Southern Africa Safari

Duration

9 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Comfortable

Physical Rating

Light

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

On this nine-day wildlife journey, you’ll explore the epic game parks of Southern Africa. Start in Victoria Falls, where in your free time, you can experience the thunderous falls however you like.

Highlights

Explore Kruger National Park for an unforgettable experience, where lions, elephants, and rhinos roam freely amid stunning natural beauty.
Spend time at the headquarters of the world's first all-female anti-poaching unit, the Black Mambas. Visit their operations room and learn how they patrol park boundaries, dismantle poachers' snares, and manage roadblocks.
See the huge elephant populations of Hwange National Park on a 4WD game drive. This national park is also home to lots of other wildlife, with over 100 species of mammals!
Track rhinos on foot with an expert local guide in Matobo National Park – an exhilarating way to experience the animals of Zimbabwe. Then, see some of the ancient rock paintings here and learn about the local San people.
Explore the World Heritage site of Mapungubwe National Park, where the ancient ruins of a once-thriving kingdom meet stunning landscapes of baobab trees and sandstone cliffs. Then, head out on a night safari to spot nocturnal wildlife in a private game reserve next door.

Trip Details

Duration

9 days

Transportation

Overland Vehicle,4WD Safari Vehicle

Tour Type

Small Group

Guide Language

English

Starts

Victoria Falls, South Africa

Finishes

Johannesburg, South Africa

Accommodations

Comfortable

Travel Style

Physical Rating

Light

Itinerary

Day 1: Victoria Falls

Mhoro! Welcome to Zimbabwe. Your adventure begins in Victoria Falls, known traditionally as Mosi-oa-Tunya or ‘The Smoke that Thunders’. When you arrive, you’ll be met by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. You’ll then have a welcome meeting at the hotel at 6 pm. If you arrive early, maybe check out this incredible natural wonder your own way or visit the Shearwater Adventures activity centre to book an optional activity. You could even book a scenic helicopter flight over the falls! After the meeting, maybe get to know your group better over an optional welcome dinner.

Included Activities:

Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer (shared)

Accommodation:

(Number of Nights: 1)

Day 2: Hwange National Park

Depart Victoria Falls and travel to Hwange National Park. This afternoon, head out on a game drive in 4WDs to explore the park’s diverse landscapes and wildlife. Hwange is the largest national park in Zimbabwe and was designated as such in 1929, after previously serving as the royal hunting grounds of Ndebele warrior-king Mzilikazi in the early 19th century. The park is renowned for its elephants—one of the largest populations in the world—as well as an impressive variety of wildlife, including over 100 mammal species and nearly 400 types of birds.

Included Activities:

Hwange National Park - Guided 4x4 Game Drive
Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust (The Intrepid Foundation partner) visit

Accommodation:

(Number of Nights: 1)

Day 3: Matobo National Park

Leave Hwange as you make tracks for Matobo National Park. Along the way, you’ll stop at the Painted Dog Conservation Centre. Learn how the loss of quality habitats and poaching are driving the painted dogs towards extinction, and how the centre protects painted dogs and the Hwange ecosystem. After, it's onto Bulawayo – Zimbabwe's second-largest city. Take a stroll through the streets and stop in at a local restaurant for lunch. Continue to Matobo, where you'll spend the next two nights. The rocks balanced in Matobo Hills are thought to be the seats of God and ancestral spirits. The park is home to the grave of Cecil John Rhodes, founder of Rhodesia and the De Beers diamond company, and is especially known for its rhino population.

Included Activities:

Hwange - Painted Dog Conservation visit

Accommodation:

(Number of Nights: 1)

Day 4: Matobo National Park

Enjoy an unforgettable day of tracking rhinos on foot with your local guides. You'll learn about the local plants and trees and their traditional uses, and there'll be plenty of chances to spot wildlife other than rhinos. The park is home to leopards, hippos, antelope and more! Learn about the San people who have called this area home for thousands of years and visit their rock paintings in the hills. Spend some time in the nearby villages to meet some of the local community before returning to your lodge for the evening.

Included Activities:

Matobo National Park - Rhino Tracking

Accommodation:

(Number of Nights: 1)

Day 5: Mapungubwe National Park

Say goodbye to Zimbabwe and cross the border into South Africa. Your bush lodge for tonight sits inside Mapesu Private Game Reserve – a 12,500 hectares property surrounded by unique sandstone formations, woodlands and wildlife. The reserve focuses on biodiversity, conservation and the protection and reintroduction of species including efforts specifically on endangered animals. When you arrive, have dinner here with your group and watch the night sky come alive with stars.

Accommodation:

(Number of Nights: 1)

Day 6: Mapungubwe National Park

Today, you’ll explore Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site – home to South Africa’s most significant Iron Age site. Visit the 13th-century grave site on Mapungubwe Hill, which contains ornaments, jewellery, bowls and amulets covered in gold foil. The most spectacular of these pieces is a small, gold-covered rhinoceros. Apartheid kept this discovery a secret as the regime attempted to suppress any historical information that proved black cultural sophistication. Later, you have free time to relax at the lodge or you can take an optional game drive in through the park. Tonight, you’ll head out on a night safari in Mapesu Private Game Reserve. Look out for bush babies (galagos), bushpigs, hyenas, genets and tiny chameleons – all of which don’t come out much during the day. Maybe you’ll even get lucky and encounter a leopard!

Included Activities:

Mapesu Private Game Reserve - Night Safari
Mapungubwe - Heritage & Museum Tour

Accommodation:

(Number of Nights: 1)

Day 7: Kruger National Park

Wake up early this morning and drive to Greater Kruger National Park, stopping at the Black Mambas headquarters along the way - the world’s first all-female anti-poaching unit made up of courageous African women. With support from the Intrepid Foundation, the Black Mambas are challenging the norms of a male-dominated field and taking an unconventional approach to protecting Kruger National Park’s wildlife. Learn how they patrol the park’s boundaries, run roadblocks, and dismantle snares left by poachers, before stepping inside their operations room for a special behind-the-scenes look.

Included Activities:

Kruger - Visit to Black Mambas HQ

Accommodation:

(Number of Nights: 1)

Day 8: Kruger National Park

Start the day early and head into Kruger National Park – one of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa and home to over 500 bird species, 100 species of reptile and 150 mammal species including all the big cats. Your wildlife experience begins as soon as you enter the park, as you're taken into prime viewing areas. Enjoy a picnic breakfast here before spending the rest of the day wildlife-spotting in the park, watching game, birds and stopping at various waterholes as you go. The group will leave the park in the late afternoon and return to the lodge for another relaxed evening.

Included Activities:

Kruger National Park - Full Day 4WD Safari

Accommodation:

(Number of Nights: 1)

Day 9: Johannesburg

Enjoy the scenic route back to Johannesburg filled with beautiful views of stunning landscape. Along the way, you’ll visit the breathtaking Three Rondawels Viewpoint and the impressive Bourke's Luck Potholes, perfect stops to break up the drive and enjoy the scenery. When you arrive in Johannesburg, your adventure comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay here, and it’s recommended that you do, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.

Included Activities:

Panorama Route - Bourke's Luck Potholes
Panorama Route - Three Rondawels

Exclusions

Flights to and from origin and destinations
Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
Recommended gratuities/tipping
Optional activities/tours
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.

Important Information

Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We willdo our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an Average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling. (Note: I assume each tour has a different description depending on level of fitness required).

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.

Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.

AUD $6,930

(Tour only)

Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 9 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Light

On this nine-day wildlife journey, you’ll explore the epic game parks of Southern Africa. Start in Victoria Falls, where in your free time, you can experience the thunderous falls however you like.

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 28 Mar 2026

View Map

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

Book Now