FROM VICTORIA FALLS TO THE INDIAN OCEAN

The mighty Zambezi River flows from Lake Kariba through the Lower Zambezi Valley. Over the millennia the Zambezi has rushed through this valley creating islands, channels and sandbanks. Old river meanders, left in the mineral-rich volcanic soils, have formed into small ox-bow lakes surrounded by lush vegetation and tall old trees such as mahoganies and ebonies. This abundance of water and luxuriant greenery accounts for the valley's wealth of big game.

The area is renowned for large numbers of elephant, buffalo, hippo and eland, especially in the dry season when they concentrate along the river.
Predators are regularly sighted and the birdlife is superb.
Mana Pools is best known for its walking and canoe safari through the network of islands that line the river. The game is very relaxed about people on foot and the close encounters with elephant, hippo, crocodile and lion and excellent guides make Mana Pools one of Africa’s best national parks for walking safaris and one of its most exciting safari destinations.

Accommodation: Little Vundu or Ruckomechi

Flowers, shrubs and trees are in abundance and when the jacaranda trees are in full bloom (September and October) the city is full of purple blooms. There are various places of interest to explore, such as the Botanical Gardens which have more than 900 species of trees and shrubs from all over the country.

The National Gallery has Shona soft stone carvings as well as exhibits from all over the world whilst the National Archives houses notebooks, diaries and more from some of the most famous African explorers.
Zimbabwe is known for its beautiful craft work and a fun way to spend an afternoon is browsing through the curio stalls admiring the basketry, carvings and intricate beadwork on offer.

Accommodation: Amanzi

The ruins have been the subject of heated debate over the years from the early Europeans believing Africans could not have built them to Cecil Rhodes attributing the ruins to the Phoenicians. Historians believe that the first structures were erected around AD1100 and these were added to up until the 15th century with the purpose being more religious and political rather than for fortification.

The city was developed over the years as a tribute to a long succession of rulers whose kingdom stretched far and wide and was situated at a key trading position which lead to great wealth.
At its peak it is thought to have been home to some 18,000 people who traded in cloth, beads and ceramics from Arabia and China, via traders from East Africa, for gold, ivory and copper.

Accommodation: Norma Jean's Chalets or Lodge at the Ancient City

It borders South Africa's Kruger National Park and Mozambique's vast Limpopo National Park. Together these three huge parks go to make up a truly vast wild area, and what is now known as the The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. In total, this covers around 35,000km², an area similar to the size of the Netherlands!
As a result of the park’s isolation from main tourist routes, there is minimal development within the park and herein lies its biggest attraction – thousands of square kilometres of pristine wilderness.
It is an extremely scenic park comprising some of the most rugged and beautiful landscapes to be found anywhere in Southern Africa.

The dominating features of the park are the incised sandstone Chilojo Cliffs, rocky basalt gorges, extensive Mopane woodland, riverine floodplains and wide sweeping sand rivers.
If you want to tick off the Big Five, then Gonarezhou is not the place for you (there are no rhino) and it is the quality of each wildlife sighting that by far makes up for the overall quantity of game which is not as high as other parks in the region. Highlights of the Gonarezhou experience include watching herds of elephant and many of the largest-tusked elephants in the region are found within the park. In addition, you may see lion, leopard and even painted hunting dogs if you’re lucky, as well as the usual antelopes, mongooses and other mammals…but this is real Africa - not served on a plate but searched for, tracked and enjoyed on foot.
Owing to the limited road infrastructure, walking is the best way to explore the park. In addition to walking you can enjoy game drives, fishing (mainly fly fishing for tiger and several species of tilapia) and fly camping.

Accommodation: Gonarezhou Bush Camp or Pamushana

Stretching for 300km down the eastern side of Zimbabwe, bordering Mozambique, are the Eastern Highlands – the combined name for three ranges of hills and mountains – the rolling countryside and tea plantations of the Nyanga range; the granite peaks of the Chimanimani Mountains; and the green meadows and the coffee plantations of the Bvumba range.
These areas are sparsely populated, making it a peaceful place to visit. It enjoys a cool climate providing relief from the higher temperatures of the lower lands.

Hidden within the rolling landscape are great little places to stay, beautiful scenic drives, fantastic walking trails and magnificent sights.
Distances here are small, but differences in landscapes are great.
South of Nyanga National Park, the botanical gardens at La Rochelle are en route to Mutare, the region's centre, just off the spectacular Christmas Pass. South of the town are the luxuriant cloud-forests of the Bvumba Mountains, which have views into Mozambique. The Bvumba Botanical Gardens are a very special attraction, commanding fantastic views and offering gentle walks into the surrounding valleys. This Bvumba area is also known for its soft cheeses and fine coffee, so the delicious food found here is no surprise.

Accommodation: Genaina Guesthouse or Leopard Rock

In the 1970s, Gorongosa was regarded as one of the finest game viewing destinations in Africa, with a great diversity of wildlife, a large populations of herbivores and especially lion and higher numbers of game than the Kruger National Park. During the seventeen year civil war that ended in 1992, the park's wildlife was decimated, both by armed guerrillas in search of food and people trying to hide from the conflict.
Since 1995, an American philanthropist has been working with the government to restore the reserve to its former glory, both from a conservation perspective and as a way of improving the lives and prospects of local people. All of the species that made the park such a draw are still present and on a recent visit to Gorongosa in 2010, we were impressed with the wildlife we saw.

There are lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, zebra and an array of antelope that includes sable, reedbuck, nyala and Lichtenstein's hartebeest. You are not guaranteed to see these animals, but the park is incredibly diverse, scenic and wild, a genuine taste of authentic Africa that can be explored on foot or by vehicle.
The landscapes and ecosystems in Gorongosa are the most diverse of any park in Africa - with open savanna dotted with acacia trees, dry forests in sandy areas, flood plains seasonally filled by the rains and nearby Mt. Gorongosa with miombo and montane forests and a spectacular rainforest at the bottom of a series of limestone gorges.
While there are currently only two camps in the park, there are plans for building 6-7 lodges in the next 2-3 years. Therefore, one of the attractions of visiting Gorongosa now is to be able to experience this stunning place before the crowds start to move back in.

Accommodation: Explore Gorongosa

The Bazaruto Archipelago consists of five untouched and idyllic dune islands, strung out in the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and ringed by white-sandy beaches so fine they squeak underfoot. Palm trees give way to lush vegetation and tucked away are little villages, shaded beneath orange and cashew nut trees.
The surrounding waters are filled with some of Africa's most unspoiled coral reefs and are easily explored with a snorkel and mask or by scuba diving. Warmed by the waters of the Mozambique Stream, the waters are clear with mile upon mile of reefs. It is hard to beat the diving and snorkelling in Bazaruto, as the coral is pristine and fish life superb. You will find three species of turtle, including the loggerhead and leatherback turtles that nest on the islands, while the endangered dugong are also seen. Several dolphin species as whale sharks are resident in the archipelago and humpback whales are seasonally sighted between June and September along the coastline as they move between their feeding and breeding grounds.

At Benguerra Island, the second largest island in the Bazaruto Archipelago, it is difficult to escape the age-old rhythms of Africa, the heady sense of history. There's the legacy of Portuguese carracks, trading dhows bearing slaves and ivory to the East and whispered legends of the Queen of Sheba's Ophir pearls. Each day you'll be reminded of the Archipelago's colourful past as fishermen pole their beautiful dhows - a sight unaltered in centuries - out to catch the wind. The locals continue to live a laid-back island lifestyle. And late at night you may hear the pulse of distant drums... In addition to the island's pristine beaches it also has forest, savannah and wetland eco-systems, which sustain a diverse population of flora and fauna.
The Vilanculos Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary forms the southernmost portion of the beautiful San Sabastião Peninsula in the south of the Bazaruto Archipelago. Attached to the Mozambican mainland, this is a site that offers ideal conditions for experienced divers. The reefs are much deeper than the regular Bazaruto sites (down to 30 metres) and have spectacular corals. The powder white beaches and crystal clear water are host to a magnificent array of fish, dolphin, turtles and dugong. In addition to snorkeling and diving, the area offers excellent deep-sea game fishing of marlin and barracuda. Furthermore, the Sanctuary’s mosaic of bush and wetland is a heavenly place for birds whose diversity in this area is remarkable.

Accommodation: Nyati Beach Lodge or Benguerra Lodge

Enjoy a last day on the beach before a boat transfer or short helicopter flight takes you to Vilanculos, from where a plane will take you to Johannesburg for your onward journey or your flight back home.