Itinerary
Full Zimbabwe Circle Luxury
This luxury self-drive journey offers an immersive exploration of Zimbabwe, combining iconic national parks, remote wilderness, and luxurious accommodations. From the floodplains of Mana Pools to the dramatic landscapes of Matobo and the remote wilderness of Gonarezhou, this circuit captures the country’s diversity in wildlife, scenery, and safari experiences. Travelers will experience a combination of walking safaris, game drives, tranquil lake crossings, and cultural encounters, all with comfort and style at each stop.
Starting from
Indicative per-person rates, dependent on season, party size and vehicle. Park fees, accommodation and vehicle are included as specified in your written offer; international flights are not.
Day by day
9 stages across 21 days / 20 nights. This is the flow we would book as it stands — and the version we most often adjust, because adding two nights in one place or dropping a leg entirely is usually what makes a route yours.
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Stage 1 of 9
DAYS 1 – LUSAKA – A CALM BEGINNING
Your journey begins in Lusaka at Latitude 15, a stylish boutique hotel that combines modern design with relaxed comfort. Here you settle in after international travel, prepare your vehicle and gear, and soak in the anticipation of the adventure ahead. The gardens, pool, and refined dining provide a serene introduction before the wilderness unfolds.
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Stage 2 of 9
DAYS 2–5 – MANA POOLS – ELEPHANTS, HIPPOS, AND RIVER WILDLIFE
Heading south, you enter the wildlife-rich floodplains of Mana Pools. Two nights at Goliath Camp followed by two nights at Chitake Camp place you in the heart of one of Africa’s most immersive safari destinations. Elevated tented accommodations with ensuite bathrooms and private river views offer comfort while remaining intimately connected to the landscape. Walking safaris, canoe excursions, and game drives reveal elephants, lions, hippos, and abundant birdlife, while unhurried days allow you to absorb the rhythms of the floodplains and the quiet power of the Zambezi.
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Stage 3 of 9
DAYS 6–7 – LAKE KARIBA & FERRY CROSSING – TRANQUIL EXPEDITION
Next, the journey shifts to the tranquil shores of Lake Kariba. A night at Nyanyana Campsite offers spacious pitches, firelit evenings, and sweeping water views. The ferry crossing is a defining moment, a slow, atmospheric passage that evokes true exploration as the shoreline disappears and re-emerges, leaving a lasting sense of adventure.
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Stage 4 of 9
DAYS 8–9 – VICTORIA FALLS – ICONIC SPLENDOUR
Two nights at the historic Victoria Falls Hotel provide a luxurious base to explore the falls. From guided walks to helicopter flights, the sound of rushing water and rising mist offers a dramatic backdrop. Optional adventure activities such as white-water rafting or bungee jumping add exhilaration, while the hotel’s elegant rooms and colonial charm create a refined retreat.
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Stage 5 of 9
DAYS 10–13 – HWANGE – VAST PLAINS AND ELEPHANT COUNTRY
Hwange’s vast savannahs and teak forests contrast the floodplains and lakes. Nights are split between Exclusive Sites and Wilderness Linkwasha, combining private, intimate camps with luxury tented accommodation. Morning and evening game drives reveal elephants, buffalo, and predators, while waterholes near camp provide constant wildlife viewing. The combination of remote camps and comfort ensures a deep connection to one of Zimbabwe’s most wildlife-rich regions.
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Stage 6 of 9
DAYS 14–15 – MATOBO – GRANITE HILLS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
Two nights at Big Cave Camp in the Matobo Hills offer a dramatic change of scenery. Granite formations, rock art, and rolling hills create a sense of timelessness. Game drives may reveal rhinos, leopards, and eland, while evenings are spent under open skies enjoying sunsets and quiet reflection.
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Stage 7 of 9
DAYS 16–19 – GONAREZHOU – REMOTE WILDERNESS
Gonarezhou is a wild, unspoiled sanctuary. Stays at Exclusive Sites and Chilojo/Mahove Camps provide comfort amid the raw landscape. Walking safaris and game drives reveal elephants, lions, and other iconic wildlife, with solitude and exclusivity ensuring a profound connection with the park. The nights here are quiet and memorable, surrounded by nature at its most pristine.
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Stage 8 of 9
DAYS 20 – LAKE KYLE – RELAXED RECREATION
A stop at Lake Kyle Recreational Area offers a public campsite for a relaxed evening by the water. Fishing, kayaking, or simply soaking in the tranquility allows a calm pause before returning to the capital.
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Stage 9 of 9
DAYS 21 – HARARE – CONCLUSION AND REFLECTION
The journey ends back at York Lodge in Harare, providing a final night of comfort and reflection. Gardens, fine dining, and serene surroundings create a gentle closure to an immersive safari through Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Before you book: Zimbabwe in practice
- Drives on
- Left. Foreign-registered vehicles need reflective strips, triangles and an extinguisher by law.
- Currency
- A US dollar cash economy in practice. Bring small denominations; card acceptance is patchy.
- Mana Pools season
- Roughly May to November. The access roads are impassable in the rains and the park effectively closes.
- Unguided walking
- Permitted in Mana Pools — one of very few African parks where this is legal.
- Guide standard
- Zimbabwe's professional guide licence is widely considered the toughest in Africa.
Seasons, road conditions, fuel gaps and how many nights each park actually earns are all covered in detail on our Zimbabwe destination guide — worth ten minutes before you commit to dates.
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Make Full Zimbabwe Circle Luxury yours
Every itinerary on this site is a draft. Tell us your dates, your pace and how far off the map you want to get, and we will rebuild it around you — or tell you honestly that a different month or a different country would serve you better.