Stone Town to Vic Falls
16 Days Starting in Zanzibar and ending in Victoria Falls
Visiting: Stone Town, Mikumi National Park, Iringa, Chitimba, Lake Malawi, South Luangwa National Park, Petauke, Lusaka, Harare, Great Zimbabwe Ruins / Masvingo, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls
Tour operator:
Tour code:
YXOR
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 22
Age range:
15-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
Embrace the wilds of Eastern Africa on a 16-day adventure. Track rhinos on foot, discover the winding alleyways of Stone Town, journey through epic landscapes in search of zebras and elephants, explore ancient Zimbabwean ruins and gaze at the sweeping plains of the savanna. With a local leader and crew on hand to sweat all the small stuff, you can focus on exploring. This is your chance to spot the Big Five and escape the chaotic pace of the city for the quiet of villages Africa’s pride lands.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Stone Town
Location: Stone Town
Accommodation: Hotel
Karibu! Welcome to Zanzibar. Your adventure begins in Stone Town, the old part of Zanzibar’s city, with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. Filled with beaches, cobblestone alleyways and bazaars, Zanzibar has much to explore if you arrive early. The best way to see this port town is on foot, exploring the markets, shops, mosques, palaces and courtyards. When the sun sets, maybe grab a sundowner from a bar overlooking the seafront front and tuck into a seafood curry at a local restaurant.
Optional Activities:
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Day 2: Mikumi National Park
Location: Mikumi National Park
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Embrace an early start this morning with a 7.30 am ferry to the mainland, then make tracks for Mikumi. Watch the Tanzanian landscape pass you by along the way, as this long drive is a great chance to soak up the scenery. Gaze out at vast plains dotted with baobab and tamarind trees and maybe catch a glimpse of some of the elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, lions and leopards that call the park home. When you arrive at your camp, your leader will show you the ropes (literally) and help you set up and get comfortable for your night in the tent.
Day 3: Iringa
Location: Iringa
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Wake up early this morning to head off on a 4WD game drive into Mikumi National Park with local expert guides. This less touristed park is home to impressive numbers of elephants, hippos, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, warthogs, wildebeest and impalas – you may even spot a predator! After, you'll drive to Iringa and set up camp on the grounds of a farmhouse on the outskirts of the settlement. The area is filled with natural bush land and native birds. Make the most of this rural setting with some stargazing before you retire for the night.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Chitimba
Location: Chitimba
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Enter Malawi this morning and travel to your campsite at Chitimba. Malawi, the ‘warm heart of Africa,’ is dominated by its lake, which covers almost a fifth of the country and provides a livelihood for many Malawian people. Fishermen, fish traders and canoe and net makers all ply their trade on Lake Malawi. A common sight is a fisherman in a bwato (a dugout canoe made from a hollowed tree trunk) fishing on the still lake at the break of day.
Day 5: Lake Malawi
Location: Lake Malawi
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Travel from Chitimba to Kande Beach today, on the shore of Lake Malawi. There will be a chance to stop at a shop or market for any supplies you might need along the way. Enjoy a relaxing getaway from the commercialism and crowds with a few days on the lake’s more peaceful beaches. Your campsite at Kande Beach is right on the shore of Lake Malawi.
Optional Activities:
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Day 6: Lake Malawi
Location: Lake Malawi
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Enjoy free time today to soak up your idyllic surroundings. As well as chilling out on the lake’s sandy shores, make sure you take the opportunity to meet some local Malawians – easily some of the friendliest people in Africa! You can also hire canoes, bikes or pedalos (paddle boats) to enhance your time here.
Optional Activities:
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Day 7: South Luangwa National Park
Location: South Luangwa National Park
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Journey through southern Malawi and enter Zambia today, continuing to South Luangwa National Park. There will be border crossing formalities on the way, and a chance to stock up on goods or visit an ATM at a local shop or market. The concentration of animals around the Luangwa River and its lagoons is some of the highest in Africa, so when you arrive, take in the beautiful scenery and the abundance of wildlife, watching out for colourful birds and herds of elephants.
Day 8: South Luangwa National Park
Location: South Luangwa National Park
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Rise early this morning, grab a light breakfast and get ready for a morning game drive in a 4WD with a local guide. Then, you'll head back to the camp for an early lunch (as this is the hottest part of the day). Rest in the shade or take an optional village walk if you'd like a snapshot of daily life in the local community. Return to the park for another game drive in the evening, looking out for the local wildlife as the sun sets.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 9: Petauke
Location: Petauke
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
After breakfast, you'll visit a workshop where local craftswomen take snare wire recovered from poaching traps and transform it into jewellery inspired by the African bush. The women will show you around their purpose-built workshop and give you a chance to try coiling or hammering the wire yourself. For each sale made, a donation is given to anti snare patrols dedicated to the conservation of the region. After your visit, you'll jump back in the vehicle and head further south to Petauke.
Included Activities:
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Day 10: Lusaka
Location: Lusaka
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
This morning you'll be back on the road, heading for your next camp just south of Lusaka City. When you arrive, stretch your legs and take a stroll to discover the town on foot. Though it's fast developing, Lusaka retains a strong African feel, and the locals are usually up for a chat. Your local leader will also give you some insight into the area. Tonight, you're free to chill out under the stars at camp.
Day 11: Harare
Location: Harare
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Travel to Harare today. The first part of your journey takes you to the border with Zimbabwe. After crossing and going through border formalities, you'll continue to Harare. There will be a chance to explore the town when you arrive, as well as stock up on whatever you need at a market or local shop.
Day 12: Great Zimbabwe Ruins / Masvingo
Location: Great Zimbabwe Ruins / Masvingo
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
This morning, it's onto Masvingo. This colonial settlement – the oldest in Zimbabwe – makes the perfect base for exploring the ruins of Great Zimbabwe. The ancient city, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, was first constructed in the 11th century and is believed to have been the seat of power for a monarch. Spend a few hours exploring this intriguing site before heading off to camp where your night is free to relax.
Included Activities:
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Day 13: Bulawayo
Location: Bulawayo
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Travel to Bulawayo today. Known locally as the 'City of Kings', Bulawayo is Zimbabwe's second largest city. There is some impeccable historical architecture to take in here, so feel free to walk around at your own pace when you arrive. Enjoy free time this afternoon to explore town or ask your local leader for some optional activities. You might like to browse some local markets or chat with the locals. The Natural History Museum and National Art Gallery are also worth checking out.
Optional Activities:
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Day 14: Bulawayo
Location: Bulawayo
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Get ready for the experience of a lifetime today – tracking rhinos on foot with an expert guide! Matobo National Park, known for its black and white rhinos, is also home to other wildlife like klipspringers, leopards, warthogs and springhares. You'll learn all about these unique animals from your guide and gain insights into the local plants and trees, including wild pear and paperbark. Discover San paintings and the fascinating rock formations of the area, too. Matobo National Park is an important site of spiritual and cultural significance for the local people, and there are many places in the park where important ceremonies still take place.
Included Activities:
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Day 15: Victoria Falls
Location: Victoria Falls
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Depart Bulawayo this morning and make the drive towards Victoria Falls. Stretching 1.6 km wide and falling 108 m into a narrow gorge below, the falls are a sight to behold. Although a visit to the falls themselves is optional, it's highly recommended. In the wet season, the spray created from this feat of nature can rise 400 m and can often be seen from far in the distance. It’s no wonder that the local name for Victoria Falls is Mosi oa Tunya, or the 'Smoke that Thunders'. If you’re travelling in the dry season, you’ll get an unobstructed view of the falls and the chance to see the islets in the river below. Your leader will take you to a local activity centre today, where a range of activities will be on offer.
Optional Activities:
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Day 16: Victoria Falls
Location: Victoria Falls
Meals Included: breaksfast
With no activities planned for today, you’re free to leave the camp at any time. You may like to try some of the optional activities on offer here, so it's recommended you schedule any flights for later in the day. If you would like to spend more time in Victoria Falls, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
Optional Activities:
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What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (1 night), Camping with facilities (14 nights) -
Mikumi National Park - 4x4 Game Drive
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South Luangwa National Park - 4x4 Dawn Game Drive
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South Luangwa National Park - 4x4 Afternoon Game Drive
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South Luangwa - Jewellery workshop Project
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Masvingo - Great Zimbabwe Ruins guided visit
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Matobo National Park - Rhino Tracking, Park Visit & San Rock Paintings
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Meals
15 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 13 dinners
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South Luangwa National Park - 4x4 Evening Game Drive
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South Luangwa - Anti-Poaching Jewelery Project
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Included Activities
- South Luangwa National Park - 4x4 Dawn Game Drive
- Petauke - Jewellery workshop project
- Masvingo - Great Zimbabwe Ruins guided visit
Transport
- Our trucks are purpose-built, self contained safari vehicles. Our fleet of vehicles varies depending on your group size, trip route and style. Your vehicle type may differ from those listed above. It is also important to note that our overland vehicles are not air-conditioned, but all vehicles have windows that can be opened to allow for fresh air. Each seat will have access to a power socket to charge your devices. This outlet will use a UK/Kenyan 3 pronged outlet.
- There are many early starts with long hours spent driving on rough roads on all African itineraries. While most people love the chance to watch the changing landscape and daily village life, feedback shows that long periods of inactivity does not appeal to all clients. We provide the approximate distance covered each day and how many hours this normally takes to drive so that you can choose the safari experience that is right for you.
- African conditions are extremely tough on vehicles. While we fastidiously maintain our vehicles at our workshops, you should not expect Africa to be your traditional touring experience. While it's certainly our aim to avoid them, it's important that you set off on your trip knowing that the occasional breakdown can happen and are best treated as part of the African adventure. Due to wet weather there may be times when we have to take an alternative route which will mean longer travel times.
Accommodation
- Accommodation on this trip is mainly in two-person canvas dome tents with camping mattresses supplied.
- The type and variety of accommodation are determined by conditions on each of our routes. Each route is different - on some, we use a mixture of campsites and wild camps; on others, we also use hotels. In Africa, it's not usually practical to camp when staying in towns and cities, so we use hotel accommodations and eat out in local restaurants.
- There may be the occasional night stop when we stay on the grounds of a hotel or at a campsite, which may also have rooms/cabins available. In this case, there may be a choice of camping or upgrading to a room. Rooms cost approximately USD 40-100 per room per night for a twin room and cannot be pre-booked. Standards of these rooms vary greatly, and we recommend viewing the room before purchasing the night's accommodation. The day-by-day itinerary advises when upgrades may be possible (subject to availability).
- Keep in mind that if we are staying in dormitory accommodation, you may have to share with other passengers or be split into same-sex rooms.
- Campsites do have facilities, but they usually aren't to the same standard you would find in Western countries. For example, the bathroom facilities can be very basic. Toilet paper is rarely provided, and shower facilities can be as simple as a hose pipe spurting out cold water. Wild camps have no facilities at all.
- At times, there may be spare tents in the vehicles. Unfortunately, these cannot be used without the purchase of a single supplement. This is to ensure the tents avoid wear and tear or are clean and ready for the customers arriving on the next section of the trip.
Important Information
- 1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
- 2. This trip starts with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1 in Stone Town. This trip ends on Day 16 and you are free to leave at any time.
- 3. For an itinerary that includes more time in Zanzibar, please see our Zanzibar to Vic Falls (YXORC) itinerary.
Mode of Transport
- Our trucks are purpose-built, self contained safari vehicles. Our fleet of vehicles varies depending on your group size, trip route and style. Your vehicle type may differ from those listed above. It is also important to note that our overland vehicles are not air-conditioned, but all vehicles have windows that can be opened to allow for fresh air. Each seat will have access to a power socket to charge your devices. This outlet will use a UK/Kenyan 3 pronged outlet.
- There are many early starts with long hours spent driving on rough roads on all African itineraries. While most people love the chance to watch the changing landscape and daily village life, feedback shows that long periods of inactivity does not appeal to all clients. We provide the approximate distance covered each day and how many hours this normally takes to drive so that you can choose the safari experience that is right for you.
- African conditions are extremely tough on vehicles. While we fastidiously maintain our vehicles at our workshops, you should not expect Africa to be your traditional touring experience. While it's certainly our aim to avoid them, it's important that you set off on your trip knowing that the occasional breakdown can happen and are best treated as part of the African adventure. Due to wet weather there may be times when we have to take an alternative route which will mean longer travel times.
Accommodation
- Accommodation on this trip is mainly in two-person canvas dome tents with camping mattresses supplied.
- The type and variety of accommodation is determined by conditions on each of our routes. Each route is different - on some we use a mixture of campsites and wild camps; on others we also use hotels. In Africa it's not usually practical to camp when staying in towns and cities so we use hotel accommodation and eat out in local restaurants.
- There may be the occasional night stop, when we stay in the grounds of a hotel or at a campsite which may also have rooms/cabins available. In this case there may be a choice of camping or upgrading to a room. Rooms cost approximately USD60-120 per room per night for a twin room and cannot be pre-booked. Standards of these rooms vary greatly and we recommend viewing the room before purchasing the nights accommodation. The day by day itinerary advises when upgrades may be possible (subject to availability).
- Keep in mind that if we are staying in dormitory accommodation, you may have to share with other passengers or be split into same sex rooms.
- Campsites do have facilities but they usually aren't to the same standard you would find in western countries. For example the bathroom facilities can be very basic. There is rarely toilet paper provided and shower facilities can be as simple as a hose pipe spurting out cold water. Wild camps have no facilities at all.
- At times there may be spare tents in the vehicles. Unfortunately these cannot be used without purchase of a single supplement. This is to ensure the tents avoid wear and tear, or are clean and ready for the customers arriving on the next section of the trip.
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
This is an overland trip. That means you’ll be travelling with a group in a purpose-built vehicle, visiting remote communities, setting up your own tent (unless you’re on an Original or Comfort style trip), occasionally roughing it in the bush with no facilities, and getting the best possible views of the ‘big five’. While the trucks don’t have air conditioning, they do have drop-down windows, which let in the breeze and make it even easier to take spectacular snaps of the local wildlife. The drive days can be long, but it’s as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie. For more info on this style of travel, see our Africa Overland page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/africa/overland
Some passengers on this trip will have been travelling together prior to the start of your trip on a 'combo' journey. To see what you're missing out on check out our Zanzibar to Vic Falls trip (YXORC).
As the early bird catches the worm, the early camper sights the animals. There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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