Pandamatenga To Vilankulo Expedition

DAY 01:

The group meet this afternoon at Panda Rest Camp. There will be time for final preparations to be ready for the exceptional route that we will drive over the next two weeks through Zimbabwe.

Set up camp for the night.

Enjoy a group Braai Dinner at the lodge tonight.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Panda Rest Camp
Meals: Group Dinner at the lodge/campsite (drinks excluding)

DAY 02:

After a steaming cup of coffee, we must pack up and depart for the border. An early morning start is necessary as we want to reach our Wild Caping spot enroute to Matusadona National Park in Zimbabwe before sunset.

We will cross the border at Pandamatenga border post going into Zimbabwe, this is a small border post. It is a quiet, rural checkpoint on a gravel road, a passage through a vast, unfenced wilderness that is a major wildlife corridor. This border is primarily used by safari operators, 4×4 adventurers, and the local farming communities. The atmosphere is one of a remote bush outpost, a world away from the busy tourist hubs of Kasane and Victoria Falls. For the adventurous traveller with a suitable vehicle, this is an off-the-beaten-path route that connects the less-visited parts of Chobe National Park in Botswana with the vast Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe.

Today we have a long drive ahead of us so we will make a quick stop in Hwange town to grab something to eat, fill up Fuel and buy some stock, meat, fresh produce, drinks and wood for the next few nights camping.

We will head towards Matusadona National Park and set up camp our wild camp base for the night at a local community primary school.

Group members will all prepare their own meals tonight. We plan to make a communal fire if possible and you are all welcome to prepare your dinner around the fire!

O/N Camping: Wild Camping
Meals: No meals and drinks

DAY 03:

From our wild campsite we will travel east towards Matusadona National Park where we will spend the next two nights at the main camp Tashinga.

Flanked by Lake Kariba in the north, and two perennial rivers, the Ume and the Sanyati, this remote, rugged park presents enormous potential for wildlife sightings. Matusadona National Park was proclaimed a non-hunting area in 1958 and as such is wonderfully rich in wildlife and vegetation. We will set up camp for the evening.

Group members will all prepare their own meals tonight.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Tashinga Campsite, Matusadona NP
Meals: No meals and drinks

DAY 04:

Spend the day at leisure in the park to relax or enjoy a game drive in your own vehicle.

Later, our group will enjoy a cruise on lake Kariba.

Group members will all prepare their own meals tonight.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Tashinga Campsite, Matusadona NP
Meals: No meals and drinks

DAY 05:

We will pack-up and travel to the town of Kariba, where we will overnight at the Warthog Safari Camp campsite.

We head for the Mhofu Ferry departing Changa/Spurwing to Kariba. We will be using 3 ferries to get all our vehicles across the border. Travel time – Kariba to Changa/Spurwing – approximately 3½-4 hours (depending on weather/lake conditions) – one way.

The town of Kariba was built at the site of the hydro-electric dam in the Zambezi River, which is a focus for tourism. It’s a gateway to Lake Kariba, known for its houseboats, hippos and tiger fish. In Kariba Heights, a lookout offers panoramic views of the lake. Nearby, the circular Chapel of Santa Barbara has a memorial to workers who died during the construction of the Kariba Dam in the 1950s.
On arrival we will check in and set up camp.
Enjoy dinner at Warthog Safari Camp.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Warthog Safari Camp, Kariba (possible upgrade to rooms)
Meals: Dinner and Breakfast at the lodge (drinks excluded)

DAY 06:

Enjoy breakfast at Warthog Safari Camp. Before packing up camp and departing.

Today, after a supply stop in Kariba, we make our way to Mana pools. Mana Pools National Park is in the far north of Zimbabwe. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Mana Pools offers 2,500 km² of untouched nature to explore. Home to over 100 mammal species, and more than 450 bird species, it has the highest concentration of hippos and crocodiles in the country. Large populations of elephant, hippo and Nile crocodile gather at sunrise in the Long Pool. In the park’s south, lions wait for prey around the waterhole at Chitake Spring. We will spend two nights camping in the park and explore during the day.

Group members will all prepare their own meals tonight.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Nyamepi campsite, Mana Pools
Meals: No meals and drinks

DAY 07:

Today is at leisure to explore Mana Pools!

Group members will all prepare their own meals tonight.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Nyamepi campsite, Mana Pools
Meals: No meals and drinks

DAY 08:

We will say our farewell to this beautiful park and head south. We will stop at Lion’s Den about 25 km outside Chinhoyi Caves to buy good quality meat for tonight and the last few nights camping in Gonarezhou National Park.

We will enjoy a light lunch at Lion’s Den, our overnight camping spot.

Group members will all prepare their own meals tonight.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Lion’s Den
Meals: Light Lunch (drinks excluded)

DAY 09:

Enjoy a breakfast roll from Lion’s Den for breakfast and pack up camp.

We will depart towards Masvingo and the Great Zimbabwe Hotel.

The Great Zimbabwe Ruins are Africa's largest stone structure after the Egyptian pyramids and the most splendid ancient monuments in sub-Saharan Africa. These impressive monuments are 900 years old and are from where the country of Zimbabwe took its name. The Great Zimbabwe Hotel is located only 800m away from this historic man-made marvel in a relatively remote place, which adds to its mystery and magic.

Enjoy a group dinner at the Great Zimbabwe Hotel.

O/N Rooms: Double Rooms at the Great Zimbabwe Hotel, Masvingo
Meals: Dinner and breakfast at the hotel (drinks excluded)

DAY 10:

Enjoy a group breakfast at your hotel.

Check out and depart. We will stop in Masvingo to refuel as well as stock up on food and drinks for the three nights camping and self-catering accommodation in Gonarezhou National Park.

Gonarezhou, “The Place of Elephants “, is Zimbabwe’s second-largest national park and one of its most famed wilderness areas. Stretching over 5,053 km², some 1.25 million acres, from the Save River in the north to the Mwenezi River in the south, the park is home to some of the most spectacular landscapes in southern Africa – including the iconic Chilojo Cliffs.

Gonarezhou National Park is a wilderness area and accommodation facilities are unfenced; guests should take necessary precautions.

Group members will all prepare their own meals tonight.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Chinguli, Gonarezhou National Park
Meals: No meals and drinks

DAY 11:

Today you are at leisure to enjoy the Park.

Group members will all prepare their own meals tonight.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Chinguli, Gonarezhou National Park
Meals: No meals and drinks

DAY 12:

We will pack up camp and head south to our self-catering shared houses at Swimuwini. The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the park.

Swimuwini overlooks the epic sweep of the Mwenezi River, fondly known as Buffalo Bend. Swimuwini in the local dialect means “place of the Baobabs”, the place offers a touch of modern luxury in the wild

These are shared houses, and each couple/client has his own bedroom, but communal areas like the lounge, kitchen and bathroom are shared. Each house has a braai stand that can be moved and we will get the camp attendant to assist us to arrange a spot for a group to braai together outside our houses.

Group members will all prepare their own meals tonight.

O/N Self-catering houses: 2-bedroom shared self-catering houses at Swimuwini, Gonarezhou NP
Meals: No meals and drinks

DAY 13:

We will say goodbye to Zimbabwe today and depart for Mozambique.

We might spend some time clearing the Sango/ Chicualacuala border (we estimate 1-2 hours) and then we will travel to our community wild camping spot close to Machaila. Today is a long day on the road.

Group members will all prepare their own meals tonight.

O/N Camping: Wild Camping
Meals: No meals and drinks

DAY 14:

We head to Vilankulo (or Vilankulo) today, a coastal town in Mozambique, lying in the Vilankulo District of Inhambane Province. Vilankulo is named after local tribal chief Gamela Vilankulo Mukoke, and some of the "bairros" are named after his sons. Known as Vilanculos during colonial times, the name was changed to Vilankulo at independence, but most people still use Vilanculos.

With Bazaruto Archipelago and the iconic two-mile reef on its doorstep, the diving and snorkelling in Vilankulo is some of the best in the world. It's a small town with a compact town centre, lots of beach resorts and hotels. An optional day visit to Bazaruto or Benguerra Island with a scheduled day tour is an option, this is additional and for your own account.

Group members will all prepare their own meals tonight.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Jan 5* campsite, Vilankulo
Meals: No meals and drinks

DAY 15:

The day is at leisure to relax, enjoy the beach or do an optional activity in the area. An day visit to Bazaruto or Benguerra Island with a scheduled day tour is an option, this must be prebooked at an additional cost and for your own account.

Or enjoy a dhow safari (best at sunset!). Dhows are traditional wooden boats in Mozambique, popular for fishing, but many locals also run dhow trips for tourists. You can head out to one of the nearby reefs and snorkel or you can head out at sunset and just enjoy the views. Some of the fishermen will be happy to take you to Magaruque island, where you might even be lucky enough to see flamingos!

For the fisherman amongst you, if you go early morning to the beach, you’ll see the local fishermen coming back from their fishing trips, unloading a fresh catch of the day. This can be all sorts of seafood/fish and it’s interesting just to watch the locals and see what they bring out.

For the ladies, if you need some me-time, the spa at Bahia Mar Boutique hotel is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Bahia Mar is a stunning little boutique resort with beautiful views of the surrounding area out to the ocean. It has panoramic views of the Bazaruto Archipelago and the resort itself is a great spot for a day of snorkelling or diving before or after your spa treatment.

Enjoy a group dinner tonight at Aquira Negra Lodge, walking distance from our camp.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Jan 5* campsite, Vilankulo
Meals: Dinner at a local restaurant/lodge (Drinks excluded)

DAY 16:

Sadly, it is time to go home. We will say our final goodbyes once we have crossed through the border in to South Africa.

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