13 Days Best Of Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls gives this 13-day Zimbabwe tour a dramatic start, but the real appeal is the range of places that follow: wildlife parks, ancient stone ruins, highland gardens, and historic sites. You move from the Zambezi River to Hwange, Matobo, Great Zimbabwe, Gonarezhou, Vumba, Nyanga, and Harare.

I like the practical setup: a professional chef and guide travel with you, and lodging, transport, park fees, and most meals are covered. I also like the small maximum group of 16, plus the personal attention reported from the Falcon Safaris team, including Kelly, Newtone, and Gertrude during booking and transfers. The main catch is that drinks, mineral water, sleeping gear, tips, insurance, upgrades, and game drives cost extra.

Five useful things to know before you book

• Victoria Falls opens the trip well: You get a guided Falls visit plus a Zambezi cruise with drinks and snacks.
• Zimbabwe’s wildlife is spread across several parks: Hwange and Gonarezhou offer different settings, while Matobo adds rhino tracking.
• A chef travels with you: Breakfast is included for all 13 mornings, while 10 lunches and 10 dinners are included.
• Game drives are not included: They are listed as optional, so check the added cost before departure.
• The group is capped at 16: That is small enough for a more personal road trip without the price of a fully private safari.
• The trip finishes in eastern and central Zimbabwe: Vumba, Nyanga, and Harare provide a cooler, greener change after the parks.

Why this Zimbabwe route works

Many Zimbabwe trips focus on Victoria Falls and one safari park. This one asks for more time and road travel, but gives you a much broader look at the country. You see its best-known natural attraction, several wildlife areas, major archaeological remains, and mountain country in a single journey.

That variety is the strongest reason to consider it. Great Zimbabwe gives the trip cultural weight. Matobo Hills adds unusual rock formations and rhino tracking. Gonarezhou brings a less familiar park experience, with elephants, baobabs, mopane woodland, floodplains, and sandstone cliffs.

The arrangement also takes much of the daily work off your plate. Accommodation and transport are supplied, meals are prepared by the chef, and admissions are covered at the listed sites. You still need to budget for drinks, water, laundry, personal purchases, gratuities, insurance, and activities not named in the package.

At $3,550 per person, the value depends on how much you would otherwise pay for lodging, vehicle transport, guiding, park entry, and meals across 13 days. It is not a budget hop between landmarks. It is a supported, multi-region journey that combines touring and safari elements without requiring you to arrange each transfer yourself.

Day 1: A relaxed start on the Zambezi River

The first stop is a two-hour cruise from the Zambezi River Cruise Terminal. It is a sensible way to begin. You can sit back, have the included drinks and snacks, and watch the river rather than rush into a busy sightseeing schedule.

Depending on the season, animals may come down to the water. The wording is important: wildlife sightings are possible, not promised. Treat this as a scenic introduction to the Zambezi, not as a substitute for a dedicated game drive.

The cruise also gives you time to meet the guide and chef and settle into the rhythm of the group. Since the trip continues by road, an easy first afternoon has real value.

Day 2: Victoria Falls and the road toward Hwange

The guided Victoria Falls visit lasts about two hours. A guide adds useful context by explaining how the Falls formed and discussing local customs and traditions connected with the area. You also visit a local art and crafts centre, which gives the morning a cultural stop rather than making it only a viewpoint visit.

Victoria Falls is the visual high point at the start of the trip. The water drops into the Zambezi gorge below, and the experience changes with the season. The supplied details do not promise a particular water level, spray condition, or viewpoint, so you should think of this as a guided orientation to the Falls rather than a guarantee of every possible angle.

The route then moves to Hwange National Park. An afternoon game drive is optional and not included. This is one of the first places where the package price needs careful reading. You get access to the park, but the safari activity itself may require an additional payment.

Days 3 and 4: Hwange wildlife and time to choose your pace

The next morning includes a three-hour game drive in Hwange, but game drives are separately listed as not included. Confirm precisely how this activity is arranged and priced before you go. That small conversation can prevent a surprise in your trip budget.

Hwange gives the journey its first substantial wildlife focus. It is a useful contrast with the Falls because your attention shifts from one powerful natural sight to the possibility of animals across a large national park setting. Sightings are never guaranteed, so the pleasure here is partly in the open-ended search.

Day 4 is an afternoon at leisure, with optional activities available. I consider this welcome breathing room. A 13-day road trip can become tiring if every hour is scheduled, and a free afternoon lets you rest, handle laundry at your own cost, or choose an added activity.

Day 5: Cecil Rhodes and rhino tracking in Matobo Hills

The visit to Cecil Rhodes’s burial place offers a pointed look at colonial-era history. Rhodes died in Muizenberg in 1902, and his body was transported through war-torn South Africa to what was then Rhodesia. The site is not a simple scenic stop, and your guide can help place it in the wider story of the country.

The day continues into Matobo Hills for three hours of rhino tracking. This is one of the most distinctive activities on the route. It replaces the standard vehicle-based wildlife search with a more focused encounter based on finding rhinos in the hills.

Matobo also changes the feel of the trip. After Victoria Falls and Hwange, the rock country gives you a different setting and a stronger connection to Zimbabwe’s past and conservation work. The tracking admission is included, but you should still ask what optional costs, if any, apply to the activity itself.

Day 6: Great Zimbabwe’s massive stone walls

Great Zimbabwe National Monument is the cultural centerpiece of the journey. Once the capital of the medieval Kingdom of Zimbabwe, the site includes a large stone complex built from rectangular granite blocks stacked without mortar.

The walls and towers reach up to 12 metres in places. You walk among the structures and get a clearer sense of the engineering and scale than you can from a photograph. The site dates to around the 11th century and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

I especially like having this stop after the wildlife parks. It prevents the trip from becoming a string of animal sightings and scenic drives. Great Zimbabwe asks you to slow down and think about the people, power, and trade networks that shaped the region long before modern borders.

Admission is included, and the planned visit lasts about two hours. Wear practical walking shoes and keep your expectations grounded: this is an archaeological site, not a reconstructed theme park.

Days 7 and 8: Two views of Gonarezhou

Gonarezhou means a place of elephants, and the park is described as home to more than 10,000 elephants. It is Zimbabwe’s second-largest national park, with floodplains, baobab-dotted scrub, mopane woodland, and pale orange sandstone cliffs.

The first visit highlights the area around camp. Nyala, kudu, impala, and elephants may pass through, and the river edge offers good birdwatching. With luck, you might spot a Pel’s Fishing Owl. That possibility will appeal to birders, but it remains a chance sighting rather than a scheduled guarantee.

The second day gives you a wider sense of the park and its wildlife. Gonarezhou is home to four of Africa’s Big Five: elephant, leopard, lion, and buffalo. The park is large, so animal sightings can be unpredictable. That is part of the appeal, but it also means you should not measure the experience only by how many species you see.

The two days here are valuable because they give the park room to breathe. A short stop can feel like a quick safari sample. Two days offer more time for different habitats, changing light, and unplanned encounters near camp.

Day 9: Another free afternoon

Like Day 4, Day 9 includes leisure time and optional activities. This helps break up the long sequence of parks and road transfers.

I would use this day to rest, enjoy the accommodation, or ask the guide what makes sense locally. Since optional activities are not included, get the price and meeting time before committing. The free time is useful, but it is not an all-inclusive activity block.

Day 10: Vumba’s gardens and highland scenery

Vumba Botanical Gardens and Reserve provide a sharp change from the dry park country. The reserve covers 159 hectares and includes landscaped gardens, perennial streams, a small lake, footpaths, indigenous orchids, ferns, flower beds, and abundant birdlife.

Two hours in the gardens lets you walk at an easy pace rather than sit in a vehicle. A second two-hour stop covers a scenic drive in Vumba, so the day combines short walks with views from the road.

This is a good inclusion for anyone who likes plants, birds, and quieter scenery. It also gives your body a break after safari days. The garden visit is not filler. It shows how much Zimbabwe’s scenery can change as you move into the eastern highlands.

Day 11: Nyanga’s trout, stone structures, and museum

Nyanga brings together three smaller points of interest: trout fisheries, pit structures, and a museum. The two-hour visit is not described as a major wildlife stop, so approach it as a cultural and regional-history day.

The combination is useful because it keeps the trip from relying only on famous headline attractions. You get a look at local industry, archaeological remains, and museum material in one stop. Admission is listed as free, though personal purchases and optional costs remain your responsibility.

Day 12: A final afternoon in Harare Province

The last full day includes an afternoon at leisure in Harare Province. There is no specific included attraction listed for this period, so you should not expect a tightly programmed city tour.

That open time can be a practical finish. You can rest before departure, make personal arrangements, or ask about an optional activity. The trip ends on Day 13, with no additional stop specified.

Food, lodging, and what the price really covers

The package includes accommodation for all nights, transport fees, a professional guide, and a chef. Breakfast is included for all 13 days, while 10 lunches and 10 dinners are covered. Meals prepared during a long road journey are a real convenience, especially when you do not want to search for food after a full day outdoors.

Drinks and mineral water are not included. Build them into your daily budget from the start. Sleeping bags and pillows are also excluded, which matters if the accommodation or camping arrangement requires them. The supplied information does not specify the lodging style, so ask for the names and standards of the properties before booking.

Accommodation upgrades, laundry, personal items, travel insurance, tips, and gratuities are extra. Activities not mentioned are also extra, with game drives specifically excluded. The tour’s value is strongest if you want one coordinated package and do not mind paying separately for some safari activities and personal needs.

Group size, languages, and trip planning

The maximum group is 16 people. That is not a private tour, but it is still a manageable number for a guided road journey. Pickup is offered, the start time is 8:00 a.m., and mobile tickets are available.

The experience is offered in multiple languages. Confirm your preferred language when booking rather than assuming it will be available on every departure.

The booking team has been described as responsive and organized, with Kelly noted for accommodating arrangements and Newtone and Gertrude involved in booking, transfers, and activity planning. A bank transfer option has also been available, which may help if you prefer not to pay a card surcharge. Confirm current payment terms directly before sending funds.

The tour is booked on average 94 days ahead, so planning early is sensible. You can cancel for a full refund up to six full days before the start time. A cancellation two to six days ahead receives 50 percent, while cancellation less than two full days ahead receives no refund. Cutoff times follow local time.

Should you book the 13 Days Best Of Zimbabwe?

Book this trip if you want broad coverage of Zimbabwe rather than a short Victoria Falls holiday. It suits you if you value a guide, chef, supplied transport, included accommodation, and a route that combines wildlife, archaeology, gardens, and historic sites.

It is especially good for people who want more than the Big Five checklist. Great Zimbabwe, Matobo Hills, Vumba, and Nyanga give the journey a sense of place that a single-park safari cannot provide.

Think twice if you want a tightly priced all-inclusive safari. Game drives, drinks, water, insurance, tips, and optional activities are not part of the base price. Also, the route covers a lot of ground, so you should be comfortable with a long multi-stop journey.

For the right kind of visitor, $3,550 buys structure and variety: Victoria Falls at the start, Gonarezhou’s elephants in the middle, ancient stonework, highland gardens, and a chef to handle many meals along the way. Ask clear questions about accommodation and game-drive costs, then book if the combination suits your pace.

FAQ

How long is the Zimbabwe tour?

The experience lasts approximately 13 days and ends on Day 13 after the Harare Province portion on Day 12.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, with an 8:00 a.m. start time and pickup offered.

What is included in the price?

Accommodation, transport fees, park entry fees, a professional guide, a chef, 13 breakfasts, 10 lunches, and 10 dinners are included.

Are game drives included?

No. Game drives are listed as not included and may be arranged as optional activities at an additional cost.

Is mineral water included?

No. Drinks and mineral water are excluded, so you need to budget for them separately.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 16 people.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least six full days before the start time. Cancelling two to six full days ahead receives a 50 percent refund, while cancelling less than two full days ahead is nonrefundable.