A short affordable safari that packs in a great river stay and one of the best walking safaris in Africa.
A week built for the adventurous traveler who wants genuine wildlife and bang for your buck. Begin on the Zambezi at Old Drift Lodge, where river safaris, game drives and guided walks share the stage with the thunder of Victoria Falls just downstream. Then fly into the wild heart of Hwange National Park for four nights at Camp Hwange, a small off-grid camp on a private 12,000-acre concession where Zimbabwe's elite walking guides track elephant and lion on foot across granite kopjes and teak woodland. This is private reserves and some of the best guiding in Africa at an entry level safari price.
3 nights
The Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls — the classic base for one of the natural wonders of the world, the mile-wide Zambezi curtain the locals call Mosi-oa-Tunya, 'the smoke that thunders.' The town puts the falls, the river and the adventure on your doorstep: guided visits to the falls' viewpoints, sunset cruises on the Zambezi, helicopter flights over the gorge, and craft markets for carvings and curios. An easy, dramatic bookend to a safari.
4 nights
Zimbabwe's largest national park — 3.6 million acres of teak and mopane woodland, open vlei grasslands and granite kopjes on the edge of the Kalahari. Hwange is elephant country, home to some of Africa's biggest herds, alongside lion, buffalo, giraffe, sable and painted dog that gather at its pumped waterholes through the dry season. In the remote north, Camp Hwange sits on a private 12,000-acre concession in the heart of the park, where Zimbabwe's famously rigorous pro guides lead walking safaris across the kopjes and woodland — tracking elephant on foot and reading the bush the way it is meant to be experienced. Minimal vehicle traffic and waterhole-facing camps make it one of the most authentic, value-driven wildlife areas in the region.
Visa — required; get it in advance. US passport holders need a visa. It’s available on arrival, but applying ahead through Zimbabwe’s official eVisa site is quick and speeds you through immigration. If your trip crosses into Zambia — for instance, the Devil’s Pool experience at Victoria Falls — ask for the KAZA UniVisa instead: one visa covering both Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Passport. Valid at entry, with 2 blank pages — or at least 6 blank pages if you’re arriving via South Africa.
Vaccinations. A yellow-fever certificate is required if you’re arriving from or transiting a country where yellow fever is a risk.
Currency. No limit on what you bring in; up to US$2,000 may be taken out (more if you declared and documented it on arrival). Bring enough cash for the whole trip — small bills ($1s and $5s) are the most useful — and declare what you’re carrying at entry (Form 47).
Good to know. Immigration may ask to see a return ticket and proof of sufficient funds for your stay.
U.S. Embassy, Harare: zw.usembassy.gov
Guidance for US passport holders — if you travel on another passport, please confirm the requirements for your nationality.
Every departure runs a similar route with all-in pricing. Prices vary by season.
Inclusions: Safari lodge and camp rates are inclusive of all meals, drinks, and most activities — including game drives — but exclude top-shelf drinks and premium activities like helicopter excursions. City and beach stays follow each property's own board basis, shown on the lodge.
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