16 Day $2390pp. Single Supplement $350. If you want action and excitement while viewing the incredible wildlife Africa is known for, then this is the safari for you! This is an active African Safari that combines intense wildlife experiences with an adrenaline rush! We will walk and drive trails to track the big game, raft the world-class Zambezi River, and canoe the placid sections of the same river to get close to elephants and hippo's. We will have a chance to see Victoria Falls, larger and more impressive than Niagara and Iguazu combined. For the adventurous there will even be a chance to go bungy jumping off the highest platform jump in the world!

Zimbabwe is relatively unvisited compared to traditional African destinations. This means we are able to see a pride of lions on our own without a dozen other groups converging on the same spot. Zimbabwe's game parks are known for their wealth and diversity of wild animals, perfect for exploration on foot. We will most likely see elephant, lion, wildebeest, giraffe, zebra, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, hippo and a variety of antelope before the trip is over.

Our adventure starts as we canoe the Royal Village Canoe Trails. Two days of silently drifting downstream allows us to sneak up on an abundance of wildlife and to track game daily. We are on the Zambia side of the river for the canoeing. We continue on to Victoria Falls and then white water rafting on the Zambezi River for three days. This is some of the most exciting white water on earth as the river winds its way through sinuous canyons full of raw beauty. Since it is an oared raft no experience is necessary. We continue on to Hwange National Park where we will track game in the reserve hosting the greatest variety of animals in all of Africa. Hwange is famous for its massive herds of elephant though it also has lions, zebra, giraffes, and more in abundance.

Includes: All lodging, meals as indicated, airport transfers, air within Zimbabwe, group camping equipment (when required), bedding (including sleeping bags, liners, & sleeping pads when camping), rafting equipment, canoeing equipment, dry bags, first aid supplies, and English-speaking professional guide services.

Dates: August - October

Difficulty: Moderate

Day 1 Depart USA. Leave New York in the evening.
Day 2 Arrive Johannesburg, South Africa. An afternoon arrival gets us into Johannesburg in the afternoon. Here we are met at the airport and taken to our hotel to relax from the flights, or explore the town on our own. Overnight Holiday Inn Garden Court (or similar).
Day 3 Johannesburg - Harare, Zimbabwe. Transfer to the airport (on own) for our morning flight to Harare. Here we are met at the airport and taken to our hotel to relax from the flights, or explore the town on our own. Overnight Jameson Bed & Breakfast (or similar)
Day 4 Harare - Kariba. After an early breakfast we are transferred to the airport where our morning flight takes us to Kariba (approx. 35 min.). On arrival we are transferred to Kariba Breezes Hotel. The Kariba Breezes Hotel is situated overlooking the lake, has two swimming pools and all rooms have ensuite facilities. At 6:30pm we will meet with our guides on the lower pool terrace and go over our upcoming canoe trip. Overnight Kariba Breezes Hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 5 Royal Village Canoe Trail, Zambia. After an early breakfast and then clearing customs in Kariba we are driven to the Kafue River Pontoon on the Zambia side of the river. Here we will be driven or boated approximately 7 1/2 miles downstream from the Kafue River. Here we will have lunch before beginning our canoeing on the Zambezi River (after some basic instruction in the art of paddling and some safety drills). We use 18 foot long, 2 and 3 person Canadian Classic canoes with buoyancy tanks. These are exceptionally stable vessels and no experience is required to paddle them. Today we will paddle approximately 3 hours downstream to Mugurameno Camp. Camp will have been set up before we arrive. Our camp will consist of semi-permanent cottage tents with comfortable beds, two flush toilets and two hot/cold bucket showers. The camp staff will serve dinner. Overnight Mugurameno Camp. (B,L,D)

We will camp our way down the Zambezi River as we explore. Our canoes drift silently downstream with the current and allow us the chance to see an abundance of game. Much of the wildlife goes down to the river for water, so we will get some opportunities for close observation. The river itself is filled with hippos. Herds of elephant are attracted to the lovely groves of trees growing along the banks, and there will be lion, impala, waterbuck and baboons in and around some of the permanent pools. All we carry in our canoes is what we need for the day since our luggage is transferred by vehicle to the next camp. Most of our time is spent in narrow channels off the main river that are prolific in bird and animal life.
Day 6 Royal Village Canoe Trail. After an early morning wake-up (7:00 am) and some tea/coffee with biscuits and a full English breakfast we set off in our canoes and continue downstream exploring the Zambezi River. After a long lunch (with time to explore river bank we are on) we will paddle to the next camping site at Nyamangwe where a camp has been set up opposite Trichelia Island Overnight Nyamangwe Camp. (B,L,D)
Day 7 Royal Village Canoe Trail - Kariba, Zimbabwe. After our early morning rise and our tea, coffee, biscuits and full English breakfast we will be transferred back to the Kafue River Pontoon by a high powered speed boat. We will then be transferred back to Kariba arriving in the afternoon (around 1:00 p.m.) and be transferred to the Kariba Breezes Hotel. Overnight Kariba Breezes Hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 8 Kariba - Victoria Falls. An early flight will get us to Victoria Falls by 11:00 am. A transfer to our lodge leaves the majority of the day available to explore the Falls on our own. It is possible to do this by foot, boat, light aircraft, or helicopter. A sunset cruise is especially wonderful. The highest commercial bungy jump in the world can be done over the falls as well. Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall on earth, over 5,500 feet wide and plunging up to 350 feet down. The clouds of spray that rise above the massive gorge give the falls their African name, Mosi-oa-Tunya, 'the smoke that thunders'. When in flood over 200 million gallons per minute plunge down this waterfall. Victoria Falls is a World Heritage Area as declared by UNESCO. In the evening (6:00 p.m.) we will go over our white water rafting trip for tomorrow. Overnight Sprayview Hotel (or similar). (B)
Day 9 Victoria Falls - White Water Rafting. Below Victoria Falls, volumes of water up to four times greater than the Colorado River is squeezed through sinuous gorges on the Zambezi River. These gorges create some of the most spectacular white-water rapids to be found anywhere in the world. In places, the runs reach grade IV, as exciting as it gets. It is said that these rapids make sky diving without a parachute look tame. The outfitter we use for this part of the trip pioneered white-water rafting in Zimbabwe, and their safety record is without equal. Since the raft guide does all the oaring no experience is necessary, just a sense of adventure. An early breakfast allows us to meet for rafting at 7:45 am. Before hiking down the gorge there is an in-depth safety talk. Joining us will be a safety kayaker with radio communications equipment. Today's rafting takes us on rapids 4 to 24 (15 miles), with the exception of rapid 9 that will be portaged. We will ride rapids with names like to 'Stairway to Heaven', 'The Mother', and 'Oblivion'. Between rapids are long stretches of warm open water. The trip winds between cliffs of stark and savage beauty, up to 600 ft. high. These gorges are home to several species of birds, especially raptors. The world's rarest falcon, the Taita, makes its home here. Overnight river camp. (B,L,D)
Day 10 White Water Rafting. Between today and tomorrow we will cover another 22 miles of river. The rapids will be interspersed with long, calm stretches of water that will allow us to admire the raw beauty around us. Overnight river camp. (B,L,D)
Day 11 White Water Rafting - Victoria Falls. Today we will continue our rafting. There will be a portage around Moemba waterfall. As the river widens the rapids will be less intense than they were on the first day. After lunch we will be taken back to Victoria Falls. Overnight Sprayview Hotel (or similar). (B,L)
Day 12 Victoria Falls - Hwange National Park. Today we will fly to Hwange. From there we will be taken to Giraffe Springs Lodge by light aircraft (12 min.) . This is our base from which to explore Hwange National Park. The park covers an area of 5,000 sq. miles of bush, forest and plain. It is the largest of Zimbabwe's National Parks. Hwange is legendary for its incredible array of wildlife (over 100 kinds of mammals - more perhaps than any other game reserve in Africa) and truly massive herds of elephant and buffalo. The park is one of Africa's great elephant sanctuaries, over 100 may bee seen together. There is a good chance to see the big cats (lions, leopards, and cheetah) in addition to giraffe, zebra, sable, kudu antelopes, gemsbok and roan (in addition to the elephants). The birds here are an ornithologists dream. Of Hwange's 413 species of birds, none are more impressive than the magnificent eagles that patrol the skies in search of prey. In the afternoon we can track game on foot or by vehicle.

Giraffe Springs Lodge is situated in a secluded area on a private concession of approximately 22,000 acres in Hwange National Park. It accommodates 20 guests in luxury tents. All tents have a shower and toilet. The main complex consists of the lounge, dining room, bar, reception area and small library. There is a viewing platform in the main lodge and swimming pool overlooking the water pan. Activities available include half and full day game drives in open Landrovers, morning and afternoon walks and trips to the pan or platform to watch game. Overnight Giraffe Springs Lodge. (B,L,D)
Day 13 Hwange National Park Game Tracking. Today we will set out on foot to track the big game. There is nothing quite as exciting as tracking as coming across a pride of lions on foot. Our professional guide will hike with us and carry a rifle at all times, just in case. We can also track game on horseback along the Gwaii River or by vehicle if we so choose. Overnight Giraffe Springs Lodge (or similar) (B,L,D)
Day 14 Hwange National Park - Harare. Today we are transferred to the airport for our flight to Harare. We will be met and transferred to Jameson Bed & Breakfast. The remainder of the afternoon we will be on our own to explore Harare. Overnight Jameson Bed & Breakfast (or similar) (B,L,D)
Day 15 Depart Harare, Zimbabwe. In the morning there is time for an optional city tour (at extra cost) before catching our flight out. We may want to spend time exploring the arts & craft shops. We will be transferred to the airport for our flight to Johannesburg and eventually on to New York. (B)
Day 16 Arrive USA. Arrive back in New York mid-afternoon.

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