Zimbabwe Wildlife Self-drive Tour

Less than three hours' drive from Harare is a tiny game reserve doing big things in the world of conservation. Antelope National Park, near the town of Gweru offers a whole lot more than just antelope. Spend two days in this charming game reserve with its enthusiastic and friendly game guides, delightful accommodation and exhilarating activities.

Antelope Park is a rehabilitation and release park taking orphaned big game and preparing them for re-release into the wild in order to preserve their numbers. This programme gives you a unique opportunity for interacting with elephants and lions and, probably the highlight, following the adult lions on their hunting and stalking exercises. These are not staged. The lions are released into the park at night - their natural hunting time - and you track them from a safe distance in a safari vehicle.

Walking with the lions out in the open plains is a great activity during the day, giving you a close-up experience of these the kings of beasts. You will have deep respect for them afterwards and will see why they're such successful predators. On a gentler note, the elephants offer an fascinating experience and the elephants actually take you for a swim in the lake. You may have mixed feelings of fear and respect for lions after walking with them and watching them hunt; but you will truly adore elephants after your time at Antelope Park.

Other activities at Antelope Park include walking safaris, horseback safaris, a charming horse-and-carriage safari, night drives and game drives on traditional open-topped safari vehicles, fishing and canoeing.

Antelope Park is the perfect safari primer. The landscape is beautiful rolling hills, the park supports over 20 species of mammal and birdlife is abundant. And your deep understanding and respect for two of Africa's greatest beasts will make the rest of your safari all the more special.

Accommodation suggestions: Island Chalets, River Lodges and Riverside Tented Suites

The landscape flattens out as you travel the easy two-hour drive until you get to Matobo National Park Matobo National Park
Matobo National Park
More... where great granite kopjes rise out of the plains to form a scene of arresting beauty.

But what is a kopje? To describe one is to diminish it to its geographical make-up, they have to be seen to be appreciated. The best we can do is to say they are a tumble of red/brown granite boulders, some the size of a small house, weather-rounded to form large hills; trees and tall grasses grow out of the mineral-rich cracks and caves (come back and read this paragraph after you've been and you'll see just how to difficult it is to describe a kopje with any justice).

Matobo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ancient San Hunter/Gatherers took to the picturesque scenery and spiritual power of the Matopos Hills. They made their homes in the caves decorating as they went along with fascinating depictions of daily life including detailed drawings of rhino the discovery of which led to their successful re-introduction.

The extraordinary landscape is also appealing to leopards who take shelter in the rocky enclaves taking their pickings from the abundant wildlife in this wonderful game reserve. Matobo National Park is the home of many other rare and shy animals including black eagles, rhinos, sable and roan; general game viewing is also good and the birdlife is amazing in its diversity and volume.

Accommodation suggestions: Nesbitt Castle, Camp Amalinda, Matobo Hills Lodge, Big Cave Camp

Another easy drive on the fifth morning of your already-amazing wildlife safari takes you to Hwange National Park Hwange National Park
Hwange National Park
More... - one of the great game parks in southern Africa. With great diversity of habitats supporting, the "big five", over 100 mammal species and over 400 birds, the game viewing is exceptional and the safari guides at the lodges have incredible knowledge and love of the bush.

Spend 4 days on safari in Hwange with your professional safari guide in open-topped safari vehicles. Thanks to the Save the Hwange Trust, the park's waterholes ensure good quality game viewing in the dry months - as well as sustaining the huge elephant population - and the birdlife is prolific year round.

Or you can take yourself around the park in your hired car on the main roads through the park and stop at a picturesque waterhole watching the parade of wildlife interact with each other as they come and go.

Accommodation suggestions: The Hide, Ivory Lodge, Sikumi Tree Lodge, Little Makalolo Safari Camp, Davisons Camp, Somalisa Camp, Makalolo Plains Camp

Victoria Falls Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls - also called Mosi-oa-Tunya which means the smoke that thunders
More... is a short drive through Hwange so it may take a while as you stop for wildlife to get out of the way. Arrive in time for lunch, a doze and a sunset boat cruise on the mile-wide Zambezi, a safe distance above Victoria Falls.

Spend the next day exploring all that Victoria Falls has to offer. Another UNESCO World Hertiage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls is at once a terrifying volume of water thundering down a sheer chasm and a strangely calming experience.

After exploring the falls from the rain forest it's decision time: what next? Activity options are limitless. You could take a scenic flight over the falls; swim in devils pools metres from the edge; walk with lions or go on an elephant-back safari in the adjacent game reserve; hurl yourself from the bridge with a piece of rubber attached to your legs; shoot the best single-day rapids in the world; shop for Shona sculptures and African arts and crafts; paddle up the river... the list goes on.

On your last day, drive to the airport about 20 minutes away, drop off your car and fly out with one last view of the falls and this magnificent country receding into a fond memory and dreams of your next visit.