12 day Explore Zimbabwe Camping Safari

Departing from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe this budget Zimbabwe Camping Safari explores top wildlife, cultural and historical highlights of Zimbabwe.

Start with a fantastic two-day canoe trip down the Lower Zambezi in Zambia. Bush camp on islands in the mighty Zambezi and enjoy bird watching and game viewing from your canoe in the scenic  wilderness of the Lower Zambezi National Park.

Visit the mysterious Chinhoyi Caves, see Harare, hike in the mountainous Chimanimani National Park and walk to The Big Tree in Chirinda Rainforest. Explore the impressive Great Zimbabwe Ruins to glimpse the past glory of the once great empire that flourished in Zimbabwe.

Delve into the culture and history of Zimbabwe in Matobo National Park, a sacred site scattered with granite hills and go game viewing in this World Heritage Site home to Black and White rhinos.

Visit the Bulawayo Historical Museum and travel south to Johannesburg in South Africa where this fantastic Explore Zimbabwe Camping Safari ends. 

Day 1: Livingstone and Zambezi River - Zambia

The 12-day Explore Zimbabwe Camping Safari departs from Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe early in the morning on day one.

We cross from Zimbabwe into Zambia over the historical railway bridge at Victoria Falls. The bridge, completed in 1905, was constructed at Cecil John Rhodes request to envelop crossing railway carriages in the spray from Victoria Falls.

Reaching Zambia we make a short stop in Livingstone to collect any extra passengers joining us here, before continuing on our long journey east. Our evening camp is located at the mighty Zambezi River from where we will be embarking an exciting canoe adventure on the Lower Zambezi, renowned for its excellent canoeing.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Please Note:

We recommend that you spend a few days at Victoria Falls before this tour departs, allowing time to explore the spectacular Victoria Falls and participate in some of the numerous adventure activities available here. Activities include Zambezi River White Water Rafting at Vic Falls, Walking with Lions, Elephant Back Safaris, Gorge Swinging, Microlight and Scenic Helicopter flights over the Falls, Bungee Jumping and many other options.

Day 2: Lower Zambezi National Park Canoe Trip - Zambia 

Early in the morning we pack up the equipment that we will need on our canoe trip, trying to keep our baggage to a minimum. Leaving civilization behind we set off on the Zambezi River making our way into the Lower Zambezi National Park by canoe.

In Zambia you experience one of Africa’s truly untamed wilderness areas spotting an abundance of birds and various wild animals as you glide quietly on the river.

As we canoe through the scenic Lower Zambezi Park you are likely to see hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffalo, antelopes and baboons, as well as a rich variety of birds. This beautiful wilderness area is also home to lion, leopard, wild dog, hyena, zebra, serval cat and warthog.

Tonight we camp out in the bush on an island surrounded by the open floodplains, riverine trees and wooded hills inhabited by a variety of wild animals. You will be immersed in unspoiled nature on this unique wildlife experience!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Lower Zambezi National Park - Zambia 

On our second day of canoeing on the Lower Zambezi River we continue downstream, going along with the current, which does not take much effort!

For hours at a time you can simply drift along letting the river carry you through the magnificent scenery as you enjoy one of the most unobtrusive ways of game viewing and bird watching - from your canoe. If temperatures or water levels are too high we usually spend two days on Lake Kariba in a houseboat, instead of canoeing on the Zambezi.

We spend another night camping on an island in the Zambezi, enjoying the tranquillity of Africa’s wild bush and keeping an eye out for roaming wildlife.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Kariba Lake - Zambia

We finish our Zambezi canoe trip in the morning and make our way to Lake Kariba, where you will have the time to relax on the shores of this famous dam. 

In the evening there is the chance to enjoy and optional sunset cruise on Kariba, the largest artificial lake in the world. Lake Kariba was filled between 1958 and 1963 following the completion of the Kariba dam.  

Optional Activity: Kariba Sunset cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Chinhoyi Caves – Zimbabwe

Today we cross back into Zimbabwe at the Chirundu Border, a process that can sometimes take quite long.

We take a short drive to our next stop Chinhoyi, from Chirundu. Chinhoyi is known for its superb cave diving in a series of limestone and dolomite caves, the largest cave system open to the public in Zimbabwe. These deep freshwater caves (up to 150 m in depth) have a dark and mysterious history and are of spiritual significance to the local people.

We overnight in Chinhoyi Caves National Park at a campsite that has shared ablutions with showers, baths, toilets and hot water.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Harare and Chimanimani National Park – Zimbabwe

Departing from the intriguing caves of Chinhoyi we drive south to Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital city.

We stop off in Harare to stock up on supplies, explore this compact city and have lunch at a local restaurant. Despite the negative image the press has given Harare over the last 10 years, you will find it to be a surprisingly safe and modern African city. 

From Harare we travel to the mountainous Eastern Highlands and the Chimanimani National Park. 

The towering Chimanimani Mountain range, reaching over 2400 meters at its highest peak, is a wild and unspoiled wilderness area, ranking among Zimbabwe’s best reserves. One of the lesser-known travel destinations in Zimbabwe, this scenic mountain range forms the border between Zimbabwe and neighbouring Mozambique.

In the late afternoon we will visit the popular Bridal Veil Falls, on a short walk (if time allows). The Bridal Veil Falls drops some 50m’s into a 10m wide base and are located in an area offering stunning views of the Porkpie mountain range. The Chimanimani Mountains are known for the excellent hiking trails and spectacular scenery.

We spend the night at a Chimanimani National Park Camp at the foot of the mountains.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7: Chirinda Forest – Zimbabwe

On day seven of our Zimbabwe Exploration you can choose between a full day of hiking in Chimanimani or visit Chirinda Forest on a day trip.

Chirinda is Africa’s southernmost tropical rainforest and the only rainforest in Zimbabwe to lie on the Mozambique Border.

The Chirinda Forest Reserve covers about 950 hectares of evergreen forest and is home to impressive giant mahogany trees. We take a short hike to ‘The Big Tree’ of Chirinda, a pleasant walk to a lovely picnic spot where we enjoy lunch.

We will camp at our Chimanimani National Park Camp again tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Great Zimbabwe Ruins - Zimbabwe

Today we drive to the magnificent Great Ruins of Zimbabwe. This a top highlight of any trip to Zimbabwe, a visit to the world-renowned Great Zimbabwe Ruins is a must.

The Great Ruins of Zimbabwe is a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from about the 11^th century.

This large complex of once served as the trading centre of the vast Munhumutapa Empire. The Great Zimbabwe Ruins are considered the most important and biggest stone ruins in sub-Saharan Africa.

There has been much speculation over who built the majestic ruins, said to be remnants of the Shona civilisation. Zimbabwe is named after these important archaeological ruins that stand as proof of the capabilities of African people.

The ruins are constructed out of large granite stones without the use of mortar. Covering 720 hectares the massive walls of the ruins reach up to 10 metres high and 5 metres thick, testament to the building skill of its creators. The famous soapstone sculptures of eight Zimbabwe birds used to perch on the walls of the Great Zimbabwe Ruins and today these birds are featured on the Zimbabwean National Flag. 

Tonight we camp on the lovely grounds of an inn a few km’s from the Great Zimbabwe Ruins. The inn is set in a beautiful garden on a hill overlooking Lake Mtirikwe and features a restaurant, swimming pool and bar.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 / 10: Matobo - Matopos National Park 

A long drive through Zimbabwe takes us to the Greater Matopos National Park area. 

On day 10 we enjoy a full day game drive with a local operator in the Greater Matopos Park. We head towards the Matobo Hills where we view Bushman rock paintings, rock formations and the dramatic scenery in the National Park.

The Matobo Hills area is historically and culturally significant, as well as being an important wildlife reserve, particularly for rhino conservation. This dramatic landscape dotted with imposing granite hills is home to hundreds of san rock paintings and is a sacred site of the Ndebele tribe, whose rain shrine to the god of their ancestors is found tucked away in the Matobo Hills.

We briefly leave the National Park to visit some African Villages where we have the opportunity to meet the local communities. Re-entering the Game Park part of the National Park, we track Rhino on foot with our local guides, as well as looking out for other game.

Matobo National Park is home to a highly successful Black and White Rhino breeding program. In addition to large numbers of rhinos Matobo Park is home to various antelope species, an abundance of birds, a high diversity of plant species and leopard, baboon and lizards.

The Matobo National Park is also the burial place of colonialist founder of Rhodesia Cecil John Rhodes. In the afternoon we visit his grave, a politically contentious place as imperialist Rhodes was buried on sacred Nebele grounds at his own request.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Bulawayo to Messina – Zimbabwe to South Africa

In the morning we stop off at the Bulawayo History Museum to get a glimpse into Zimbabwe’s past, before travelling south into South Africa.

Crossing the border at Buitbridge, at times a lengthy procedure, we head into the Limpopo Province to the border town Messina where we camp overnight.

The campsite is tucked away in mopani, red bushwillow and jakkalsberrie trees in an area dotted with big baobab trees. Camp facilities include a restaurant, café, bar and shop, as well as swimming and minerals pools, tennis courts and a bowling green.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Johannesburg – South Africa

In the morning we set off early driving along the Great North Road to our last stop, the dynamic city of Johannesburg.

We travel south through the changing landscapes of northern South Africa passing from open bushveld dotted with giant baobabs to fields of citrus and maize and then into the densely populated and industrialised Highveld and Gauteng Province, the economic powerhouse of South Africa.

Along the way we pass through Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital city, known as Jacaranda city because of the lovely Jacaranda trees growing here. Our Explore Zimbabwe Camping Safari ends in the late afternoon when we arrive in bustling Johannesburg, the City of Gold.

On the last evening, after the tour, most people choose to eat out at one of the many excellent restaurants in Johannesburg, sharing a final dinner together.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch