5-Day Mysteries & Wildlife Safari of Zimbabwe

Take a 5 day tour of mystery and wildlife

Individual Tour to Masvingo and Gonarezhou

This tour is a self-drive (ask for a quotation in case you prefer a guided drive)

Days

Route

Harare > Masvingo > Gonarezhou National Park > Harare

Overview

This 5-day tour combines the mysteries of the Great Zimbabwe Ruins in Masvingo and the wildlife of Gonarezhou. The main reason to visit Masvingo undoubtedly is the Great Zimbabwe Ruins. Zimbabwe – meaning big house made of stone – derived its name from it in 1980. Gonarezhou “The place of Elephants” is a hidden gem. It is relatively unknown, though it is easily accessible by road. Gonarezhou is a vast National Park which is crossed by three main rivers. Superb wildlife. Superb hospitality.

Safari Highlights

The Great Zimbabwe Ruins
An ancient and mysterious ruined city in beautiful surroundings. Read more about Great Zimbabwe here.

Gonarezhou National Park
A hidden gem. Read more about Gonarezhou here.

Tour information

The information below is intended to assist you as you consider your travel options with Nyati Travel. In addition to the detailed itinerary there is some useful information to provide you with an overview of your accommodation & meals, all issues concerning money, passports, visas, vaccinations, insurance, clothing, personal equipment and much more to help you with your travel preparations.

How to book

Write us an email (info@nyati.co.zw) with your details and requested dates. We simply take it from there.

Car hire options

There are some choices available for car hire:

car with one of our experienced driver/guide, this obviously provides great convenience to our guests, no worry you will get lost, and feedback from previous clients show that our drivers/guides are safe drivers, are helpful and friendly and are a great source of information on the day-to-day life in Zimbabwe
in Zimbabwe you can drive yourself, many people have done so, all main roads are excellent, the road signage is good, roads are basically quiet, some city roads can be bad, especially in Harare, so we advise you not to drive in Harare, but use our driver, or use taxi’s which are widely available everywhere, and reasonably priced
our prices are based on using our own fleet, consisting of good and reliable cars which are very competitively priced, because they are not brand new. In case you want to upgrade your car we can provide you with options using the fleets if our trading partners Europcar and Avis.

Flight information

flight_info

You are able to book this tour on a ‘land only’ basis or as a ‘flight inclusive’ package. Nyati Travel is an IATA licensed travel agent and on request you will be send a quotation from your nearest airport to Harare. Normally we send you options so you can choose based on convenience and budget. The quotation is valid at the time of your enquiry. Only payment for your ticket will guarantee the fare price. Booking early guarantees the lowest fare. You are free to accept this offer or arrange your air travel yourself.

Flexibility and Extensions

Within the itinerary you have flexibility: we can include more options. Per destination you can stay longer if you so wish.

Our tours are merely examples, and our travel consultants can easily change itineraries to suit all your needs in terms of your preferences.

Payment for your tour

Once your bookings have been confirmed, you will be send an invoice with payment instructions. You can pay with credit card using a secure website, bank charges (estimated to be 3.5%) are to be paid for by customers. International bank transfers to Zimbabwe are also possible. We require a 10 % non-refundable deposit. If your travel starts within 60 days of booking, full payment will be required at the time of booking. The balance after paying the deposit is due 60 days before departure. The price paid for our holidays is no longer subject to change. Once you have paid we will guarantee that the price will not increase, whatever the circumstances.

Travel Insurance

It is a condition of joining any of our tours that you must have valid travel insurance. It must indicate that you have cover for (at least) medical expenses and emergency repatriation in the event of illness or injury. We strongly recommend that your policy includes curtailment, personal effects and cancellation protection as all deposits paid are non-refundable. You will also need to ensure your travel policy covers you for all activities you intend to do whilst on tour.

Money

Currently in Zimbabwe cash can not be withdrawn easily with a Visa and/or Master card. In Zimbabwe it is common to pay with your credit card in shops, restaurants and fuel stations. The currency used is USD. Carry enough cash (US$) from your home country, in small denominations, it will make your journey much easier.

Medical

Private medical facilities in Zimbabwe, are sufficient for all first aid and common problems. Travellers requiring medical assistance calling for a blood transfusion, or who suffer any serious illness, or who are involved in an accident may require medical evacuation to South Africa. Excellent facilities are therefore one and a half hours flying away. Ensure that you have adequate travel insurance, including medical air evacuation, for the duration of your stay, and be sure to verify which circumstances and activities are excluded from your policy. Almost all medical services, such as doctors, hospitals and air ambulance medical evacuation, must be paid for in cash, as overseas medical insurance payments are not everywhere accepted. An overseas credit card will be very useful. Drink only bottled water which is everywhere available. In Zimbabwe there is a risk of malaria in certain areas and/or during a certain time of the year. December to April are most risky in the lower areas of the country. In the dry season months July to October, malaria hardly occurs. You will need to take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to prevent malaria. Your doctor can help you decide which medicine is right for you. Protect yourself from mosquito bites. This includes covering up, using insect repellent.

Safety

Zimbabwe is generally a safe country to travel. Street crime, such as pick pocketing and bag snatching happens. Ensure that your personal belongings and travel documents are secure, particularly in crowded places, and carry a photocopy of your passport. Remain vigilant, avoid travelling alone and avoid walking after dark. Photography of people is generally no problem. Photography near government offices, airports, military establishments, in addition to other sensitive facilities, is prohibited. Laws are strictly enforced, and all restrictions should be observed. If in doubt, do not take a picture.

Visa Requirements

Passports must be valid for the period of your stay. Make sure there are some extra available pages in your passport. For most nationalities a tourist Visa can be obtained on arrival at a fee of between US$30 and US $70 payable in cash. The visa is valid for a maximum of 1 month. Keep the address of your first hotel at hand as you need to enter this on your entry form. For more information on visa requirements, check the following website: http://www.zimimmigration.gov.zw/index.php/visa-regime.

Disclaimer: It is your responsibility to make sure all the necessary visa – and health requirements are fulfilled. We will advise you to the best of our ability but cannot be held responsible for any omissions in terms of visa and health requirements.

Preparing for your tour

Climate The climate is tropical, although markedly moderated by altitude. There is a dry season, including a short cool season during the period May to September when the whole country has very little rain. The rainy season is typically a time of heavy rainfall from November to March
Equipment you need A torch, water bottle, sunhat/sunscreen and insect repellent. Binoculars are a must for your game drives.
Footwear Comfortable shoes (or well broken-in walking boots if planning to hike), trainers or sandals for relaxing/travelling.
Clothing should generally be lightweight for the day. Also take a fleece, long trousers, a waterproof and windproof jacket. Take swimming gear and a beach towel. During winter (July) we recommend you bring plenty of warm clothing, as temperatures can drop significantly. During spring (September to November) temperatures can drop in the evening, during the day you need a hat and sunscreen to protect you against the strong sun.
Swimming pools can be cold in the winter months as they are outside and not heated.
Luggage. On tour take a soft bag or suitcase. Also take a daypack for items needed during any walks or sightseeing. Check with your airline the maximum weight of luggage allowed. Generally the limit is 23 kg.
Electric Supply & Plugs 3 Pin Square (UK)
Mobile phone: It is possible to buy a sim card, it is best to do that on arrival at the airport. Roaming on your own sim card is possible but generally expensive. Note that not everywhere in Zimbabwe there is signal for your mobile to work. Especially in game parks, do not expect a signal. Whatsapp is widely used, most hotels have WiFi facilities.

Why choose Nyati Travel

We’ve been creating adventure holidays for nearly 25 years in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Zambia, earning the trust of hundreds of delighted customers. You feel safe in our hands. Our tour leaders and drivers have expert local knowledge and our tours are designed to take you off the beaten track to see the most exotic, inspiring and dramatic places in Zimbabwe.

With over 20 years’ experience, we are passionate about what we do.
Pioneering small group adventures, self-guided, private journeys & tailor made holidays.
Tour leaders who you can trust.
Responsible travel is and always has been one the driving principles of Nyati Travel.

Our adventure holidays are full of exciting things to see and do, exploring in small groups travelling by bus, 4×4 vehicles or train. Often you will stay in family run hotels and village houses and enjoy authentic local cuisine. In this way, it’s easy to discover the true heart of the people and the place you travel to – and make some new friends along the way.

Our commitment to the environment

We are passionate about sustainable travel and work hard to create tours where your holiday delivers real benefits to the local communities. We minimise our impact by travelling in small groups, respecting local cultures and tradition.

Peace of mind - book with confidence

You can book your Nyati holiday with confidence, as all monies paid to us for your trip are fully protected. Nyati Travel is a fully bonded tour operator with 24 years of reputation to go for it.

Agents can sell this tour

Nyati Travel is a wholesale tour operator offering transport in its fleet of own buses, 4×4’s and sedans. Self-driven or chauffeur-driven. This to approved agents anywhere in the world. We’ll book the accommodation and activities from start to finish.

Please follow the following simple steps:

Send us an e-mail showing your interest to sell the tour to your clients.
Mention your website to us or how you will market the package.

You will be responsible for getting all the details from your client, exactly as we would require them from somebody booking directly with us.
Non-refundable deposits – 10% of the full amount – and full payment (less your commission) 60 days before departure.

Itinerary

1 Masvingo: The Mysteries of the Great Zimbabwe Ruins

After breakfast you depart Harare for Masvingo, the home of the famous Great Zimbabwe Ruins. The journey takes about 4 to 5 hours.

Zimbabwe – meaning big house made of stone – derived its name from the massive stonewalls found at Great Zimbabwe. Historians and archaeologists are still excited about this place. The ruins are surrounded by unanswered questions: Who built them? Where are the graves of the deceased leaders? Why was it abandoned? We advise you to take at least 2 to 3 hours for your visit, guided by one of the excellent local guides. Park fees are payable directly: USD 15 per person, a guide (highly advisable) is USD 5 per person.

Overnight in Lodge at the Ancient city.

Breakfast included.

Includes:

Excludes:

2 though 4 Gonarezhou: Pristine Wilderness

The drive to Gonarezhou takes about 4 hours. Any journey into the heart of Gonarezhou begins with the realisation that this is wild country. It is one of Africa’s last remaining pristine wildernesses and we are all privileged to be a visitor here. The animals are in their most natural state at Gonarezhou. This is a country of red sandstone, thorny scrub and baobabs. Buffalo gather at watering holes, big cats prowl silently in pursuit of painted impala, hippo wallow midstream attended by squadrons of fluttering birds. The presence of elephants is everywhere. Weather exhilarating game drives through the park, excursions to the epic Chilojo Cliffs, or a day spent bird watching, there is a wide range of activities to suit every guest. When the day is done and you’ve enjoyed sun downers on the Save River, sleep will come easy. You know when you wake, it will be there waiting for you, all over again.

Overnight in Chilo Gorge Lodge (3 nights)

All meals and activities are included, park fees and community fees are included.

Includes:

5 Back to Harare

The journey to Harare via Masvingo is a long one, a distance of 550 km, about 8 hours in total.

Your choices

Self-Drive
In case you want to upgrade your car we can provide you with options using the fleets if our trading partners Europcar and Avis.
Includes: standard car, Toyota Harrier or similar, day 1 – day 1, unlimited mileage, one-way fee, fully comprehensive insurance
With Experienced Driver/Guide
We will be using our own cars as described above. Driven by an excellent driver who is also your guide. The feedback we get from our clients about our drivers/guide has been excellent.
Includes: standard car, Toyota Harrier, day 1 – day 5, unlimited mileage, fuel, one-way fee, fully comprehensive insurance, all costs for driver (accommodation, meals, wages, overtime), toll fees.