Zimbabwe rewards curious travelers with epic scenery and even bigger stories. From the thundering roar of Mosi-oa-Tunya—“the smoke that thunders”—to Hwange’s immense herds of elephant, this is a week of water, wildlife, and warm hospitality. You’ll sample township flavors, toast the Zambezi at sunset, and fall asleep to the night chorus of the bush.

Once a crossroads of precolonial trade routes, Zimbabwe is rich in history—from the Great Zimbabwe civilization to modern conservation triumphs. Today, its crown jewels are natural: Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River, and Hwange National Park’s vast savannahs. Expect world-class guiding, starry skies, and close-up encounters at famous waterholes.

Practical notes: Most travelers fly into Victoria Falls (VFA). Many nationalities can get the KAZA Univisa on arrival (valid for Zimbabwe and Zambia; check current rules and fees), while Botswana day trips typically require no visa for many passports—verify for yours. Carry some small USD for park fees, and consult your doctor about malaria prophylaxis, especially in the rainy season (Nov–Mar). Cuisine highlights include sadza (maize), game meats, bream, and flame-licked braais.

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is an adventure town wrapped around one of the planet’s most astonishing sights. At over a mile wide in peak flow, its mist feeds a rare rainforest and paints rainbows across the gorge. The vibe is laid-back yet buzzing—cafés, craft markets, and sunset boats on the Zambezi.

Top sights span the rainforest trail viewpoints, Victoria Falls Bridge, the Batoka Gorge, and the Zambezi’s islands and channels. Add a helicopter “Flight of Angels,” and you’ll grasp the scale in one soaring arc. For food, expect wood-fired pizza, township feasts, and riverfront sundowners.

• Where to stay: Browse stays near the Falls or in the wildlife corridor via VRBO Victoria Falls or compare hotels on Hotels.com Victoria Falls.
• Getting there: Fly into VFA (often via Johannesburg or Addis Ababa). Check fares on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights.
• Fun fact: The name “Flight of Angels” comes from David Livingstone’s 1855 musing that “scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.”

Day 1 — Touchdown at the Smoke That Thunders

Afternoon: Arrive at Victoria Falls, check in, and refresh. Stretch your legs with a stroll through the curio market on Parkway Drive to see Shona stone sculpture and woven baskets.

Evening: Grab an early dinner at The Three Monkeys (thin-crust pizza, peri-peri chicken, lively garden tables) or The Lookout Café for jaw-dropping gorge views and flame-grilled game skewers. Nightcap at River Brewing Co.—try the Zambezi Lager or an IPA under the fairy lights.

Day 2 — Explore the Falls (Two Countries, All the Angles)

Morning: Coffee and a flaky pastry at Shearwater Café, then join a guided walk to viewpoints and cross into Zambia for complementary vistas and history.

Book this guided experience: Zimbabwe & Zambia: Guided Tour of the Falls from Both Sides

Afternoon: Dry off over lunch at The Palm at Ilala Lodge (butter-soft bream, Zambezi curry). Browse the Jafuta Heritage Centre exhibits if you’re curious about local cultures and conservation.

Evening: Township-style dinner at Dusty Road (sadza, slow-braised oxtail, rooftop sunset). If you want a drum-filled spectacle, The Boma Dinner & Drum Show pairs game dishes with an interactive percussion finale.

Day 3 — Flight of Angels and Zambezi Dinner Cruise

Morning: Espresso and eggs Benedict at The Lookout Café, then take to the skies for the classic “Flight of Angels.” It’s the best way to grasp the serpentine gorge and the scale of the curtain of water.

Book the scenic flight: Victoria Falls Helicopter Tour (15 minutes)

Afternoon: Walk the historic Victoria Falls Bridge for spray-kissed photos. Refuel with a wood-fired margherita or a halloumi salad at The Three Monkeys.

Evening: Dress light for a river breeze and board a dinner cruise—expect a gentle drift, wildlife on the banks, and a Zambezi-style menu as the sky turns tangerine.

Book the dinner cruise: Dinner Cruise on the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls

Day 4 — Day Trip to Chobe National Park, Botswana

Today is a full-day safari across the border to Chobe, famed for huge elephant herds and riverfront game viewing. You’ll combine a Chobe River boat safari (hippo pods, crocs, birdlife) with a game drive in the national park.

Book the day trip: Chobe Full Day Trip From Victoria Falls

Border tips: Bring your passport, check if you need a Botswana visa (many do not), and carry cash for park fees if required. Expect a 6:50–7:30 a.m. pickup and early evening return. Back in town, grab a relaxed late bite at Shearwater Café (burgers, biltong salad) or tacos at River Brewing Co.

Hwange National Park

Hwange is Zimbabwe’s largest reserve—nearly the size of Belgium—and a sanctuary for more than 40,000 elephants. Pans and pumped waterholes draw a daily procession of wildlife: sable, giraffe, buffalo, and predators shadowing the herds. It feels wild yet welcoming, with time-honored guiding and secretive hides.

Your days revolve around dawn and dusk drives, siesta hours, and golden-light photography at famous pans. Many lodges offer star beds, night drives, and visits to the Painted Dog Conservation Centre—an inspiring story of anti-poaching and community-led science.

• Where to stay: Explore safari lodges and bush homes near Main Camp and private concessions via VRBO Hwange or compare hotels/lodges on Hotels.com Hwange.
• Travel from Victoria Falls: Morning road transfer 2.5–4 hours depending on your lodge; shared shuttles run about $50–$90 per person, private 4x4 from ~$180–$250 per vehicle. Small-plane hops are sometimes available; check Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights for schedule options.
• Fun fact: Hwange’s life-giving waterholes are maintained by solar and diesel pumps—an early conservation innovation that still shapes migration patterns today.

Day 5 — Transfer to Hwange and First Game Drive

Morning: Depart Victoria Falls after breakfast for Hwange. Keep binoculars handy—giraffe and elephant often appear roadside as you approach the park.

Afternoon: Check into your lodge and settle in with lunch on the deck. Your first game drive rolls out around 3:30–4:00 p.m.; scan acacia clearings for roan antelope and watch for lion tracks etched in the sand.

Evening: Sundowners at a pan as elephants materialize from the treeline. Back at camp, savor a braai under the Milky Way—think boerewors, maize meal, and smoky chakalaka. Nightcaps by the fire and a chorus of scops-owls.

Day 6 — Big Game, Hides, and Painted Dogs

Morning: Dawn wake-up coffee with rusks, then a long game drive to iconic viewpoints like Nyamandlovu Platform. Cheetah favor open vleis; wildebeest and zebra stream to water as light sharpens.

Afternoon: After brunch and a siesta, visit the Painted Dog Conservation Centre near Main Camp (education center and rehabilitation stories). Alternately, settle into a photographic hide to capture low-angle shots of elephant feet and dust clouds.

Evening: Night drive if your lodge offers it—spot the ruby eye-shine of genets, or with luck, a leopard slinking along the road verge. Dinner features game fillet or veggie stew with sadza; pair it with a South African pinotage or a crisp Chenin.

Day 7 — Dawn Walk and Departure

Morning: Optional guided bush walk to learn tracks and bird calls—lilac-breasted rollers, hornbills, and the far-off sawing of a leopard. Quick breakfast, then depart by road back to Victoria Falls (2.5–4 hours) for your afternoon flight.

Afternoon: Fly out of VFA. Search options on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights. If time allows, squeeze in a last espresso at Shearwater Café and pick up a carved soapstone memento.

Daily Eats & Sips Cheat Sheet (Victoria Falls)

• Coffee/Breakfast: Shearwater Café (espresso, omelets), The Lookout Café (gorge views, eggs Benedict), The River Brew Co. bakery window (grab-and-go).
• Lunch: The Three Monkeys (wood-fired pizza, salads), The Palm at Ilala Lodge (bream, Zambezi curry), Shearwater (burgers, wraps).
• Dinner: Dusty Road Township Experience (traditional Zimbabwean), The Eatery by Pure Africa (riverfront set menus), The Boma (buffet plus drum show), MaKuwa-Kuwa at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (game mains with waterhole views).

What It Costs (Typical Ranges)

• Helicopter flight: ~$175–$220 per person for 12–15 minutes.
• Zambezi dinner cruise: ~$70–$100 per person including dinner and drinks.
• Falls guided tour (both sides): ~$60–$120 per person plus national park fees.
• Chobe day trip: ~$160–$195 per person, including transfers and park fees (visa rules vary by nationality).
• Road transfer VFA ↔ Hwange: ~$50–$90 shared pp; private from ~$180–$250 per vehicle.

When to Go

• Victoria Falls: Peak flow Mar–May (most dramatic spray, some viewpoints drench-worthy). Lower flow Sep–Nov (clearer rock formations; certain activities like Devil’s Pool operate in low water on the Zambia side).
• Hwange: Best wildlife concentration Jul–Oct (dry season, animals crowd waterholes). Green season Nov–Mar brings birding bonanzas and dramatic skies.

Summary: In one week, you’ll stand in the spray of one of the world’s great natural wonders, drift down the Zambezi at sunset, and safari through Hwange’s elephant country. This Zimbabwe itinerary balances thrill and tranquility—leaving you with memory-card-filling vistas and stories for years.