9 Days | Safari in three epic game parks from Zimbabwe to South Africa
Experience three of southern Africa’s most phenomenal wildlife viewing sites in search of the world’s most spectacular animals – Hwange National Park, Kruger National Park and Matobo National Park. Spend nine days in search of the Big Five (that’s lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo) and more on this journey through South Africa and Zimbabwe. Plus, you’ll enjoy time in a traditional village in the Limpopo province and visit South Africa's modern capital – all the while uncovering Africa's incredible and diverse natural beauty.
Trip overview
- Start
- Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
- Finish
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Theme
- Overland, Wildlife
- Destinations
- South Africa, Zimbabwe
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Basix
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 22
- Trip code
- YBOP
- Visit the headquarters of the world's first all-female anti-poaching unit, the Black Mambas and learn how they patrol park boundaries, dismantle poachers' snares, and manage roadblocks all in the name of conservation.
- Pay the elephants and lions of Hwange National Park a visit in an open-air safari vehicle. Then, track rhinos on foot with an expert local guide in Matobo National Park – an exhilarating way to experience the wildlife of Zimbabwe.
- Immerse yourself in the ancient culture of the Venda people with a village homestay in South Africa's Limpopo province.
- Marvel at the unforgettable views of Blyde River Canyon. This spectacular gorge is among the world's largest and is said to be the greenest!
- Visit the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust and learn about the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife, human-wildlife conflict and anti-poaching efforts.
- By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, Helping Rhinos. Donations support their all-female ranger program in South Africa, which specialises in fighting wildlife crimes and protecting rhinos, and other critically endangered animals, from poachers. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
- This is an overland trip. That means you’ll be travelling with a group in a purpose-built vehicle, visiting remote communities, setting up your own tent, occasionally roughing it in the bush with no facilities, and getting the best possible views of Africa's iconic wildlife. While the trucks don’t have air conditioning, they do have sliding windows, which let in the breeze and make it even easier to take spectacular snaps of the local wildlife. The drive days can be long, but it’s as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie. For more info on this style of travel, see our Africa overland page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/africa/overland
- There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days.
- This trip can be partnered with other adventures into a ‘combo’, which means that some of your fellow travellers may have begun their journey before today. If you’d like to spend more time in Africa, have a look at the combo itinerary: Experience Southern Africa (UBSCC).
- This trip can be partnered with other adventures into a ‘combo’, which means that some of your fellow travellers may have begun their journey before today. If you’d like to spend more time in Africa, have a look at the combo itinerary: Explore Southern Africa (UBOQC)
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024
Inclusions
8 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners
Overland vehicle, Open safari vehicle
Camping with facilities (8 nights), Homestay (1 night)
- Victoria Falls - Visit to Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust
- Hwange National Park - Guided 4x4 Game Drive
- Hwange - Painted Dog Conservation visit
- Matobo National Park - Rhino Tracking
- Matobo National Park - San Rock Paintings
- Makushu Homestay - Beading, Cooking or Dancing
- Kruger - Visit to Black Mambas HQ
- Kruger National Park - Full Day 4x4 Game Drive
- Panorama Route - Bourke's Luck Potholes
- Victoria Falls - Standard Sunset Cruise (excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD45
- Victoria Falls - Bridge Tour - USD68
- Victoria Falls - Bridge Swing - USD168
- Victoria Falls - Traditional Village Tour - USD55
- Victoria Falls - Whitewater rafting (Seasonal - excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD126
- Victoria Falls - River Song Sunset Cruise (excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD75
- Victoria Falls - Jet Boat (Seasonal - excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD110
- Victoria Falls - Helicopter flight (12 mins - excludes USD25 Fuel & NP Fee) - USD150
- Victoria Falls - Helicopter flight (25 mins - excludes USD30 Fuel & NP Fee) - USD284
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. If you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip, you may purchase a single supplement, subject to availability. The single supplement excludes Days 6 (Homestay), where you will be in shared accommodation. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. This trip finishes upon arrival in Johannesburg on Day 9. Please do not book any flights until after 10 pm this evening.
3. The minimum age for this trip is 15 at the time of travel. Any travellers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian, or in lieu of a legal guardian, by an escort over the age of 18, appointed by their legal guardian. The legal guardian or their designee will be responsible for the traveller under the age of 18 day to day’s care. If a legal guardian elects to designate an escort in their lieu, they will be required to complete and sign a relevant document, to delegate their authority.
4. On occasion, especially during the peak months of May to September and December we are not able to secure campsites within the Kruger National Park. In this instance we will camp at a backpackers outside the park.
5. Border crossing delays in the region have been sporadic and difficult to predict. What takes an hour one day may take four hours the next. This may affect the order of activities in the itinerary. We understand this uncertainty can be frustrating, and we strongly recommend packing a bit of patience and flexibility.
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