African Wander Safari- Camping Safari.
Highlights: Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Rhodes Matopos National Park.
Group Size:Minimum 4 people,maximum 8 people
Safari Type : Camping Safari
Accommodation: During 6 nights of your safari, you will stay in campsites sharing toilets and bathrooms with other campers. Some Campsites will be located in the parks and some will be out side the park. Meals will be prepared by our cook and tents are being put up by our Camp staff.
Description: If you are looking for a long mid budget camping safari before you catch a flight home or before your onward travel to another destination, then look no further. The tour starts from Victoria Falls with a quick visit to see the great wonders of the falls and then followed with a romantic visit to Hwange National Park as you will be heading down further to see the famous balancing rocks of the Rhodes Matopos National Park .You will travel back to Victoria Falls by road, not by train as the other tour. If you are a solo traveler, please enquire about an open group departure on this tour. For people travelling together in a big group, please enquire about a group discount.
Day 01 Arrive in Victoria Falls
Arrive at Victoria Falls International Airport and transferred to the main Central camp site in Victoria Falls. You will visit the Victoria Falls with our Guide on a guided tour. You will explore the rain forest, David Livingstone Statue and you will finish with a visit to the famous Victoria Falls Bridge.Dinner and overnight at the main camp site.
Day 02 Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park
After an early morning breakfast, we will leave Victoria Falls and drive to Hwange National Park for a full day game drive in the park. Hwange National Park is one of Africa's finest havens for wildlife and is home to vast herds of elephant, buffalo, and zebra as well as a very large concentration of giraffe. It is also home to many predators and endangered species plus very large and varied birdlife. The whole of the next day is spent exploring this magnificent area. Dinner and overnight at Hwange Main Camp Site.
Day 03 Hwange National Park
We will have another early morning Hwange game drive. Visit most of the watering points in search of wild animals. We will also wait at some of the ideal viewing points where will have great chances to see a wide variety of animals coming to drink. Later in the afternoon, we will be joined by an armed Ranger for a walking safari in the park. Back to the camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 04 . Hwange to Rhodes Matopos National Park
We will have an early departure to Rhodes Matopos National Park. We will arrive in Bulawayo for lunch and proceed to Matopos for an Afternoon tour of the Cecil John Rhodes Grave, Bushman Cave Paintings and the Matopos Balancing rocks.
Dinner and Overnight at Matopos Maleme Camp Site.
Day 05 .Matopos Park
We will remain Matopos park for another day. Today we will visit the game park and explore the park in game section. The game park is very famous of both white and black rhinos, we will have high chances to see them.
Later in the afternoon, we will visit the near by village to see the villagers on their day today life routine. You will come to learn about their culture and their general believes.
Dinner and overnight at Matopos Camp Site.
Day 06. Matopos to Victoria Falls
Today we will say good bye to Matopos as we head to Victoria Falls. We will expect to be in Victoria Falls late in the afternoon. Your overnight will be at a lodge and we will have a fare well dinner together in Victoria Falls.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 07. Victoria Falls & end of the great Tour
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Victoria Falls international Airport for your flight home.
Accommodation/Travel
You will be picked up and dropped off at Victoria Falls International Airport. If you will be arriving in Victoria Falls on another different way, then we will contact you to find out where we can pick you up.
Included/Excluded
Cost includes:
• 4WD Land rover, Mini Bus or Land cruiser with pop-up viewing roof & radio communication system
• Guaranteed window seat per person
• In-car battery charger
• Unlimited mileage on safari ensuring the best possible animal sightings
• Highly experienced, English speaking driver-guide
• All park fees & village fees.
• All camping equipment including all weather tents, 5cm thick foam mattresses with covers, pillows, sleeping bags, side table with warm water & face towel, mirror & torch
• Highly experienced private cook (all dietary requirements catered for)
• All meals during safari plus tea, coffee, juice
• Unlimited bottled mineral water
• Provision of cooler box & ice for clients own supply of drinks
• First Aid Kit in car
• Emergency medical evacuation cover
Cost excludes:
• International flights
• Zimbabwe entry visas
• Travel & Health insurance
• Accommodation before and after safari
• Breakfast on day 1
• Alcoholic drinks & sodas
• Tips for driver-guide and cook
Options & Upgrades
The same itinerary can be either mixed with camping and basic accommodation. We will be also happy to run it on basic accommodation only. We are also happy to book some optional activities for your in Victoria falls for no extra costs.
Essential Information
Is this safari for me?
This is for you if you are happy with basic camping comforts and enjoy meeting other people!
Solo Travellers
Many of our clients joining Open Group Departures are travelling solo. The group numbers are small (2 - 8) which encourages a friendly, sociable atmosphere. The safari prices are based on 2 adults sharing a tent. Room allocations are based on the same gender. If you refer a single tent then a single supplement will apply.
Tipping the Crew
It is very common to tip your driver-guide and cook. Of course tips are discretionary and are a reward for good service. The question ‘how much to tip....’ is asked more and more frequently. Perhaps the best way to address this is to give a general average as a guideline to help you make your decision.
The amounts suggested are from the group as a whole.
Driver-Guide $15 - $20 per day, Cooks $8 - $10 per day
For other essential information please refer to our Travel Tips sections
Restrictions
Age Restrictions
On Open Group Fixed Date departures we can only accept children age 12 years and above who must be accompanied by an adult. If you wish to book this itinerary for a private group then the minimum age for children is 6 years (all children under 18 years must be accompanied by an adult).
Description
For a safari on a budget this is the way to go! See a huge variety of wildlife and meet lots of people at the camps. The accommodation may be basic but you will still have the best driver-guides and cooks! This tour takes you to Hwange National Park, famous for its huge numbers of elephants and as well as lots of other resident wildlife. From there you will go to Rhodes Matopos National Park, known for its amazing balancing rocks and Cecil John Rhodes Grave. You may also come across the famous black and white rhino in Matopos before you return to Victoria Falls to extend the trip or to fly back home. Activities in Victoria Falls are so many and the choice is yours.
Logistics
Your camping equipment and luggage is stored inside the car and securely fastened to the roof. However you will leave the cook and the equipment at the camps and then go off on your game drive. When you return you will find your tent set up for you and some refreshments ready and waiting!
Our Camping Facilities
In your tent you will find thick, foam mattresses with mattress covers, pillows with pillow cases and sleeping bags. Your tent also has mosquito nets on the inner doors at both ends of the tent and space between the inner and outer doors for storage of bags.
Outside your tent you will be provided with a small table on which there will be a mirror, a torch and a bowl of warm water for washing in the mornings and evenings. All meals, mineral water, tea and coffee are included in the price of the safari. Hot drinks and mineral water are unlimited and made available to you throughout your stay at each campsite.
Public Campsites
The public campsites we use are chosen for their location and the standard of their facilities. Your driver-guide may choose a different one if we hear of any last minute information such as overcrowded or poor cleanliness. Each campsite has a dining area where you will be served your meals. Your private cook will have prepared your meal and will serve you.The campsites will also have a shower block with toilets & showers. Be warned... there will be a mix of western style toilets and African style 'long-drop' toilets. The camps all provide hot water but you may find that it is limited particularly if the site is busy or if there is a general drought.
Our Vehicles
Our safari vehicles are all 4X4 Land rovers, Mini Bus or Land cruisers. They have roof hatches for game viewing and are equipped with in-car battery chargers for camera/phone batteries.
Your Safari Crew
You will have a Driver-guide and a cook with you. All of our driver-guides have years of experience and are some of the best in the business. They have extensive knowledge of the wildlife as well as the flora and cultures of Southern Africa. We have chosen our guides for their passion for the job. They love to share their knowledge with you and take pride in finding you what you came to see as far as is possible at the time. They will talk to you about the program for each day and agree on wake-up times and game drive times. We do not limit your guide on mileage or time so he is free to discuss with you what you want from the day. Of course he will advise where necessary about distances that need to be covered to the next camp. He will also have the latest information on the whereabouts of the wildlife and can advise of the best places to go within the parks.
Our cooks are also highly experienced and constantly amaze us all with their skill and ability to produce lovely food out in the bush!