Sample Itinerary

DAY 1: In Transit

FLY TO Johannesburg, South Africa 

Airfares are not included in the cost of this package, it is the responsibility of  the client to arrange and pay for airfare separately. 

ZIMBOTSA works closely with travel advisors. We are always happy to help with airline tickets, travel insurance and other travel services. At ZIMBOTSA, we are prepared to help you plan all aspects of your dream trip to Southern Africa. 

Contact our director for more information:  director@zimbotsatravel.com

ZIMBOSTA TRAVEL HIGHLY RECOMMENDS TRAVEL INSURANCE and MEDICAL  INSURANCE. 

ZIMBOTSA TRAVEL will provide breakfast daily.  Many excursions provide meals.  We will be eating at local watering holes and favorite restaurants. 

ZIMBOSTA TRAVEL DOES NOT PROVIDE ALCOHOL.

Guests are welcome to bring ther own.  

ZIMBOTSA Travel clients will be responsible for paying for excursions that are not already included in our planned tours of Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa.

Two Nights 

Arrive Johannesburg, South Africa. Time to get acclimated.

ACCOMMODATIONS at CITY LODGE HOTEL  located at  O.R. Tambo international Airport.

Traveling from the United States to South Africa involves crossing multiple time zones, which can result in jet lag. Here are some tips to minimize its effects:

Adjust your sleep schedule a few days before your trip to match the time zone of your destination.

Stay hydrated before and during your flight. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can dehydrate you.

Try to get some rest on the flight. Use earplugs, an eye mask, and a neck pillow to make sleeping more comfortable.

Once you arrive at your destination, try to stay awake until it's bedtime in Africa. This will help your body adjust to the new time zone.

WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS FOR DAY THREE

Johannesburg, South Africa

Breakfast  

All Day Guided Tour. Tour of Soweto and Apartheid Museum. Guests will be collected at their hotel by one of our professional local guides. The tour includes a visit to the Hector Peterson Memorial and Museum, Vilakazi Street and the former home of Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. 

ALTERNATIVE EXCURSION.  Just outside of Pretoria, the capital of South Africa, lies the Rietvlei Nature Reserve, a sanctuary for thousand of animals. The tour takes you on a game drive in an openair vehicle through the reserve where you can spot cheetah, buffalo, zebras, hippo, and rhinos. 

National park fees and round-trip transportation is included. 

Read more about Rietvlei Nature Reserve

Dinner 

Six Nights  

Breakfast 

Afternoon flight to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.  

Upon landing at Vic Falls, you will be required to purchase a visa to enter Zimbabwe. US passport holders will be required to pay $55.00 USD per person. Payment must be made in cash. 

ATM machines are NOT available in Zimbabwe. 

Visas must be purchased at the Victoria Falls airport. Once through Customs, our pre-arranged private vehicle will take us to our accommodations. 

CURRENCY CONCERNS

In Zimbabwe the US dollar is king. However, there is a shortage of small denominations so getting change can be difficult. 

There are no coins. Every transaction is rounded up or down and "change" may be given in penny candies. 

Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted, American Express not  much. Only use your card when the item you are buying is priced in US dollars. 

Tonight we will meet for Sundowners. Watch for animals at the watering hole, a beautiful African sunset awaits.  

Dinner 

Breakfast  

Enjoy unique views from the Falls Bridge on the Zambian side. It offers breathtaking views of the falls, the boiling pot, Batoka Gorge and the Zambezi River. You will see the famous Victoria Falls Hotel, which you will visit later in the week.  

The tour of Vic Falls usually takes place in the afternoon. 

Guests will take a private guided tour of Victoria Falls and its magical rainforest.

Afternoon tour of Vic Falls. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife that live in and around  the town, including a pride of lions, a herd of ostriches, a cackle of hyenas, parade of elephants, a barrel of vervet monkeys, a  bloat of hippopotami, a bask of crocodiles, a sounder  of warthogs and a conngress of aboons.  Keep your camera ready. 

Bring a raincoat and non-slip shoes, cover your camera or phone. YOU WILL GET WET. The Falls are the largest sheet of falling water on Earth.

We will visit Victoria Falls' famous baobab, “The Big Tree" is estimated to be between 1200  and 2000 years old and is one of the oldest and biggest living baobabs in Zimbabwe. It is just a  short drive from the Victoria Falls rainforest and is a marvel, measuring 23 meters high and over 18 meters at its widest point. 

There are many excursions in and around Vic Falls. We are happy to help you select one. If you  would like to book an additional excursion, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your desires. Expenses for additional excursions are not included in the cost of the travel package and must be paid for separately.  

Dinner  

Breakfast at Lion Encounter 

Read about the Feast of Beasts

Lion Encounter is highly recommended

Breakfast is included. You are guaranteed magnificent lion sightings and amazing photo opportunities.  

Enjoy an incredible rare opportunity to see a pride of lions not commonly seen, and from an eye level perspective an opportunity to "feed the beasts" during this activity.

 The experience, affectionately  called "The Feast of Beasts" encounter is a truly one-of a-kind lion feeding experience. After the "Feast"  you will be taken to an  encounter with lions known as "Into the Pride." The encounter includes a scenic drive through a 25-acre  enclosure, strategically placed within a teak forest, housing a pride of five lions, one exquisite male and  four beautiful females.  

From the safety of a secure safari vehicle, enjoy close encounters with the pride as they go about their daily lives.  

As amazing as the experience is for you, the funds raised through tourism are critical to lion survival. Zimbotsa is proud of its ongoing community development work and its commitment to fund animal conservation in southern Africa.

Dinner @ The Boma

Dinner & Drum Show, on the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge estate, is a legendary dining and entertainment experience that offers an unforgettable fusion of mouthwatering local cuisine, energetic dance performances, interactive drumming and traditional storytelling. It has, over the years, firmly established itself as a Victoria Falls “must-do”  experience, providing a unique cultural experience that bombards the senses with the tastes, sights and sounds of Africa. 

The four-course meal includes a delicious platter of starters, soup from the campfire, a braai  (barbecue) buffet, followed by a selection of desserts.

 Victoria Falls

Breakfast

Perched on the edge of the Batoka Gorge, the Lookout Cafe is one of the favorites in Victoria  Falls. Spectacular views of the gorges and the Zambezi River.  Watch out for the resident warthog!

If you enjoy shopping and chatting with local artists, we recommend Elephant’s  Walk Shopping and Artist Village. Enjoy hours of browsing  some of the best specialty shops and studios Zimbabwe has to offer.  

Meet local artists and craftsmen at work, creating uniquely Zimbabwean pieces and visit the  jewelry studio to see silversmiths practice the art of wax casting or drop in on the taxidermist before wandering through the organic herb garden learning about traditional herbal healing.

Enjoy delicious home-grown Zimbabwean coffee and tasty eats at The Africa Cafe. 

If culture and history interest you, a visit to the Jafuta Heritage Center is a must. Here you will find a comprehensive collection of Zimbabwean artifacts, and a curator who is also the local Nyanga and can throw the bones for you if you wish!. Read more about Elephant Walk  

Afternoon: Relax by the pool and watch for game along the Zambezi River  

Sunset Zambezi River Cruise

The Zambezi Sunset cruise is a superb way to relax and enjoy the spectacular beauty of the  Zambezi River. There are great photo opportunities featuring spectacular African sunsets. Guests  may  encounter hippo, crocodile, and elephant as well as many different exotic bird species.  

The Sunset Cruise is very popular and includes finger snacks, beer, wine, local spirits and soft drinks.

 Dinner 

Victoria Falls

Sunrise Bridge Run

This first trip of the day takes off at 6:00am from where the tram is stationed. The tram meanders through the national park near the Falls, making a wide sweep through the African bush, and there is a chance to see some of the wildlife that roams through there. You may spot elephant, buffalo, waterbuck or bushbuck, while the guide narrates the area's fascinating history.

Breakfast 

Day 8 is a "do your own thing" day. Here are a few of  the most  popular adrenaline fueled excursions you might enjoy at the Falls:

Helicopter 

Get a bird’s eye view of the majestic falls from a helicopter. 

Zipline

This is the longest Zip Line ride in the world. Imagine the adrenalin rush traveling a speed of 106 km’s hurtling 425m across the gorge, while suspended 120m above the breath taking beauty of the Zambezi water below!

Whitewater Rafting

Two things are guaranteed when you go whitewater rafting at Victoria Falls; you will get wet and you will remember the experience for the rest of your life.

Bungee Jump

The Victoria Falls Bungee Jump is undoubtedly the most scenic in the world. With Victoria Falls as the backdrop, the mighty Zambezi River flow beneath you.

Dinner 

Breakfast TBD 

Afternoon: Kick back for the day and relax for a few hours, then....

For guests who choose the camping option, at 16:00hrs we will be shopping at the local grocery store to pick up snacks and drinks for your Botswana  Safari.  We will be CAMPING in the BUSH for 3 nights. There are NO FENCES – only open sky and wildlife.   

Dinner at Dusty Road Township Experience  A traditional dining experience like no other. The Dusty Road Township Experience is a traditional Zimbabwean restaurant situated in the bustling heart of Chinotimba, the largest and oldest township in Victoria Falls.  Dusty Road has been tried, tested and given the stamp of approval by ZIMBOTSA Travel. If you are looking for an authentic Zimbabwean meal whilst you visit Victoria Falls, put this on your must-do list. Read more about Dusty Road  

Before heading to the Chobe here are a few suggestions to help you make the most of your game drives:

The first basic rule of spotting African wildlife is that you will rarely find good wildlife sightings after 10:00hrs and before 16:00hrs. 

Stick to responsible safari etiquette:  

• Stay in your vehicle, 
• Don't stress the animals, 
• Don't stand up or move suddenly
• Keep conversation to a minimum
• Whisper - no loud voices
• LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS

Experience the beauty of nature with Zimbotsa Travel. Our eco-tourism packages are designed to minimize our impact on the environment while providing you with an unforgettable experience. Get ready to connect with nature.

• Guests  are picked up from their respective hotels at 06:30hrs
• 08:30hrs pick up from border post. 
• Lunch  
• Game drive in Chobe National Park  
• Dinner and Overnight stay in camp  Explore lesser-known destinations with Zimbotsa Travel. 
• Our expert guides will take you to hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path locations that are not on the typical tourist itinerary. Get ready for a one-of-a-kind adventure.

• 05:30hrs Wakeup call  
• 06:00hrs Morning Game drive in Chobe National Park  
• Continental breakfast tea and coffee in campsite  
• Bush brunch/Lunch  
• 15:00hrs Afternoon Game Drive in Chobe National Park  
• Return to Camp in Park  
• 19:00hrs Dinner in Camp  
• Experience the beauty of nature with Zimbotsa Travel. Our eco-tourism packages are designed to minimize our impact on the environment while providing you with an unforgettable experience. Get ready to connect with nature.

• 05:30hrs Wakeup call  
• Continental breakfast tea and coffee in campsite  
• 06:00hrs Morning Game drive in Chobe National Park  
• Bush brunch/Lunch  
• 15:00hrs Afternoon Game Drive in Chobe National Park  
• Return to Camp in Park  
• 19:00hrs Dinner in Camp Guests  are picked up from their respective hotels at 06:30hrs

l. 

• Continental breakfast tea and coffee  
• Morning Game drive on our way OUT of Chobe National Park  
• Return to Kasane, Botswana. 
• We must be out of the Chobe game park by 9.30 am. 
• We will arrive at the border post and will be leaving Botswana and entering Zimbabwe. 
• We will  then transfer to a private vehicle and head back to Vic Falls airport.

• Arrive from Zimbabwe.
• 08.30 hrs. Meet and Greet at Zimbabwe/Botswana border.
• 08.45hrs transfer to lodge check in.
• 09.30hrs Full day game drive in the Chobe national park..(packed lunch, tea and coffee water) on the Safari.
• 18.30 hrs  back to Lodge.
• Dinner lodge/Hotel.

• Breakfast lodge/Hotel.
• 08.30 hrs half day game drive.
• Lunch 1300 hrs.
• 15.30hrs Sunset BoatCruise on the Chobe river.
• Dinner lodge/hotel.
  

• 6am early game drive 3 hours.
• breakfast at the Lodge/Hotel.
• 12.30hrs lunch.
• RELAX TILL
• 15:00hrs Chill or go on your own excursion .
• Dinner lodge/hotel.

• Breakfast lodge.
• Check out.
• Return to Kasane/Victoria Falls border by 09.30 hrs for your flight back to South Africa and then onto USA.
• ZIMBOTSA TRAVEL at this time will be saying our goodbyes. 

"FAMBAI ZVAKANAKA"