Packages and Options

Day 1 Arrive in Victoria Falls around noon. Transfer to the local B&B (we may use one of 3 charming B&BS  ... depending on availability). You will be picked up by your horse guide at 3.30pm for your pre trip briefing and introductory ride - this will be your first introduction to this area and a chance to see if you are happy with your horse, your saddle and so on before we leave on our long safari tomorrow. You will ride for at least three hours today, experiencing sunset over the Zambezi River.
Day 2 You will be collected from your lodge at 6.30 - 7.00 am
Tea, coffee, fresh fruit and biscuits will be served while Alison talks to each client individually to ensure everyone is allocated a horse most suitable to their needs. Alison has owned and ridden horses all her life, and with many years in the safari industry, is expert at allocating horses to riders. After a brief orientation and safety talk you will move off with your guides.
As the stables adjoin Victoria Falls National Park, game viewing often starts from the stable yard with last nights elephant tracks.
The morning will be spent exploring this game area which includes the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls National Park, and surrounding game areas. None of these areas are fenced so both horses and wildlife move freely from one area to another. A picnic lunch is served on the banks of the Zambezi, or on the Masuie river under the shade of acacia albidas depending on the time of the year. After this break we will ride across the long Kalahari sand dunes bordering Zambezi National Park, looking for sable and buffalo. We will reach Masuie Lodge in the afternoon. . Night spent at Masuwe.
Day 3: After breakfast we will set off on horseback again to explore the Masuwe, riding up towards the Kalisosa, looking for giraffe zebra and sable. Carrying our picnic lunch with us we will ride over the sand escarpment with its magnificent views before crossing the river and roaming the wide open spaces towards Sekuti’s and the Kalisosa. After a long mornings ride exploring this magnificent area we will return to the Masuwe in the early afternoon, which may be spent relaxing by the pool, watching birdlife or game coming in to the waterhole. You will be collected from Masuwe lodge for your Lion Encounter, which takes place on the estate, at 3.45pm. Night spent at Masuwe
DAY 4: We will set off after breakfast for another long ride. At first we will explore the dunes of Fuller Forest area, before our ride along the ancient tribal footpaths above Batoka Gorge on our way to Gorges Lodge with its spectacular setting on an 800ft cliff. We will be riding through Monde Rural
area, giving you a unique opportunity to see a less 'touristy' aspect of life here. This is remote and sparsely inhabited country where horses are an exciting event. After lunch and a rest at Gorges you have the option of exploring this area further. As some of the staff are from this area you will visit with their families and experience the simple dignity of traditional village life.
Gorges Lodge itself is part of a community based project - but what will interest you is its spectacular location - where you can watch black eagles souring below you. Gorges Lodge is also the home of the rare taita falcon. Night spent at Gorges.
DAY 5:  You may be reluctant to leave Gorges, but we have another long ride back exploring new areas of this dramatic landscape towards Fuller forest, exploring the wide open vistas of Jafuta vlei - less game here, but lovely riding country with plenty of opportunities to canter. We will either have a picnic en route, or lunch at Jafuta. In any event the waterhole at Jafuta will be an excellent place to relax with a cold drink and watch out for elephant and kudu. After a break we will mount up again for our ride down to the Wild horizons Estate for your Elephant Safari - a marvelous opportunity not only to ride, but also to learn more about and interact with these magnificent creatures. After this memorable experience, you will be transferred directly back to Jafuta by vehicle in the evening, to relax on the platform overlooking the waterhole and experience absolute silence… Night spent at Jafuta
Day 6: Early breakfast – and if you want to be awake before sunrise the Jafuta staff will serve you breakfast at 4.00am if you so require! – you will be transferred by vehicle for your canoe trip on the Upper Zambezi River, is a wonderfully relaxing way to enjoy the astonishingly beautiful scenery that lines the river before it takes its plunge over the Victoria Falls. This part of the river is dotted with many islands of varying size; inhabited by a variety of birds and small animals. This is the route David Livingstone took on his way in search of the rising clouds of mist. It was in fact along these banks that he remarked "scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight". Breakfast is enjoyed on the banks of the Zambezi, followed by a safety talk by the professional river guide, before the day's canoeing begins. Lunch is a picnic usually taken on one of the remote islands. The day is spent running rapids, exploring channels and bird and game viewing.
After your canoe trip we will transfer you back to the Falls by 4.00pm. You may choose to use the rest of the afternoon to view the Victoria Falls and Rain forest itself. You will need about 2 hours, returning to your lodge in time to change for your dinner at the Boma. This is not just another ethnic restaurant, but a cultural experience that bombards the senses with the tastes, sights, sounds and smells of Africa and its people. After dinner guests are invited to wile away the evening with the restaurant's very own sangoma - a traditional story teller - to learn more about the country's folk-lore, culture and heritage.
Day 7: You will now say farewell to your horse with an early morning horse safari along the banks of the Zambezi so you will be picked up from 6.00 am if you so wish for your last ride through this very special area. An early start might give you a chance to view hippos grazing on shore by our secret island.  After returning to your lodge to collect your luggage, you will be transferred to Imbabala Lodge at 10.45 am  Imbabala is situated on the banks of the Zambezi, near the Chobe confluence. The surrounding private National Parks Estate includes a magnificent floodplain covered with massive acacias. The private estate also includes 14km of river frontage. Carefully positioned in the riverine fringe of the Zambezi, Imbabala offers not only the chance to unwind but also some of the most amazing game viewing and bird watching in the region, in the seclusion of a private National parks concession. This area is well known for its massive elephant population and herds of up to 1500 have been seen on the floodplains below camp. Here you will spend your time on river cruises, game drives and night drives - most likely starting with a sunset cruise followed by a splendid four course meal.
Day 8: Morning game activities at Imbabala, before being transferred directly to the airport and your flight home.

Note: We may choose to vary the order and type of camps used, most especially to take advantage of game movement. Please note that any variation in route or camps will be only to increase the value and quality of the safari and always in the client’s best interest. Cost will remain the same.
On any day and at any camp there are plenty of opportunities for game viewing, and each day’s riding includes a wide variety of magnificent scenery

Seasons

Basically we have a hot dry season, a hot wet season and winter.

During the rains, any time from late November –early March, it can still be very hot, with clear skies as well. When it does rain, even when the rain is torrential, it is never cold, and often is hot and dry shortly after, so your rain wear must be good, but lightweight and easy to carry. Bring a fleece for the evenings and early mornings in case it’s cool. 2006-7 was a drought so mostly hot and dry.

By April it may be cooling off slightly in the evenings, but still hot during the day – bring layers again.

May’s much the same, but can be cooler.

June-July should be the coldest months – very cold at night and in the early mornings, on vlei areas there may even be frost in July,, but going up to about 26 degrees Celsius ( 78 Fahrenheit) in the day.

So layers you can remove are best.

August gets a bit warmer – but still cool at night.

September-October, most of November - hotter still, these are the hot dry months that we have before the rains start. You might need a fleece so bring one, but mostly dress for hot weather, and strong sun.

Mostly people tend to underestimate how hot their clothes might be. But to give you an idea, I ride in sandals, jeans or light weight cotton trousers and t-shirt in summer, much the same and short boots in winter, unless I’m at practice or a tournament of course.

All Camps and Lodges are fully equipped with beds bedding towels and so forth.
All have bathroom or shower en suite.

Clothing: Please wear safari colors: no white. Cotton is preferable.

•  Jeans /trousers – whatever you’re comfortable riding in
•  Jeans /trousers for evenings - 1 pair.

•  Short sleeved cotton shirt or t shirt x 2.

•  Long sleeved cotton shirt x 2: light weight for sun protection.

•  1 warm jerseys/ fleece- more in winter: June – July can be very cold at night and in the early morning

•  Money belt to carry cash, small camera & sun block when riding.

•  Sunglasses.

•  Sun hat

•  Camera – one that incorporates a zoom like a Panasonic Lumix DMC H17, a Nikon PS100, Canon S5 IS those small Sony’s or whatever you prefer.

•  Trainers / short boots  (long boots are too hot)

•  Trainers / sandals for in camp.

•  Swimming costume – all camps have a swimming pool

•  Chaps or half chaps   - optional.

•  Riding gloves   - optional.

•  Plenty of Sun block   - the stronger the better.

•  Insect repellent.

•  Malaria pills - this is a malaria area. Note: be wary of taking larium – at this altitude it has bad side effects on almost everybody and can ruin your holiday.

•  Any personal medication. If you suffer from allergies please bring necessary medication and, in the case of food allergies, an epipen with you.

•  All camps are fully equipped with sheets, towels, blankets, en suite bathrooms - and real beds

• Finance: bring cash – US$ in small denominations if possible, as well as travelers cheques. Park fees are payable in cash only. Entry fee to the Falls is additional, and will cost US$20pp. Whilst extra activities must be paid for in foreign currency, you may use local currency for meals, drinks and shopping. But you may not exchange traveler’s cheques for local or foreign cash, nor can you use your credit card to buy foreign cash. Do not count on crossing into Zambia to draw cash with your credit card – the visa fees are now much higher than those for Zimbabwe -US$125 for a US citizen, 75 pounds or US$140 for British passport holders.

• Credit cards are not accepted in Zimbabwe, but you can use them elsewhere. Do not change money on the streets or at the airport.

Other stuff:
A broad-brimmed hat in canvas or light felt is essential, ventilated if possible. Plain leather or heavy felt is too hot, straw is too fragile. Peaked caps do not shade your head properly, but are useful as an extra.
If you only feel comfortable wearing a helmet, it’s always better to bring your own- for a helmet to be truly safe it must fit. If you are buying specially a ventilated one is a good idea. The sort of lightweight ventilated helmet used for endurance or western riding is ideal, and it must have a peak However do bring shady hat as well. Please note that all children under 16 MUST wear a helmet. We do have a selection available, but your own is always best. Again – no black, no white, and no bright colors.  
Avoid tight clothing and shoes – go one size up if anything.
Avoid synthetic boots or shoes, always leather or canvas – actually long boots in any form should be avoided, and if you like to wear something on your lower leg go for half- chaps, in canvas for this climate.
If you usually ride in gloves, bring them, they do not take up much space.
Chose your jodhpurs, jeans or riding trousers carefully –not all cuts of jeans are suitable for riding – and you will be in the saddle for long stretches of time.  Avoid anything with lumpy seams.
Pay special attention to the knees – knee seams and even knee pads can be agony after a while.
It is important to remember that even in midwinter it can be very hot in the middle of the day, so coolness is on paramount importance, and layers of clothing are best.
Always wear cotton, or cotton mix. There s nothing cooler. And please no white or bright colors go for fawns, tans, khakis and greens. Very dark colors, black and navy blue are very hot and very uncomfortable to wear for any stretch of time.
Wear a loose fitting cotton shirt with short sleeves and a collar – this will protect your neck and shoulders from sunburn. You are also protected from thorns. Bring a long sleeved one if you are sensitive to sun
Some clients bring a lightweight fleece seat saver, to put on their saddle, which can make all the difference! 

Finally no-one wants to loose their luggage, but it happens very often on international flights the world over so try and carry your most vital things and at least one change of clothing with you. Check the maximum baggage size and weight you can take on board the aircraft, and squidge it in there!

Enjoy your Safari!