ZIMBABWE & Zambia 2025-01: A Green Season Photography Adventure

Length of Tour

12-days/11-nights

Brief Itinerary

Day 1 : AM arrival at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

Day 2 : Fly to Hwange NP
Day 3-8 : Hwange NP
Day 9 : Fly to Victoria Falls; Transfer to Livingstone, Zambia
Day 10-11 : Victoria Falls; Most-oa-Tunya NP
Day 12 : Depart from Livingstone, Zambia

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

We’ll arrive late morning at Victoria Falls Airport and transfer to our lodge. Afternoon will be spend photographing Victoria Falls.

Day 2: Fly to Davison’s Camp (7 nights)

Transfer mid-morning by light aircraft from Victoria Falls to Davison’s Camp in the southern-eastern corner of Hwange National Park. Here, our Zimbabwe safari begins off the beaten track in a open-sided 4WD game vehicles.

Day 3-8: Davison’s Camp, Hwange National Park

Hwange, Zimbabwe’s largest National Park, is home to some of southern Africa’s last great elephant, buffalo and sable herds. We’ll spend 6 full days exploring the south-eastern corner of Hwange, in the private Linkwasha concession. Here, the eastern edge of the Kalahari sands merge with grasslands and teak forests to host a great variety of desert-adapted and woodland species.

We’ll base ourselves at Davison’s, an intimate and secluded tented camp providing unsurpassed game-viewing experiences. Large numbers of animals move through the landscape year-round – elephant, buffalo, sable, roan, giraffe, wildebeest, impala and even gemsbok. Predators follow them closely – lion, leopard, wild dog and cheetah, along with African wildcat, serval and spotted hyaena.

Our safari game drives are diverse and interesting, highlighting something new each day, whether it is cheetah stalking stealthily through the grasses, prides of lions lounging in the shade, a journey of giraffes wandering through Ngamo Plains, or wild dogs on a hunt. Rewarding wildlife encounters are never far away in Hwange. A log-pile hide (blind) situated next to the camp watering hole where waterfowl gather!

Avian activity abounds in Hwange, with such highlights as ostrich, kori bustard, secretary bird, swallow-tailed bee-eaters, Burchell’s sandgrouse,  lilac-breasted roller, magpie shrike, and many more. Hornbills are well represented with grey, southern red-billed, southern yellow-billed and the large southern ground-hornbill.

Raptors include African fish eagle, African hawk-eagle, lesser spotted eagle, martial eagle, bateleur, and black-chested snake-eagle. White-headed, African white-backed and lappet-faced vultures constantly search for carcasses. Owls are always a treat to find, from the diminutive pearl-spotted and African barred owlet, to giant Verreaux’s eagle-owls.

Walking amongst the African landscape is a special treat, and we’ll have opportunity to explore on foot, escorted by an armed, certified safari guide who will share their knowledge and insights about many aspects of plants and wildlife. We’ll examine large termite mounds, a fascinating part of the ecosystem, watch determined dung beetles do their work, and look for signs of animal tracks.

Our days generally begin with early morning breakfast, followed by a game drive. We’ll return for a mid-day meal and opportunity to journal, or relax until the afternoon game drive. Happy hour sundowners may be enjoyed on the ride back, arriving in time for delicious dinners served by wonderfully friendly staff.

We’ll experience the nocturnal side of Hwange’s wildlife during night game drives, with chances to see owls, nightjars, lesser bushbaby, genets, yellow mongoose, scrub hare, springhare and even honey badger.

Day 9 : Fly from Davison’s Camp to Victoria Falls; transfer to Toka Leya, Zambia (3 nights)

We’ll transfer mid-morning from Davison’s Camp by light aircraft to Victoria Falls Airport. From there, it’s a short drive to the Zambian border, where we’ll clear customs and immigration before continuing to Toka Leya, a beautiful camp situated on the banks of the Zambezi River.

We’ll enjoy a wonderful sunset river cruise on the Zambezi River, looking out for Half-collared Kingfisher, African Finfoot, African Skimmer, Rock Pratincole, Water Thick-knees, White-crowned Lapwing, and elephants swimming across the river!

We’ll observe enormous Nile crocodiles basking on the banks and pods of hippos wallowing in the shallows.

We’ll settle in for three full days/nights in the luxurious Toka Leya camp, exploring the area with several activities planned.

Day 10-11: Victoria Falls; Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park

Victoria Falls – one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World – is known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, “the Smoke that Thunders.” This fitting name reflects the plumes of spray that are visible for some distance, caused by the cascading waters of the Zambezi River. This area showcases spectacular scenic beauty, from thundering falls to picturesque flowing waters lined by lush vegetation. Wildlife shows abundantly while boating on the river, or enjoying game drives in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park upstream from the falls.

The Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park encompasses mopane and Zambian teak woodlands, and thick riverine forest of palm trees along the banks of the Zambezi River. The park is home to many birds including Black-collared Barbet, Southern Black Tit, Collared Palm Thrush, Arrow-marked Babbler, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Broad-billed Roller, Black Cuckoo-Shrike and Jacobin Cuckoo. Mammals include elephant, southern giraffe, greater kudu, common zebra, buffalo, sable antelope, and impala.

There will be an optional (price not included) helicopter ride over Victoria Falls and into the gorge.

This is the only location in Zambia to see rare white rhino; decades of poaching had eliminated 12,000 of them by 1993. Four white rhinos were introduced to the park in 2008, and their number has increased under close guard by armed rangers. We’ll take an exciting guided walk through the open bush to look for these rare, beautiful creatures.

Day 12: Depart from Livingstone, Zambia

The final hours of our African safari we reflect on amazing wildlife, stunning landscapes, and experiences of a lifetime in Zimbabwe and Zambia. At mid-morning, we say good-bye to our wonderful hosts and guides, and transfer to Livingstone Airport for international departures returning to the US.

Please note that this itinerary is a guideline, and while we hope to do everything on safari, activities are subject to change, due to circumstances beyond our control.

Cost

Cost is $11,550 per person, based upon double occupancy, from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (Airport code VFA.
This trip ends in Livingstone, Zambia (Airport code LVI).

There may be tourist/travel visas or fees that will require cash that change from time to time.

Minimum Number

If fewer than the minimum number of participants are registered the trip can still run with a small-group supplement fee per person determined by the number of participants.

Single Supplement

If a single hotel room is preferred, or we are unable to find a suitable roommate for you, a single supplement fee of $0 will be assessed.

NOTE: For boat-based tours, see pricing options for single cabins. Single cabin cost includes the single hotel cost above.

Minimum Number

If fewer than the minimum number of required participants are registered, we may still be able to run the trip by adding a small-group supplement fee, per person, determined by the number of participants registered.

Deposit Requirements

A $2,000 deposit per person is required to hold each space on this tour. Deposit may be made online by clicking the "Book Your Trip Now" button and using any credit card. If you prefer, you may call us at 888-875-9453 to pay by phone. You may also mail us a check, however, remember that all space is held on a first come-first served basis as deposits are received.

How to Book

In order to hold your space, click the "Book Your Trip Now" button above and complete the deposit process, including payment of the deposit through our Paypal portal using ANY CREDIT CARD. Upon completion of deposit, please visit our secure, online CLIENT INFORMATION FORM to complete your registration.

Final Payment

For all land-based tours: full payment by check is due 120 days prior to the departure date.

For all boat-based adventure cruises of 7-days or longer: full payment by check is required 180 days prior to departure.

NOTE: If you prefer to use credit card for final payment, a 3% fee may be added to cover the credit card merchant fees we incur.

Our first night will be in the town of Victoria Nights at one of the excellent hotels.

This trip will stay 7 nights at a remote camp in Hwange National Park in a private concession area where only the vehicles with this concession may travel. The safari tents offer semi-private toilets and showers . The accommodations are very nice but very remote.

We will also stay 3 nights along the banks of the Zambezi River upstream from Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the worlds. The safari tents are very well furnished with private toilet and shower and an outdoor tub.

Both locations offer amazing wildlife encounters close to our accommodations.

Activity Level Rating: 2 (Note: 1 is easy and 5 is difficult)

While most of our photography is done from a vehicle and or a boat, the days can be long, it might rain as well. The long rides in the safari vehicle and our time on the boat can be physically challenging. Must be able to climb up into the safari vehicles and the boat.

• At least two (2) camera bodies
• Wide Angle Lens for landscape and environmental wildlife images
• Super Telephoto Lens of 500mm or longer
• Medium Telephoto Lens of 50 to 100mm for larger and close wildlife
• Polarizing Filter for wide angle lens

Purchasing Flights

Do not purchase your flights until the trip has been confirmed to go.

Detailed Trip Information

Upon notification that final payment is due (120 days prior to departure for land based tours / 180 days for boat based tours), you will receive a trip package of detailed information for your tour.

Any additional information about the trip, including lodgings, contacts, participants, meeting locations, etc., will sent about 2 weeks prior to the trip departure, or after final payment is received for late registrants.

Travel Insurance

As with all tours, we recommend purchasing Travel Insurance to help cover your investment, for covered reasons. Please see our section on Travel Insurance.

Passport & Visa

US Citizens may require a visa to enter certain foreign countries. See above for any required visa information.

Participants arriving to the USA from a foreign country may need to get a travel visa to enter the United States. Be sure to check the requirements for your country of origin.

Itinerary Changes

The trip itinerary is developed many months ahead of time. Occasionally, despite our best planning, changes may occur during the trip, or we may be forced to alter our plans. Changes may occur because of weather, road conditions, safety concerns or other circumstances. In these situations, it is the leader(s) responsibility to carefully consider and implement appropriate alternatives. Any additional costs incurred because of changes will be the responsibility of each individual participant. Refunds will not be issued as a result of itinerary changes.