Zimbabwe · WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS
Elephant herds on the Chobe floodplain, rhino tracked on foot in Matobo, and the birding along the upper Zambezi. These 13 are compared on what you are likely to see, how close you get and what the park fees add.
From Kasane, combine a Chobe River wildlife cruise with a 4x4 safari in Chobe National Park. You’ll look for elephants, hippos, crocodiles, birds, and the Big Five, then stop for a buffet lunch at Cresta Mowana Safari Lodge. The small group is limited to eight, with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, and flexible timing based on wildlife movement.
Start at 1:00 pm with pickup for a small-group walk in Matobo National Park. Guides such as Blessing and Bongani lead you toward white rhinos, explain tracks, plants, and dung, then take you to ancient San paintings. Park rangers join the encounter. Lunch, drinks, photos, snacks, and sunset refreshments are included.
“What a fabulous experience. Getting up close to the amazing White Rhinos. Guides and rangers do a fabulous job protecting these amazing beasts.”
Spend about three hours at a Victoria Falls wildlife sanctuary with a guide such as Liki. Ride into a secure lion enclosure, watch an eye-level feeding, walk near three hyenas, meet ostriches and rescued animals, and hear how conservation work supports the sanctuary.
“Awesome!!! Watay beyond my expectations. The ostriches were a great surprise. I got to feed the ostriches. So special!!!”
Spend eight hours with an English-speaking guide in Matobo National Park, riding in a white open safari truck, walking near rhinos, viewing rock paintings and balancing rocks, and visiting Cecil Rhodes’ grave. Ask if Blessing is available, especially if rhino tracking is your main goal. Lunch, drinks, entry fees, and Bulawayo pickup are included.
“one of the most impressive tours i’ve had. My guide was Blessing and he was very punctual, knowledgeable, patient, responsible and paid close attention to what my fellow and i were interested in and expected about the tour. we explored a few spots according to Blessing’s own experience and we found it a worthy unexpected discovery. it was impressive to track the rhinos and it was also enjoyable to learn a lot about the history of Matabo National Park. Strongly recommended.”
Set out from Victoria Falls at 4:00 pm for a two-hour Zambezi River cruise. Sip beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks, or water while snacking on canapes and watching for hippos, crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, baboons, and birds. Hotel pickup is offered, and the cruise returns to its starting point.
“Really enjoyable tour overall. I chose this option as it is by far the best value for money as I didn’t want to waste money on dinner…then was pleasantly surprised that we got a great variety of snacks anyways. We saw hippos, crocodiles, an eagle Read more”
Savannah Adventures combines a short wildlife walk with a guided visit to Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwean side. Your local guide leads you through bush where wildlife sightings are common but not guaranteed, then into the spray-soaked rainforest around the falls. The tour lasts about two hours, takes up to 12 people, and requires a separate national park fee based on nationality.
“Unfortunately our guide struggled to gain entrance to the park for half an hour whilst we just stood there not knowing what was happening. When we finally did get in, he just walked along with us so we were very disappointed with this as we could have just done that ourselves.”
Join Batoka Africa at 4:00 pm for a relaxed Zambezi cruise from A’zambezi River Lodge. Your crew serves canapés and unlimited alcoholic and soft drinks while you watch for hippos, crocodiles, birds, and perhaps elephants. The cruise lasts about three hours, returns to the lodge, and includes hotel pickup and drop-off.
“we are very lucky saw the elephants drinking water on the river side. the cruise are clean and service are excellent.”
Travel with local guides from Victoria Falls through Botswana’s Chobe National Park, Elephant Sands, the Okavango Delta, and Moremi. You’ll cruise the Zambezi, visit both sides of Victoria Falls, take a scenic delta flight, paddle a traditional mokoro, and join several game drives. Groups are capped at nine, with pickup and most park fees included.
“We personalised the Cuckoo Safari 10 day tour with the help of Tatenda, adding Hwange NP and removing the Saltpans. We also upgraded our Chobe hotel and Tatenda was very helpful with all our queries. Before the trip we were added to a Read more”
Take a private 4x4 safari from Victoria Falls into Zambezi National Park, guided in English or Shona by experts such as Itela, Clements, Kennedy, or Martin. Search for elephants, buffalo, giraffes, lions, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, and more than 400 bird species along the Zambezi River.
“Clement en Kennedy hebben erg veel moeite gedaan om ons gedurende de 7 uur durende safari zo veel mogelijk te laten zien. Super Lunch kan iets beter.”
Start with a 7:30 am pickup and join a small group of up to 15 people. Expert carers introduce you to individual elephants, explain their behavior and skills, and allow close contact, feeding, and touching. You then watch the herd play, bathe, and roll in mud at its waterhole. Israel is one guide praised for his warm, clear explanations.
“Nice getting up close to the elephants. Got to feed them, touch them, and learn about them. They seem to be healthy and well cared for. The staff & trainers were very friendly and knowledgeable. We went in winter (July) so it wasn’t warm eRead more”
Leave Victoria Falls early for a full day in Hwange National Park with an English-speaking guide, two game-drive periods, waterholes, wildlife hides, picnic lunch, and drinks. The drive passes villages, schools, churches, hospitals, and Hwange Colliery. Allow about three hours each way and budget an extra $20 for park entry.
“Pick up was on time, very good and informative communication from the driver. According to this tour operator effective 1 January 2026 a VAT of 15,5% is levied by the Government for tourism. We only received this info from them very last minute and it was an additional 82$ (for 2). They should have informed us in advance of this increase! We have joined several tours and booked all tours far before the end of 2025. The other tour operators did not raise their price by 15,5% and mentioned that if the tour operator had prebooked before the end of 2025, the increase would not apply. Otherwise it was an…”
Travel from Victoria Falls to Maun across six days, with Chobe boat and vehicle safaris, Makgadikgadi Salt Pan, and a one-night Okavango Delta camp. Small groups of up to six are led by local guides, with Tafara among the guides associated with longer Africa Uncovered Safaris trips. Expect long road transfers, basic bush camping, and plenty of early starts.
“My wife and I loved our trip through Zimbabwe and Botswana. Here’s what made the trip amazing:”
Travel from Victoria Falls to Jafuta Lodge for a 2.5-hour EleCREW experience with an ambassador herd. You’ll hear how elephants use sight, sound, smell, touch, memory, and emotion, meet their experienced carers, watch herd life at a waterhole, and learn how conservation work helps people and elephants share the same home.
“one of the most meaningful things I’ve done. This nonprofit is doing critical work rescuing elephants at risk from culling and drought with 9 in total, and it shows in how thoughtfully everything is run. The guides were informative, the environment felt calm and respectful, and the focus stayed on the elephants (not entertainment). I came out knowing so much about them and it’s amazing to get up close with them. Highly recommend if you want an ethical, heart-full experience.”
Pick a rim, a river or a park.
