6-day Hwange, Chobe & Victoria Falls Combo

The best thing about this six-day southern Africa circuit is its variety. You get serious wildlife time in Hwange, the drama of Victoria Falls, and two very different views of Chobe National Park, all without arranging separate transfers across three destinations. I especially like the late afternoon and night game drive on day one, plus the three-hour Chobe River cruise, where animals gather at the water.

I also like the private-tour format. Your group travels with its own driver and guide, and the company’s team includes guides named Webster and Owen. Previous guests specifically praised their quick replies, punctual pickups, and easygoing help. The main drawback is that the schedule is busy, and some park admission charges are not clearly included in the listed price, so confirm those costs before paying.

Key points at a glance

• Hwange gets the most time: You spend three days in Zimbabwe’s largest wildlife area, including a night-extended drive.
• Three types of safari viewing: Expect a night game drive in Hwange, a full-day vehicle safari there, then a boat cruise and 4×4 drive in Chobe.
• Victoria Falls is more than a quick stop: The plan includes a guided waterfall walk, open curio markets, and a Zambezi sunset cruise.
• Private service matters: Only your group participates, with airport and hotel transfers handled for you.
• Meals reduce daily planning: Five breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners are included, along with drinks and snacks on the sunset cruise.
• Budget for questions about park fees: Day two and day three show admission as not included, even though other parts of the tour list admission as included.

Three major sights in six days

This tour links three famous places that are often booked separately. Hwange gives you the greatest amount of time for wildlife. Victoria Falls supplies the big natural spectacle. Chobe adds a border crossing, a river safari, and a second national park with a different style of viewing.

At $2,320 per person, the package is not a bargain-basement safari. Its value comes from what it bundles: airport pickup, road transfers, accommodation arrangements, meals, a private touring setup, the Victoria Falls visit, the sunset cruise, and the full Chobe day. You are paying for a ready-made route as much as for the activities themselves.

I would still ask for a written breakdown of park entry charges. The schedule says admission is not included on the two full Hwange days, while day one and Chobe show admission included. That may be a simple difference in how the activities are recorded, but it is worth settling before departure.

Day one: From Victoria Falls Airport to Hwange

Your trip begins with pickup at Victoria Falls Airport. The drive to Hwange Safari Lodge takes about two hours on tarred roads, a useful detail after a long international flight. Once you check in, the first game drive begins in the late afternoon.

This is not a short introductory loop. The drive lasts about three hours and extends into the night, giving you a chance to look for big cats when daylight fades. Night viewing can make the first outing feel especially exciting, though animal sightings are never guaranteed. The timing also means you should be ready for a long first day if your flight arrives around midday.

Hwange Safari Lodge is used for the first two days, and the accommodation was singled out for friendly staff and pleasant rooms. The lodge gives you a fixed base instead of moving between camps each night, which makes the packed schedule easier to manage.

Days two and three: Hwange’s open country and waterholes

After breakfast on day two, your guide collects you for a full-day safari through Hwange National Park, entering through the Main Camp gate. You spend the day in a safari vehicle, with mineral water, soft drinks, refreshments, and a picnic lunch supplied.

The lunch setup is practical. Hwange has viewing platforms scattered through the park, and the midday meal is taken at one of these spots. That lets you pause without returning to the lodge and keeps more of the day available for wildlife viewing.

You return around 4 p.m., then have dinner at the hotel. This gives you a clear rhythm: breakfast at the lodge, lunch in the park, and dinner back at your base. The plan lists the day as a full day, so do not expect much free time for optional activities.

Day three follows the same general pattern, with another full day in Hwange. This second full outing is important because safari sightings depend on timing, weather, animal movement, and plain luck. Three days also give your guide more chances to search for the species you most want to see, from elephants and lions to birds and other animals.

Hwange is presented as a quieter alternative to the better-known safari parks of East Africa. The key benefit here is not a promise of more animals. It is the chance to spend substantial time in a major park without building the trip around a crowded, fast-moving schedule. Still, the tour does not specify the exact lodge room type, vehicle model, or route inside the park, so ask if those details matter to you.

One practical concern is the admission wording. The day two and day three entries say park admission is not included. Since the package price is substantial, you should ask exactly how much you may need to pay locally for Hwange entry, conservation charges, or other park costs.

Day four: Victoria Falls on foot and the Zambezi at sunset

After breakfast, you leave Hwange in an air-conditioned van for the roughly two-hour transfer to Victoria Falls. Once checked in, the afternoon continues with a guided walk at the falls.

Allow about two and a half hours for the waterfall visit. The path takes you past several viewpoints, and the sound and spray build as you move along the gorge. Bring protection for your camera and expect wet conditions near the strongest spray. The experience is physical but not presented as a strenuous hike.

The route also passes the open curio markets. This gives you time to look for souvenirs, though you may prefer to keep the shopping brief so you are not rushed before the river cruise. A little local currency can be useful, but the supplied details do not state which payment methods individual stalls accept.

At 4 p.m., a transfer takes you to the jetty for a two-hour Zambezi River sunset cruise. Drinks and snacks are included, and return transport takes you back to the hotel at about 7 p.m. This is a slower change of pace after several days in safari vehicles.

The cruise is not simply a ride between activities. From the boat, you watch the riverbanks and the changing light while looking for wildlife near the water. The supplied plan describes it as a relaxing trip, so treat it as a scenic evening rather than a guaranteed animal-viewing session. Keep your camera ready for the sunset, but also give yourself time to enjoy the river without photographing every minute.

The schedule says the waterfall walk and cruise are included, but it does not name the Victoria Falls hotel. If room location, air conditioning, or meal arrangements are important to you, request the property details before booking.

Day five: Chobe by boat, buffet, and 4×4

Day five is the longest transfer day. Pickup is at 7:30 a.m., followed by a drive through Zambezi National Park for about 70 kilometers before reaching the Botswana border. You will need your travel documents, though the supplied information does not give border-processing details or visa advice.

The Chobe experience begins on the river, not in a vehicle. The three-hour game boat cruise gives you a low, open view of the banks, where animals come down for their morning drink. This is one of the strongest features of the package because the river changes the way you see wildlife. You are not only looking through a vehicle window. You are watching the shoreline from the water.

A buffet lunch follows at Chobe Marina Lodge. After lunch, you switch to custom-made 4×4 safari vehicles for another three hours in Chobe National Park. The afternoon drive reaches areas along the upper Chobe River that boats cannot access.

That second outing is meant to improve your chances of finding more elusive predators, including lions. The two-part format is more useful than spending the entire day in one vehicle because boat and land safaris reveal different parts of the park. The tradeoff is a long day that includes driving, border formalities, lunch, and two separate safari periods.

The tour returns to Victoria Falls after the Chobe outing. Expect a full schedule from early morning into the evening. If you prefer slow mornings or several free afternoons, this is not that kind of trip. If you have limited time and want to connect Zimbabwe’s waterfall with Botswana’s wildlife, the packed day makes practical sense.

Day six: A simple finish, timed to your flight

The final day is reserved for your airport transfer. Pickup time depends on your flight, and the activity ends back at the stated meeting point or with the arranged airport transfer.

This is useful because you are not forced into an extra excursion on departure day. Keep your bags ready and confirm the pickup time with the operator, especially if your flight is early.

What the $2,320 price really covers

The price includes five breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners. That is helpful during the safari portion, when returning to town for every meal would waste time. The Chobe day includes a buffet lunch, while the Hwange full-day drives include picnic lunches with water, soft drinks, and other refreshments.

The sunset cruise also includes drinks and snacks. Other meals are not included, and optional tours cost extra. You should ask for a current list of optional activities before booking if you want to add adventure activities or more time at the falls.

Transfers are another major part of the value. The package handles airport pickup, the road between Victoria Falls and Hwange, the return to Victoria Falls, the Chobe border journey, and activity transfers. A private vehicle and driver save you from coordinating several local operators on your own.

The private setup also gives you more control than a large group departure. Only your group participates, so you can raise questions directly with the guide and avoid being tied to strangers’ preferences. It does not mean every game drive can be changed at will, since the itinerary has fixed transfer times and park outings, but it should make communication easier.

The biggest financial question is park admission. The supplied details list admission as included for some activities and not included for the two Hwange full-day safaris. Ask these questions before booking:

• Are Hwange entry fees included in the $2,320 price?
• Are Botswana park and border charges included?
• Are hotel taxes or local conservation fees extra?
• Which meals are covered at the Victoria Falls hotel?

Getting these answers in writing will make the price easier to judge.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would recommend this package to you if you have six days, want the region’s headline sights, and prefer one company to manage the transport. It suits first-time visitors who do not want to plan separate safari lodges, border transfers, waterfall tours, and river cruises.

It also fits couples, families, or a small group of friends who value private service. The private format and responsive communication associated with Webster and Owen are useful when plans cross an international border.

You should think twice if your priority is a long, slow safari in one park. Three days in Hwange is a good start, but day four shifts to Victoria Falls and day five belongs to Chobe. You will see more places, but you will spend meaningful time on the road.

This schedule also requires stamina. The first game drive may extend into the night. Hwange days are full. The Chobe outing begins at 7:30 a.m. and includes a border crossing. Plan for long days rather than a resort-style holiday.

Booking details worth checking

Confirmation is provided at booking, pickup is offered, and mobile tickets are available. The stated meeting point is DK Tours and Safaris at 258C Adam Stander Drive in Victoria Falls, although the first pickup is arranged at Victoria Falls Airport.

The listed start time is 12 a.m., which appears to be a booking-system placeholder rather than a useful meeting time. Confirm your actual airport pickup time with DK Tours and Safaris.

The cancellation terms allow a full refund if you cancel at least six full days before the start time. Cancellation two to six full days before the start receives a 50 percent refund, while cancellation less than two full days before departure receives no refund. Poor weather may lead to a different date or a full refund.

Should you book the Hwange, Chobe, and Victoria Falls combination?

Book it if you want a well-packed introduction to three southern African highlights and value private transfers, included meals, and a single point of contact. The best parts are the three Hwange safari days, the night-extended first drive, and the Chobe pairing of river cruise with 4×4 safari.

Before you commit, confirm the hotel names, Hwange admission fees, Botswana border costs, and exact airport schedule. If those items are clear, the $2,320 price can be reasonable for a six-day private package with this much transport and activity coverage. If you want more free time or a deeper safari stay, choose a slower itinerary instead.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately six days, beginning with airport pickup at Victoria Falls and ending with an airport transfer on day six.

Where does the tour start?

The stated meeting point is DK Tours and Safaris, 258C Adam Stander Drive, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Airport pickup from Victoria Falls Airport is also provided at the start.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

How many days are spent in Hwange National Park?

The itinerary gives you three days in Hwange National Park, including a late afternoon and night-extended game drive on day one.

Is Victoria Falls included?

Yes. Day four includes a guided tour of Victoria Falls lasting about two and a half hours.

Is a Zambezi River cruise included?

Yes. The sunset cruise lasts about two hours and includes drinks, snacks, and return transfers.

Does the tour visit Chobe National Park?

Yes. Day five includes a full-day visit to Chobe National Park in Botswana, with a three-hour game boat cruise, buffet lunch, and three-hour 4×4 safari.

What meals are included?

The package includes five breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners. Other meals are not included.

Are park admission fees included?

The supplied details show admission included for day one and the Chobe day, but not included for the two full Hwange safari days. Confirm the exact fee arrangement with DK Tours and Safaris before booking.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least six full days before the start time. A cancellation two to six full days before departure receives a 50 percent refund, while cancellation less than two full days before the start is not refunded.