Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls is where our adventure starts and it’s easy to see why the Victoria Falls are one of the wonders of the world! The force of the mighty Zambezi River spilling into the gorges is one of the most enthralling sights in the world.
(*) there is time later in our itinerary to go on a helicopter ride to see the falls from the air (available at an additional cost).
Mbano Manor Hotel
Mbano Manor Hotel is an exclusive intimate boutique hotel in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, a short ride from the famous Victoria Falls. This 5-star hotel provides the perfect setting for the first night of our photo tour, after a long travel to get to Zimbabwe and a refreshing tour of the Victoria Falls.
(*) Copyright: Mbano Manor Hotel; this is the only accomodation we have not visited ourselves yet and hence the only photo on our website not shot by us.
Eastern Hwange National Park
Hwange National Park is the largest nature reserve in Zimbabwe and hosts over 100 mammal and 400 bird species, and is home to the Big Five. It provides an unparalleled and wonderful wilderness experience. The area features open grasslands and vleis (valleys), mopane woodlands and seasonal pans. It is known for high concentrations of large herbivores such as elephants and buffalo, and predators like lion and the rare wild dog are commonly sighted in this area as well.
Hwange doesn’t see the numbers of tourists some other African reserves get, so it never gets crowded and it’s rare to see more than one or two other cars at any time. There also is no time limit at sightings, which is great for photography.
We will spend three nights in a private concession at the eastern side of Hwange National Park, with two safari / photography activities per day, giving you many opportunities to hone your photography skills and take your photography to the next level.
Sable Valley Lodge
Sable Valley Lodge consists of 11 thatched rondaval style rooms, situated around a central pool/lounge area. The vibe is intimate, relaxed and boho-chic, with sweeping views of the Dete Vlei from the main lounge area.
The Dete Vlei is home to large herds of elephants and buffalo, and we love photographing the ‘dust and drama’ they bring in the rising sun!
We will go on two gamedrives per day, or can opt for a stay in the underground hide or treehouse terrace. The hide is beautifully appointed with seating, a mini-fridge and most importantly, gorgeous low angle views of the Vlei, giving us unique photographic opportunities. The treehouse, on the other hand, gives great bird’s eye views over the Vlei and is a favourite for pre-dinner drinks!
North-Western Hwange National Park
The North-West of Hwange National Park is more rugged and densely forested and even less touristy than the eastern part of the park, although there is at least as much wildlife. We will be visiting in the green season, so there will be thicker vegetation, especially in this area, and we may have to engage in some active animal tracking, looking for fresh spoor and listening for alarm calls, which always makes for very exciting gamedrives.
We will spend two nights in this area of the park, with two safari/photography activities per day, so plenty of time to get even more wildlife photos.
Camp Chitubu
Located in the northwest corner of Hwange National Park, Camp Chitubu has six luxury safari tents, each with their own deck with stunning views over the pan. We will spend two nights at this beautiful location, with a large Bedouin tent as its main entertainment area, including dining, bar and lounge areas and an open air fire pit.
We will go on two safari activities per day, with the option of going on a walking safari with one of Camp Chitubu’s expert guides. The guides are trained to get the best sightings for photographers and the safari vehicles are customised to maximise the photography experience.
As Camp Chitubu is unfenced, we will be escorted to and from our rooms when the sun goes down. We may even hear the laughing of the hyenas or the territorial call of lions close to camp!
Zambezi National Park
Zambezi National Park is a national park upstream from Victoria Falls, on the Zambezi River, and has a riverine side and a ‘vlei’ (or valley) side. The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including sable antelopes, eland, giraffe, the Big Five, and much more. It is a very scenic reserve, giving us yet more unique photography opportunities and offering magnificent lookouts over the Zambezi river.
We will spend the last two nights of our photo tour on a picturesque island in the middle of the Zambezi River.
Chundu Island
Chundu Island is approximately 1.4 km long and the lodge is built on one end of the island. The main lodge has incredible views of the Zambezi River, and has a lounge, bar, lunch, dinner and swimming pool area. Each of the six suites has a private deck with a day bed and seating area overlooking the river, providing true African tranquility.
We will go on two activities per day at this lodge. For the gamedrives, the barge will take us to the mainland, where we get onboard the customised safari vehicles.
Instead of one of to the ‘traditional’ gamedrives, more adventurous guests can also opt for a guided canoeing safari on the river.
Our last evening here, we will cruise the Zambezi on an open air barge, enjoying drinks and snacks as the sun sets on the horizon – the ultimate way to relax at the end of an adventurous and exciting photo trip.