Merlan Adventure Tours of Southern Africa. Reconnecting with Nature

Day 1 Johannesburg to Louis Trichardt (500km).

Our tour begins with a morning (08h00) departure from Johannesburg (we will pick you up at your home address) and head north in a leisurely fashion to Louis Trichardt where we will spend the night at Clouds End Hotel or Ingwe Ranch Motel just north of the town with superb views of the Soutpansberg. An alternative is to overnight at Tshipise hot mineral springs depending on client preference.

Day 2 Louis Trichardt to Masvingo (400km).

After a leisurely breakfast we will continue on our journey through the border post at Beitbridge and on to great Zimbabwe Ruins with a stop along the way at the Lion and Elephant Motel for refreshments. Accommodation is at Great Zimbabwe Hotel and after settling in, the rest of the day will be spent sight seeing and a visit to the ruins while pondering over the mystery surrounding their origin.

Day 3 Masvingo to Chimanimani (250km).

A mid morning departure for Chimanimani mountains on the eastern border of Zimbabwe. On route we cross the Save River by way of the Birchenough Bridge, built in 1935 and at that time it was the third largest suspension bridge in the world. It commemorates the memory of Sir Henry Birchenough, President of the British South Africa Company 1925 to 1937. Chimanimani is a beautiful area and we will spend time taking in the scenery and visiting the National Park and Bridal Veil Falls. The night is spent at the Chimanimani Hotel.

Day 4 Chimanimani to Mutare (150km),

We continue after breakfast and make our way northward over the short distance to Mutare from where we will climb up into the Vumba (The Mountains of Mist) area, world renowned for its breath-taking scenery, arriving at Leopard Rock Hotel around lunch time. A visit to the nearby Vumba Botanical Gardens is a must with the rest of the day sight seeing and getting in some birding!

Day 5 Vumba area.

One cannot do justice to this area in half a day so we spend today just exploring and enjoying it.

Day 6 Mutare to Nyanga National Park (150km)

A visit to the eastern highlands would simply not be complete without also taking in the Inyanga mountains where a drive down into the Honde Valley passed the tea estates may be included if requested. The night will be spent at Rhodes Hotel.

Day 7 Nyanga National Park to Kariba (550km).

With an early start after breakfast we head off to Lake Kariba via Harare getting to our hotel, Bumi Hills Safari Lodge or Caribbea Bay Resort & Casino by mid afternoon. The rest of the day is spent just relaxing.

Day 8 Kariba.

Today we will spend at leisure but will explore the area and learn something of this awesome lake (third largest man-made lake in the world) which contributes in many different ways to the well being of the local people and to Zimbabwe as a whole. Apart from the beauty of its surrounding landscapes, Kariba offers a variety of activities including water skiing, sailing, fishing (the most exciting in the world) and scuba diving. The profusion of wildlife including elephant, buffalo, rhino and smaller animals and birds as a result of the lush shoreline vegetation is truly spectacular and has few, if any, equals.

Day 9 Kariba to Vic Falls (550km)

An early start is necessary as we have a fairly long distance to cover over questionable road conditions and two border crossings to negotiate. We leave Kariba and drive over the dam wall into Zambia and then re-enter Zimbabwe by driving across the original steel railway bridge at Vic Falls. Here we will book into the Victoria Falls Hotel for two nights.

Day 10 Vic Falls.

The day will be spent simply enjoying the spectacular falls, a mighty wall of water over one kilometer wide plunging 100 meters into the gorge below, and doing some sight seeing in the area. A few of the popular excursions, for those that wish to do so at their own expense, include white water rafting (full or half day), canoeing, boat trips and, of course, bungie jumping off the bridge over the gorge. Also great for bird watching – a good place to get Taita Falcon!

Day 11 Vic Falls to Hwange National Park (150km).

After a relatively short run from Vic Falls we arrive at Hwange Safari Lodge just outside the Park. The day will be spent on game drives in one of the world’s last great elephant sanctuaries.

Day 12 Hwange National Park to Matobo National Park (350km).

Our journey continues southward to Bulawayo and then on to Matobo National Park not far out of town where we stay at the Royal Kingdom Lodge. The precariously balancing granite boulders are a fascinating sight and other sight seeing will include a game drive and a visit to Worlds View, the site of Cecil Rhodes’s grave and other monuments.

Day 13 Matobo National Park to Beitbridge (500km).

After a leisurely breakfast we continue southward to Beitbridge where we will spend the night at the Beit Bridge Inn.

Day 14 Beitbridge to Johannesburg (550km).

An early morning start to our journey back home arriving at approximately 18h00.

ZIMBABWE TOUR – 14 DAYS US$2 100pp
Day 1 Johannesburg to Louis Trichardt (500km). Our tour begins with a morning (08h00) departure from Johannesburg (we will pick you up at your home address) and head north in a leisurely fashion to Louis Trichardt where we will spend the night at Clouds End Hotel or Ingwe Ranch Motel just north of the town with superb views of the Soutpansberg. An alternative is to overnight at Tshipise hot mineral springs depending on client preference. Day 2 Louis Trichardt to Masvingo (400km). After a leisurely breakfast we will continue on our journey through the border post at Beitbridge and on to great Zimbabwe Ruins with a stop along the way at the Lion and Elephant Motel for refreshments. Accommodation is at Great Zimbabwe Hotel and after settling in, the rest of the day will be spent sight seeing and a visit to the ruins while pondering over the mystery surrounding their origin. Day 3 Masvingo to Chimanimani (250km). A mid morning departure for Chimanimani mountains on the eastern border of Zimbabwe. On route we cross the Save River by way of the Birchenough Bridge, built in 1935 and at that time it was the third largest suspension bridge in the world. It commemorates the memory of Sir Henry Birchenough, President of the British South Africa Company 1925 to 1937. Chimanimani is a beautiful area and we will spend time taking in the scenery and visiting the National Park and Bridal Veil Falls. The night is spent at the Chimanimani Hotel. Day 4 Chimanimani to Mutare (150km), We continue after breakfast and make our way northward over the short distance to Mutare from where we will climb up into the Vumba (The Mountains of Mist) area, world renowned for its breath-taking scenery, arriving at Leopard Rock Hotel around lunch time. A visit to the nearby Vumba Botanical Gardens is a must with the rest of the day sight seeing and getting in some birding! Day 5 Vumba area. One cannot do justice to this area in half a day so we spend today just exploring and enjoying it. Day 6 Mutare to Nyanga National Park (150km) A visit to the eastern highlands would simply not be complete without also taking in the Inyanga mountains where a drive down into the Honde Valley passed the tea estates may be included if requested. The night will be spent at Rhodes Hotel. Day 7 Nyanga National Park to Kariba (550km). With an early start after breakfast we head off to Lake Kariba via Harare getting to our hotel, Bumi Hills Safari Lodge or Caribbea Bay Resort & Casino by mid afternoon. The rest of the day is spent just relaxing. Day 8 Kariba. Today we will spend at leisure but will explore the area and learn something of this awesome lake (third largest man-made lake in the world) which contributes in many different ways to the well being of the local people and to Zimbabwe as a whole. Apart from the beauty of its surrounding landscapes, Kariba offers a variety of activities including water skiing, sailing, fishing (the most exciting in the world) and scuba diving. The profusion of wildlife including elephant, buffalo, rhino and smaller animals and birds as a result of the lush shoreline vegetation is truly spectacular and has few, if any, equals. Day 9 Kariba to Vic Falls (550km) An early start is necessary as we have a fairly long distance to cover over questionable road conditions and two border crossings to negotiate. We leave Kariba and drive over the dam wall into Zambia and then re-enter Zimbabwe by driving across the original steel railway bridge at Vic Falls. Here we will book into the Victoria Falls Hotel for two nights. Day 10 Vic Falls. The day will be spent simply enjoying the spectacular falls, a mighty wall of water over one kilometer wide plunging 100 meters into the gorge below, and doing some sight seeing in the area. A few of the popular excursions, for those that wish to do so at their own expense, include white water rafting (full or half day), canoeing, boat trips and, of course, bungie jumping off the bridge over the gorge. Also great for bird watching – a good place to get Taita Falcon! Day 11 Vic Falls to Hwange National Park (150km). After a relatively short run from Vic Falls we arrive at Hwange Safari Lodge just outside the Park. The day will be spent on game drives in one of the world’s last great elephant sanctuaries. Day 12 Hwange National Park to Matobo National Park (350km). Our journey continues southward to Bulawayo and then on to Matobo National Park not far out of town where we stay at the Royal Kingdom Lodge. The precariously balancing granite boulders are a fascinating sight and other sight seeing will include a game drive and a visit to Worlds View, the site of Cecil Rhodes’s grave and other monuments. Day 13 Matobo National Park to Beitbridge (500km). After a leisurely breakfast we continue southward to Beitbridge where we will spend the night at the Beit Bridge Inn. Day 14 Beitbridge to Johannesburg (550km). An early morning start to our journey back home arriving at approximately 18h00.