Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Africa. There is nowhere like it on the planet for wildlife, wild lands & rich traditions that endure. No other continent comes close to it for scale, variety and pure, raw impact. Prepare to fall in love.

Welcome to  mesmerizing  Zimbabwe - a  land where you can spot  the Big Five in its national parks, discover UNESCO World Heritage listed archaeological sites & stand in awe of one of the natural wonders of the world, the thundering Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River.

Arrive in Victoria Falls, a town in the western portion of Zimbabwe, across the border from Livingstone, Zambia, & near Botswana.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Victoria Falls Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel, help you settle in and provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next few days.

If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of waiting, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer.  Please do not exit the Airport & make your own way to the hotel.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Balance of the morning & afternoon free to relax or to explore independently. Perhaps opt for one of the many options (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements) available, depending on the time you have available.

Victoria Falls is a town in western Zimbabwe & a gateway to the massive waterfall of the same name. A genuine bucket-list destination, Victoria Falls remains one of Africa's most famous tourist towns. Not only does it offer the best views of the iconic Falls, but it also has a world-class adventure-tourism scene & wildlife safaris.

It is home to the country's tourism industry & despite Zimbabwe's political issues, it has always been a safe spot for tourists; locals are exceptionally friendly. Though built specifically for tourism, it retains a relaxed local feel & has neat, walkable streets (though not at dark, because of the wild animals) lined with hotels, bars & some of the best crafts you will find anywhere in Southern Africa.

Early evening, you will be transferred to the Docks to join an exciting 2 hour sunset cruise on the mighty Zambezi.

The Zambezi River cruise is a superb way to relax & enjoy the beauty of the River. Put your feet up, sip a sundowner as the light gently fades, and let your tranquil wildlife cruise float you along the Zambezi River above the Falls. If you are lucky, you will have the opportunity to see a variety of game; including hippo, crocodile, elephant & sometimes even rhino in their home environment, as well as enjoy the many different bird species.

The town lies on the southern bank of the Zambezi River at the western end of the Victoria Falls themselves

You are in the first-class seats, that is for sure, and while you are sipping your cocktail & enjoying the snacks, no further movement required on your part, you will be captivated by the sun's dying rays as they cast a burnt-orange glow which shimmers on the river. Take another sip in this golden setting - cheers! There are great photo opportunities against often-spectacular African sunsets.

The Cruise ends & you are transferred back to the hotel..

Balance of the evening is at leisure. Perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Morning, you will be picked up at 08:30 am to embark for a 3 hour walking tour to enjoy Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Taking its place alongside the Pyramids & the Serengeti, Victoria Falls is one of Africa’s original blockbusters. And although Zimbabwe & Zambia share it, Victoria Falls is a place all of its own.

The UNESCO World Heritage listed Victoria Falls presents a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty & grandeur on the Zambezi River, forming the border between Zambia & Zimbabwe. It comprises 8 ravines & several islands that housed 4 endangered & migratory bird species like Taita Falcon & Black Eagle.

David Livingstone, the Scottish missionary & explorer, is believed to have been the first European to view Victoria Falls in 1855 from what is now known as Livingstone Island, one of two land masses in the middle of the river, immediately upstream from the falls on the Zambian side.  Livingstone named his discovery in honour of Queen Victoria of Britain, but the indigenous name, Mosi-oa-Tunya -"the smoke that thunders" - continues in common usage as well. The nearby National Park in Zambia is named Mosi-oa-Tunya, whereas the National Park & town on the Zimbabwean shore are both named Victoria Falls. 

In more modern terms Victoria Falls is known as the greatest curtain of falling water in the world. Columns of spray can be seen from miles away as, at the height of the rainy season, more than 500 million cubic meters of water per minute plummet over the edge, over a width of nearly 2 km, into a deep gorge below.

While it is neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, Victoria Falls is classified as the largest, based on its combined width of 1,708 metres & height of 108 metres resulting in the world's largest sheet of falling water. The Falls is roughly twice the height of North America's Niagara Falls & well over twice the width of its Horseshoe Falls. In height & width, Victoria Falls is rivalled only by Argentina & Brazil's Iguazu Falls. The wide, basalt cliff over which the Falls thunder, transforms the Zambezi from a placid river into a ferocious torrent cutting through a series of dramatic gorges.

No surprise why Victoria Falls is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. You will understand it instantly as you tour the Zimbabwean side, for there are numerous spectacular vantage points along the width of the Falls, and the sight of this astounding gift of nature.

There are two viewing areas, one on the Zimbabwean side & one on the Zambian side. Both sides preserve the natural rainforest which exists because of the continuous spray from the Falls. You will have the finest view (on the Zimbabwe side) of the Eastern Cataract & the Main Falls as well as the Boiling Pot, where the river turns & heads down the Batoka Gorge as you walk across the Knife-edge Bridge through the permanent, beautifully misty rainforest which flanks the Falls, stopping to marvel at the principal sites as it cascades to the depths below: the Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow Falls, the Boiling Pot, Cataract Island & Livingstone Island.

View it directly as a raging mile-long curtain of water, in all its glory, from a helicopter ride or peek precariously over its edge from Devil's Pools; the sheer power and force of the Falls is something that simply does not disappoint. Stand & watch, feel & listen to the spray & thunderous noise, as millions of litres of water tumble over the Falls into a series of narrow gorges below. Meanwhile, Victoria Falls’ stunning spray mist can be seen as far as 50km is a result of its lively ecosystem.

Return to the hotel to relax.

Balance of the day at leisure.

Why not walk around the small Victoria Falls town to view the markets for African curios ? Or perhaps opt for one of the many options that this area has to offer, including helicopter flights over the Falls, elephant back safaris, lion cub encounters, jet boating, tour of a local village & the craft market  (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Morning, depart for Hwange National Park.

Arrive by afternoon & Check-in at the Camp.

Hwange was first home to the Nhanzwa, the San bushmen. Named after a local Nhanzwa chief, Hwange National Park is the largest game reserve in Zimbabwe, occupying roughly 14 650 square kilometers of predominantly Rhodesian teak & mopane woodlands rising from sands of the Kalahari desert, at its western border, in addition to verdant seasonal wetlands & lofty ilala palms.

It became the royal hunting grounds to the Ndebele warrior-king Mzilikazi in the early 19^th century &  was designated as a National Park in 1929.

Hwange boasts a tremendous selection of wildlife with over 108 species of mammals including lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, black and white rhino, giraffe, waterbuck, warthog, baboon, jackal, bat-eared fox and the rare brown hyena & an amazing number of wild dogs. Bird life is prolific too, with over 400 species recorded.

The elephants of Hwange continue to thrive in huge herds & are world famous .The Park's elephant population is one of the largest in the world. And the park’s shortage of water is well addressed by man-made waterholes, dams and boreholes, especially during the dry winter months. The organisation Friends of Hwange ensures a constant supply via regular servicing of the pumps, using private donations. The park has 482 kilometers of game viewing roads, all leading to areas of outstanding animal concentration &  water holes.

It is a 2 hour drive to enter into the Hwagne National Park. You will then be transferred in 4x4 vehicles to take you to the Camp, which could take another 3 - 4 hours, depending on the wildlife you see on the way and also adhering to proper speed limit in the park.

Balance of the day is at leisure.

The day begins with early morning coffee or tea, followed by a thrilling open vehicle game drive through the Park. The park offers some of the best game viewing & wildlife opportunities in the world & early morning is an optimal time of day.

Spend a couple of hours observing the animals before returning back to the lodge for a hearty breakfast.

Balance of the morning at leisure.

Later in the afternoon, proceed for another game drive.

Come back to the lodge.

Balance of the evening is at leisure.

Early morning, depart for Victoria Falls Town.

Depending on the available time, you can spend time in the town or drive straight to the Airport.

Alas, this wonderful experience comes to an end. Time to say good-bye to mythical Mosi-oa-Tunya  & go home. But, we sure hope that you may want to discover a bit more of enchanting Zimbabwe on your next visit.  

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? - Victoria Falls Airport for your onward journey.  B

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