11 Day Best of Zimbabwe and Kruger Small Group Lodge Safari

Day 1: Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park – Zimbabwe

Our Best of Zimbabwe and Kruger Small Group Safari departs from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, famous not only for the awe-inspiring waterfall but also for its many adventure activities. Before we leave the unofficial Adventure Capital of Africa, be sure to visit Victoria Falls, the largest sheet of falling water on the planet. The local name for Vic Falls is Mosi-oa-Tunya which means 'the Smoke that Thunders', a name you'll fully appreciate when standing before the falls.

After breakfast, we leave behind the roaring spectacle of Victoria Falls and journey south toward Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest and most celebrated wildlife reserve. On arrival at our lodge, there’s time to settle in before heading out on an afternoon game drive in open 4x4 vehicles. Hwange is famous for its vast elephant herds, lion prides, and sweeping savannahs dotted with acacia and teak trees. As the sun dips low, keep watch for giraffe, buffalo, sable antelope, and perhaps even one of Hwange’s elusive predators.

We will spend our first two nights at a Safari camp inside Hwange National Park (two per en-suite room). Tonight, we have dinner at camp and spend our first evening around the campfire under a myriad of stars.

• Included Activity: Afternoon Game Drive in Hwange National Park
• Meals: Dinner

Safari Note:

We recommend spending a day or two at Victoria Falls before this lodge safari begins, to participate in some of the many exciting adventure activities available at Victoria Falls. Activities include Zambezi sunset cruises, bungee jumping, helicopter flights, gorge swinging, and white-water rafting. Pre-tour accommodation can be arranged through us.

Day 2: Hwange National Park & Painted Dog Conservation Centre – Zimbabwe

We awaken to the sounds of the bush and set off early on a morning game drive in Hwange National Park

Hwange National Park is home to Africa's Big 5 (lions, leopards, rhino, buffalo, and elephants), plus all of Zimbabwe’s endangered species. This leading Zimbabwe national park is renowned for hosting one of the largest elephant populations in Africa. The game park is home to more than 100 mammal species, including one of the world’s largest populations of endangered wild dogs, living alongside cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, and giraffes and nearly 400 bird species. The park promises extraordinary sightings — from elephants moving silently through teak forests to kudu standing watchful in the thickets or a pride of lions resting after the night’s hunt.

After a leisurely break at the lodge during the heat of the day, we visit the Painted Dog Conservation Centre. This inspiring project works to protect one of Africa’s most endangered predators — the painted wolf, or African wild dog. Here, you’ll learn about the challenges facing these remarkable animals and the community efforts driving their survival.

• Included Activity: Morning Hwange National Park game drive / Hwange Painted Dog Centre (this activity could take place the day before)
• Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 3: Hwange to Matobo National Park & Bulawayo – Zimbabwe

Today our Best of Zimbabwe and Kruger Safari heads further south overland. Leaving Hwange National Park behind us we travel to Matobo National Park, south of Bulawayo. The park is located in the culturally important Matobo Hills, exposed granite boulders that were formed millions of years ago making for a mysterious and surreal landscape. The Ndebele word “Matobo“ means “bald heads”. The Matobo Hills are regarded as a sacred site by the local Shona, who perform rituals in these ancient hills. The rain shrine of the Ndebele, dedicated to the god of the ancestors, is also found in these hills.

This afternoon we embark on a game drive in Matobo National Park. Established in 1953, Matobo Park covers some 44,500 hectares (424 square kilometres). Highlights of this Zimbabwe national park are the possible leopard and black eagle sightings. Matobo National Park is home to one of the world's highest concentrations of black eagles. Black and white rhinos have been introduced to the national park and we are sure to spot them on our game viewing adventure. If conditions and park regulations allow, there’s a chance to track these incredible animals on foot — an unforgettable wildlife experience.

After exploring Matobo Hills we head to our charming lodge in Bulawayo where you can take a refreshing dip in the pool and have a drink at the bar.

• Included Activity: Afternoon game drive in Matobo National Park
• Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 4: Bulawayo to Great Zimbabwe Ruins & Masvingo – Zimbabwe

This fascinating country is home to many treasures, one of which is the world-famous Great Zimbabwe Ruins, the next destination on our small group safari. Once a royal palace and capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, research has shown that this World Heritage Site was once home to Iron Age settlements, but the remains there today date back to the 11th century and later. Legend has it that the ruins were once used by the Queen of Sheba.

There has been much debate and speculation regarding the origins of these ruins, but the consensus is that the structures were constructed by the forefathers of the Shona. Explore the Great Enclosure, the Hill Complex, and the striking Conical Tower, all remarkable examples of dry-stone architecture built without mortar. Steeped in myth and mystery, the ruins tell stories of trade, power, and spirituality that shaped Southern Africa’s history. This extensive complex includes walls that tower up to 11 m high, measuring as much as 5 m in thickness.

The renowned bird carvings, out of soapstone, were found here at the Great Zimbabwe Ruins. Today these 8 carved birds are featured on the Zimbabwean National Flag and replicas are often carved by locals.

After visiting the Great Zimbabwe Ruins this afternoon, we head to the nearby town of Masvingo and our comfortable lodge overlooking Lake Mutirikwi.

• Included Activity: Great Zimbabwe Ruins Visit
• Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 5: Masvingo to Mapesu Private Game Reserve – South Africa

Day 5 of our small group Safari takes us across the border into South Africa. We leave the historical heart of Zimbabwe behind and head south toward the remote Mapesu Private Game Reserve, part of the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area near the Limpopo River. Our route carries us through seldom-traveled regions of Zimbabwe, where open skies, baobab-studded hills, and wide horizons unfold.

Entering South Africa, we drive through the Limpopo Province and by late afternoon, we arrive at our wilderness camp, surrounded by mopane woodland and sandstone formations alive with birdsong. After settling in, relax with a hearty dinner under the stars, anticipating the adventures that await in this pristine part of Southern Africa.

We spend the night at Mapesu Private Game Reserve, 12,000 hectares adjoining UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mapungubwe National Park. There are breathtaking panoramas that overlook the convergence of the majestic Sashe and Limpopo Rivers, where three nations, South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe, come together. The reserve is a haven for birdwatchers and also boasts ancient rock art sites that provide a glimpse into the rich history of civilization within the Mapungubwe area.

• Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 6: Mapesu to Mapangubwe National Park - South Africa

On day six, our safari adventure takes us where ancient culture meets untamed wilderness. Our first stop is the Kaoxa Rock Art Shelter, where millennia-old San (Bushman) paintings bring sandstone walls to life with scenes of animals, hunters, and spiritual symbols—an evocative window into the beliefs and daily rhythms of southern Africa’s earliest peoples.

This afternoon, we venture into the Mapesu Private Game Reserve for a guided tracking experience. On foot with an expert guide and tracker, you’ll learn to read the bush: deciphering fresh tracks, disturbed earth, and distant calls as you follow the subtle signs that reveal the movements of cheetah, rhino, and wild dogs.

• Included Activity: Morning Kaoxa Rock Art Shelter / Afternoon Endangered Wildlife Tracking Experience
• Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 7: Mapungubwe to Phalaborwa & Kruger National Park - South Africa

After an early breakfast, we travel south to the legendary Kruger National Park. Entering through one of the northern gates, we enjoy a leisurely drive across its varied landscapes, keeping an eye out for wildlife along the way. By late afternoon, we reach our lodge near the Phalaborwa Gate, where we settle in before heading out in 4x4 safari vehicles on a thrilling sunset game drive in a nearby private reserve. As the bush glows under the fading light, we search for the first signs of nocturnal life emerging from the shadows.

• Included Activity: Game drive through Kruger National Park in our touring vehicle / Sunset game drive in 4x4 safari vehicles in the private game reserve
• Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 8: Phalaborwa to Timbavati Area - South Africa

We start day eight of our Zimbabwe and Kruger Safari with an early guided morning bush walk in the Phalaborwa area, experiencing the wilderness at eye level, where every track, scent, and birdsong tells a tale of the wild. After the walk and a hearty breakfast, we continue south to the Timbavati region, a celebrated conservation area that shares unfenced borders with Kruger National Park, allowing wildlife to roam freely.

By mid-afternoon, we arrive at our lodge and soon set out on a sunset game drive in the greater Timbavati/Greater Kruger area. With a bit of luck, this could be the day you encounter the Big Five. The evening ends with dinner and stories shared around the campfire — a fitting close to another unforgettable day in the bush.

• Included Activity: Morning Bushwalk / Sunset Game Drive in the Greater Kruger Area in 4x4 safari vehicles
• Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 9: Timbavati to Hazyview via Panorama Route - South Africa

Following breakfast this morning, we leave the Timbavati area and head to our next safari lodge near Kruger National Park. We journey along South Africa’s famed Panorama Route, a day of striking vistas, dramatic canyons, and tumbling waterfalls. Highlights include God’s Window, the sculpted Bourke’s Luck Potholes, and the panoramic views of the Three Rondavels over the Blyde River Canyon. Along the way, we stop to admire the Lisbon or Berlin Falls and enjoy a leisurely lunch at a local eatery. By late afternoon, we reach our lodge in the peaceful surroundings of Hazyview. Settle in for a quiet dinner and rest ahead of the final leg of our safari adventure.

• Included Activity: Panorama Route - Bourke’s Luck Potholes, Blyde River Canyon, God’s Window
• Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 10: Kruger National Park - South Africa

Today is dedicated to the excitement of exploring Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s most legendary wildlife sanctuaries. We set off at first light in an open 4x4 safari vehicle, entering the park through a nearby gate as the bush awakens with the calls of birds and the stirring of animals.

Our goal is to seek out the famed Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino — along with Kruger’s extraordinary diversity of antelope, giraffe, zebra, and abundant birdlife. Midday, we pause at one of the park’s rest camps, where there’s time to stretch your legs, enjoy a light meal, and soak in the atmosphere before resuming our game drive.

By late afternoon, we return to the lodge, carrying with us the day’s stories and unforgettable sightings - the kind of memories only Kruger can deliver.

• Included Activity: Full-day safari game drive in open 4x4 vehicles in Kruger National Park
• Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 11: Hazyview to Johannesburg - South Africa

After our final breakfast this morning, we set out on our return journey to Johannesburg. The unhurried drive offers a chance to reflect on the past days — from ancient rock art and sweeping escarpments to exhilarating game drives and tranquil moments in the bush. By late afternoon or early evening, we arrive in Johannesburg, where our epic 11 Day Best of Zimbabwe and Kruger Small Group Safari comes to an end.

• Meal: Breakfast

Safari Accommodation:

Accommodation on this Zimbabwe and Kruger Safari is in twin-share rooms, with two people sharing a room. These clean and comfortable rooms have en-suite bathrooms with hot showers.

Safari Note:

We recommend arriving in Victoria Falls a day or two before your lodge safari starts, and departing from Johannesburg the day after the small group safari ends. We can arrange accommodation for before and after your safari on request.

For more details, contact African Budget Safaris