Vic Falls to Kruger
Vic Falls to Kruger
Vic Falls to Kruger
9 Days Starting in Victoria Falls and ending in Johannesburg
Visiting: Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Matobo National Park, Tshipise , Makushu Village, Kruger National Park, Johannesburg
Tour operator:
Tour code:
YBOP
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 22
Age range:
15-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
Experience three of southern Africa’s most phenomenal wildlife viewing sites in search of the world’s most spectacular animals – Hwange National Park, Kruger National Park and Matobo National Park. Spend nine days in search of the Big Five (that’s lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo) and more on this journey through South Africa and Zimbabwe. Plus, you’ll enjoy time in a traditional village in the Limpopo province and visit South Africa's modern capital – all the while uncovering Africa's incredible and diverse natural beauty.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Victoria Falls
Location: Victoria Falls
Accommodation: Camping (with shared facilities)
Mhoro! Welcome to Zimbabwe and the mighty Victoria Falls. Your trip begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, why not check out some of the optional activities around Victoria Falls. The Zimbabwe side of the falls offers the broadest view of this colossal natural wonder, and the scenic helicopter flights are incredible – if you opt for one, the Zambezi Helicopter Company (CAA Zimbabwe) is the only operator Intrepid endorses. As this trip doesn’t include any activities in and around Victoria Falls, it’s recommended you organise your optional activities ahead of time and arrive a little earlier.
Optional Activities:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Day 2: Hwange National Park
Location: Hwange National Park
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
If you haven’t seen Victoria Falls yet, this morning is your last opportunity. You’ll have to arrive at opening time (6 am from September to April and 6.30 am from May to August). This is a great time to see the falls, as sunrise casts a unique light on the cascades and there are little tourists to interrupt the view. Then, you’ll leave Victoria Falls behind and head to Hwange National Park via the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust – one of the projects The Intrepid Foundation supports. Here, you can learn about the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife, human-wildlife conflict and the Trust’s role in anti-poaching. There may also be a chance to meet any rescued or orphaned wildlife currently in their care. Hwange National Park became the royal hunting grounds of the Ndebele warrior-king Mzilikazi in the early 19th century and was set aside as a national park in 1929. Today, Hwange boasts a tremendous selection of wildlife, with over 100 species of mammals and nearly 400 bird species. The elephants of Hwange are world famous – you'll find one of the largest elephant populations in Africa here! Spend this afternoon exploring and discover the arena in an open 4WD vehicle with expert local guides.
Included Activities:
-
-
Day 3: Matobo National Park
Location: Matobo National Park
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Make tracks for Matobo National Park this morning. Shortly after leaving Hwange, stop at the Painted Dog Conservation Centre. The loss of quality habitat and poaching are driving the painted dog (also known as African wild dog) towards extinction. Learn about how they protect and increase the range and numbers of painted dogs in Zimbabwe and the Hwange ecosystem as a whole. Then it's on to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second-largest city. Take a stroll through the streets lined with old buildings and stop in at a local cafe or restaurant for lunch before heading to your camp for the next two nights. Home to a large population of black and white rhinoceroses that can be tracked on foot, Matobo National Park is also the site of the grave of Cecil John Rhodes – the founder of Rhodesia and the De Beers diamond company. The Matobo area has great spiritual and cultural significance to the local people and there are many sites within the park where important ceremonies still take place.
Included Activities:
-
Day 4: Matobo National Park
Location: Matobo National Park
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Matobo National Park has an incredibly diverse range of birdlife and wildlife and is home to both Black and White rhino. This morning, you have a unique opportunity to track white rhinos on foot with the help of an expert local guide. There will also be the chance to spot other game – the park is home to klipspringers, leopards, warthogs and springhares. You can also learn about the various local plants and trees, including wild pear and paperbark, while discovering San paintings and the rock formations of the park. After lunch, venture to a nearby village and meet some of the local people. Learn about how it was when they were living in the hills and meet with some of the local personalities – including elderly chief Pondo.
Included Activities:
-
-
Day 5: Tshipise
Location: Tshipise
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
This morning, leave Zimbabwe behind and cross a very busy border post – the only direct border crossing between Zimbabwe and South Africa. You should arrive at your camping site on the edge of Honnet Nature Reserve in the late afternoon. Relax and enjoy the extensive facilities available including an indoor and outdoor pool, putt putt, nature trail and optional game drives.
Day 6: Makushu Village
Location: Makushu Village
Accommodation: Homestay
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Make your way to Makushu – a small village in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. When you arrive, you’ll be met by a local village guide. You’ll be staying with homestay host mothers in their family homes. With no two days the same for local villagers, you might be taking part in activities like beading, dancing, beer tasting and cooking. Tonight, you can interact with the local villagers and learn the traditional Venda ways.
Included Activities:
-
Day 7: Kruger National Park
Location: Kruger National Park
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
After breakfast today, you’ll make the epic journey towards Kruger National Park. Along the way, you'll get the extraordinary opportunity to visit the Black Mambas headquarters, the world's first all-female anti-poaching unit made up of 36 young African women. Supported by the Intrepid Foundation, the Black Mambas are turning a traditionally male-dominated industry on its head, they’re putting their female prowess to work protecting the wildlife of Kruger National Park in an unconventional way. Discover how they find and destroy snares left by poachers, set up roadblocks, patrol park perimeters, and then get an exclusive inside look into their ops room. Afterwards, head to your campsite inside Kruger National Park and fall asleep to the sounds of the wild.
Included Activities:
-
Day 8: Kruger National Park
Location: Kruger National Park
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Today, you'll embark on a full-day 4WD safari in the vast Kruger National Park, a wildlife sanctuary comparable in size to countries like Belgium and Wales. Home to the iconic "Big Five"—lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos—Kruger offers an outstanding wildlife experience in one of the world’s premier conservation areas. In addition to spotting these majestic animals, keep an eye out for giraffes, zebras, hippos, and the elusive, endangered African wild dog. As you venture deep into prime wildlife viewing zones, you'll likely encounter a diverse array of species, from graceful antelopes and elands to fast-moving cheetahs and powerful rhinos, all within the park’s breathtaking savannas and forests.
Included Activities:
-
Day 9: Johannesburg
Location: Johannesburg
Meals Included: breaksfast
It's time to head to Johannesburg. Along the way, you’ll take in amazing vistas at the 3 Rondavals viewpoint over Blyde River Canyon and Bourke's Luck Potholes. This is a magnificent lookout where cloud cover is usually at a minimum. Your African safari adventure comes to an end when you arrive in Johannesburg this evening. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
Included Activities:
-
What's Included
-
Accommodation
Camping with facilities (8 nights), Homestay (1 night) -
Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust Visit
-
Hwange National Park - Guided 4x4 Game Drive
-
Hwange - Painted Dog Conservation visit
-
Matobo National Park - Rhino Tracking
-
Matobo National Park - San Rock Paintings
-
Makushu Homestay - Beading, Cooking or Dancing
-
Black Mambas HQ - Dinner by Lantern Light
-
Black Mambas HQ - Campfire Story Time
-
Black Mambas HQ - Snare Walk
-
Kruger National Park - Night Game Drive
What's Not Included
-
Tipping and Gratuities
-
International Travel
-
Airport Transfers at Destination
Included Activities
Hwange National Park - Open Safari Vehicle Game DriveVictoria Falls - Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust VisitHwange - Painted Dog Conservation visitMatobo National Park - Rhino Tracking, Open Safari Vehicle Park Visit & San Rock PaintingsMakushu Homestay - Floor making, Beading, Cooking or DancingMakushu Homestay - Morning hikeKruger National Park - Overland Vehicle Game drivePanorama Route - God's Window ViewpointPanorama Route - Bourke's Luck Potholes
Transport
Our trucks are purpose-built, self contained safari vehicles. Our fleet of vehicles varies depending on your group size, trip route and style. In Southern Africa some departures may use vans and luggage trailers subject to group size and vehicle availability. 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.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. If you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip, you may purchase a single supplement, subject to availability. The single supplement excludes Days 6 (Homestay), where you will be in shared accommodation. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.2. This trip finishes upon arrival in Johannesburg on Day 9. Please do not book any flights until after 10 pm this evening.3. The minimum age for this trip is 15 at the time of travel. Any travellers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian, or in lieu of a legal guardian, by an escort over the age of 18, appointed by their legal guardian. The legal guardian or their designee will be responsible for the traveller under the age of 18 day to day’s care. If a legal guardian elects to designate an escort in their lieu, they will be required to complete and sign a relevant document, to delegate their authority.4. On occasion, especially during the peak months of May to September and December we are not able to secure campsites within the Kruger National Park. In this instance we will camp at a backpackers outside the park.5. Border crossing delays in the region have been sporadic and difficult to predict. What takes an hour one day may take four hours the next. This may affect the order of activities in the itinerary. We understand this uncertainty can be frustrating, and we strongly recommend packing a bit of patience and flexibility.
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. In Southern Africa some departures may use vans and luggage trailers subject to group size and vehicle availability. 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.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
-
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, occasionally roughing it in the bush with no facilities, and getting the best possible views of Africa's iconic wildlife. While the trucks don’t have air conditioning, they do have sliding 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/africa/overland
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.
This trip can be partnered with other adventures into a ‘combo’, which means that some of your fellow travellers may have begun their journey before today. If you’d like to spend more time in Africa, have a look at the combo itinerary: Experience Southern Africa (UBSCC).
This trip can be partnered with other adventures into a ‘combo’, which means that some of your fellow travellers may have begun their journey before today. If you’d like to spend more time in Africa, have a look at the combo itinerary: Explore Southern Africa (UBOQC) -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
-
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
-
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.
-
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
Reviews of this operator
Save on this tour
Request your exclusive discount code now and unlock savings for your next adventure!
Send me one now.1 Select your preferred date
2024 Jan
2025 Feb
2025 Apr
2025 May
2025 Jun
2025 Jul
2025 Aug
2025 Sep
2025 Oct
2025 Nov
2025 Dec
2025 Jan
2026 Feb
2026 Mar
2026 Apr
2026 May
2026 Jun
2026 Jul
2026 Aug
2026 Sep
2026 Oct
2026 Nov
2026 Dec
2026
Sunday - Monday
Dec 29, 2024 - Jan 06, 2025Sunday - Monday
Jan 05, 2025 - Jan 13, 2025Sunday - Monday
Jan 26, 2025 - Feb 03, 2025Sunday - Monday
Feb 09, 2025 - Feb 17, 2025Sunday - Monday
Apr 06, 2025 - Apr 14, 2025Sunday - Monday
Apr 13, 2025 - Apr 21, 2025Sunday - Monday
Apr 20, 2025 - Apr 28, 2025Sunday - Monday
May 04, 2025 - May 12, 2025Sunday - Monday
May 11, 2025 - May 19, 2025Sunday - Monday
May 18, 2025 - May 26, 2025Sunday - Monday
May 25, 2025 - Jun 02, 2025Sunday - Monday
Jun 08, 2025 - Jun 16, 2025Sunday - Monday
Jun 15, 2025 - Jun 23, 2025Sunday - Monday
Jun 22, 2025 - Jun 30, 2025Sunday - Monday
Jun 29, 2025 - Jul 07, 2025Sunday - Monday
Jul 06, 2025 - Jul 14, 2025Tuesday - Wednesday
Jul 08, 2025 - Jul 16, 2025Sunday - Monday
Jul 13, 2025 - Jul 21, 2025Sunday - Monday
Jul 20, 2025 - Jul 28, 2025Sunday - Monday
Jul 27, 2025 - Aug 04, 2025Sunday - Monday
Aug 03, 2025 - Aug 11, 2025Sunday - Monday
Aug 10, 2025 - Aug 18, 2025Sunday - Monday
Aug 17, 2025 - Aug 25, 2025Sunday - Monday
Aug 24, 2025 - Sep 01, 2025Sunday - Monday
Aug 31, 2025 - Sep 08, 2025Sunday - Monday
Sep 07, 2025 - Sep 15, 2025Sunday - Monday
Sep 14, 2025 - Sep 22, 2025Tuesday - Wednesday
Sep 16, 2025 - Sep 24, 2025Sunday - Monday
Sep 21, 2025 - Sep 29, 2025Sunday - Monday
Sep 28, 2025 - Oct 06, 2025Sunday - Monday
Oct 05, 2025 - Oct 13, 2025Sunday - Monday
Oct 12, 2025 - Oct 20, 2025Sunday - Monday
Oct 19, 2025 - Oct 27, 2025Sunday - Monday
Oct 26, 2025 - Nov 03, 2025Sunday - Monday
Nov 02, 2025 - Nov 10, 2025Sunday - Monday
Nov 16, 2025 - Nov 24, 2025Sunday - Monday
Nov 23, 2025 - Dec 01, 2025Sunday - Monday
Dec 07, 2025 - Dec 15, 2025Sunday - Monday
Dec 14, 2025 - Dec 22, 2025Sunday - Monday
Dec 21, 2025 - Dec 29, 2025Sunday - Monday
Dec 28, 2025 - Jan 05, 2026Sunday - Monday
Jan 04, 2026 - Jan 12, 2026Sunday - Monday
Jan 11, 2026 - Jan 19, 2026Sunday - Monday
Jan 25, 2026 - Feb 02, 2026Sunday - Monday
Feb 08, 2026 - Feb 16, 2026Sunday - Monday
Feb 22, 2026 - Mar 02, 2026Sunday - Monday
Mar 01, 2026 - Mar 09, 2026Sunday - Monday
Mar 15, 2026 - Mar 23, 2026Sunday - Monday
Mar 29, 2026 - Apr 06, 2026Sunday - Monday
Apr 05, 2026 - Apr 13, 2026Sunday - Monday
Apr 12, 2026 - Apr 20, 2026Sunday - Monday
Apr 19, 2026 - Apr 27, 2026Sunday - Monday
Apr 26, 2026 - May 04, 2026Sunday - Monday
May 03, 2026 - May 11, 2026Sunday - Monday
May 10, 2026 - May 18, 2026Sunday - Monday
May 17, 2026 - May 25, 2026Sunday - Monday
May 24, 2026 - Jun 01, 2026Sunday - Monday
Jun 07, 2026 - Jun 15, 2026Sunday - Monday
Jun 14, 2026 - Jun 22, 2026Sunday - Monday
Jun 21, 2026 - Jun 29, 2026Sunday - Monday
Jun 28, 2026 - Jul 06, 2026Sunday - Monday
Jul 05, 2026 - Jul 13, 2026Tuesday - Wednesday
Jul 07, 2026 - Jul 15, 2026Sunday - Monday
Jul 12, 2026 - Jul 20, 2026Sunday - Monday
Jul 19, 2026 - Jul 27, 2026Sunday - Monday
Jul 26, 2026 - Aug 03, 2026Sunday - Monday
Aug 02, 2026 - Aug 10, 2026Sunday - Monday
Aug 09, 2026 - Aug 17, 2026Sunday - Monday
Aug 16, 2026 - Aug 24, 2026Sunday - Monday
Aug 23, 2026 - Aug 31, 2026Sunday - Monday
Aug 30, 2026 - Sep 07, 2026Sunday - Monday
Sep 06, 2026 - Sep 14, 2026Sunday - Monday
Sep 13, 2026 - Sep 21, 2026Tuesday - Wednesday
Sep 15, 2026 - Sep 23, 2026Sunday - Monday
Sep 20, 2026 - Sep 28, 2026Sunday - Monday
Sep 27, 2026 - Oct 05, 2026Sunday - Monday
Oct 04, 2026 - Oct 12, 2026Sunday - Monday
Oct 11, 2026 - Oct 19, 2026Sunday - Monday
Oct 18, 2026 - Oct 26, 2026Sunday - Monday
Oct 25, 2026 - Nov 02, 2026Sunday - Monday
Nov 01, 2026 - Nov 09, 2026Sunday - Monday
Nov 15, 2026 - Nov 23, 2026Sunday - Monday
Nov 22, 2026 - Nov 30, 2026Sunday - Monday
Dec 06, 2026 - Dec 14, 2026Sunday - Monday
Dec 13, 2026 - Dec 21, 2026Sunday - Monday
Dec 20, 2026 - Dec 28, 2026Sunday - Monday
Dec 27, 2026 - Jan 04, 2027Book with Confidence
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Terms and Conditions
Enquire for huge savings
Rated 5* on Trust Pilot & ABTA Protected.