zimbabwe tour, wild dog safaris, lion walk, zimbabwean ruins with Acacia Africa

Day 1 Bulawayo
We leave Victoria Falls and drive south to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city. This afternoon is yours at leisure to explore the city. Bulawayo is a pleasant city with broad tree lined avenues and wide open spaces. There is a facinating National History Museum, which recounts much of Zimbabwe's traditional and colonial past; also near the Old Town Hall is a vibrant curio market that you can explore and try your bartering skills if you see a bargain. The curio markets also have a wide array of handicrafts and artwork that are on display made by skillful local craftsmen and woman.

Day 2 Bulawayo/Matopos National Park
Matopos National Park is located a short distance outside of Bulawayo. The wind-sculptured Matobo Hills are the site of numerous Bushman paintings and the area holds a special culture and spiritual importance to the indigenous people. It is also the burial site - at 'World's End' - of Cecil John Rhodes, the 19th century pioneer and colonialist. In the morning we will be picked up by knowledgeable guides that will take us to this beautiful National Park to embark on our game drive and providing the conditions are right we can view the game by foot as this reserve has the largest concentration of Black and White Rhino.

Day 3 Great Zimbabwe
Leaving Bulawayo we head East of the country to a small town of Masivingo. Nearby is one of the most important archaelogical sites in Southern Africa: the Great Zimbabwe National monument. Once a home to an indigenous population of some 10,000 people dating back to 1200AD, the area holds special significance to the country which took it's name. We lodge nearby for easy access and ample time to explore the ruins at leisure.

Day 4 Antelope Park
Located on Zimbabwe's central plateau, we pass through the town of Gweru and make camp at the Antelope Park Private Game Reserve. This is home to numerous antelope as well as zebra and giraffe. Here we have opportunity to try various (optional) activities including game drives, (or walks), elephant back riding, river cruise, horse riding or even try 'Walking with the Lions' where you will 'join the pride' and venture out into the bush with several 6-18 month old lion cubs. Walk where they walk and go where they go; enjoy their play and exploration of their world - a real African experience!

Day 5 Hwange National Park
In the morining you have the opportunity to do further activities before leaving Antelop Park and head for the worlds famous Hwange National Park - Zimbabwe's largest and best known game reserve, which is home to 400 bird species and 105 species of mammals including the ‘Big Five’. Once the royal hunting grounds to the Ndebele warrior-king Mzilikazi, Hwange was set aside as a National Park in 1929. The park covers an area of over 14,600 sq km and is particularly known for it's elephant populations. We take a night game drive in a game concession area adjacent to the National Park where we search for a variety of nocturnal animals including the ever elusive leopard.

Day 6 Hwange National Park
Today we transfer to open safari vehicles and enter the Hwange National Park. Located in the far west of the country, Hwange sits in a remarkable belt of Africa, extending into neighbouring Botswana. As well as elephants, the park contains over 100 mammal species including Africa's 'Big 5' (leopard, lion, elephant, rhino and buffalo), giraffe, gemsbok and the brown hyena. There will be a morning game drive, after which we return to our lodgings for lunch and to relax through the heat of the day. Later in the afternoon we head out again for another drive hoping to glimpse wildlife not seen earlier. We return to camp at dusk for overnight.

Day 7 Victoria Falls
Our final day is spent returning to Victoria Falls. On the way we visit the Hwange Wild Dod project. Here we see the efforts made to rehabilitate and release injured and orphaned wild-dogs. This is extremely valuable work on a species thought to number a mere 3000 remaining individuals in all of Africa. We then continue to the 'Falls' and the end of our journey. Be sure to allow some extra time here to enjoy the spectacular 'Falls' themselves and the mighty Zambezi River and the activities that surround the area.

Accomodation

Accomodation is in twin share lodges with private facilities, twin share B&B with shared facilities, and en-suite safari tents.

Transport

Minivan, 4x4