14-Day African Safari
$15,995
per person based on double occupancy
2024 Dates:
November 13-26, 2024
Deposit: 50% Single Supplement: $2860 Baggage Limit: 80lb/person Meeting Place: Harare, Zimbabwe Gateway City: Harare, Zimbabwe Age Range: 13 – 80
While the Zambezi River defines the northern and western border of Zimbabwe, it by no means represents the limits of adventurous opportunities within this friendly nation. From the busy capital city of Harare, we board our small charter craft for a scenic flight north to Mana Pools National Park. Here, we’ll check in to Nyamatusi Mahogany Bush Camp for our first four nights of luxurious adventure. From Mana Pools, we’ll move on to Bumi Hills Safari Lodge on the banks of Lake Kariba for another four incredible nights before moving again—this time into the heart of Hwange National Park and four nights at the famous Somalisa Acacia Camp.
Each location we visit offers up remarkable wildlife viewing opportunities: on game drives, on incredible walking safaris or, at Mana Pools, by canoe. Nights will be spent in sublime comfort, enjoying sundowners, gourmet meals and outstanding service. And we’ll travel to each remarkable location via private charter flights enabling us to see the great plains and rolling hills of Zimbabwe from the air. Finally we’ll end our experience in Victoria Falls where you can choose to stay on an extra day or two to sight-see in this bustling tourist mecca.
Itinerary at a Glance
- Arrive Harare and overnight at Highlands House and next day enjoy a scenic flight to Mana Pools National Park where you will check into the luxurious Nyamatusi Camp in time for afternoon cocktails
- Explore Mana Pools National Park, one of Africa’s premier game viewing regions, on a guided walking safari, game drive (with only four guests per vehicle) or canoe trip
- Enjoy 4 nights of luxury accommodations and inspired dining on the banks of the renowned Zambezi River
- Fly to Bumi Hills Safari Lodge perched atop a hill overlooking Lake Kariba for 4 more nights of indulgent African adventure
- Watch for elephants, buffalo, lions and leopards from the spectacular infinity pool overlooking the lake
- Enjoy game drives, night safaris, fishing and a lunch on Starvation Island
- From Bumi, take off for another amazing flight up to Somalisa Camp in the heart of Hwange National Park
- Known as the land of giants for its elephant herds, Hwange offers incredible wildlife viewing opportunities with chances to see elephant, wildebeest, buffalo, giraffe, lion, leopard, hyena and countless antelope, kudu and gemsbok
- Revel in Somalisa Camp’s elegantly furnished sail tents complete with en suites, indoor/outdoor showers and copper baths
- After 4 nights in Hwange, hop on yet another flight to Victoria Falls for the conclusion of your adventure
What to Expect on the Pure Zim Adventure
November 13
Arrive at Robert Mugabe International Airport (HRE) in Harare, Zimbabwe where you will be met by a ROAM representative who will take you to Highlands House for the night.
November 14
We’ll shuttle back to the airport for your flight to Mana Pools (Note—due to the size of the aircraft we are using, there is a baggage weight limit of 80 pounds per person). Arriving late afternoon, you will have time to check into your luxury safari tent at Nyamatusi Camp. After a brief introductory tour of the camp, enjoy a sundowner before dinner and a well-deserved rest from your international travels! Overnight Nyamatusi Camp.
November 15 – 17
For the next three days, we’ll take advantage of Nyamatusi’s superb location as we explore the surrounding park. Each day offers walking safaris, game drives (including night drives) with only 4 guests per vehicle, canoeing on the Zambezi River, bird watching and even catch-and-release fishing. Overnight Nyamatusi Camp
November 18
Today we’ll rise early and say goodbye to Mana Pools and board our chartered aircraft for a stunning flight to Bumi Hills Safari Lodge. It’s a short flight but the views of Lake Kariba will last a lifetime! Arriving at Bumi Hills, we will check in to our spacious suites overlooking the lake and tour the facilities before enjoying lunch on the patio.
Set on a range of remote hills in one of Zimbabwe’s finest wilderness locations, Bumi Hills Safari Lodge is utterly captivating. With the Zambezi escarpment as its backdrop, this haven of serenity overlooks the eternal shimmering waters of Lake Kariba below. Not only is Kariba’s shoreline wildlife-rich, but the lodge’s proximity to Matusadona allows for the wildlife to freely move between the national park and Bumi Hill’s private concession, creating endless game-viewing opportunities, led by our passionate team of guides.
November 19 – 21
Days at Bumi Hills Safari Lodge will be filled with decadent celebrations as we explore Lake Kariba, the secret Riviera of Africa. Take a cultural excursion to a nearby village, boat out to Starvation Island for lunch, enjoy a sunset cruise, or experience the myriad birdlife along the lake’s undulating shore. Of course there are game drives and walking safaris but you will want to save some time for relaxing in the lodge’s infinity pool while herds of elephants pass calmly by.
November 22
Time to pack up and prepare for your next leg of this remarkable adventure. It will be hard to say goodbye to Bumi Hills and its breathtaking grandeur but the thought of yet another flight – this time to the heart of Hwange National Park will soon have you brimming with anticipation.
Hwange National Park is a land of contrasts from dense teak and acacia forest to vast open savanna, offering guests an exhibition of raw and diverse Africa. At the heart of Hwange, Somalisa Camp is a place where tranquillity meets adventure. Where one moment you are sipping on your gin and tonic, listening to the distant roar of a lion, and the next you are gazing over at a congregation of elephants at your doorstep.
November 23 – 25
With Somalisa as our base, we’ll fan out across Hwange National Park. Lead by our experienced guides, you’ll see magnificent wildlife and abundant birdlife. Your guide will show you the best hidden spots for game viewing whether you are on a walking safari or game drive. We will meet the locals in their communities and share stories and knowledge, learn their way of life and through these interactions, encourage sustainability. Somalisa Camp is situated at a popular watering hole for local wildlife offering you the opportunity to observe elephants, lions and more right from the pool deck.
November 26
Mid morning on Day 14, our final chartered flight lifts us from the wilderness of Hwange to bustling Victoria Falls where you can choose to stay on and explore this World Heritage site or connect for outbound flights home. Savvy travelers can choose to add on our Sabi Sands safari in South Africa for four more days of exquisite adventure.
Accommodations
Nyamatusi Bush Camp
Nyamatusi is located in the Nyamatusi Wilderness area of Mana Pools National Park. The park itself exudes a feeling of beauty, an untouched wilderness. Mana Pools offers a diversity of wildlife and bird species, including the endangered and rare wild dog.
Nyamatusi Camp is situated on the banks of the renowned Zambezi River and is reminiscent of days gone by. Nyamatusi comprises of six spacious and well-appointed tents, each with its own private deck and plunge pool, offering remote views overlooking the Zambezi.
The focus at Nyamatusi Camp is experiencing Mana Pools through walking safaris. Led by an experienced professional guide, discover the animals and flora that inhabit the land and learn about the rich history of Mana Pools. Alternatively, canoe down the tranquil Zambezi River on a canoeing safari and experience the park from a different perspective. Morning and afternoon game drives are also on offer.
Bumi Hills Safari Lodge
Bumi Hills Safari Lodge boasts one of Africa’s finest wilderness locations with an elevated position overlooking the vastness of Lake Kariba. Bumi is situated near the North Eastern border of Matusdona National Park and is easily accessible by light aircraft and boat. The safari lodge has a total of 10 rooms, all with views over Lake Kariba. All rooms have balconies and uninhibited views over Lake Kariba.
Taking center stage is the beautiful infinity pool that seems to blend endlessly into the lake horizon. The pool is surrounded by intimate dining terraces on different levels. The lodge interiors have been beautifully finished in a fusion of contemporary western and African styles. Bumi Hills Safari Lodge is situated on an extensive wildlife conservation area and is home to lion, leopard, big herds of elephant and buffalo, as well as a multitude of different plains game.
Somalisa Camp
Hwange National Park is a land of contrasts from dense teak and acacia forest to vast open savanna, offering guests an exhibition of raw and diverse Africa. At the heart of Hwange, Somalisa Camp is a place where tranquillity meets adventure. Where one moment you are sipping on your gin and tonic, listening to the distant roar of a lion, and the next you are gazing over at a congregation of elephants at your doorstep, peacefully sharing a sundowner with you. Every person is part of the community that helps create the magical and welcoming feeling you get when you visit Somalisa, you arrive as a guest, but you leave a part of the family.
Nature and luxury are in harmony at Somalisa Camp. With natural wood and copper finishes, the organic features of the bush fuse perfectly with the deluxe style. Kudhinda, the Zimbabwean national fabric, is paired with modern decor creating an authentic contemporary African fusion. At the edge of the expansive deck in the main area, sits an elephant pool which is frequented by elephant families—a true highlight at this beautiful camp.
About the Region
Mana Pools National Park
The life-giving power of the Zambezi River makes Mana Pools National Park one of Zimbabwe’s most lush and flourishing regions, designated as the country’s second World Heritage Site and known as one of the continent’s premier game-viewing regions. Canoe trips are offered year round and provide a unique and memorable way for visitors to experience the area’s striking scenic beauty and diverse fauna, while guided walks are a great way to take its pristine riverside forests.
Lake Kariba
The planet’s most voluminous man-made lake, Kariba is a popular tourist destination that was created in the 1950s when the mighty Zambezi was dammed. It stretches for more than 200 kilometres (120 miles) along the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, forming a natural boundary between the two countries. The lake’s waters are home to abundant crocodiles, hippos, fish and aquatic birds, while its shoreline and islands are rich with terrestrial game such as elephant and buffalo. It has become one of Zimbabwe’s main tourist attractions offering houseboat holidays, fishing safaris and wonderful game viewing experiences.
Hwange National Park
Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s biggest reserve, home to a profusion of wildlife, including giraffe, lion, zebra and approximately 40,000 elephants. It provides sanctuary for all the country’s endangered species, including a population of wild dogs thought to be among the most sizeable surviving groups on the continent. Terrain ranges from desert dunes and savannah lands to rocky outcrops and sparse forests, and visitors have the choice of game drives or guided walks as a means of experiencing the park and its creatures.