10 Day Zimbabwe and Chobe NP Tour

Africa in one well-packed trip.

This 10-day journey links Zimbabwe’s ancient stone city, granite hills, major wildlife parks, Victoria Falls, and Botswana’s Chobe National Park. I like the wide range of places covered and the chance to see both elephants on land and from a river boat. I also like the small maximum group size of 12, with guides including Webster, Owen, and Enock praised for careful organization and personal service.

The trade-off is the pace. You spend many hours on the road, cross an international border, and move between several lodges and parks. That is a fair price for seeing so much, but you should expect an active trip rather than a slow, single-lodge safari.

Key points to know before booking

• Great Zimbabwe adds culture and archaeology: You visit the stone capital that gave modern Zimbabwe its name, not just a string of game drives.
• Hwange is the safari center of the trip: Two days are set aside for Zimbabwe’s prime big-game park, famous for its large elephant population.
• Victoria Falls gets a full day plus a free day: You have a guided falls visit, a Zambezi sunset cruise, and time for optional activities.
• Chobe combines boat and vehicle safari: The river cruise brings you close to hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffalo, and birds before the final game drive.
• The route finishes in Botswana but flies out of Victoria Falls: This makes the trip convenient for a Victoria Falls departure, though the border crossing requires patience.
• The price is $4,395 per person: Lunch, three dinners, and nine breakfasts are included, while optional activities, personal expenses, and tips cost extra.

Why this route works so well

Many southern African trips focus only on wildlife. This one gives you a broader introduction to Zimbabwe and nearby Botswana. You see a major archaeological site, an unusual granite park, two famous safari areas, the world’s largest waterfall by width, and a river system shared by several countries.

That variety is the main reason to consider the tour. Great Zimbabwe changes the rhythm before the wildlife portion begins. Matobo adds remarkable rock formations and a chance to learn about Cecil John Rhodes, whose grave is located in the hills. Hwange then delivers classic safari country, while Victoria Falls provides the trip’s great visual centerpiece.

The route also makes geographic sense. You begin in Harare, travel south to Great Zimbabwe and Matobo, then head west toward Hwange and Victoria Falls. From there, Chobe is a practical cross-border extension. You do not need to arrange a separate Botswana safari.

The cost is high, but it covers a substantial amount of guiding and transport over 10 days. You are paying for a private or small-group touring structure, multiple national parks, transfers between destinations, and cross-border coordination. The value is strongest if you want one organized trip and would otherwise have to book each part separately.

Day 1: Arriving in Harare

Your arrival at Harare International Airport is followed by a transfer to Jacana Gardens Lodge for the night. The schedule allows time for an optional city tour if your flight arrives early enough.

Possible stops include Harare Gardens, art galleries, farm produce markets, and townships. These are optional, so do not count on a full sightseeing day if you arrive late or need time to recover from a long flight.

I would treat this first day as a soft landing. Harare gives you a first look at daily life in Zimbabwe, but the trip’s major sights come later. The airport pickup is useful after an international journey, and having the first night arranged removes one early logistical task.

The stated meeting time is 7:30 in the morning, so confirm the exact pickup details before you travel. The tour offers pickup and a mobile ticket, and booking confirmation is provided at the time of purchase.

Day 2: Walking through Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe is the cultural anchor of the first half of the tour. The ruined city was built between the 11th and 15th centuries and served as the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe during the Late Iron Age.

The stone complex covers about 722 hectares and may once have supported as many as 18,000 people. Its name is especially important: modern Zimbabwe took its name from this site. You are not simply visiting old walls. You are visiting the place that gave the country its modern identity.

The site includes large dry-stone structures built without mortar. The scale helps explain why Great Zimbabwe was once a royal and political center. Take time to look at how the stonework fits together, rather than rushing only toward the best photo angle.

This is a long touring day, listed at about 12 hours, and the visit is included. The main drawback is that the schedule gives you little spare time around the stop. Still, Great Zimbabwe is one of the strongest reasons to choose this route over a safari-only itinerary.

Day 3: Granite hills and Rhodes’s grave at Matobo

Matobo National Park, also called the Matopos, changes the scenery again. The park is formed from granite, with rounded rock formations and large exposed stone slabs creating a setting unlike the broad plains of Hwange.

The area has a wide range of wildlife. White rhinos, sable antelope, impala, and leopards are among the animals you might find. Matobo is also noted for its black eagle population and for intensive protection of both black and white rhinos.

The park’s leopard population is linked to the abundance of hyrax, which can make up about half of a leopard’s diet. That does not guarantee a sighting, of course, but it gives the park a useful ecological story. The animal list is not just a checklist. Habitat and food supply explain why certain species live here.

You will also visit the grave of Cecil John Rhodes in the hills. His role in colonial history is controversial, and the location offers a chance to discuss Zimbabwe’s past in a real place rather than through a brief museum display.

The day is listed as approximately 12 hours, with admission included. The lack of a listed admission charge does not mean the stop lacks value. Matobo combines wildlife, geology, and history in one compact area.

Days 4 and 5: Big elephants and open safari country in Hwange

After breakfast on Day 4, you drive about three hours to Hwange National Park and arrive in time for lunch. The afternoon game drive takes place on the Hwange Safari Lodge estate, which borders the main park with no fences between them.

That detail matters. Wildlife can move between the estate and the park, so the setting is not simply a lodge garden with a few captive animals. Your guide will be working in an area connected to Hwange’s wider wildlife country.

Afternoon drives are especially useful for predator activity, since lions and other hunters may become more active later in the day. Hwange is best known for elephants, with a population stated at more than 65,000. During the dry season, elephants can dominate water points in the afternoon.

You might also see lion, leopard, cheetah, rhino, buffalo, impala, kudu, and sable antelope. Safari sightings are never guaranteed, and a good day does not mean every species appears. The strength of Hwange is the chance to spend sustained time in one major park rather than treating wildlife as a quick stop between cities.

Day 5 gives you another full day in Hwange. This is important because two game-drive days improve your odds of seeing different animals and behavior. One drive may focus on water points, while another may produce a better look at predators or birds. Your guide can adjust the search based on conditions and recent sightings.

The schedule allows you to return to the lodge earlier if the day’s wildlife viewing is already satisfying. That flexibility is welcome, though I would not plan on a guaranteed early finish. Safari timing depends on what appears, where it is, and how long the group wants to watch.

Day 6: Victoria Falls and a Zambezi sunset

After breakfast, the transfer to Victoria Falls takes about two hours on tarred roads. After checking in, you join a guided visit lasting roughly three hours.

The route includes the Victoria Falls rainforest, large baobab trees in the Zambezi National Park area, and an artifacts market. The falls themselves are the main event, but the surrounding vegetation helps explain the local conditions created by the spray.

Wear clothing and shoes that can handle mist. The amount of spray depends on the season and water level, so prepare for damp conditions even if the day begins dry. A guided walk also helps you understand the different viewpoints instead of simply stopping at the first overlook.

At 4:00 p.m., you are picked up for a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. Drinks and snacks are included, and you return to the hotel around 7:00 p.m. The cruise is a pleasant contrast to the morning walk: instead of standing before rushing water, you sit on the river and watch for wildlife as the light changes.

Day 7: A free day with expensive temptations

The second day in Victoria Falls is free. You can rest at the hotel swimming pool, shop, or add optional activities.

Choices include a helicopter flight over Victoria Falls, canoeing on the upper Zambezi, bungee jumping, a visit to the falls from the Zambia side, and a walk with lions. These extras can quickly change the total cost, so decide in advance which, if any, matter most to you.

I like having this open day because the main route is busy. You can recover from the safari drives, enjoy the town at your own speed, or spend more time on the falls. It also provides some protection against a delayed arrival or a rainy first visit.

Dinner at the Boma Restaurant is scheduled for this evening. The package includes three dinners overall, but it does not include optional tours, personal expenses, or tips. Check what is covered before adding activities so the final bill does not surprise you.

Day 8: Crossing into Botswana for Chobe’s river safari

The Chobe excursion begins with a one-hour drive from your Victoria Falls hotel to the Botswana border. The group expects to reach the border around 8:30 a.m., followed by border formalities, a safety briefing, and regional information.

Border crossings take time, even when the drive is short. Keep your documents ready and avoid scheduling a tight connection later that day. The border is part of the experience, but it is also the least predictable piece of the route.

At about 9:00 a.m., you begin a three-hour boat cruise on the Chobe River. This is one of the trip’s best changes of pace. From the water, you can watch elephants and buffalo coming down to drink, while hippos, crocodiles, and many kinds of birds occupy the riverbanks and shallows.

A boat gives you a different view from a safari vehicle. Animals may appear at the water’s edge, and the river creates a natural meeting point for several species. The cruise ends around 12:30 p.m., followed by a buffet lunch.

The day combines a border crossing, boat safari, lunch, and a move toward camp or lodging. It is a full day, but the river cruise gives it a clear center.

Day 9: An early Chobe game drive

Day 9 begins early with tea or coffee and a quick continental breakfast. You break camp and set out on the final game drive.

Early morning is a useful time to look for big cats and other nocturnal animals while they remain active. There is also a chance of finding predators near a recent kill. The wording matters here: you may find these scenes, but no safari operator can promise them.

The game drive takes you toward the exit gate, and you are expected at Chobe Safari Lodge around 10:00 a.m. The rest of the day is for relaxing, shopping, or joining an optional afternoon boat cruise on Chobe National Park.

This shorter second day in Chobe gives you two ways to experience the river area. The first cruise is the major included activity, while the afternoon cruise is optional. If you have already had enough early starts, the lodge provides a quieter way to finish the safari portion.

Day 10: Departure from Victoria Falls

On the final day, you are transferred to Victoria Falls Airport. Departure timing depends on your flight schedule.

This ending is practical because the tour loops back toward Victoria Falls after the Botswana portion. Still, confirm the transfer time against your flight. Border travel and road conditions can affect the day, and you should not create a tight international connection without checking with the operator.

Guides, group size, and the day-to-day feel

The tour limits the group to 12 people, which is a useful size for game drives and transfers. It is small enough to feel organized without necessarily carrying the price of a fully private safari.

Webster, Owen, and Enock are named as part of the guiding and support team. The strongest praise centers on being well cared for, organized transfers, clear information, and well-run safari days. That is exactly where a multi-country trip can succeed or fail.

You should expect a structured journey. Meals, transfers, park visits, and border procedures are arranged for you, but each day still has its own timing. A moderate level of physical fitness is requested. You will spend long periods in vehicles, rise early for safari, and handle walking at Victoria Falls and Great Zimbabwe.

What the $4,395 price really buys

At $4,395 per person, this is not a low-cost safari. Its value depends on how much planning you want to avoid and how much variety you want in one trip.

The price includes lunch, three dinners, and nine breakfasts. It also covers the main scheduled touring structure, including the Great Zimbabwe visit, guided Victoria Falls experience, Zambezi sunset cruise, Hwange activities, and Chobe program as described.

You still need to budget for optional tours, personal purchases, and gratuities. Helicopter flights, bungee jumping, canoeing, the Zambia-side visit, and the lion walk are not included. Those extras may be memorable, but they are not necessary to enjoy the core trip.

I would choose this tour if you want Zimbabwe’s major highlights plus a taste of Botswana without arranging several separate operators. I would look elsewhere if you want a slow safari with many nights in one camp, or if you prefer to control every hotel, meal, and activity yourself.

Who should book this southern Africa sampler?

This tour suits first-time visitors to southern Africa who want variety. You get culture, archaeology, geology, wildlife, river scenery, and one of the world’s most famous natural sights.

It is especially good for people who value organized transfers and guiding. The route has enough moving parts that having one team coordinate Harare, Zimbabwe’s parks, Victoria Falls, and Botswana can save considerable effort.

Families and mixed-interest groups may also like the balance. Someone who is less enthusiastic about game drives still gets Great Zimbabwe, Matobo, Victoria Falls, shopping, and the free day. Safari fans receive two full days in Hwange and more wildlife time in Chobe.

The main caution is stamina. Ten days is not long for this route. You should be comfortable with early mornings, long drives, changing accommodations, and a border crossing. Pack light, bring patience, and keep your optional-activity budget separate.

The cancellation terms are relatively strict close to departure. A full refund is available when you cancel at least six full days before the start time. A 50 percent refund applies two to six full days before departure, and cancellations less than two full days before the start receive no refund. Poor weather may lead to a different date or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your goal is to see a broad slice of Zimbabwe and add Botswana in one carefully organized trip. The strongest features are the cultural stop at Great Zimbabwe, two days in Hwange, the full Victoria Falls program, and Chobe’s excellent boat-and-game-drive pairing.

Skip it if you want a relaxed schedule or a specialist wildlife trip focused on one park. The route is busy, and the $4,395 price rises if you add several optional activities.

For most first visits, I think the variety justifies the pace. You finish with ancient stonework, granite hills, elephants, waterfalls, and a river safari in the same journey, which is a lot of southern Africa in 10 days.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins in Harare, Zimbabwe, with pickup at Harare International Airport and a transfer to Jacana Gardens Lodge.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends with a transfer to Victoria Falls Airport on Day 10.

How long is the experience?

The tour lasts approximately 10 days.

What is the price?

The listed price is $4,395 per person.

What meals are included?

The package includes lunch, three dinners, and nine breakfasts.

Are optional activities included?

No. Optional activities are not included. Examples include a helicopter flight over Victoria Falls, canoeing, bungee jumping, visiting the falls from Zambia, and walking with lions.

How large is the group?

The maximum group size is 12 people.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered, including airport pickup in Harare at the beginning of the trip.

Does the tour visit Botswana?

Yes. Days 8 and 9 include Chobe National Park in Botswana, with a border crossing from Victoria Falls.

What fitness level is required?

A moderate physical fitness level is recommended. The trip includes long drives, safari activities, walking at major sites, early starts, and a border crossing.