough to give you the real taste of Africa. You can explore the park either by foot or rent a vehicle to cover more distance in less time. The choice is all yours!

Day 12: Departure

Your 12 days Tour in Zimbabwe is finally completing and today you will be saying Cheerios to the scenic beauty of this place. With lots of special memories in your heart, you will transfer to the airport for a happy return. Do not miss to enjoy your farewell breakfast in the hotel before the exit formalities. You will love the sweet gesture shown by the hotel staff.