Zimbabwe is a land of superlatives—home to Mosi-oa-Tunya, “the smoke that thunders,” and one of Africa’s most wildlife-rich national parks, Hwange. The country’s story stretches from Great Zimbabwe’s stone cities to modern conservation triumphs, and its people are famously welcoming. Expect big skies, bigger smiles, and the drama of the Zambezi River carving a gorge you can hear before you see.

Victoria Falls is the crown jewel, a UNESCO World Heritage site best experienced from walking trails, the historic bridge, and even by helicopter. Pair the Falls with Hwange’s flour-scented Kalahari sands and teeming waterholes, where giant elephant herds and tawny lions reign. This 7-day itinerary balances bucket-list moments with unhurried time in the bush.

Practical notes: Most travelers use US dollars for payments. A KAZA Univisa (when available) allows multiple entries between Zimbabwe and Zambia and day trips to Botswana—check eligibility at arrival. The Zambezi runs high Feb–May (thundering Falls, more spray) and lower Aug–Dec (clearer views, Devil’s Pool on the Zambian side); Hwange’s peak game viewing is June–Oct as wildlife crowds waterholes.

Victoria Falls

Called Mosi-oa-Tunya by the Kololo—“the smoke that thunders”—Victoria Falls dazzles with 15 viewpoints along rainforest paths and a mist that creates constant rainbows. The heritage Victoria Falls Bridge (1905) links Zimbabwe and Zambia over the roaring gorge, where birds of prey ride thermals.

• Top sights: Rainforest walkways to Main Falls, Devil’s Cataract, and Danger Point; the Victoria Falls Bridge; Zambezi River cruises; helicopter “Flight of Angels.”
• Vibes & eats: From township-style feasts at Dusty Road to river-view sundowners at The Lookout Café and craft beers at River Brewing Co., the food scene is flavorful and fun.
• Good to know: Park entry fees apply; expect to get mist-soaked—bring a light rain jacket and lens wipe. Morning light is gorgeous; late afternoon brings golden spray rainbows.

Stay near the Falls for easy access and sunset strolls: browse VRBO Victoria Falls stays or compare hotels on Hotels.com Victoria Falls.

Getting here: Fly into Victoria Falls (VFA). Search fares on Trip.com flights or compare on Kiwi.com. Typical routings connect via Johannesburg, Nairobi, or Addis Ababa; expect 12–20 total hours from North America/Europe, with fares often $700–1,300 roundtrip depending on season.

Day 1: Arrive to the Smoke That Thunders

Afternoon (arrival): Land at VFA and transfer 25 minutes into town. Check in and stretch your legs at the Elephant’s Walk craft market, where you can browse Shona stone sculpture and recycled-metal art. If energy allows, walk to the statue of David Livingstone near the park entrance for a first listen to the thunder.

Evening: Toast your first night with a Zambezi dinner cruise—wildlife on the banks, soft light on the water, and dinner on board. Book the Dinner Cruise on the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls (often includes drinks and hotel transfers; plan ~3 hours).

Post-cruise, sample local lager or craft brews like the Painted Dog Pale Ale at River Brewing Co.

Where to eat today: Light lunch at Shearwater Café (great smoothies and peri-peri chicken wraps). After your cruise, cap the night with a slice at The Three Monkeys or a shared skillet cookie for dessert.

Day 2: The Falls—Both Sides + “Flight of Angels”

Morning: Fuel up with eggs Benedict and a flat white at Shearwater Café, then set out on the Zimbabwe & Zambia: Guided Tour of the Falls from Both Sides.

Your guide leads you to 15+ viewpoints, sharing geology and lore. Bring a light poncho and protect your camera—spray can be heavy in high-water months. Note: You’ll need valid visas; when available, the KAZA Univisa streamlines crossings.

Afternoon: Lunch at The Lookout Café for grilled bream tacos or game skewers with cliff-edge views into Batoka Gorge (watch for black eagles). Pop into the Victoria Falls Hotel for a peek at colonial-era photos, then enjoy scones and jam at Stanley’s Terrace if you fancy an old-school high tea.

Evening: Take the classic “Flight of Angels”—a 12–13 minute helicopter ride that reveals the full curtain of water, zigzagging gorge, and rainforest canopy. Book the Helicopter Scenic Flight over Victoria Falls 12-13 minutes Flight.

Wrap up with dinner at Dusty Road Township Experience: sadza (maize), beef stew, and if you’re adventurous, mopane worms—served in a colorful, community-driven space.

Day 3: Optional Cross-Border Big Game—Chobe Day Safari

Full-day: Many travelers choose a Botswana add-on from Victoria Falls for legendary river-and-land game viewing. Consider the Chobe Full Day Trip From Victoria Falls—a morning boat safari (elephants swimming, crocs basking) and an afternoon game drive (lions, sable, buffalo).

Border formalities are handled en route; bring your passport and confirm visa requirements. Return by early evening.

Alternate in-town day: If you’d prefer to stay in Zimbabwe, walk the bridge for gorge views, try a gentle canopy tour, or unwind by your lodge waterhole at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, where vultures and marabou storks gather at feeding time. Dinner at MaKuwa-Kuwa pairs venison with sunset over a busy pan.

Hwange National Park

Zimbabwe’s largest reserve, Hwange is a mosaic of teak forest, open savanna, and pumped pans that draw vast herds late in the dry season. It’s famed for its huge elephants, relaxed giraffe, rare sable antelope, and lion prides whose roars stitch the night.

• Top experiences: Dawn and dusk game drives, waterhole hides for quiet “eye-level” encounters, guided bush walks in private concessions, and stargazing under inky, Milky Way skies.
• Conservation stop: Painted Dog Conservation Centre near Main Camp, a powerful look at protecting Africa’s most endangered canid.
• Stay & dine: Safari lodges excel at al fresco meals—think brunch overlooking Ngweshla or lantern-lit dinners by a pan with elephants ghosting through the dark.

Base yourself at a lodge inside the park or along its northern boundary for quick access to prime pans (Ngweshla, Kennedy, Shumba, Masuma). Compare stays on VRBO Hwange and Hotels.com Hwange.

Getting there from Victoria Falls: It’s a 2.5–3.5 hour road transfer (roughly 180 km) to Main Camp/nearby lodges; expect ~$60–100 per person shared, or $180–250 private. Charter hops (±40 minutes) may be arranged to remote concessions; check with your lodge. For broader flight options, see Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com.

Day 4: Transfer to Hwange + First Game Drive

Morning: Depart Victoria Falls after breakfast for Hwange. Keep eyes peeled—elephants and kudu sometimes graze near the highway. Check into your lodge and settle into your tented suite or chalet with a view of a pan.

Afternoon: Head out on your first game drive. In the dry months, Kennedy and Ngweshla pans brim with life: zebra, sable, wildebeest, and elephant families jostling for space. Your guide will decode tracks—lion vs. hyena, civet vs. genet.

Evening: Return for a lantern-lit dinner. Many lodges serve Zimbabwean favorites—sadza, braaied meats, and pumpkin leaves in peanut sauce. Listen for the far-carrying, saw-like call of a black-backed jackal before bed.

Day 5: Dawn Patrol, Painted Dogs, and Golden Hour

Morning: Pre-dawn coffee by the fire, then roll out as the bush wakes. Look for lion spoor on sandy tracks and bat-eared foxes trotting home. Birders should scan for lilac-breasted rollers and secretary birds striding the grass.

Afternoon: Visit the Painted Dog Conservation Centre (near Main Camp) to learn about anti-poaching work and pack dynamics. Picnic at a shaded platform—Ngweshla is a favorite—watching elephants rotate through the water like clockwork.

Evening: Sundowners at a hide as the sky turns apricot. Giraffe kneel awkwardly to drink; hippos yawn impossibly wide. A hearty stew and malva pudding back at camp cap the day.

Day 6: Walk the Wild + Night Drive

Morning: Join an armed guide for a bush walk in a private concession (conditions permitting). Learn about “reading the bush”—alarm calls, midden sites, and how wind carries scent. Walking shifts your perspective from “seeing animals” to “understanding habitat.”

Afternoon: Siesta time, then a slow cruise linking Masuma and Shumba hides. In late dry season, watch elephants democratically take turns, matriarchs nudging calves forward.

Evening: Night drive with a red-filtered spotlight to reduce disturbance. Seek out civet, genet, springhare, and maybe the glinting eyes of a leopard on patrol. Celebrate with a star talk—Scorpius tail arcing toward the horizon, the Southern Cross pointing south.

Day 7: Farewell to the Bush + Departure

Morning: One last dawn drive—your best final chance for cats. Enjoy a brunch spread back at camp. Pack with dusty satisfaction.

Afternoon (departure): Road transfer back to Victoria Falls (or onward to Hwange Airport if chartering). Most international flights depart late afternoon/evening via Johannesburg; find options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you have a few extra hours in town, grab a last Zambezi lager and wood-fired pizza at The Three Monkeys before the airport.

Victoria Falls Food & Drink Cheat Sheet

• Breakfast/coffee: Shearwater Café (smoothies, espresso, eggs Benedict); The Three Monkeys (shakshuka, iced coffee); Stanley’s Terrace for leisurely pastries with bridge views.
• Lunch: The Lookout Café (bream tacos, gorge view); Three Monkeys (wood-fired pizza, burgers); Lola’s Tapas & Bar (snacks and sangria-style coolers).
• Dinner: Dusty Road Township Experience (Zimbabwean home-style plates); MaKuwa-Kuwa at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (venison and sunset over a waterhole); The Boma Dinner & Drum Show (interactive drumming, game meat tasting, face painting—festive and family-friendly).
• Drinks: River Brewing Co. (craft beers, live music nights); Pariah State (cocktails, lively patio).

Costs, Timing & Tips

• Park fees: Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe side) typically ~$50 adult; Zambia side ~$20; Hwange entry ~$20 per day for international visitors (subject to change).
• Activities (ballpark): Zambezi dinner cruise ~$75–95; helicopter flight (12–13 min) ~$165–190; guided Falls (both sides) ~$70–100 plus visas; Chobe day trip ~$160–190 including lunch.
• Best seasons: Falls fullest Feb–May; clearest views Aug–Dec. Hwange wildlife peaks June–Oct. Shoulder months (May/June, Nov) can be superb with fewer crowds.
• What to pack: Neutral clothing, light rain layer, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, closed-toe shoes, binoculars, soft-sided duffel for charters.
• Money & connectivity: USD cash is handy; many lodges take cards. Local SIMs (Econet) offer reliable data in towns; lodges may have spotty Wi‑Fi.

Included Viator Experiences in This Itinerary

• Dinner Cruise on the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls

  

• Zimbabwe & Zambia: Guided Tour of the Falls from Both Sides

  

• Helicopter Scenic Flight over Victoria Falls 12-13 minutes Flight

  

• Chobe Full Day Trip From Victoria Falls

  

Where to stay links (use these to compare options): Victoria Falls: VRBO | Hotels.com • Hwange: VRBO | Hotels.com

In one week, you’ll feel the Zambezi’s spray on your skin, hear elephants rumble at dusk, and see the stars burn like coals above Hwange. Zimbabwe rewards curiosity—linger at a waterhole, ask your guide about tracks, and say yes to one more sunset. You’ll leave with memory cards full and a promise to return.