This is the finest cross-country camping safari in Zimbabwe. We have a high staff to guest ratio and take a maximum of eight guests. The safari takes in all the best reserves along the Zambezi Valley, utilising the most exclusive camp sites.

All bathroom facilities on the safari are private. Activities and modes of transport are varied to make the safari as stimulating as possible: Aircraft, Land Rovers, boats, canoes and your own two feet will all be put to use. All meals are included, except for lunch and dinner at Victoria Falls.

Note that the safari departing 21 June 2001 will include solar eclipse viewing.

Day 1 : Victoria Falls - Ilala Lodge

On arrival in Victoria Falls, usually on a Sunday, you are met and transferred to the Ilala Lodge, one of the closest hotels to the Falls. You will have the afternoon at leisure to explore the Falls or take an optional Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River. In the evening, your guide will meet with the group at Ilala Lodge at 6:30 pm for a pre-safari briefing.

Days 2 to 4 : Hwange National Park

We travel south by road to Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe's largest wildlife sanctuary. Here we spend our time game viewing and birding on nature drives, at waterholes, and on walks in the Makalolo area. We may see Elephant, Buffalo, Sable Antelope, Cheetah, Lion, Leopard or Wild Dog, as well as various storks, vultures and eagles. We stay at our exclusive Makalolo Bush Camp within Hwange National Park.

Days 5 to 7 : Matusadona National Park

Today we transfer by light aircraft to Matusadona National Park on the shores of Lake Kariba, one of the world's largest man-made lakes. We camp here for three nights in a private site, spending time on drives and walks, viewing large concentrations of Buffalo, Elephant and other animals. Our best opportunities for viewing Black Rhino exist here. Birding is good, with African Fish Eagle, Goliath Heron and Saddlebilled Stork being common. Spectacular sunsets over the lake are a highlight.

Day 8 to 10 : Canoeing on the Zambezi River

We board a motorboat transfer to the town of Kariba across the lake, and then transfer to the Kariba Airport for the charter flight to Mana Pools. The canoe safari begins at the Ruckomechi River. Gliding silently down the mighty Zambezi River in Mana Pools is one of the high points of the safari. No previous canoeing experience is necessary. Birding along the river is very good, with Kingfishers and Bee-eaters being common. Elephant, Hippos and Crocodiles may be seen at the water's edge. We overnight at secluded tented camps en route.

Day 11 : Chikwenya Camp

The canoeing ends this morning, and we spend the final night of the safari at Chikwenya Camp. Chikwenya Camp is situated on the eastern boundary of the Mana Pools National Park overlooking the Zambezi and Sapi Rivers. Accommodation is in nine comfortable tented rooms under thatch with en-suite facilities. Each room also has an outdoor shower "under the stars" as well as the indoor showers. There is a separate lounge and dining area, and a plunge pool. The focal point at Chikwenya is the magical Zambezi River, its backwaters, and the surrounding flood plains and forests. Chikwenya Island just off-shore, harbours wonderfully diverse wildlife. The area is a photographer's paradise, as tall albida trees dot the open flood plains, with the mountains of the Rift Valley providing the backdrop. The area is renown for its large numbers of Elephant, Buffalo, Hippo, Crocodile, and Eland that concentrate along the river when the inland waterholes dry up - especially in the winter months. Leopard and Lion are in abundance but are not seen as regularly as the other game. Game viewing is enjoyed in open 4x4 vehicles, on motorised canoes, on foot, in hides, and in canoes.

Day 12 : End of Safari

After breakfast you will be flown back to Kariba Airport by mid-morning to connect with your onward flight.

The Black Rhinoceros, after which this safari is named, is one of Africa's most impressive animals but it is on the brink of extinction. In 1970, they were estimated at about sixty thousand individuals, but by 1990 only 3000 were left! Half of these were to be found in Zimbabwe, but now their numbers have crashed to less than 200. The reason for this massacre is that rhino horn commands huge prices in Taiwan and North Yemen where it is used for medicinal and decorative purposes. Although substitutes are easily obtainable, the rarer the rhinos become, the more exclusive and thus valuable their horn becomes. We are hoping that Viagra becomes the saviour of the Rhino. Tracking Rhino in Matusadona is our best opportunity to see these rare animals. Some argue that the only way to save the rhino is to legalise the controlled sale of rhino horn, but the debate rages on.

Rates and Departure Dates:

Single Supplement - $0 if "willing to share"; US$300 nett if requested (subject to availability).

Included

All accommodation on a per person sharing permanent tented camp and camping basis; use of camping equipment; all meals, except in Victoria Falls which is on a bed and breakfast basis; all drinks excluding premium wines and champagnes and premium spirits and liqueurs; twice daily game activities at camps; all excursions and transfers by vehicle, boat and light aircraft; services of our guide and staff; park fees; the Zimbabwe Tourism Levy.

Excluded

All scheduled flights and their departure taxes; all items of a personal nature; travel insurance; visa's; any new Zimbabwe taxes; gratuities to guide and camp staff and any activities and excursions which are not specified; the Zimbabwe Departure tax is US$20 per person and must be paid in US$ in cash on departure. The entry fees of US$20 per day into Victoria Falls themselves are not included.

Please Note

Provisional Enquiries are held for 21 days only, at which time a 20% non-refundable deposit must be paid by the guest to confirm the Enquiry otherwise the booking option will expire. Final payment is invoiced at 8 weeks prior to departure and must be received at Wilderness by no later than 4 weeks prior to travel date. No guest may travel unless full pre-payment has been received by us. Our standard booking conditions, detailed in the back of our brochure apply to all travel arrangements. If you need a copy of these please advise and we can Email: this to you. Visas are your responsibility. If you have any queries about obtaining visas please contact us. Baggage in charter aircraft is restricted to 12kg per person in a soft bag (including camera equipment and carry on baggage). If guests exceed this limit, they will have to pay considerable amounts to have a privately chartered plane fly their excess baggage around Northern Botswana. Laundry can be done at all camps and campsites at no extra charge (excluding Ilala Lodge). All guests must cover themselves with cancellation and baggage insurance for the duration of their trip. Wilderness Safaris' normal cancellation policy will apply should a guest fail to join or start the safari due to airline delays or missed connections. Guests must have adequate travel insurance for this purpose.

Please note that ZBT4 (08 to 19 July) is a family departure. Itinerary - 8 July Ilala Lodge, 9 to 11 July Hwange Camping, 12 to 14 July, Matusadonna Camping, 15 to 16 July Ruckomechi, 17 to 18 July Chikwenya, 19 July Safari ends

Guest Comments:

We had an awesome safari. We started off cracking the big five in Hwange. We saw tons of eles as expected in Hwange. Our second night we saw a leopard at Samavundla plus all the other game. The next morning we did a full days game drive to Linkwasha and the Makalolo Plains area and then travelled onto Ngamo in south-east Hwange. We saw five lionesses at Makalolo Plains and tracked two white Rhino at Ngamo which we found under the big Camel thorns under some white backed vulture's nests. In Chizarira, we walked to the Chimbova oxbow the first afternoon, next day walked to the Lone Tree Hill and down to the rock pools. Saw tons of eles from up there, Kudus, impalas and hey what a pleasant and enjoyable walk. That evening we went over to Kapara and only an ele bull came by but it was a nice spot. We had to leave early the next morning but went and had a picnic at Mucheni which was a world's view. We heard lions all night on our first night at Matusadona and tracked them the next day and caught up with a huge male. We also tracked some wild rhino and found two boys who we sneaked up to. I also took the folks to the bomas of the rhino program and tracked those guys and the folks were pretty stoked about getting that close to them. We did a whole day up to the springs in the Gomos and had a total ball up in the pools in the Chochoro springs. The folks turned out great and we all got along very well and very sad to part. It was a great trip and hey, give me one of those any day. It was very inspiring. Thanks a heap for your GPS and advice on Chiz. It worked out very well and wish I had more time to explore the place.
Beks Ndlovu

Would definitely recommend this trip to a friend.
D.W. and C.W., USA

The greatest travel experience yet!! I was sorry that the trip had to end. I know that mobile tented camping may not be for everyone, but it added to the entire experience.
M.F. and B.F. and A.A., USA

Our guide was an A++. He readily provided detailed info on all aspects of Zimbabwe and ensured all participants were included. He was extremely knowledgeable of every subject from history to wildlife to local customs.
C.D., Boston, MA.

This was by far our best safari to Africa. The walking component and having our guide's knowledge and interest really made this an unbelievable time. We will be back!! Thank you!!
I& F. K., West Perth, Australia

This was by far the greatest travel experience I have ever had. I will be back w/friends and/or family - hopefully next year.
S.P., Scarsdale, NY

The food was excellent and extremely plentiful. I felt like I was being fattened up for the lions.
G.K., Atlanta, GA

I have wanted to come to Africa since I first knew what a giraffe was. This part of my trip was more than I had expected. The three parks were so different, enjoyed the isolation, so nice not to run into other vehicles and people.
K.J., Boston USA

Excellent trip, everything on schedule, guide was outstanding, incredibly knowledgable and explained things in a way we could all understand.
M.R.V., Atlanta USA

Hwange was the best, because of the sheer number of animals. Also enjoyed Mana Pools. Exceptional guides, teacher and host with a great combination of knowledge and people skills.
J.B. and B.L., USA

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