Zimbabwe Family Safari (8n) – Value

For the first part of your family trip, you will fly to Victoria Falls and transfer by road to Ilala Lodge. This is a very impressive building, situated just 10 minutes’ walk from the entrance of Victoria Falls National Park! Ilala’s communal areas include a comfortable lounge and a restaurant that offers both indoor and outdoor dining. There is a spacious swimming pool as well! The guest accommodation is very well appointed. You will stay in two Standard Rooms. This option features air conditioning, overhead fans, satellite television, en-suite bathroom with complimentary toiletries, and French doors on to Ilala’s beautiful garden grounds. When you are ready to try out some activities, you need only pop down to the Lodge’s own adventure booking centre, where staff members will be happy to offer advice and book you on to some exciting excursions. Among these are Falls tours, river cruises, and scenic helicopter or microlight flights over the spectacular region. Animal encounters such as lion walks and elephant rides are also available, as are all sorts of watersports – there really is a lot to do here!

Board basis and activities:
Bed-and-breakfast accommodation, including tourism levy.

On Day 4, you will transfer by road from Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park, for your stay at Bomani Tented Lodge. This property is situated in a private concession, on the edge of Bomani Pan and close to the Ngamo Plains. The cosy lounge and dining areas are housed within an open-fronted thatched building, which is raised above ground to ensure superb views of the Pan and a busy waterhole. Outside, there is a fire pit, perfect for gatherings before dinner. Bomani’s guest accommodation includes a fabulous brick-and-thatch bungalow for families, which overlooks the waterhole. It is great fun to watch the local wildlife coming to drink here! The bungalow also benefits from air conditioning, mosquito nets, satellite television on request, a lounge, a changing room, and a mini-bar. There is no shortage of activities, with day and night game drives, guided walks, village visits, and school tours all available. You can even take part in a ‘pump run’, which involves dropping off supplies for pump attendants before tucking in to a picnic lunch near one of the concession’s popular waterholes. Hwange is a Big Five national park, with abundant mammals and birdlife!

Board basis and activities:
Fully inclusive of meals, selected house alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, guided game activities, and a laundry service.

For the final part of your trip, a very exciting journey awaits – a ride on the Elephant Express from Bomani to Nehimba Lodge! The Elephant Express is a single rail carriage, with an engine at each end. On the way to Nehimba, you can look out for wildlife – herds of wildebeest sweeping across the plains and flocks of storks rising, startled, at the sound of the train approaching! Like Bomani, Nehimba occupies a private concession. Its main lodge is also constructed from timber and thatch, and is open fronted to provide views of a waterhole. There is a swimming pool too, great for a splash-about! Accommodation options include a family suite, with king-size bed and twin beds, mosquito nets, fans, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and a lovely private balcony. Activities focus on game drives and guided walks, but you can also enjoy the property’s viewing platform at nearby Grannies Pan as well as visits to local attractions such as the Nehimba Seeps, Mandavu Dam, and Mtoa Ruins.

Board basis and activities:
Full-board accommodation, including all meals, selection of house alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, a laundry service, game activities as available including walks, drives, all-day excursions and night drives, park entry fees per paying night, and guided game activities too.

On Day 9, you will transfer by road back to Victoria Falls for your international flight home.