8 Days Zimbabwe Family Safari | Victoria Falls & Hwange
This eight-day Zimbabwe family safari combines Victoria Falls with the wildlife of Hwange National Park, with a mix of sightseeing, river activities, game drives and guided nature experiences.
Trip Highlights
- Guided visit to Victoria Falls
- Sunset cruise on the Zambezi River
- Scenic flight from Victoria Falls to Hwange
- Morning and afternoon game drives
- Guided walking safari
- Night game drive
- Visit to the Painted Dog Conservation Centre
- Introduction to the area’s San cultural history
- Visit to a local school supported by tourism
- Wildlife viewing from a camp waterhole and photographic hide
- Final cultural and shopping experience in Victoria Falls
Overview
The journey begins around Victoria Falls, giving the family time to visit the falls, cruise the Zambezi and settle into the rhythm of the safari before flying into Hwange National Park.
Hwange brings a very different landscape and pace.
Game drives and guided walks provide opportunities to look for elephants, buffalo, sable, lions, leopards and African wild dogs, while visits focused on conservation and local communities add context beyond wildlife viewing.
The itinerary finishes with a return to Victoria Falls for a final afternoon of local culture before departure the following day.
For families, this creates a useful balance between active safari days and time around the river and town.
Victoria Falls forms part of the transboundary Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls UNESCO World Heritage property. UNESCO describes the falls as the world’s largest curtain of falling water, spanning about 1,708 metres.
Hwange is Zimbabwe’s largest national park, covering approximately 14,650 square kilometres.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority lists around 100 mammal species and nearly 400 bird species, with elephants, lions, leopards and buffalo among its notable wildlife.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1-3: Victoria Falls
Arrive at Victoria Falls International Airport, where a Petnah Africa Tours representative will meet you and transfer you to your camp in the Zambezi National Park.
Settle in and enjoy the camp surroundings before your first full day around Victoria Falls.
The following morning, take a guided tour of the falls, visiting the main viewpoints while learning about the geology of the Zambezi River, the formation of the falls and how changing rainfall and river levels affect the experience.
Water levels vary considerably through the year. During periods of higher flow, spray can be heavy around the viewpoints, so waterproof clothing and protection for cameras and other electronics are useful.
If conditions are suitable and you are visiting around a full moon during a period of high spray, a lunar rainbow may occasionally be visible.
Later, enjoy a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River.
The relaxed pace works well after the falls visit, with opportunities for birdwatching and wildlife viewing along the river. Drinks and snacks are served on board as the sun sets.
The remaining time in Victoria Falls can be spent enjoying the camp or taking part in additional activities according to the family’s interests and confirmed arrangements.
Overnight at Mpala Jena Camp
The camp is set among indigenous trees along the Zambezi River within the Zambezi National Park.
Its small number of suites and private villas provide an intimate base for the Victoria Falls portion of the trip.
Day 4-6: Southern Hwange National Park
After breakfast, transfer to Victoria Falls Airport for your scheduled flight to Hwange.
On arrival, meet your safari driver-guide and continue to camp through the park.
The next three days focus on Hwange’s wildlife and varied habitats.
Morning and afternoon game drives provide opportunities to search for elephants, buffalo, sable, lions, leopards, African wild dogs and other species.
Wildlife sightings remain unpredictable, but Hwange is particularly notable for its elephant population and its importance for African wild dogs.
Zimbabwe Parks describes the park as supporting the country’s largest elephant population and one of Africa’s significant wild dog populations.
A guided walking experience offers a slower way of reading the landscape, from animal tracks and calls to plants, insects and other smaller elements of the ecosystem.
The itinerary also includes a visit to the Painted Dog Conservation Centre, where the family can learn about efforts to conserve African wild dogs.
Other experiences include an introduction to the historical presence of San communities in the Hwange area, a visit to a local school supported through tourism, and a night game drive.
The latter provides a different perspective on the park as nocturnal animals become active.
Overnight at Verney’s Camp
Verney’s Camp is positioned among old teak trees overlooking a bush waterhole, with tented accommodation including family rooms.
Its setting provides opportunities to watch wildlife approaching the water even when you are not out on a game drive.
Day 7: Hwange to Victoria Falls
After breakfast, head out for your final morning game drive, with a focus on areas where predators may be encountered.
After the game drive, drive back towards Victoria Falls, a journey of approximately three hours according to the supplied itinerary.
In Victoria Falls, visit the Elephant’s Walk Shopping and Artist Village, where local artisans display crafts and artwork.
This provides an opportunity to support local businesses while gaining a little more context about Zimbabwean artistic traditions.
The itinerary also includes an introduction to Tonga culture and traditional fishing along the Zambezi, followed by a Zimbabwean dinner featuring dishes such as sadza and nyama, accompanied by local music.
Dinner and overnight at The Victoria Falls Hotel
The historic hotel dates to the early twentieth century and sits close to Victoria Falls, with views towards the falls from its grounds.
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, transfer to Victoria Falls Airport according to your flight schedule for your onward journey.
Your Zimbabwe family safari ends at the airport.
What’s Included
- Accommodation as specified in the itinerary
- Meals, drinks and laundry where specified
- Scheduled flights included in the itinerary
- Applicable domestic or international departure taxes, fuel and safety levies where specified
- Scheduled transfers
- Scheduled sightseeing and excursions
- Scheduled game-viewing activities
- National park, concession and landing fees where applicable
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance as specified by the package
What’s Not Included
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities
- Items of a personal nature
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is this safari suitable for families with children?
The itinerary is specifically structured as a family safari and includes family accommodation at Verney’s Camp.
However, individual activities can have age, safety, or participation requirements, so children’s ages should be provided when requesting the trip.
2. How much time is spent at Victoria Falls?
The itinerary includes three nights at the beginning of the trip and a final night in Victoria Falls before departure, giving the family time for the falls visit, Zambezi cruise and cultural experiences without making the entire trip a safari-only itinerary.
3. What wildlife can we see in Hwange?
Hwange supports elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards, African wild dogs, sable, and many other mammals.
The park also has substantial bird diversity. Sightings vary by season, location, and daily conditions, so no particular species can be guaranteed.
4. What is the difference between a game drive and a walking safari?
A game drive allows you to cover considerably more ground and search for larger wildlife across different habitats.
A walking safari is slower and focuses more closely on tracks, plants, insects, calls, and other details that can easily be missed from a vehicle.
5. What should we expect at Victoria Falls?
The character of the falls changes with water levels.
Higher flows can produce heavy spray and rainbows, while lower water levels expose more of the underlying rock formations and gorges. UNESCO notes that the falls and surrounding gorges form part of a protected World Heritage property spanning Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Tell us what you want to see and experience, and we can help tailor the route, activities, and accommodation around your travel plans.
Plan My Zimbabwe Safari.
You can also WhatsApp Petnah Africa Tours on +256 705 161344.
