Guide

You will be accompanied by 3 crew members - Group Leader, Cook and Driver. Your Group Leader’s role involves organizing the overall operation and smooth-running of the trip, managing trip logistics, coordinating the tipping kitty (where applicable) and will form work groups to take turns cooking, cleaning and shopping (from time to time your leader may drive as well). Your Group Leader will work towards making the trip as safe and enjoyable as possible for all travellers. Intrepid trips are built around the co–operation and participation of all the group members under the supervision of the group leader. The group leader will show the group how to set up and use the equipment. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting, especially when tracking and identifying game - we think it’s the best of both worlds. Regardless of the country of origin, our Group Leaders are chosen for their leadership skills and are wonderful ambassadors for our company and our beautiful continent and its people. Your Cook is responsible for the cooking and will help to coordinate the work groups for preparing the meals and washing up! Cooks are also responsible for organising food shopping (they are always happy to have you on board) and most importantly, they make sure high hygiene standards are kept at all times while camping. Your Driver’s main responsibility is to get you to your destination safely; they are also responsible for the maintenance of the vehicles along the way. Everyone is expected participate and carry their share of the workload/duties, making camp chores easier. The duties rota system is adopted where all members share in general camp duties – cooking, shopping, washing up etc. If the whole group participates it will be quicker, easier, and more fun. We endeavour to provide the services of an experienced leader and crew; however, situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders.

Meals

8 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners

Transport

Our trucks are purpose-built, self contained safari vehicles. Our fleet of vehicles varies depending on your group size, trip route and style. In Southern Africa some departures may use vans and luggage trailers subject to group size and vehicle availability. It is also important to note that our overland vehicles are not air-conditioned, but all vehicles have windows that can be opened to allow for fresh air. There are many early starts with long hours spent driving on rough roads on all African itineraries. While most people love the chance to watch the changing landscape and daily village life, feedback shows that long periods of inactivity does not appeal to all clients. We provide the approximate distance covered each day and how many hours this normally takes to drive so that you can choose the safari experience that is right for you. African conditions are extremely tough on vehicles. While we fastidiously maintain our vehicles at our workshops, you should not expect Africa to be your traditional touring experience. While it’s certainly our aim to avoid them, it’s important that you set off on your trip knowing that the occasional breakdown can happen and are best treated as part of the African adventure. Due to wet weather there may be times when we have to take an alternative route which will mean longer travel times. Overland vehicle , Open safari vehicle

Others

Victoria Falls - Visit to Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust Hwange National Park - Guided 4x4 Game Drive Hwange - Painted Dog Conservation visit Matobo National Park - Rhino Tracking Matobo National Park - San Rock Paintings Makushu Homestay - Beading, Cooking or Dancing Black Mambas HQ - Dinner by Lantern Light Black Mambas HQ - Campfire Story Time Black Mambas HQ - Snare Walk Kruger National Park - Night Game Drive Kruger National Park - Full Day 4x4 Game Drive Panorama Route - Bourke’s Luck Potholes

Accommodation

Accommodation on this trip is mainly in two-person canvas dome tents with camping mattresses supplied. The type and variety of accommodation are determined by conditions on each of our routes. Each route is different - on some, we use a mixture of campsites and wild camps; on others, we also use hotels. In Africa, it’s not usually practical to camp when staying in towns and cities, so we use hotel accommodations and eat out in local restaurants. There may be the occasional night stop when we stay on the grounds of a hotel or at a campsite, which may also have rooms/cabins available. In this case, there may be a choice of camping or upgrading to a room. Rooms cost approximately USD : 40-100 per room per night for a twin room and cannot be pre-booked. Standards of these rooms vary greatly, and we recommend viewing the room before purchasing the night’s accommodation. The day-by-day itinerary advises when upgrades may be possible (subject to availability). Keep in mind that if we are staying in dormitory accommodation, you may have to share with other passengers or be split into same-sex rooms. Campsites do have facilities, but they usually aren’t to the same standard you would find in Western countries. For example, the bathroom facilities can be very basic. Toilet paper is rarely provided, and shower facilities can be as simple as a hose pipe spurting out cold water. Wild camps have no facilities at all. At times, there may be spare tents in the vehicles. Unfortunately, these cannot be used without the purchase of a single supplement. This is to ensure the tents avoid wear and tear or are clean and ready for the customers arriving on the next section of the trip. Camping with facilities (8 nights), Homestay (1 night)

Not included:

Others

Other activities and services are not included.

Flights

Flights are not included.

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Optional

Victoria Falls - Standard Sunset Cruise (excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD45 Victoria Falls - Flying Fox / Bridge Slide / Zipline - USD48 Victoria Falls - Bridge Tour - USD68 Victoria Falls - Bridge Swing - USD168 Victoria Falls - Traditional Village Tour - USD55 Victoria Falls - Whitewater rafting (Seasonal - excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD126 Victoria Falls - River Song Sunset Cruise (excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD75 Victoria Falls - Jet Boat (Seasonal - excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD110 Victoria Falls - Helicopter flight (12 mins - excludes USD25 Fuel & NP Fee) - USD150 Victoria Falls - Helicopter flight (25 mins - excludes USD30 Fuel & NP Fee) - USD284 Dates and availability

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Victoria Falls
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Victoria Falls

Mhoro! Welcome to Zimbabwe and the mighty Victoria Falls. Your trip begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, why not check out some of the optional activities around Victoria Falls. The Zimbabwe side of the falls offers the broadest view of this colossal natural wonder, and the scenic helicopter flights are incredible – if you opt for one, the Zambezi Helicopter Company (CAA Zimbabwe) is the only operator Intrepid endorses. As this trip doesn’t include any activities in and around Victoria Falls, it’s recommended you organise your optional activities ahead of time and arrive a little earlier.
Day 2 Day 2: Hwange National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Hwange National Park

If you haven’t seen Victoria Falls yet, this morning is your last opportunity. You’ll have to arrive at opening time (6 am from September to April and 6.30 am from May to August). This is a great time to see the falls, as sunrise casts a unique light on the cascades and there are little tourists to interrupt the view. Then, you’ll leave Victoria Falls behind and head to Hwange National Park via the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust – one of the projects The Intrepid Foundation supports. Here, you can learn about the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife, human-wildlife conflict and the Trust’s role in anti-poaching. There may also be a chance to meet any rescued or orphaned wildlife currently in their care. Hwange National Park became the royal hunting grounds of the Ndebele warrior-king Mzilikazi in the early 19th century and was set aside as a national park in 1929. Today, Hwange boasts a tremendous selection of wildlife, with over 100 species of mammals and nearly 400 bird species. The elephants of Hwange are world famous – you’ll find one of the largest elephant populations in Africa here! Spend this afternoon exploring and discover the arena in an open 4WD vehicle with expert local guides.
Day 3 Day 3: Matobo National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Matobo National Park

Make tracks for Matobo National Park this morning. Shortly after leaving Hwange, stop at the Painted Dog Conservation Centre. The loss of quality habitat and poaching are driving the painted dog (also known as African wild dog) towards extinction. Learn about how they protect and increase the range and numbers of painted dogs in Zimbabwe and the Hwange ecosystem as a whole. Then it’s on to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city. Take a stroll through the streets lined with old buildings and stop in at a local cafe or restaurant for lunch before heading to your camp for the next two nights. Home to a large population of black and white rhinoceroses that can be tracked on foot, Matobo National Park is also the site of the grave of Cecil John Rhodes – the founder of Rhodesia and the De Beers diamond company. The Matobo area has great spiritual and cultural significance to the local people and there are many sites within the park where important ceremonies still take place.
Day 4 Day 4: Matobo National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Matobo National Park

Matobo National Park has an incredibly diverse range of birdlife and wildlife and is home to both Black and White rhino. This morning, you have a unique opportunity to track white rhinos on foot with the help of an expert local guide. There will also be the chance to spot other game – the park is home to klipspringers, leopards, warthogs and springhares. You can also learn about the various local plants and trees, including wild pear and paperbark, while discovering San paintings and the rock formations of the park. After lunch, venture to a nearby village and meet some of the local people. Learn about how it was when they were living in the hills and meet with some of the local personalities – including elderly chief Pondo.
Day 5 Day 5: Tshipise
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Tshipise

This morning, leave Zimbabwe behind and cross a very busy border post – the only direct border crossing between Zimbabwe and South Africa. You should arrive at your camping site on the edge of Honnet Nature Reserve in the late afternoon. Relax and enjoy the extensive facilities available including an indoor and outdoor pool, putt putt, nature trail and optional game drives.
Day 6 Day 6: Makushu Village
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Makushu Village

Make your way to Makushu – a small village in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. When you arrive, you’ll be met by a local village guide. You’ll be staying with homestay host mothers in their family homes. With no two days the same for local villagers, you might be taking part in activities like beading, dancing, beer tasting and cooking. Tonight, you can interact with the local villagers and learn the traditional Venda ways.
Day 7 Day 7: Greater Kruger National Park - Black Mambas Hq
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Greater Kruger National Park - Black Mambas Hq

After breakfast today you’ll make the epic journey towards Greater Kruger National Park. Along the way, there will be an opportunity to stop at a shop or market for any camping supplies you or the group might need. Tonight, you’ll get the extraordinary opportunity to camp at the Black Mambas headquarters, located just outside of Kruger National Park. Supported by the Intrepid Foundation, the Black Mambas are the world’s first all-female anti-poaching unit, made up of 36 young African women. Turning a traditionally male-dominated industry on its head, they’re putting their female prowess to work protecting the wildlife of Kruger National Park in an unconventional way. You’ll accompany them on a bush walk to discover how they find and destroy snares left by poachers. In the evening, enjoy dinner by lantern light then relax by the campfire and listen to personal stories from The Black Mambas.
Day 8 Day 8: Kruger National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Kruger National Park

Rise early and have a light breakfast and coffee before embarking on a full day 4WD game drive in Kruger National Park. One of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa, Kruger National Park is home to over 500 bird species, 100 species of reptile and 150 mammal species, including the Big Five and the endangered African wild dog. Your wildlife experience begins as soon as you enter the park. You’ll head straight into prime game viewing areas, spotting anything from antelopes and elands to cheetahs and rhinos. Later, head out on a night drive with local park guides to spot nocturnal animals and maybe even a night-time predator or two. Night drives provide the opportunity to spot secretive nocturnal creatures and watch their activities in their natural environment. This drive traditionally lasts between 2 to 3 hours and you can expect to see a vast selection of nocturnal animals such as nightjars, servals, African wild cats, springhares and owls.
Day 9 Day 9: Johannesburg
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Johannesburg

It’s time to head to Johannesburg. Along the way, you’ll take in amazing vistas at the 3 Rondavals viewpoint over Blyde River Canyon and Bourke’s Luck Potholes. This is a magnificent lookout where cloud cover is usually at a minimum. Your African safari adventure comes to an end when you arrive in Johannesburg this evening. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

9 days tour

Vic Falls To Kruger

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Vic Falls To Kruger

Day 1: Victoria Falls

Day 2: Hwange National Park

Day 3: Matobo National Park

Day 4: Matobo National Park

Day 5: Tshipise

Day 6: Makushu Village

Day 7: Greater Kruger National Park - Black Mambas Hq

Day 8: Kruger National Park

Day 9: Johannesburg

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