Day 1: Arrive Harare
Arrive into Harare and out to Imire Lodge.
Private Tour 10 days New
Zimbabwe Highlands, Great Zimbabwe, Matobo & Hwange
Rhinos, mountains, stone cities and elephants — overland
Duration10 Days
Regions6
Max guests8
Activity levelEasy to moderate
Priced per personFrom $6,800per person
Best monthsYear-round
Overview
The overland route through the Zimbabwe that most itineraries fly straight over. It starts at Imire, a working rhino conservancy outside Harare, where the conservation is hands-on rather than a drive-past. Then up into the Eastern Highlands for a night of mist, forest and mountain air, which is not the Zimbabwe most people picture. Two nights at Great Zimbabwe follow: the hill complex, the Great Enclosure and the conical tower, Africa's medieval stone city and still only half explained. Then west into the granite. Two nights at Matobo Hills Lodge, ours, tracking white rhino on foot and reading San paintings off a cave wall, with the UNESCO-listed Khami Ruins outside Bulawayo as the heritage layer on the way through. Hwange closes it, three nights at Bomani in elephant country. Driven rather than flown, which is the point: the ground between these places is half the story. Private throughout, maximum eight guests. When to go: May to October, when the roads are dry and the game concentrates.
Why book direct with ZimTravellers?
Owner-plannedYou deal with Josh, directly
Generations deepFive generations in Zimbabwe
Private by defaultYour guide, your vehicle
A direct lineMessages answered by Josh himself
Zimbabwe Highlands, Great Zimbabwe, Matobo & HwangeThe route, day by day
Itinerary
Day by day.
HARARE
EASTERN HIGHLANDS
Day 2: On to Eastern Highlands
Up into the Eastern Highlands and Musangano Lodge: mist, forest and mountain air, which is not the Zimbabwe most people picture.
GREAT ZIMBABWE
Day 3: On to Great Zimbabwe
On to Great Zimbabwe and Lodge at the Ancient City, with the first walk up to the Hill Complex in the late afternoon light.
Day 4: Great Zimbabwe
The Great Enclosure and the conical tower, Africa's medieval stone city, laid without a drop of mortar and still only half explained.
MATOBO HILLS
Day 5: On to Matobo Hills
South into the Matobo Hills and Matobo Hills Lodge. Settle in, then sundowners from the granite with the whole valley below you.
Day 6: Matobo Hills
On foot at first light, tracking white rhino with a ranger. Later, San paintings read off a cave wall by a guide who grew up in these hills.
HWANGE NATIONAL PARK
Day 7: On to Hwange National Park
Into Hwange and Bomani Tented Lodge, with time for an afternoon game drive before dark. The waterhole in front of camp usually does the rest.
Day 8: Hwange National Park
A full day in the park. Out early while it is cool, back through the heat of the middle of the day, out again into the evening.
Day 9: Hwange National Park
A second full day, which is where the difference shows. Hwange holds one of the largest elephant populations in Africa and in the dry months they come to the pans in numbers that are hard to describe.
Where you will stay
Hand-picked, night by night.
Harare · ZimbabweImire LodgeDetails in your proposalEastern Highlands · ZimbabweMusangano LodgeDetails in your proposal
Great Zimbabwe · ZimbabweLodge at the Ancient CityDetails in your proposal
Matobo Hills · ZimbabweMatobo Hills LodgeView the lodge →
Hwange · ZimbabweBomani Tented LodgeDetails in your proposalThings to know
Cancellation policy
25% charge (deposit) — 90+ days out.
50% charge — 61–90 days.
75% charge — 31–60 days.
A 25% deposit confirms your itinerary.
Booking basics
Requested and confirmed within one working day.
Prices per person, based on two travelling together.
Private (max 8 guests).
Operated by ZimTravellers (own itinerary; partner lodges as listed).
Participation & safety
Physical level: Easy to moderate.
Private and tailor-made journey cancellation
- A 25% deposit is required to confirm your itinerary and is non-refundable.
- If we receive your written cancellation more than 90 days before departure, the cancellation charge is 25% of the total booking price.
- For cancellations received 61-90 days before departure, the charge is 50%.
- For cancellations received 31-60 days before departure, the charge is 75%.
- For cancellations received 30 days or fewer before departure, or in the event of a no-show, the charge is 100%.
- Certain camps, lodges, private vehicles, permits and special arrangements may impose earlier or higher non-refundable charges. Any such condition will be itemised and disclosed before you pay your deposit and will apply only to the affected component.
- Changes requested after services have been confirmed are subject to availability, supplier charges and repricing. A reduction in the number of travellers may increase the per-person price for those who continue to travel.
How booking works
- Send your dates and party size — we confirm availability within one working day, usually sooner.
- Nothing is charged until your booking is confirmed.
What’s included
Included
- Accommodation as listed or similar
- Meals and activities as per lodge package
- Private/arranged transfers where specified
- ZimTravellers itinerary support
- Matobo/Khami guided component where included.
- Direct WhatsApp line to Josh — before, during and after the tour
Not included
- International flights unless stated
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Premium drinks unless included by lodge
- Optional activities
- Gratuities
- Items of a personal nature.
Practical
Best timeYear-round
PaceEasy to moderate
StartsHarare
Group sizePrivate (max 8 guests)
