High Tea in the Savannah, Catering by Victoria Falls Hotel

The unusual part of this Victoria Falls outing is simple to picture: a formal English high tea in the African bush, set beside a waterhole where elephants or giraffes may appear while you sip Tanganda tea. I like the pairing of a proper Victoria Falls Hotel-style spread with a real game drive, and I like the small maximum group of 10, which gives the guide room to explain what you are seeing.

The main drawback is that wildlife is never scheduled like a tea service. You may get elephants at the waterhole and several Big Five sightings, or you may spend more time watching smaller antelope and plains animals. The park fee is not included in the $165 price, so check that extra cost before booking.

Key points at a glance

• High tea beside a waterhole: Enjoy sandwiches, scones, cream, jam, cakes, cookies, fruit, and Tanganda tea in a safari setting.
• Chamabondo National Park game drive: Look for elephants, lions, buffalo, zebras, leopards, antelope, and smaller plains animals.
• Sunset return: The drive back is timed for strong evening colors and possible wildlife near other waterholes.
• Small group size: The vehicle carries a maximum of 10 people, keeping the outing more personal than a large convoy.
• Guides with local experience: Guides including Taf and Prince have been singled out for clear explanations and helpful service.
• Practical timing: Pickup begins around 3 p.m., and the outing lasts about three and a half hours.

A high tea safari with a clear sense of place

Many safari outings offer a drink at sunset. This one makes the drink the main event. The setting changes the mood completely: instead of stopping at a generic picnic point, you sit down to a vintage-style tea service in the savannah, with a waterhole nearby and the possibility of animals arriving on their own schedule.

The catering comes from the Victoria Falls Hotel, described as the second-oldest hotel in Africa. That detail gives the meal a sense of connection to the town’s colonial-era hotel tradition, while the open bush setting keeps it from feeling like afternoon tea indoors. You get the ceremony of china, cakes, sandwiches, and tea, but with wildlife and dust beyond the table.

I would book this for the contrast. The appeal is not only the food and not only the game viewing. It is the odd, memorable combination of the two. You can have a cup of tea while keeping an eye on a waterhole, then leave as the afternoon light turns gold.

The tour is run by Savannah Adventures Safaris. Guides named Taf and Prince appear in the experience’s guest feedback, with Taf receiving particular praise for helpful service and Prince for explaining wildlife and bush life in detail. Guide quality matters on a short safari because a good guide helps you notice tracks, behavior, and smaller animals that can disappear into the background.

Starting at 3 p.m. in Victoria Falls

The experience begins with pickup at about 3 p.m. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, which is useful if you are staying in Victoria Falls and do not want to arrange a separate taxi to the park entrance.

The timing is well chosen. You are not being asked to spend a full day in the vehicle, and the afternoon light should improve as the outing progresses. You begin with enough daylight for wildlife viewing, then move into the cooler and more atmospheric part of the day.

The operator says it leaves before other companies in order to reach the park earlier and complete entry formalities quickly. That can matter on a short outing. Every minute spent waiting at an entrance is a minute taken from the game drive or the tea stop. The company also says it handles formalities before the tour begins, although you should still confirm exactly how the park fee is collected, since that charge is not included in the tour price.

The mobile ticket is convenient, and confirmation is provided when you book. The group is capped at 10 people, but the exact vehicle layout is not specified. If you have a strong preference for a particular seat or need special arrangements, ask before paying.

Through Chamabondo National Park

The first major part of the outing is a game drive through Chamabondo National Park. This is not simply a transfer to the picnic site. The drive is presented as a regular safari, with a guide interpreting the bush and its inhabitants along the way.

Possible sightings include elephants, lions, buffalo, zebras, and leopards. You may also see several kinds of antelope and smaller plains animals. The wording matters: these animals can be found in the park, but no sighting is guaranteed. A safari is about conditions, timing, animal movement, and luck.

The larger animals receive most of the attention, but I would encourage you to listen closely when the guide talks about smaller species. A short afternoon outing may not produce every animal on the list, yet a good explanation of tracks, behavior, or habitat can make a common antelope more interesting than a rushed view of a distant lion.

The experience is also described as taking place in an open area of savannah and African bush. That suggests broad views rather than a tightly enclosed forest route. Open country can make animals easier to spot at a distance, though it can also mean that sightings are not close. Bring patience. You may spend time scanning the edges of the waterholes and bush instead of moving from one dramatic sighting to the next.

The guides are an important part of the value. Taf is praised for being helpful and capable, while Prince is described as taking time to explain the wildlife and what the group encounters. Those details are useful when choosing this outing because the drive is relatively short. You want a guide who can make the whole route worthwhile, not one who waits only for a major animal.

The waterhole tea stop

The high tea is the heart of the outing. After the game drive, the vehicle parks at a safari camp beside a waterhole. The table is set in a vintage English style, but the surroundings are unmistakably African bush.

The food includes sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, cookies, cake, a variety of fruit, water, and Tanganda tea. Coffee is also listed as included. The presentation has received strong praise, especially the fruit, tea, plating, and overall spread.

This is not a full restaurant meal, so set your expectations accordingly. It is an afternoon tea service, not dinner. If you need a substantial meal after the tour, plan one for later. For most people, the combination of sweet items, fruit, sandwiches, and hot drinks should suit the time of day.

The setting is what makes the food more valuable. A plate of cakes is pleasant at a hotel, but it becomes a story when it is served beside a waterhole and you are watching the bush at the same time. The setup has been described as especially good for watching elephants and giraffes. Those animals may not appear, but the waterhole gives you a genuine chance to observe natural movement rather than a staged animal encounter.

The tea stop also creates a welcome pause. Game drives can be tiring, especially if you are concentrating on distant animals and riding over uneven ground. Sitting down for a drink lets you enjoy the place at a slower pace. You can talk with your guide, take photographs, and watch the waterhole without the constant movement of the vehicle.

The word high tea can cause confusion. In this context, think of a substantial afternoon tea with British-style food, served outdoors in a safari setting. It is not a formal hotel dining room service, and the surroundings may be dusty, warm, or affected by weather.

Sunset through the savannah

After tea, the vehicle returns through the park as daylight fades. The return is part of the plan, not an afterthought. The tour is timed so you may see the strongest yellow, orange, and red colors of the evening while keeping watch for animals moving toward water.

This is often the most photogenic part of the outing, but it is also the least predictable. The exact sunset colors depend on weather and seasonal conditions. Animal activity can change from day to day. You might see more wildlife near the waterholes on the way back, or you might mainly enjoy the changing light and open bush.

A late return can also affect how you plan the rest of your evening. The total duration is about three hours and 30 minutes, so a 3 p.m. start should bring you back around early evening, though exact timing can shift. Do not schedule a tightly timed dinner, show, or border crossing immediately afterward.

The sunset drive gives the experience a natural arc: wildlife viewing in daylight, tea at the waterhole, and a slower return as the bush cools. That structure is more satisfying than a quick snack stop inserted between two unrelated activities.

What $165 includes, and what it does not

At $165 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend an afternoon near Victoria Falls. The price covers the game drive in a safari vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off, and the high tea service with tea, coffee, sandwiches, cookies, cake, fruit, and water.

The real value depends on how much you want the combination. If you are looking only for a basic afternoon game drive, a simpler option may cost less. If you are looking only for a Victoria Falls Hotel tea, you could choose the hotel itself. Here, your money pays for the pairing of both traditions, plus transport and a small group.

The connection to the Victoria Falls Hotel is a useful part of the experience. The catering gives the meal a more considered feel than a packed snack, while the safari setting makes it unlike a normal hotel tea. The reported care with fruit, tea, and plating supports that promise.

Remember the park fee. It is specifically excluded, so the advertised price is not the final cost. Ask for the current fee before booking, since park charges can change. Also confirm what drinks will be served. Coffee, Tanganda tea, and water are listed as included. Some past comments refer to wine, beer, or syrup, but those items are not part of the formal inclusion list, so do not assume alcohol is provided.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this outing to couples, families with older children, and anyone who has already seen the main Victoria Falls attractions and wants something less routine. It suits people who enjoy food, photography, wildlife, and a slower afternoon pace.

It is also a good choice if you want a safari without committing to a full-day expedition. Three and a half hours gives you a real game drive, a proper refreshment stop, and a sunset return, while leaving most of the day free.

This is especially appealing if the Victoria Falls Hotel already interests you. The safari gives you a taste of its classic tea tradition without keeping you indoors. It is a clever fit for someone who likes polished details but also wants mud, open country, and the chance of seeing elephants at close range.

I would be more cautious if your main goal is to see a particular animal. Leopards and lions are possible, but no short safari can promise them. If your schedule allows only one wildlife outing and you want the longest possible viewing time, compare this with a longer game drive.

The experience may also be less comfortable in poor weather. The operator requires good weather and may offer another date or a full refund if conditions force cancellation. Bring practical clothing and accept that the bush setting is part of the deal.

Practical advice before you book

Plan to be ready for pickup before 3 p.m. Since the company aims to get into the park promptly, a late start could affect the schedule.

Wear clothing that works for both the warm afternoon and the cooler return. Choose comfortable shoes and bring sun protection. A camera or phone with enough battery is worthwhile, especially for the waterhole and sunset.

Keep your expectations flexible. The strongest moments may come from an unexpected elephant, a giraffe near the camp, or a small animal your guide points out. The high tea itself remains worthwhile even if the wildlife is quiet, but you should book this for the full blend rather than for a guaranteed Big Five checklist.

The maximum group size is 10, and the ticket is mobile. Most people can participate, according to the supplied tour information. If you have mobility, dietary, or seating concerns, contact the operator before booking, since those details are not explained.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and poor-weather or minimum-group cancellations may lead to another date, another experience, or a full refund.

Should you book the High Tea Safari?

Book it if you want something more distinctive than a standard game drive and you like the idea of combining a classic tea service with real wildlife viewing. The waterhole setting, small group, sunset return, and experienced guides such as Taf and Prince give the afternoon a strong shape.

Do not book it expecting a guaranteed lion, leopard, or elephant encounter. The park fee is extra, and the $165 price makes the most sense if you value both the Victoria Falls Hotel-style catering and the safari itself.

For the right visitor, this is a memorable way to spend an afternoon in Victoria Falls: polished tea on one side, untamed bush on the other, and enough open time to let the setting do some of the work.

FAQ

What time does the High Tea Safari start?

The experience starts at 3 p.m. Hotel pickup is offered, and the full outing lasts approximately three hours and 30 minutes.

Where does the safari take place?

The game drive takes place in Chamabondo National Park near Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The high tea is served at a safari camp beside a waterhole.

What food and drinks are included?

The included spread consists of sandwiches, scones, cream, jam, cookies, cake, a variety of fruit, Tanganda tea, coffee, and water.

Is the park fee included in the price?

No. The park fee is not included in the $165 per-person price.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity has a maximum of 10 participants.

What happens if the weather is poor or I need to cancel?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes within 24 hours are not refunded. If poor weather or an insufficient number of participants causes the operator to cancel, you will be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.