Itinerary
Day 1. 04 August 2013 Depart USA on Emirates EK 212 from IAH at 18:50.
Day 2. 05 August 2013 Arrive Dubai at 18:45. Overnight in Dubai. Transfers, dinner, hotel included.
Day 3. 06 August Depart Dubai at 09:25 on EK 713, arrive Lusaka, Zambia at 14:35. Airport transfer, city tour. Overnight: Lusaka. Southern Sun Ridgeway.
Day 4. 07 August Motor from Lusaka to Siavonga, Kariba. Board the Southern Bell boat for a cruise on the Kariba Lake. This is a delightful, relaxing start to your holiday. Kariba is a vast lake, surrounded by game reserves. Enjoy amazing sunrises and sunsets, game viewing from small tender boats, fishing for the fighting tiger fish or relaxing as we cruise this inland sea. Overnight: Southern Belle. All inclusive.
Day 5. 08 August Spend today on the Southern Belle. See fish eagles and cormorants perched on petrified trees that jut out of the lake. Watch hippopotamus and crocodiles in the water, and Africa’s big game on the shore. Overnight: Southern Belle. All inclusive.
Day 6. 09 August Return to Siavonga and cross the huge wall of the dam into Zimbabwe. Take a short tour of Kariba Town, taking in the sights and the Italian Church. Continuing up the aptly named Elephant Walk escarpment road to the Chinhoyi Caves, where you can descend into a labyrinth of dark limestone and dolomite caves, or admire the clear, unbelievable blue water of the sleeping pool. Drive to Harare and the Bronte Hotel.
Day 7. 10 August Enjoy a tour of Harare. Included will be downtown and a visit to Mbare Market. If available, we will also visit the tobacco auction floors. Overnight in the Bronte Hotel, Harare.
Day 8. 11 August Today we will motor to Masvingo and on to the nearby Great Zimbabwe Monument. Our hotel will be the Inn on Great Zimbabwe, a small country hotel adjacent to the monument. Overnight:Inn on Great Zimbabwe.
Day 9. 12 August Explore Great Zimbabwe this morning. Learn about the kingdom that built Great Zimbabwe between the 12th and 17th Centuries. The ancient city is the largest archaeological site in Africa south of Egypt, center of the kingdom of Monomatapa and of the fabled King Solomon’s Mines. See the Great Enclosure, the Hill complex and the Zimbabwe Bird carvings in the on – site museum. Learn why Zimbabwe went to great lengths to get all of the Zimbabwe birds back following independence, and what they exchanged for them. This afternoon motor to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city. Our hotel for the next three nights will be the Bulawayo Club, the original gentlemen’s club frequented by Cecil Rhodes and now a small hotel with a big history. Dinner tonight will be in the Club dining room.
Day 10. 13 August Today we will enjoy a city tour that will include the National Museum, art gallery and the Railway Museum. You will be introduced to one of the first planned cities in the world; find out why the city was planned on the lining of biscuit tins, and why Zulu assegai spears were used as survey markers. Stop at the picturesque Hillside Dams for lunch (optional). Dinner tonight will be at the Nesbitt Castle, where you will be served fine food in medieval grandeur in the middle of Africa.
Overnight Bulawayo Club.
Day 11. 14 August The Matobo Hills National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site located 35 kilometers from the city. We will take a full day tour there today exploring the history, flora and fauna amidst unusual balancing rock landscape. See rock art, the Bushman painted caves, the grave of Cecil Rhodes, great scenery and wildlife including – with luck – Rhino. Lunch will be at Amalinda Camp. Overnight Bulawayo Club.
Day 12. 15 August This morning, motor to the Hwange Game Reserve. Check in to our hotel and relax before joining an afternoon game drive, followed by dinner deep in the African bush. The lodge has a swimming pool and lawns overlooking a waterhole that is often visited by Africa’s big game. OvernightHwange Safari Lodge.
Day 13. 16 August No visit to Africa would be complete without a visit to one of the continent’s great game reserves. Today, you will visit on of the greatest at Hwange. Enjoy a full day game drive in with lunch included. Hwange has some of the largest herds of Elephant in Africa, but this reserve, as big as Belgium, is also home to a large number of predators, antelope and numerous birds. Our game drive will be in open 4×4 vehicles, driven by experienced guides. Overnight Hwange Safari Lodge.
Day 14. 17 August Enjoy another game drive this morning in the Safari Lodge estate before we motor through communal areas and past Hwange Town to Victoria Falls. On arrival, check in to the Kingdom Hotel, just a short distance from the famous waterfall and equally close to the town. Overnight: Kingdom Hotel.
Day 15. 18 August After breakfast we will take a guided tour to the Victoria Falls. Included will be a visit to the Rain Forest and a walk along the ‘Falls, offering amazing photographic opportunities. Also included will be a visit to the local craft market and the huge Baobab trees. Return to the hotel with time to relax or join a number of optional activities before gathering for a sunset boat cruise on the Zambezi River above the ‘Falls on our own private boat, drinks and snacks included. A great way to end your journey across Zimbabwe. Overnight: Kingdom hotel.
Day 16. 19 August Transfer to Victoria Falls Airport for return flight to the USA. Depart VFA on BAA 282 at 13:55, arrive JNB at 15:35. Change planes. Depart JNB at 19:15 on EK 764.
Day 17. 20 August Arrive Dubai at 05:25. Change planes. Depart Dubai at 09:05 on EK 211, arrive Houston at 16:25.
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Day 16. 19 August Transfer to Victoria Falls Airport for flight to Johannesburg and continuing to Cape Town. (Flights TBA) We will be met at Cape Town Airport on arrival and transferred to the hotel. Dinner, overnight in Southern Sun Waterfront Hotel, +27 21 4094000
Day 17. 20 August Morning Cape Town city and Table Mountain tour. Afternoon Robben Island boat trip. Note: A guide will accompany us to Robben Island. No transport is provided from the hotel to the Clock Tower (boat departure point) and back, the guide will walk the group over to the Clock Tower from the hotel. Dinner, overnight in SS Waterfront Hotel.
Day 18. 21 August Full day Cape Point and Peninsular tour including lunch. Dinner, overnight in SS Waterfront Hotel.
Day 19. 22 August Full day Winelands tour inclusive of lunch at a local restaurant. Return to Cape Town, overnight in SS Waterfront Hotel.
Day 20. 23 August Day’s activities TBA. Transer to Cape Town airport in time to check in for 18:10 departure for Dubai on EK 771.
Day 21. 24 August Arrive Dubai at 05:25, change planes. Depart Dubai at 09:05 on EK 211, arrive Houston at 16:25.
Laurence Barker
Geoff Cooke
Carrol Smith & Suzanne Plummer
Ben & Gail Plummer
John & Alex Clark
Scott & Merri Plummer
Douglas Plummer & Adam Litch
Katherine Wyatt & Carol Frawley
Betty Pritchard & Laurie Haynes
Roy Ellis & Wally Love
Dale Fleishman & Ron Jenkins