13 Days Best Of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is interesting for one big reason, it’s a country where the scenery and the stories move at the same speed. This 13-day best-of route starts at Victoria Falls, then pushes onward into national parks and major cultural sites, from rhino tracking to ancient stone ruins. It is built for people who want structure and comfort, not just a grab-and-go checklist.

Two things I really like: you get a professional guide and chef (so you are not stuck figuring out logistics all day), and the trip packs in both wildlife time and culture time. One consideration though, the plan includes game-drive windows, but the listing also says game drives are not included, so you should confirm what is covered before you assume every safari hour is included.

Key highlights in plain English

• Victoria Falls plus a guided tour, ending with local art and crafts
• Chef-led meals most days, with accommodations included for all nights
• Multiple parks in a single loop, including Hwange and Gonarezhou
• Rhino tracking at Matobo Hills and a visit to Great Zimbabwe
• Small group size (max 16), which usually makes the pace feel human

How this Zimbabwe trip is run: Falcon Safaris, a guide, and a chef in your corner

This tour is led by a personal guide, and it is also paired with a chef. That sounds like a small detail until you are doing a multi-park route, because it changes your day from guesswork into rhythm. You show up, follow the plan, and you spend your energy on the places, not the planning.

The group is capped at 16. That usually means you get a bit more attention during guided stops, and you are less likely to feel like you are stuck behind a parade of people. It also helps with logistics when the day has early starts, park drives, and scheduled admissions.

In the booking and coordination experience, I noticed names showing up in a helpful way. Kelly was described as very accommodating during the process, and Newtone and Gertrude were praised for being strong on transfers and keeping the itinerary moving. Falcon Safaris itself also came up as professional and quick to respond, which matters when you are traveling in an area where plans can shift.

One more small but practical detail: you start at 8:00 am, and pickup is offered. If you like mornings, this will feel energizing. If you are not a morning person, pack eye drops and plan to be awake.

Day 1 on the Zambezi: cruise vibes, snacks, and wildlife chances

Day 1 focuses on the Zambezi River Cruise Terminal. The cruise is described as scenic, and you can relax onboard with complimentary drinks and snacks. Depending on the time of year, you might be lucky enough to see animals coming down to drink.

What I like about this start is how it eases you in. After travel days, you want something that is pretty, low-stress, and not too much walking. A river cruise also gives you context for what you will see later at Victoria Falls, because the Zambezi is the engine behind the whole story.

Two practical notes: first, bring something warm or a light layer, because evenings near large rivers can feel cooler than you expect. Second, if you have binoculars, this is a good day to use them.

Day 2 at Victoria Falls: the guided view you will remember

The guided Victoria Falls tour is the centerpiece for Day 2. A guide explains how the falls formed and the local customs and traditions that surround them. The tour ends with a visit to a local art and crafts centre, which is a nice way to turn big nature into human context.

This is one of those experiences where a good guide changes everything. At the falls, you can easily miss the little things that make it meaningful, like how local people relate to the water and the landscape around it. You also get a more organized route for seeing the main viewpoints in a logical flow.

I also appreciate that the tour includes an art stop. It can be tempting to only chase the photo and rush out. This gives you a chance to slow down and see how people nearby make a living from tourism, while still keeping it tied to place.

Hwange National Park: game drive time, but confirm what you pay for

Hwange National Park shows up with both an afternoon optional slot and a morning game-drive slot the next day. The admission ticket part is listed as free, but game drives are listed as not included in the overall tour. That means your real question is not whether you go to Hwange, it is what the safari vehicle and guide time cost, and what is included versus what is an add-on.

Here is how I’d handle it. Ask Falcon Safaris or your local contact what is included in the Hwange portion specifically. If you want multiple long game-drive sessions, you may need to budget extra or choose a version of the day that includes those fees.

Still, the structure is solid. The plan gives you at least two opportunities around Hwange, so you are not banking everything on one short window. When you have more than one try, you give yourself a better chance to see wildlife activity.

Cecil Rhodes, Matobo Hills, and the rhino-tracking day

After Hwange, the route pivots toward a mix of history and wildlife in Matobo Hills country. You first visit Cecil Rhodes’ Burial Place. The story here is about how Rhodes’ body was moved on an epic railway journey to be laid to rest in Rhodesia, even while the Boer War was raging elsewhere. It is a reminder that this region was shaped by colonial-era decisions, whether or not you agree with them.

Then you move into Matobo Hills for tracking rhinos. That is the kind of activity where the guide matters. A good tracking moment depends on knowing what signs to look for and how to read the landscape without pushing animals too hard.

If you are a wildlife-first traveler, this is a day to be flexible with your expectations. Tracking does not guarantee a sighting in the way a theme park ride does. But when it works, it is the kind of experience you will still talk about later because you were out in the field, not just watching from a fence line.

Great Zimbabwe National Monument: ancient stones and real scale

On the next major day, you visit Great Zimbabwe National Monument. This is Zimbabwe’s former capital and a World Heritage site, known for its stone construction made from rectangular granite blocks stacked without mortar. The walls and towers are described as reaching up to 12 meters in places, which gives you a real sense of how much work and intention went into the place.

I like that the visit is structured as a wandering experience with interpretation. If you just show up, you can admire the architecture, but you miss the bigger point: this is not a random ruin. It was a political and cultural centre, and the stone layout reflects that significance.

The main takeaway for your trip planning: wear shoes you can walk in. Even if the stop feels like a guided overview, you will likely spend real time on your feet around the stone structures.

Gonarezhou National Park: elephants, birds, and relaxed wildlife near camp

Gonarezhou is where the safari energy ramps up. The route gives you two parts, and each one has a different feel. First, you spend time around the camp area with birding potential and wildlife that can be relaxed. The description notes groups of nyala, kudu, impala, and elephant passing through camp.

Second, you return for a bigger focus on what the park is known for. Gonarezhou is Zimbabwe’s second-largest national park, home to over 10,000 elephants. It includes floodplains, baobab-dotted scrubland, mopane woodland, and orange sandstone cliffs. The plan also calls out four of Africa’s Big Five: elephant, leopard, lion, and buffalo.

That matters because it tells you what you are hunting for with your eyes. Gonarezhou is not just one type of habitat. You get variety, and variety usually helps you spot different species and birdlife.

One more practical angle: because wildlife can be near camp at times, you should follow your guide’s instructions about staying alert and keeping distance. You do not need paranoia, just basic field sense.

Leisure days (and why they are built in)

There are a couple afternoons left for leisure or optional activities. These are useful because they break up the long drive and wildlife rhythm. You can use them to rest, do a little exploring nearby, or just catch up on laundry and planning your next day, though laundry is listed as not included.

The route also includes leisure time again around Harare Province. If you are the kind of traveler who likes to move fast, you will still enjoy these blocks because you can choose your level of activity. If you are more tired than you expected, these afternoons keep the trip from feeling like a nonstop sprint.

Vumba Botanical Gardens and Reserve: a calmer day with footpaths and birds

Not every good safari itinerary needs another long drive every day. One day here is centered on Vumba Botanical Gardens and Reserve. The gardens are built around perennial streams that form a small lake, and there’s a network of footpaths for exploring the interior.

This is also a plant and bird day. The reserve is described as well endowed with indigenous orchids and ferns, and birdlife is abundant. If you want a break from vehicles and big game scanning, this is the switch that keeps the trip balanced.

You also get a scenic drive in Vumba. That helps, because it means the day is not only “walk and look.” You also get the wider view and a little change of scenery for your camera roll.

Practical note: pack for mixed weather. Gardens and streams can feel cool and humid, while you might still get sun.

Nyanga: trout fisheries, pit structures, and a museum stop

Then you head into Nyanga, with a stop that includes trout fisheries, pit structures, and a museum. This day is a good reminder that Zimbabwe is not only parks and waterfalls. It has engineered, historical, and local livelihood stories, and you get to see pieces of them in one organized stop.

The pit structures and museum are the “slow your brain down” part of the day. They likely require more reading and less guessing from the surroundings, which is great if you want your trip to be more than just sighting animals.

If you are into nature and wildlife, trout fisheries add a different angle: it’s about water and how people have used it.

Harare Province leisure and the human side of the journey

At the end of the route, you get Harare Province with an afternoon of leisure or optional activities. This is the part of the tour that lets you either decompress or add something local if you want to. The listing does not specify details for the optional activity, so you should plan to use this time for rest unless your guide gives you clear options in the moment.

A final thought: if you plan to buy souvenirs, this is often the time window to do it, because you are no longer jumping between parks every day.

Price and value: what $3,550 covers, and what you should budget for

At $3,550 per person for about 13 days, the headline value is that it bundles a lot of the heavy lifting. You get accommodation for all nights, transport fees, park entry fees, and a professional guide and chef. You also get breakfast every day on the plan, plus lunch and dinner on many of the days.

But the budget picture has a few real gaps. The tour does not include all drinks and mineral water, tips and gratuities, travel insurance, and accommodation upgrades. It also lists game drives as not included, which could be your biggest additional cost depending on what you want to do in Hwange and around safari time.

So I look at value like this: if you want a structured route with meals included and guides doing the work, this price can make sense because you are paying to remove stress. If you are a hardcore safari planner who wants extra game drives and is comfortable arranging things independently, you may find you add costs on top.

For me, the best “value check” is simple. Ask what meals are included on leisure afternoons, and clarify how game drive fees work for the park days. That prevents the most common surprise.

Who this tour suits best

This trip is best for you if you want Zimbabwe highlights without building an itinerary from scratch. The small group size, daily meals, and guided stops make it a strong choice for people who like their adventure with support.

It’s also a good fit if you care about variety. You are not only doing parks. You also get Victoria Falls, an art and crafts stop, Great Zimbabwe’s stone ruins, and a botanicals day in Vumba.

If you are traveling solo, this format can also work well because you do not have to coordinate everything yourself. And if you are multilingual, the listing notes experiences offered in multiple languages, which can matter for comprehension during guided history and park talks.

Should you book this 13 Days Best Of Zimbabwe tour?

I’d book it if you want the Zimbabwe “greatest hits” approach with real structure: Victoria Falls, Hwange, Matobo rhinos, Great Zimbabwe, Gonarezhou, and Vumba and Nyanga. The chef and guide setup is a big quality-of-life upgrade, and the booking experience feedback about responsive help and smooth transfers is a good sign.

I would not book it without confirming two things first: how game drives are handled in practice, and what you should expect to pay for drinks, gratuities, and any optional activities. If you check those boxes, you get a well-paced mix of wildlife and culture that is hard to recreate on your own without spending more time on planning than on the fun parts.

FAQ

What is the duration of the tour?

The tour is listed as 13 days (approx.).

Where does the tour start and what time does it begin?

It starts in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, with a start time of 8:00 am.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $3,550.00 per person.

What is included in the price?

Park entry fees, accommodation, transport fees, a professional guide and chef, and meals (breakfast 13 times, lunch 10 times, dinner 10 times).

What is not included?

All drinks and mineral water, sleeping bag and pillow, personal items, laundry, tips and gratuities, accommodation upgrades, travel insurance, activities not mentioned, and game drives.

Are pickups available?

Yes, pickup is offered.

Is there a limit on group size?

Yes, the tour has a maximum of 16 travelers.

How far in advance can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel up to 6 days in advance of the experience start time for a full refund.