Discover Zimbabwe Camping Safari

The one-week Discover Zimbabwe Camping Safari safari takes you on an exciting journey of discovery through Zimbabwe, exploring Zimbabwe's top wildlife, cultural and historic highlights.

Starting and ending at the famous Victoria Falls, this affordable camping safari includes game viewing in the top Zimbabwe game parks of Hwange National and Antelope Park. Visit Bulawayo to meet the friendly people of Zimbabwe, experiencing their vibrant culture and exploring Zimbabwe's fascinating history. 

Discover the cultural heritage and traditions of Zimbabwe's people in the granite hills of Matopos National Park and travel back in time at the ancient site of the Great Zimbabwe Ruins on this action-packed budget Zimbabwe Camping Safari.

Tour Highlights

• Hwange National Park game drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles
• See endangered African Wild Dogs at Hwange's Wild Dog Project
• Embark on a thrilling night game drive in a wildlife concession 
• Explore Matopos National Park's culturally significant hills
• Explore the ruins of the Great Zimbabwe National Monument
• Walk with lions in Antelope Park Private Game Reserve 

DAY 1: Hwange National Park (Lunch & Dinner)

This one-week adventure through Zimbabwe departs from Victoria Falls on the first day, heading south to the famous Hwange National Park.

Arriving at Hwange we set up camp on the edge of the park and rest before our afternoon excursion to the Hwange Wild Dog Project. On our visit to the Wild Dog centre we get to see the important work that is being done to rehabilitate and release orphaned and injured wild dogs back into the wilderness.

It is estimated that there are only three thousand wild dogs surviving today, which makes a visit to this centre a rare and unique experience. After learning about the extremely valuable rehabilitation work being done at the African Wild Dog centre, we venture out on an evening game drive. We explore a wildlife concession neighbouring Hwange National Park on this exhilarating game viewing drive. The drive lasts into the night when a variety of nocturnal animals such as the elusive leopard, can be spotted.

DAY 2: Hwange National Park (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Today we enter Hwange National Park after transferring to open 4x4 safari vehicles for our morning game drive in search of the variety of wildlife found in this vast game park. We return to our camp for lunch and spend some time unwinding by the swimming pool during the hottest part of the day. In the late afternoon we embark on another afternoon game drive in search of any wildlife we may have missed in the morning. As the sun is setting we get back to camp and enjoy a hearty dinner, spending a relaxing evening recollecting our exciting game viewing drives. 

About Hwange National Park 

Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s largest national park covering over 14 600 sq km’s of grassland plains, scrub bush and salt flats close to the Kalahari desert. Hwange boasts one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa, hosting around 400 bird species and 105 mammal species; including Africa’s Big Five. The game park is known for it vast elephant herds; claimed to be one of the longest surviving elephant populations in Africa. This wilderness area, located in western Zimbabwe also protects an abundance of buffalo, giraffe and zebra. Hwange National Park is home to all of the specially protected wild animals of Zimbabwe, including one of Africa’s largest groups of endangered African Wild Dogs. Hwange is also the only protected area in Zimbabwe that is inhabited by a reasonable number of brown hyena and gemsbok.

DAY 3: Bulawayo (Breakfast & Dinner)

We pack up camp and depart for Bulawayo after breakfast, travelling south to the second largest city in Zimbabwe.

The afternoon is free for you to explore Bulawayo’s wide tree-lined avenues and attractions at your leisure. Visit the bustling curio market at the Old Town Hall to browse the wide array of locally made handicrafts and artworks created by skilled Zimbabwean craft makers, even trying your hand at bargaining. Explore Zimbabwe’s past, journeying back in time to colonial and traditional times at the National History Museum.

DAY 4: Bulawayo (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Today we take a short drive to Matopos National Park accompanied by knowledgeable local guides. On our day trip to the scenic Matopos Park we experience the tranquil beauty of this diverse park, visiting the sacred Matopos Hills. We take a thrilling guided bush walk in search of rhino and other wildlife found in Matopos national park.

About Matopos National Park

This geologically unique game park is home to a variety of wildlife, including Black and White Rhino, leopard and various antelope species, as well as an abundance of bird species. It is said that the boulder-strewn landscape of Matopos, which means “Bald Heads” in Ndebele, was formed by river erosion over 2000 million years ago.

The spirits of deceased Ndebele chiefs are thought to dwell among these wind-sculpted granite hills making Matopos an important place in indigenous folklore. Hundreds of San (bushman) rock paintings are also found in Matopos Hills adding to the cultural significance of the area. Cecil John Rhodes and several other colonialists are also buried at Matopos.

DAY 5: The Great Zimbabwe Ruins (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

From Bulawayo we head east towards Masvingo, a small town near the Great Zimbabwe Ruins. We camp close to this UNESCO World Heritage Site, allowing us to spend plenty of time exploring the remnants of this vast ancient city. While visiting the Great Zimbabwe National Monument we have the opportunity of climbing to the top of one of the royal structures, the Hill Enclosure – to enjoy a spectacular African sunset.

About The Great Zimbabwe Ruins

The Great Zimbabwe Ruins, after which the country is named, is one of Southern Africa’s most important archaeological sites. This sprawling stone city, one of the largest and most ancient structures in Africa, was once a mighty trading centre and royal capital.

The Great Zimbabwe National monument was home to over 10 000 African people, in medieval times when this advanced civilization was at its prime. These impressive ruins, said to date back to 1200AD, hold great cultural and historical significance for Zimbabwe.

DAY 6: Antelope Park, Gweru (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Leaving the Great Zimbabwe National Monument we drive to the central plateau of Zimbabwe heading for the town of Gweru. From Gweru we visit the nearby Antelope Park Private Game Reserve, famous for its Lion Breeding & Rehabilitation Project.

In Antelope Park we have an array of optional activities to choose from including; elephant rides, river cruises and horse riding. There are also game-viewing drives or bush walks available in this game reserve, home to a variety of antelope species, zebra and giraffe.

The highlight of any visit to this game park is the opportunity to encounter free-roaming lions in the wild. In Antelope Park you get to walk with several lion cubs that have been released into the wild, “joining the pride” in the bush. Watching these young lions, aged 6 to 18 months, as they play and roam the African bush, is an unforgettable experience.

DAY 7: Victoria Falls (Breakfast)

On the last day we travel via Bulawayo, where we stop for lunch, making our way back to Victoria Falls. Our Zimbabwe adventure comes to an end at the mighty Vic Falls.

We recommend that you arrange to spend a few days at Victoria Falls, before or after the Discover Zimbabwe Camping Safari, to explore the natural wonder of Vic Falls and participate in some of the numerous adventure activities available here. For information about short stay tours to Victoria Falls contact African Budget Safaris.

Looking for departure date info? It's up here…