Zimbabwe Rhino & Elephant Trail

Day 1: Bulawayo – Matobo National Park

Arrive into Bulawayo Airport and transfer into Matobo National Park, settling into a boulder-strewn landscape of massive granite monoliths and hidden valleys. Once checked in, the first afternoon is well suited to a gentle introduction to the area’s geology and atmosphere, with time to get your bearings around the lodge and prepare for the more active days ahead. Overnight at Amalinda Lodge.

Day 2: Matobo National Park

Spend the day exploring Matobo’s granite hills, where the attraction is as much the landscape and history as the wildlife. Activities can include game drives and time on foot among the rock formations, with the chance to visit key cultural and historical sites, including ancient rock art and Matobo’s spiritually significant viewpoints. Overnight at Amalinda Lodge.

Day 3: Matobo National Park

Another full day in Matobo, with time to focus on the Intensive Protection Zone where rhino viewing is strongest, alongside the smaller details that make the park distinctive: rock hyrax on the boulders, agama lizards on sun-warmed stone, and strong birding in the hills and valleys. Activities may also include a cultural tour or bicycle ride depending on what you choose on the day. Overnight at Amalinda Lodge.

Day 4: Matobo National Park – Hwange National Park

Transfer from Matobo to Hwange, shifting from rocky highlands into wide horizons and waterhole country. Arrive at your Hwange base and settle in, then head out for your first safari activity if time allows, using the late light to start reading the park’s movement around water. Overnight at Ivory Lodge.

Day 5: Hwange National Park

Full day on safari activities, typically centred on game drives and bush walks, with the pace shaped by what is happening at waterholes and which areas are producing sightings. Hwange is known for huge elephant and buffalo numbers, and the day often becomes a study in water, dust, sound and scale as herds arrive and disperse. Overnight at Ivory Lodge.

Day 6: Hwange National Park

Continue guided activities, using the day to work Hwange’s shifting habitats across plains and woodland. Predator time is always opportunistic, but Hwange supports lion, leopard and cheetah, with African wild dogs also part of the wider conservation story of the park. Night drives are available on request. Overnight at Ivory Lodge.

Day 7: Hwange National Park – Victoria Falls

Take a shared charter flight from Hwange to Victoria Falls, then transfer to your guest lodge. Depending on arrival time, you may have space for a first look at the falls viewpoints or a relaxed start with the town’s restaurants and river atmosphere. Overnight at Bayete Guest Lodge.

Day 8: Victoria Falls

Full day in Victoria Falls. Spend time on the Zimbabwe side for broad, front-facing views across the curtain of water and the footpaths through rainforest kept hot and humid by the spray. Optional activities are available locally, from sunset time on the upper Zambezi to gorge-based adventure options. Overnight at Bayete Guest Lodge.

Day 9: Departure

Price includes:

• Amalinda Lodge (Matobo National Park): meals, local drinks, 2 activities a day, park fees, conservation and community levy, laundry
• Ivory Lodge (Hwange National Park): meals, local drinks, activities, laundry service, park entrance fees, conservation and community taxes
• Bayete Guest Lodge (Victoria Falls): bed and breakfast

Price excludes:

• Amalinda Lodge: premium drinks
• Ivory Lodge: premium drinks and transfers