Zimbabwe’s Famous Close Elephant Encounters

Trip designed by

Matt Gammon, Sales Manager

Zimbabwe is known for its exceptional close encounters with elephants. Mothers regularly bring their babies to drink from swimming pools (there tend to be less predators!) Adding Victoria Falls to the trip offers something a little different to your usual safari, the wealth of activities on offer at the Falls means there is something for everyone!

6

Nights

Low season

C$7,830

High season

C$12,927

Guide price (pp)

Hwange National Park

Areas

Zimbabwe

Country

Trip Highlights

Home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World and Africa’s second-largest elephant population
Iconic views of the Victoria Falls Bridge and close-up elephant encounters in Hwange National Park
Best suited to those looking for elegance and luxury
Somalisa is an award-winning camp in the heart of Hwange National Park and founded by pro-guide Beks Ndlovu
Best from June to August, to see the Falls at its most impressive combined with exceptional game viewing

elephant safaris, hwange national park, zimbabwe holidays

Trip Itinerary

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On the first day of your trip, you’ll touch down at Victoria Falls Airport for two nights in Zimbabwe at the Victoria Falls Hotel, a very impressive property with amazing views of the Victoria Falls Bridge and Bakota Gorge below the waterfall itself. Communal areas include sumptuous lounges, three restaurants, a spa, a salon, a curio shop, two tennis courts, and a spacious swimming pool! The guest rooms are furnished in an Edwardian style and many have gorgeous views over the gardens. The hotel has its own Activities Centre, where friendly staff members arrange tours, watersports, helicopter and microlight flights, horse trails, elephant-back safaris in Victoria Falls National Park, river cruises, and village visits.

On Day 3, you will transfer to Hwange National Park for a stay at Somalisa Camp. This is an authentic bushcamp in the eastern region of the park, set amidst a lovely grove of acacia trees. The mess tent is open sided, providing amazing views out onto what is known as the Kennedy Vlei, an old watercourse. The location is popular with elephants, and it is not uncommon to see these gentle giants plodding around camp and even coming to drink at the plunge pool! Somalisa has seven guest tents, all very well appointed. They feature a glass wood-burner fireplace, an overhead fan, gauze sliding doors onto a private veranda, and en-suite facilities including indoor and outdoor showers and a copper slipper-style bathtub! Activities focus on exploring the Vlei and its wealth of wildlife, with day and night drives, guided walks, and viewing from hides. You can also enjoy a cultural tour of the local village – always a great experience!

Talk to someone who’s been there

Real expertise doesn’t come from a few trips to Africa. All our specialists have either been guides, run the camps, or grown up and lived in Africa. That’s over 600 years of genuine safari experience.

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+18332004084

Good to Know

01.

Who is this trip for?

This trip has been designed and priced with couples and honeymooners in mind (two adults traveling together). However, every trip we create is individually tailor-made to suit the client. If you’re a group or a family, we might even suggest different accommodation. We can move elements and change the number of days – it all depends entirely on what you would like to do.

02.

Overview & Activities

Victoria Falls is an essential element to any trip to Zimbabwe. We love including it at the start of the trip as it allows guests to recover from their flights and adjust to the time difference. However, this doesn’t mean there is nothing to do or see! Victoria Falls is jam-packed with activities, including white water rafting, bungee jumping, canoeing, zip wiring, and gorge swinging. Seasoned daredevils will relish a swim in the aptly named Devil’s Pool, the pool right at the top of the Falls – absolutely awesome! Guests looking to take it slower can enjoy river cruises, shopping expeditions to Victoria Falls Town, and excursions to the local villages to get to know the people for whom this region is home.

Hwange is where you will spend your time focusing on game viewing. This is the country’s biggest park and home to over 108 species of mammals including lion, leopard, and cheetah. However, it’s the elephants in the park that really steal the show, with huge herds often seen in front of the camps or from the various photographic hides. For elephant lovers, this park is a must!

03.

Pricing

The prices are per person (based on two adults traveling together) and please note that the prices are approximate for 2026. Please contact us for accurate costings for the time of year you are considering for your vacation.

Prices include all internal flights, transfers, reserve fees, accommodation and meals as specified in the day to day itinerary. Price excludes international flights, tipping, visa and any meals not included.