Imvelo Safari Lodges Trip Proposal for Imvelo Safari Lodges FAM trips

Exploring the Jozi area by bike, vehicle and on foot

After breakfast over the campfire, grab your day pack and then head off on a guided mountain bike ride through the elephant paths along the inter-dune troughs around Jozibanini. The ecosystem here is semi-desert akin to the Kalahari in neighbouring Botswana. Ancient windblown fossil sand dunes are separated by shallow valleys where elephant paths have compacted the terrain, providing Imvelo with the opportunity for a unique experience of game viewing by mountain bike. These rides can be from 30 minutes around camp to a full day exploring deep into southern Hwange, depending on your energy, fitness and adventure level!

Enjoy a delicious lunch back at camp or for the adventurous cyclists, a picnic lunch under a shady tree where you can have a siesta before the bike ride (or vehicle if you prefer!) back to camp in the afternoon.

Full day safari or “Pump run” to Bomani Tented Lodge

Enjoy early morning tea or coffee on your deck followed by breakfast around the campfire. Then grab your day pack for a full day safari or "pump run" across the southern border of Hwange!

Hwange National Park has no major rivers and for the past 70 years during Hwange’s dry seasons, wildlife has subsisted here on water originally pumped by windmills, later replaced by diesel engines and now solar power. In the southern sector of the Park, Imvelo Safari Lodges shoulders the responsibility for 16+ pumped waterholes. This means Imvelo is looking after approximately 20- 25% of the waterholes that sustain Hwange’s wildlife – a huge commitment of which we are truly proud!

Imvelo’s trademark "pump runs" combine game viewing in remote areas of the park with practical hands-on conservation helping to maintain these waterholes and pumps which the wildlife rely on for water during the dry season. Many of these pumps have been converted to solar-hybrid pumps in recent years. We'll learn about the challenges of maintaining this system in conversations and hand-on activities with your guide and the pump attendants who spend the dry season living at the waterholes to keep the pumps running.

We'll stop at the Makona Ranger station near Jozibanini Camp and meet some of the national park rangers who patrol in this remote corner of Hwange (this visit is dependent on whether the rangers are at base at this time). Imvelo funded and installed a state-of-the-art solar powered water pump at Makona which provides water for the rangers, their organic vegetable garden and for wildlife at the nearby Makona pan. In addition, the solar array provides power for lights and radios at the station.

After enjoying a picnic lunch and siesta with a waterhole view, we'll continue onward to Bomani Tented Lodge, arriving in the early evening after a sundowner stop at one of our favorite pans on the Ngamo Plains.

Freshen up and enjoy refreshments at the campfire before enjoying a 3-course dinner under the stars.

Village visit

Imvelo Safari Lodges is deeply committed to bringing together local communities and our safari guests, for their mutual benefit. Twenty minutes drive from the lodge our guests have the opportunity to enjoy a natural and spontaneous look at village life in rural Matabeleland.

This morning sees an early start with a light breakfast before heading to nearby Ngunyana Village. Here you will join the children on their morning journey to school. After the daily assembly routine at the school, you will have the opportunity for some fun with the students, practicing their use of English. Head to Ngamo Village to see some of Imvelo's other community initiatives such as the clinic, and meet the headman of the village at his homestead. Gain an insight into life in rural Zimbabwe today, and find out about skills including building, thatching, tilling fields, grinding maize and weaving baskets.

"Dawn Patrol" with the Cobras APU

We’ll rise well before dawn and join the Cobras, Imveo’s anti-poaching unit, for an early morning “dawn patrol” of the border of Hwange National Park. Park rangers and the Cobras routinely patrol the border areas of the park for illegal snaring or signs of poaching – our group will provide extra eyes to these teams and get some hands-on experience in detecting poaching activity in support of the Cobras and National Park rangers. This activity is subject to availability of the Cobras and conditions on the ground.

Game drives and walking safaris exploring southern Hwange

Vehicles must stay on the roads in the Park so we often combine a game drive with a spontaneous walking safari to explore more terrain off the roads. In this wild area every walk provides fascinating insight into Hwange’s circle of life; watch Hwange’s elephants shake trees to loosen and then eat the pods, while on a smaller scale, dung beetles roll up the elephant dung containing those tree seeds into balls, bury the ball and lay an egg to incubate in it, while the seed is now well-placed to germinate and start life as a new tree!

Driving, walking and horseback safaris on the Ngamo plains

Today we'll continue to explore Hwange's Ngamo plains by game vehicle, walking safari and possibly even by horseback (pending availability).

Transfer to Nehimba via Elephant Express game-viewing train

Early risers will depart for a sunrise morning game drive and walk, exploring the southern Hwange area.

After brunch back at the lodge, board Imvelo’s Elephant Express, for the 3hr trip up the eastern border of Hwange National Park to Dete Station. From Dete, we'll disembark the train and board game-viewing vehicles for a 2-3hr game drive exploring the northeastern part of Hwange enroute to Nehimba Lodge, arriving in the late afternoon along with the thirsty herds of elephants headed for the Nehimba waterhole and pool!

Elephant Express game-viewing railcar

The eastern boundary of Hwange National Park is marked by an historic railway line – part of Cecil Rhodes’ dream of an empire stretching ‘from Cape to Cairo’ with the railway line as its backbone. The section of track the Elephant Express travels was opened early in the 20th century (around 1904) and is perfectly flat and straight – the longest straight rail line in the world when built. Freight and passenger traffic still use the line, as well as our own custom-built rail car, the Elephant Express. This is the most unique and fun way to travel to Camelthorn Lodge or Bomani Tented Lodge in southern Hwange, a refreshing and welcome break from road travel, with excellent game viewing on the way.

The Elephant Express seats 22 passengers and the finishes are comfortable and elegant. They include individual coach seating, a chemical toilet, teak tables, plenty of space for luggage, and a large aisle that allows guests to walk around comfortably and provides unrestricted game viewing. Imvelo also provides drinks of all kinds and delicious snacks en route! Watch the video below for a preview of the Elephant Express experience!

Yoga in the bush

While at Nehimba, we really recommend you try yoga with us in this beautiful expansive wilderness area. Be surrounded by nothing but natural flora and fauna; there is no better way to start a day in the wilderness. Amy Olivier, manager at Nehimba, is a qualified yoga instructor and is ready to join her guests in a yoga session at any time.

Game drives and walks exploring northern Hwange National Park

After breakfast, we’ll depart for the morning exploring the Nehimba concession and the beautiful northern part of Hwange National Park. As you’ll see, the north is distinctly different from the southern part both in topography, habitats and species of wildlife. Nehimba is situated right on the edge of the mopane woodlands of northern Hwange and the Kalahari sandveld of the west, and so offers the full spectrum and diversity of fauna that Hwange has to offer. The elephant hunting lions of this area are famous. The area is well watered so is host to large numbers of animals throughout the year but particularly during the dry season. We’ll return to the lodge for a leisurely lunch and then afternoon siesta or perhaps relax by the lodge swimming pool, frequented by Hwange's thirsty herds during the dry season.

Northern Hwange game drive and transfer to Victoria Falls

Enjoy early morning tea or coffee on your private deck, followed by one final game drive exploring the Nehimba concession and northern Hwange.

After a hearty breakfast in the main lodge, you'll depart around 11am for the three-hour game drive through beautiful northern Hwange to the park’s Mbala gate. Along the way, we’ll stop at Mandavu Dam, a scenic hilly spot only 15-kilometres from Sinamatella Camp and a wonderful location for both bird watching and game viewing. We’ll also make a final stop at historic Sinamatella Camp. Established in 1966, this part of the Park was a former cattle ranch. The camp is located near the northern boundary of the Park on an outcrop, 55 metres high, with expansive views overlooking a distant riverbed and grassy plain.

After arriving a Mbala gate, you’ll be transported onward in a shuttle bus to Victoria Falls town where you'll meet up with a representative at Wild Horizons/Old Drift for your onward transfer to Old Drift Lodge located just upstream of Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River.

Depending on timing, you may choose to tour the Falls this afternoon or wait until tomorrow morning before your departing flight.