SMALL GROUP JOURNEYOFFERS

The Legendary Wildlife & Waterfalls

2026▾
10
Days
9
Nights
Private
Charter / Transfer

Victoria Falls, the elephant plains of Hwange, underground photographic bunkers, and a hot-air balloon at dawn

See Pricing & Inclusions ↓
10 Days
Small Group
from $11,500 pp
Home  ›  Zimbabwe  ›  The Legendary Wildlife & Waterfalls

OverviewThe flagship Zimbabwe safari — designed for first-time luxury travellers who demand iconic landscapes alongside heavy big-game viewing. This package seamlessly marries the sheer power and majesty of Victoria Falls with the elephant-dense plains of Hwange National Park, and concludes with the intimate riverine seclusion of a private Zambezi concession. The itinerary is built around private fly-in transfers and three world-class properties. Guests experience looking massive elephant bulls in the eye from an exclusive underground photographic bunker, floating silently above the Hwange plains in a hot-air balloon at sunrise, drifting along the Zambezi on a private champagne sunset cruise, and a deeply dignified encounter with the Tonga people — the original inhabitants of the Zambezi Valley.

✦

Private crowd-free walking tour of Victoria Falls — one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World

✦

Private champagne sunset cruise on the Zambezi: hippos, crossing elephants, and a burning orange sky

✦

Underground photographic bunker at Linkwasha — inches from elephant bulls drinking at eye level

✦

Hot-air balloon over Hwange's vlei plains at sunrise — buffalo and antelope shattering the morning mist below

✦

Private full-day apex predator tracking in Hwange: African wild dogs, lions, and elusive leopards

✦

Canoe safari down the Zambezi's quiet channels — hippos surfacing beside you in absolute tranquillity

✦

White-linen breakfast set up on an isolated white sandbar in the middle of the flowing Zambezi

✦

Non-commercial Tonga cultural encounter: Nyami Nyami mythology, basket weaving, and village elders

The Legendary Wildlife & Waterfalls

Why Choose Finders & Keepers Safaris for Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls private walking tour — crowd-free rainforest paths and the thundering Batoka Gorge

Hwange's underground photographic bunker: the most intimate elephant encounter in Zimbabwe

Hot-air balloon over Hwange at dawn — one of Africa's most celebrated aerial safari experiences

Canoe safari and tiger fishing on the Zambezi — intimate wildlife encounters from water level

Tonga cultural immersion: Nyami Nyami mythology, basket weaving, and oral history with village elders

Three world-class properties: Matetsi, Linkwasha Camp, and Sapi Explorers Camp

+−

Zimbabwe

Harare · Victoria Falls · Hwange National Park · Zambezi River Concession

Day by Day

Your Itinerary

Harare, Zimbabwe

Day 1 | Arrival in Harare & Bespoke City Tour

Met at arrivals by your private guide for a luxury transfer to the Monomotapa Hotel. Early arrivals enjoy a private tour of Harare: the tree-lined avenues of the capital, the high-end Shona Sculpture Gallery showcasing world-renowned stone artwork, and a private lunch at an upscale estate like Amanzi. An elegant dinner and briefing with your private pilot closes the day.

Arrival in Harare & Bespoke City Tour
Victoria Falls — Matetsi Victoria Falls

Day 2 | Flight to Victoria Falls — Thunder of the Smoke

Private charter from Harare to Victoria Falls with VIP tarmac handling on arrival. Transfer to Matetsi Victoria Falls lodge. Private crowd-free guided walking tour of Victoria Falls — one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Walk along the rainforest paths, witnessing the sheer power of the thundering water plunging into the Batoka Gorge, framed by a permanent rainbow mist. Dinner overlooking the Zambezi River.

Breakfast, Dinner
Flight to Victoria Falls — Thunder of the Smoke

Day 3 | River Seclusion & Champagne Skies — Zambezi Cruise

A morning at leisure — spa treatment or plunge pool overlooking the river. Afternoon: a private luxury pontoon boat champagne sunset cruise along the Zambezi, far from crowded public vessels. Premium cocktails and local delicacies on board while hippos yawn and elephants cross the river channels against a burning orange sky. Return for a gourmet dinner at the lodge.

Breakfast, Dinner
River Seclusion & Champagne Skies — Zambezi Cruise
Hwange National Park — Linkwasha Camp

Day 4 | Journey into Hwange's Domain

A comfortable 2.5-hour private 4x4 transfer to Hwange National Park — Zimbabwe's largest and most famous wildlife reserve. Check-in at Linkwasha Camp: an ultra-luxury tented camp perched on the edge of a prolific waterhole. Late afternoon private game drive tracking massive elephant herds, lions, and Cape buffalo. An elegant multi-course bonfire dinner served under a sky of stars around a roaring central fire pit.

Breakfast, Dinner
Journey into Hwange's Domain

Day 5 | Eye-to-Eye with Giants — Underground Photographic Bunker

Morning walking safari with a master guide — tracking wildlife on foot and reading the subtle signs of the bush. Afternoon in Hwange's most exclusive highlight: the underground photographic bunker, a hidden hide built at the edge of a busy waterhole. Inches away from massive elephant bulls drinking at eye level, offering unparalleled photographic opportunities. An artisanal breakfast basket and fresh French-press coffee served inside the bunker.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Eye-to-Eye with Giants — Underground Photographic Bunker

Day 6 | The Plains from Above & Apex Predator Tracking

Rising before dawn for a hot-air balloon flight over Hwange's wide open vlei plains. Herds of buffalo and grazing antelope shattering the morning mist from above. After landing: a traditional champagne toast and gourmet bush brunch. Afternoon: a private full-day tracking safari searching for Hwange's apex predators — African wild dogs, lions, and leopards. The day concludes with a torch-lit lantern bonfire dinner served out in the open bush.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The Plains from Above & Apex Predator Tracking
Zambezi Concession — Sapi Explorers Camp

Day 7 | Flight to the Wild River Banks — Zambezi Night Drive

Final morning game drive and breakfast at Linkwasha, then a private charter to a secluded Zambezi River private concession. Check-in at Sapi Explorers Camp — ultra-luxury tented camp set deep in riverine forest. Evening private night game drive using infrared spotlights to find elusive leopards and bushbabies. Hand-crafted gin and tonics served from a canvas bar on a high river cliff at sunset.

Breakfast, Dinner
Flight to the Wild River Banks — Zambezi Night Drive

Day 8 | Canoeing the Silent Channels & Tiger Fishing

Morning: private guided luxury canoe safari down the quiet channels of the Zambezi — paddling past pods of hippos and a dazzling array of river birds in absolute tranquillity. Afternoon: catch-and-release tiger fishing from a private speedboat. The day culminates with a surprise white-linen cooked breakfast by your private chef on an isolated white sandbar in the middle of the flowing Zambezi River.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Canoeing the Silent Channels & Tiger Fishing

Day 9 | Exclusive Tonga Cultural Immersion — Nyami Nyami & Basket Weaving

A deeply dignified non-commercial cultural experience with a remote Tonga village — the original inhabitants of the Zambezi Valley. Village elders share their rich history, traditional architecture, intricate basket-weaving techniques, and the captivating mythology of Nyami Nyami, the Zambezi River God. A private, unscripted encounter ensuring total privacy and mutual respect. Farewell multi-course dinner paired with vintage wines.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Exclusive Tonga Cultural Immersion — Nyami Nyami & Basket Weaving
Return — Harare

Day 10 | Return to Harare & Complementary Spa Day

Relaxed luxury breakfast overlooking the river. Charter back to Harare. Transfer to the Monomotapa Hotel for a complementary spa session. A private city tour of Harare is offered if missed on Day 1. International departure the following day.

Breakfast
Return to Harare & Complementary Spa Day

Want to adjust the pace, swap a lodge, or extend this journey?

We are here for that. Every Finders & Keepers Safaris itinerary is a starting point, not a fixed departure — the pace, the lodges, the length, the dates and the party travelling can all be reshaped around you. Tell us what you would change and a specialist will rebuild the journey and price it honestly, before you commit to anything.

Tailor This Journey →
Safari experience
Your Accommodation

Three World-Class Properties Across Zimbabwe

Monomotapa Hotel, Harare
NIGHTS 1 & 10
Harare

Monomotapa Hotel, Harare

★★★★★ — Capital gateway hotel with VIP arrival services and complementary spa on departure day
View Details
Matetsi Victoria Falls
NIGHTS 2–3
Victoria Falls

Matetsi Victoria Falls

★★★★★ — Ultra-luxury riverside lodge with private access to Victoria Falls and Zambezi sunset cruises
View Details
Linkwasha Camp
NIGHTS 4–6
Hwange National Park

Linkwasha Camp

★★★★★ — Tented camp on a prolific waterhole with underground photographic bunker access
View Details
Sapi Explorers Camp
NIGHTS 7–9
Zambezi Concession

Sapi Explorers Camp

★★★★★ — Ultra-luxury camp deep in Zambezi riverine forest with private canoe safaris and night drives
View Details
Why This Journey

What sets this journey apart

Victoria Falls, Hwange’s elephants at eye level and a canoe on the Zambezi: Zimbabwe’s wild side in ten days.

01

Victoria Falls, crowd-free

A private walking tour of the Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders, and a champagne sunset cruise on the Zambezi among hippos and crossing elephants.

02

Eye to eye with elephants

An underground photographic bunker at Linkwasha puts you inches from drinking elephant bulls, and a sunrise balloon floats over Hwange’s vlei plains.

03

Predators and paddles

A private full-day apex predator track in Hwange for wild dogs, lions and leopards, then a canoe safari down the Zambezi’s quiet channels.

Best ValueJan – MayGreen season — dramatic skies, fewer visitors
Peak SeasonMay – SepPeak dry winter & Victoria Falls' full flow
Shoulder SeasonSep – DecFalls' mist settles, excellent game viewing
Best forPhotographersActive travellersFirst Zimbabwe trips
Plan this journey with us →

Inclusions & Pricing

Deposit Offer

Hold 2027 for half the usual deposit

Confirm any 2027 departure with a 15% deposit instead of the usual 30%, booked before 31 December 2026.

  • Your balance is not due until 60 days before departure.
  • The reduced deposit holds your camps, permits and internal flights at today’s rates, so a mid-year price movement does not reach you.
  • Applies to new 2027 bookings only and cannot be combined with a group discount on the same booking.
Solo Travellers

30% off the single supplement

Travelling on your own? We cut the single traveller supplement by 30% across selected 2027 departures.

  • The supplement covers the sole-occupancy cost a camp charges when a room sleeps one rather than two.
  • Available on selected camps and dates — your specialist will tell you which of your nights qualify before you commit.
  • Nothing changes about the journey itself: same guide, same vehicle, same rooms.
Group Offer

Bring three, the fourth travels free

Book four guests on a 2027 group departure and the fourth guest’s safari cost is on us.

  • The waiver covers the land portion — camps, meals, guiding and game drives.
  • International flights, visas, gorilla and chimpanzee permits and personal spending are excluded, as those are paid to third parties per head.
  • All four guests must travel on the same departure date and book together.
What's Included
  • VIP meet and greet at Harare International Airport
  • All private charter flights within Zimbabwe
  • Luxury accommodation at all properties
  • All meals as specified — breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • All private guided game drives and walking safaris
  • All activities listed in the itinerary
  • All park and concession fees
  • Complementary spa session at Monomotapa Hotel on final day
  • Private guide and expert tracker throughout
  • All transfers between airports and lodges
  • Private walking tour of Victoria Falls
  • Zambezi private champagne sunset cruise
  • Hwange underground photographic bunker experience
  • Hot-air balloon sunrise flight over Hwange
  • Zambezi luxury canoe safari
  • Catch-and-release tiger fishing from private speedboat
  • White-linen Zambezi sandbar breakfast
  • Non-commercial Tonga cultural encounter
  • ✓Travel insurance facilitated on your behalf (adjusted in your quote if you are already covered)
What's Not Included
  • International flights to and from Zimbabwe
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Personal shopping and souvenirs
  • Premium imported alcohol beyond what is provided
  • Optional activities not listed
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Visa fees (USD 50 on arrival for most nationalities)

Package Pricing

Per Person Sharing$13,500
Single Traveller SupplementOn Request
ⓘ Price is per person based on two guests sharing. All charter flights, lodge accommodation, meals, park fees, activities, hot-air balloon, champagne cruise, and complementary spa session are included. International flights to Harare are not included.

2027 Season Pricing

The same unforgettable journey, priced by season.

Jan – May Best ValueGreen season — dramatic skies, fewer visitors
$11,500
May – Sep Peak SeasonPeak dry winter & Victoria Falls' full flow
$15,950
Sep – Dec Shoulder SeasonFalls' mist settles, excellent game viewing
$13,900

Flexible Payment Plan

1

Reserve today with a low early deposit to lock in your 2027 dates and pricing.

2

Spread the rest across convenient instalments, at a pace that suits you.

3

Final balance due one month before departure — nothing more to pay once you fly.

Speak To Us

Journey Details

Minimum Age

Varies by camp, activity and national park

  • Camps and lodges — Most safari camps accept children from six years, with shared game-drive vehicles usually from eight to twelve. Many properties will take younger children on a privately booked vehicle.
  • Walking safaris — Guided walking safaris carry a firm minimum of fifteen or sixteen years across most reserves. This is set by the licensing authority, not the camp, and is never waived.
  • Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking — Uganda and Rwanda both enforce a strict minimum of fifteen years. It is a national park regulation and there are no exceptions.
  • Hot-air balloon safaris — Operators generally require children to be at least seven, and tall enough to brace unaided in the basket on landing.
  • Family and exclusive-use camps — A number of our camps run dedicated family units, child-minding and tailored activity programmes, and will relax their usual age limit for a sole-use booking.
  • Talk to us first — Age limits vary from property to property and from activity to activity. Speak to our experts before you book, and we will pre-arrange the details with each lodge around the ages of the children travelling with you.

Safari Duffel

Duffel, safari hat, vest and hooded jumper

  • Your duffel — A soft-sided Finders & Keepers Safaris duffel, sized for the 15 kg limit on the light aircraft that move you between camps. Rigid suitcases cannot be carried on those flights at all.
  • What is inside it — A branded Finders & Keepers Safaris safari hat, a safari vest, and a hooded jumper for cold dawn starts and balloon mornings.
  • Yours to keep — The bag and everything in it is a gift, not a loan. Nothing is returned at the end of your journey.
  • Packing around it — Soft luggage, neutral colours, and layers. Laundry is included at nearly every camp, which is why 15 kg goes further than it sounds.

Note

Victoria Falls water volume is highly seasonal

The Falls are at their most dramatic (and most obscured by spray) from March to May, and at their most photogenic with clear views from September to December. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for lowveld areas.

  • Early starts — Safaris begin very early in the morning. Your guide will confirm what time you will be collected from your camp or lodge.
  • Tailoring this journey — If you would like this package with more or fewer days, arranged for a group, a family or a solo traveller, or with add-ons, reach out and we will tailor it for you.
  • Route changes — Your guide or driver may alter the route in certain circumstances, but every destination set out in the itinerary will be covered.

Documents

Visa on arrival, from $30 (KAZA available)

  • Passport — Valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, with at least two blank pages for stamps.
  • Visa — Visa on arrival or eVisa for most nationalities. UK, EU, US, Canadian and Australian travellers pay on arrival — US$30 single entry, US$45 double. Category A passport holders enter free.
  • KAZA UniVisa — If your itinerary crosses to Zambia, the US$50 KAZA UniVisa covers both countries for 30 days and permits day trips into Botswana. It is issued on arrival and subject to availability, so we always plan a fallback.
  • Yellow fever — A vaccination certificate is required if you are arriving from, or have transited, a country with yellow fever risk.
  • We file it for you — Whether you are flying in from overseas or travelling from elsewhere on the continent, we complete and submit your visa application on your behalf. You hand us your documents once. We do the filing, chase the approval, and carry the confirmations in your travel pack so nothing rests on you remembering a reference number at a counter.
  • Most of Africa is open to you — The great majority of our African destinations are now either visa-free or issue a visa on arrival, so an embassy queue is rarely in your future at all. Where a visa on arrival does apply, we prepare and lodge the paperwork ahead of you — you reach the desk with a finished file rather than a blank form and a biro.
  • Before you travel — Entry rules change frequently and without much notice. Your specialist confirms the current requirements for every passport in your party at the time of booking, and checks them again before you fly.

Guaranteed Departures

Private, tailor-made departures on your dates, or join a small group

  • Once confirmed, you travel — When your departure date is confirmed, it is guaranteed. We do not cancel, merge or reschedule a confirmed departure for commercial reasons, however the final numbers fall.
  • What confirms a departure — A departure becomes confirmed once the agreed number of travellers has been reached and paid for in line with the agreed payment schedule. Places held without payment do not count towards it.
  • If the minimum is not reached — Where a group departure has not reached its agreed numbers, we tell you early rather than late, and you choose: move to the next available date, continue at a revised small-group rate, or take a full refund of everything you have paid.
  • Solo journeys — Solo and tailor-made itineraries carry no group minimum at all. Your dates are confirmed the moment your deposit is received.
  • Visas — We prepare and submit your visa application on your behalf. Please note that the granting of a visa rests solely with the immigration authority of the country concerned, and is never guaranteed by us.
  • Medication — We arrange malaria prophylaxis, together with anti-nausea and anti-anxiety tablets, for your journey. Any prescription medicine should be confirmed with your own doctor before you travel — they remain the final authority on what is suitable for you.
  • Africa is not always hot — Despite the stereotype, Africa moves through distinct seasons and mornings at altitude can be genuinely cold. A hooded jumper is provided for cold conditions, and for every guest joining a hot-air balloon safari.
  • Dietary requirements — If you have strict dietary needs, please tell us at the time of booking. This includes vegans, guests in recovery, non-drinkers, and anyone following a prescription from their doctor.
  • Travel insurance — We facilitate travel insurance for our clients. If you are already covered, please say so during booking so we can take it into account in your final quote.
  • Tailoring your quote — Some of our inclusions — hot-air balloon safaris, for example — may not be what you want. Point these out and we will adjust your final offer accordingly.
  • The Maasai massage & spa recovery — Guests travelling the safari circuit by road rather than by air should expect long and tiring days. The rough terrain of the jungle gives the vehicle a constant jolting ride, known affectionately as the Maasai massage. A spa session is provided at the end of your safari to recover.
  • What to pack — Neutral colours are the rule on safari: khaki, olive, stone and brown. Avoid black and dark blue, which draw tsetse flies, and leave camouflage at home entirely — it is reserved for the military and illegal for civilians in several African countries. Bring layers for cold dawn game drives, long sleeves and trousers for dusk when the mosquitoes are out, closed walking shoes, a sun hat and sunglasses. Lodge dinners are smart-casual; nothing formal is needed.
  • Your safari duffel & kit — The duffel bag is used when flying into the parks, where luggage is limited to 15 kg per person. A branded Finders & Keepers Safaris safari hat and safari vest are also provided.

More Journeys

Private Estates of Laikipia
SMALL GROUP JOURNEY

Private Estates of Laikipia

12 Days · Min 7
Itinerary Nairobi → Segera Retreat → Borana Lodge → &Beyond Suyian → Lewa Wilderness → Ol Pejeta Bush Camp → Loisaba Tented Camp → Nairobi
The Creative Valleys, Spas & Lakes
SMALL GROUP JOURNEY

The Creative Valleys, Spas & Lakes

10 Days · Min 7
Itinerary Kigali → Butare (Huye) → Gisenyi → Lake Kivu North → Kigali
The Red Sands & Malaria-Free Giants
SMALL GROUP JOURNEY

The Red Sands & Malaria-Free Giants

10 Days · Min 7
Itinerary Johannesburg → Tswalu Kalahari Reserve → Madikwe Game Reserve → Johannesburg
The Valley Lakes & Savannahs
SMALL GROUP JOURNEY

The Valley Lakes & Savannahs

10 Days · Min 7
Itinerary Nairobi → Amboseli → Maasai Mara → Lake Naivasha & Hell's Gate → Nairobi