Victoria Falls and Lake Kariba in 6 days (5 nights)

6 days · Zimbabwe · best 7, 8, 9, 10

Five nights split between two Zimbabwean water bases. The trip opens with two nights at a lodge a few kilometres outside Victoria Falls town, close enough for the falls walk and for boat time on the upper Zambezi. A light aircraft then crosses to the Matusadona shore of Lake Kariba for three nights, where the days are built around the lake rather than game drives: shoreline cruises, birdlife from the boat, and fishing for tigerfish. The same short flight brings the trip back to Victoria Falls at the end.

The route, stop by stop

1. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe · 2 nights

Arrive by fly — Land at Victoria Falls Airport and transfer by road to a lodge about 3km from Victoria Falls town

Two nights puts the traveller on the upper Zambezi at the start, with the falls walk and river boat trips both close to town, and no separate transfer day at the beginning.

2. Kariba, Zimbabwe · 3 nights

Arrive by fly — Light aircraft across to the Kariba shore; the same flight runs back to Victoria Falls at the end

Three nights is the core of the trip. The lake is the activity rather than the backdrop, so mornings and evenings go out by boat along the shoreline, with the hills, the hides and the lodge deck for the hot middle of the day.

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