Spirit of the Zambezi Safari
Best of the Zambezi. Canoeing, walking, top guides, outstanding wildlife in Mana Pools, Matusadona, Victoria Falls and Zambezi National Park.
Victoria Falls, Mana Pools and Matusadona National Parks 
11 days/10 nights
Running 1st classsafaris since 1995
IndependentAfrican experts
99% delivered aspromised or better
On call24 / 7 / 365
The Spirit of the Zambezi
Arguably the best Zambezi safari around for decades. By canoe, foot, vehicle and good wits - but always in the company of best friends. From Mana Pools to Matusadona to Vic Falls. Our traditional and ORIGINAL “Spirit of the Zambezi” safari. It’s been the bare-bones-guts of the best Zambezi trips for 21 years!
- Mana Pools National Park
- Matusadona National Park on Lake Kariba
- Victoria Falls
- Zambezi National Park
- 11 days/10 nights
Highlights of this Zambezi Safari
- 3-night canoeing trip down the Lower Zambezi will take us through the heart of the Mana Pools National Park.
- plane transfer to Musango Island on Lake Kariba and 3 nights shoreline of Matusadona National Park.
- then it’s a light aircraft transfer to Victoria Falls
- 3 nights on the upper Zambezi with a guided tour of Victoria Falls and a sunset cruise on the Upper Zambezi River
- finally a full day-trip to the Chobe National Park in Botswana for a different landscape, new river and more wildlife.
Best time for this gem
- October and November when it’s hot and stormy. But the birding is outstanding with migrant birds
- travel in early December if you’re looking for some of the most abundant new life with no tourists in sight
- January to April - birds, bugs, big beasts and complete abundance with few visitors about - good rains in February (stick to reliable routes)
- May and June - absolute champagne months
- July to September - great game, predictably good warm weather - prime time
- and finally, late September and October - best time for game. Very hot and water is scarce in the bush.
Explore the Zambezi
Paddling Canadian canoes, getting close to wildlife...
Follow in the footsteps of the early explorers and explore the mighty Zambezi river.
This itinerary can be done in reverse it is entirely up to you. Which ever way you decide you are guaranteed the experience of a lifetime!
The Zambezi and Victoria Falls National Parks cover an area an enormous area.
Home to a wide variety of mammals including The Big Five and sable antelope.
The Zambezi River is a major attraction to the animals and tourists alike and the Victoria Falls are quite simply mind blowing.
ItineraryFrom $3690
Day 1 - Mana Pools National Park Meet at the office in Kariba at 7.30 - briefing. Start canoeing stopping for lunch, refreshments en route, setting up camp at 5pm. Campsites are on designated island sites.
Days 2-3 Mana Pools National Park Day starts with tea/coffee and biscuits at sunrise. Pack up camp and set off. stop for breakfast then continue canoeing until lunch and siesta to avoid the midday heat.
Days 4-7 Lake Kariba Transfer to Mana Pools Airstrip for your flight to Bumi Hills where you're met by boat and taken to Musango Safari Camp.Good game watching as you explore Lake Kariba.
Days 8-10 Zambezi National Park Boat transfer back to Bumi Hills airstrip and on to Victoria Falls. Road transfer to Imbabla. Tour the Falls, day trip to Chobe NP for game viewing, time to explore Victoria Falls.
Day 11 - Depart Transfer to Victoria Falls Airport after breakfast, where you will connect to your scheduled flight home.
How to get there
Fly to either Harare, Victoria Falls or Lusaka and transfer from there.
You will start your canoe safari on the Zambezi from Kariba
This trip can be combined with a number of others, and is particularly excellent when done in conjunction with a visit to Victoria Falls and a safari in the Hwange National Park.
Reviews
"Zimbabwe - September: The trip was awesome and, in particular, Blue Footprints was spectacular! We loved it there and highly recommend it, you found a gem there! So many good"
Ron M read more >>" Zambia: We had a fantastic trip thank you very much! We had a very positive booking experience with your company and would recommend this to our friends and colleagues if"
Marie.B read more >>"Zimbabwe July: I had travelled with Zambezi Safari & Travel before but my partner Janet hadn’t. We were both taking early retirement and I wanted to surprise her with something"
Steve and Janet read more >>"Victoria Falls-Hwange-Chobe June-July Everything went like clockwork!! Thank you for organising our trip - we can recommend Zambezi Safari & Safari Co. Ltd to any prospective travellers… From when we"
David S read more >>"My safari booking with Zambezi exceeded my expectations!"
Mike Berlin read more >>"Zimbabwe - September We had a fabulous time in Zimbabwe. Ruckomechi has a great position on the river although not being actually in Mana Pools The variety on offer at"
Barbara C read more >>"Fantastic 3 weeks away in Zimbabwe - Just returned from a fantastic 3 weeks away with so many contrasts and plenty of highs! The arrangements you made (and changed), for"
Tim read more >>"Zimbabwe-October We all had a wonderful time and thank you so much for your expert organization – everything worked like clock work and we were all impressed by Zimbabwe. Can’t"
Nigel P read more >>"Kariba Canoe Safari Zimbabwe Hwange Cape Town in February We had and absolute fabulous time… So glad you were there to help us with the up’s and down’s Thanks again"
Rebecca F read more >>"Look no further! Our experience with the Zambezi Safari and Travel Company was faultless: We were particularly impressed with their detailed knowledge of the country and their attention to detail"
Debbie B read more >>"Zimbabwe-June: Hello Liz, We had a wonderful and memorable trip to Zimbabwe. Your arrangements were impeccable and everything went off like clockwork. As you know this is our 2nd trip"
Venkat R read more >>"Zimbabwe - September We have been pining away for Zimbabwe since we arrived back in the United States. First and foremost, I want to thank you for suggesting and putting"
Joe M read more >>"Canoeing the Lower Zambezi River was mind-blowing! Dear Liz, Yesterday I arrived back home in Germany, but in my mind and in my heart I am still in Africa. It"
Gunther read more >>"Thank you so much for organising such an amazing trip for us Our Aussie friends loved every single second of it and couldn’t believe that each day seemed to get"
J read more >>"Hi Mark, We had a fantastic holiday which went very smoothly and much too fast. Hopefully we can get back there one day! Richard"
Richard and Natasha read more >>"Dear Ang, The trip went well, very well. Every thing was great, more, to be honest, the trip has gone better than I expected. If you want I can describe"
read more >>"We had an incredible trip thank you. Thank you so much for your recommendations they were perfect and just what I was after. Rhino Lodge was truly special, we were"
C Taylor read more >>"Victoria Falls in September: It was an experience of a lifetime. I can’t say enough about the entire staff being superb. Everyone was so accommodating. Being greeted by Denzel, who"
Patricia N read more >>"Zimbabwe-September: Hi Chris, Sorry it’s taken so long to give you feedback from our trip to Zimbabwe! We took the plunge to visit Zimbabwe this September, after hearing great reviews!"
Tony + Helen R read more >>"Mana Pools Canoe - September Hi Mark Just wanted to let you know that Ruckomechi and the Mana Canoe Trail were amazing. It is said that Zimbabweans are the kindest"
Damien D read more >>Similar Safaris
Get into the heart of Zambia’s premier wildlife hotspot… luxury bushcamps, excellent cuisine and top notch Professional Guides
A 7-night exploration of Mana Pools - a canoeing and walking safari with top professional guides, outstanding wildlife and authentic camps.
A walking safari between two remote and seasonal camps in the Luangwa’s Chikoko area along elephant and hippo trails
Our wild and remote Hwange Explorer is a classic and timeless African tented safari for first timers and seasoned safari goers
Best Locations
Mana Pools National Park Mana Pools National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve is best known for Zambezi canoeing and walking safaris
Read More
Matusadona National park Matusadona is on the edge of Lake Kariba in the middle Zambezi Valley, one of the last wild sanctuaries of the black rhino and a safari secret of note
Read More
Victoria Falls Victoria Falls is Africa's adventure capital and hub for wildlife safaris with easy access in the best safari destinations
Read More