On Safari in Victoria Falls

On Safari in Victoria Falls

Follow in the footsteps of the explorer David Livingstone as you venture through veils of mist along the paths that fringe the mighty Victoria Falls.

From the base of a charming, thatched lodge, watch traditional performances by the flickering of a fire, set off on guided nature walks to bird hides and observe vultures flocking to a feeding. Journey into the Zambezi National Park and cruise along its river while the sun dapples the banks, teeming with wildlife, before dipping beyond the bushland. Ramble around the elephant-rich Chobe National Park in Botswana and rejig your itinerary with inspiring optional excursions.

What's Included:

• Seven nights' mixed-board accommodation at the three-star Lokuthala Lodges, plus two nights on the aircraft
• Seven breakfasts, three lunches and seven dinners
• Tour of Victoria Falls
• Morning safari in Zambezi National Park
• Sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, including drinks
• Morning Chobe River cruise and full-day Chobe National Park safari
• Vulture culture experience at Lokuthala Lodge
• A guided nature walk to the lodge’s bird hide
• Return flights to Zimbabwe
• Comfortable coach travel and transfers throughout
• Accompanied by friendly and experienced local representatives

• All mandatory local taxes and charges

  Highlights:

• Set off on a tour of the spectacular Victoria Falls and the surrounding area
• View the falls from above with an optional once-in-a-lifetime helicopter ride
• Journey across the Zambezi River during a sunset cruise with a drink in hand
• Enjoy a special boma dinner and traditional performance by firelight
• Add optional morning and evening Zambezi National Park safaris to your itinerary
• Venture for the day into Chobe National Park on safari and spot elephants from a morning cruise along the Chobe River
• Observe hundreds of vultures feeding at the front of the lodge
• Experience a guided nature walk to the lodge’s bird hide

Operator: Newmarket Holidays

Day 1: Fly to Victoria Falls

Fly from the UK overnight to Victoria Falls.

Day 2: Arrive at Victoria Falls Airport

You’ll land at Victoria Falls Airport, meet your tour manager, and be transferred for about 30 minutes to the beautiful Lokuthala Lodge in the heart of the bush.

Unpack and tuck into a tapas-style lunch before exploring the grounds and perhaps musing over a refreshment by the pool.

In the evening, dinner will be served at the lodge’s award-winning restaurant MaKuwa-Kuwa, which looks out over a waterhole, teeming with wildlife.

Day 3: Included Victoria Falls tour with lunch and optional helicopter flight

After breakfast, you have an exciting excursion on your itinerary – a tour of Victoria Falls. This resort town is set on the southern bank of the Zambezi River at the western end of the Victoria Falls themselves.

Discovered in 1855 by the Scottish missionary and famous explorer David Livingstone, the falls were named after Queen Victoria, and are one of the largest in the world.

Your guide will highlight points of interest, and with luck, you’ll catch sight of a rainbow stretching across the steamy veils. Lining the side of the powerful falls are national parks, brimming with wildlife, including the ‘Big Five’.

Stroll along a forested path to soak up the views before enjoying lunch at the Lookout Café, with its unrivalled location on the banks.

Those who want to observe the falls from above can join a once-in-a-lifetime optional helicopter flight, ‘The flight of the angels’, where you’ll circuit the national parks, falls, and Zambezi River below.

You’ll return later in the day to unwind and have dinner at the on-site restaurant.

Day 4: Included morning safari in the Zambezi National Park, and boma dinner and show experience

Fuel up on breakfast and then go on a safari in the Zambezi National Park, which is positioned upstream from Victoria Falls.

Fronted by the mighty Zambezi River, this sprawling spread of savanna and mopane forests is home to an astounding array of wildlife.

As you’re driven deep into the foliage, keep your eyes peeled for elephants, lions, buffalo, leopards, and Zimbabwe’s national animal, the sable.

The river will possibly provide sights of hippos, wading through the murky waters or crocodiles lurking below. The park is also a bird lovers’ haven given that it has seen the presence of 400 species.

After you’ve watched the sunset back at the lodge, with a sundowner in hand, you’ll be led to the boma for a dinner and drum show. While you feast on a four-course dinner of local dishes, some fresh off the barbeque, an energetic dance performance, with drumming and traditional storytelling will take place in front of a roaring fire.

Day 5: Included morning Chobe River cruise and Chobe National Park with safari lunch

Once you’ve had breakfast, you’ll switch up the dusty roads for the calm waters of the Chobe River on a morning cruise, which will provide a perfect opportunity to identify wildlife.

You’ll then travel in a 4X4 open-air vehicle into Chobe National Park, located in northern Botswana near the Okavango Delta. Here, you’ll be able to spot herds of elephants given it has the largest population in the whole of Africa. Buffalos and lions are also likely to be seen, as well as kudu, waterbuck, and impala, meandering across the banks of the river. The park is a top-notch birdwatching paradise too, with over 450 species

Return to the lodge later in the day and enjoy another dinner at the restaurant.

Day 6: Optional morning Zambezi National Park safari and included sunset cruise with drinks on Zambezi River

This morning, after breakfast, you can choose to take it easy or join an optional safari in the Zambezi National Park, hopefully ticking any remaining sightings off your list.

You’ll have the rest of the day at your leisure to enjoy the scenery from the privacy of your balcony, take advantage of the swimming pool or book a treatment at the spa.

A sunset cruise along the Zambezi River is an ideal way to conclude the day, and you’ll board a five-star vessel, with three viewing decks to choose from.

Sip on a refreshment while sailing and watch as the sky transforms into a patchwork of pretty colours. Experience excellent sightings of wildlife on the riverbanks, encompassing pods of hippos, elephants, crocodiles, giraffes, baboons, monkeys, and exotic birds.

In the evening, you’ll be driven back to the hotel for dinner.

Day 7: Optional morning Zambezi National Park safari, vulture culture experience, rest of the day at leisure and optional evening Zambezi National Park safari

Arise and have breakfast before deciding if you want to join another optional Zambezi National Park safari.

At 1pm, you can witness the sight of hundreds of vultures feeding on leftover scraps in front of the lodge.

This activity begins with a briefing on the deck below the lodge about the ecological importance of vultures and then you’ll be led down to a hide to see them feeding.

The rest of the day is free to further explore the quirky town of Victoria Falls at your own pace or you can partake in any of the lodge’s additional activities before dinner.

In the evening, it’s also possible to join a final, optional safari into the Zambezi National Park to see the nocturnal animals in their element.

Day 8: Morning nature walk to the bird hide, rest of the day at leisure and farewell dinner

It’s your last full day in the bush, and you can make the most of it by going on a guided nature walk to the lodge’s bird hide.

Sit and survey the area, looking out for shrikes, doves, kingfishers, and guinea fowl, along with bushbuck and warthog.

Embrace an afternoon of free time to enjoy the lodge and the bush setting, and in the evening, join your fellow travellers for a special farewell dinner.

Day 9: Transfer to airport and overnight flight to the UK

Enjoy your final breakfast at the lodge before being transferred to the airport for your flight back to the UK.

Day 10: Arrive back in the UK

Today, you’ll touchdown in the UK after your spectacular African adventure.