Adventure riding holiday in Victoria Falls

Upon arrival, you will be collected from the airport and transferred to The Elephant Camp. Over tea, coffee or cocktails, you will have a safety briefing and horses will be allocated according to abilities and preferences. Included in your stay is an elephant conservation walk, where you’ll get to meet the local herd and hear their special history. The horses are trucked into the reserves, and it’s really special being able to walk out to meet them! Once you’re mounted up and orientation is finished, you set off with your guides for the start of your adventure. The Elephant Camp is situated on a private concession which is open to the Victoria Falls National Park. Your ride will normally begin with following last night’s elephant or giraffe tracks. Wind your way across the African wilderness, following the animal trails and possibly spotting buffalo, elephant, impala and bushbuck amongst others. In the evening, savour a drink around the firepit before enjoying a scrumptious dinner under the stars.

After breakfast, you’ll have a transfer to Victoria Falls town and explore the rainforests and the wonders of the Falls. Walking through the rainforest, getting drenched in the spray from the falls is an experience you’ll never forget! It is not one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World for nothing! You can also do various other experiences, from Bungee jumping to bridge swings, white water rafting or helicopter flips or a visit to the famous Devil’s Pool, there is a lot to keep your adrenaline levels spiked!

In the afternoon you’ll have an informative visit to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust to learn about their important work in the area. Then mount up for a sunset ride along the gorge where you’ll be served cocktails and canapes. With the mist of the falls in the distance, the narrow trails along the gorge offer incredible views! Cantering back to the lodge in the warm evening glow is a thrilling feeling! Enjoy dinner overlooking the waterhole, watching the wildlife coming to drink before heading to your own private oasis. Fall asleep to the sound of the bush, dreaming of the adventures ahead!

Enjoy a delicious breakfast before mounting up for a long morning ride. Heading for the river you will ride across diverse habitats including grasslands, forests and rivers which are the idyllic environments for scenic game-viewing experiences. Depending on the season you may see elephant, buffalo, kudu, impala, bushbuck, waterbuck, banded mongoose and warthog. As this area is close to humans, and poaching occurs often, you will not ride close to the elephants, but rather find ways to view them from afar. Remember, no wildlife is guaranteed – your ride is more about riding in an amazing wilderness area.

Traverse rugged hills with stunning views and open vleis bordered by magnificent trees. You’ll be fascinated by the rich animal life, from the smallest insects to the largest elephants. You will also learn many of the traditional uses of plants and trees, basic principles of tracking, and aspects of traditional village life. Your ride will end at the banks of the Zambezi River where you’ll say goodbye to the horses and board a boat to Old Drift Lodge. This evening you have the choice to have an evening game drive in the Zambezi National Park or head out on a sunset boat cruise! Then enjoy drinks overlooking the river and a decadent meal. Fall asleep to the sound of the hippos wallowing in the river below.

This morning, head off early on a morning game drive in the Zambezi National Park. This reserve is home to a variety of incredible wildlife, including herds of elephants, giraffe, buffalo and even big cats. Come back to the lodge for a well deserved breakfast and then you have the choice to relax at the lodge or head out and do additional activities in the area. How about a helicopter flight?

Spending some time in your own room, overlooking the river, you’ll often see incredible wildlife from your private deck. Perhaps even have elephants come to drink from your pool! Depending on what you wish to do, you can have an afternoon game drive through the reserve, or head out on a sunset boat cruise. You have complete freedom to choose what you wish to do.

Rising with the sun you will head out to meet the horses for a morning ride through beautiful scenery, keeping an eye out for game. Alternatively, enjoy a last game drive, or even savour the chance to sleep in. After returning to the lodge for brunch and a quick shower, you will bid a sad farewell to your guides, before being transferred to the airport for your flight home on onwards to your next destination.

Victoria Falls, discovered by David Livingstone, is the world’s largest waterfall and is located on the Zambezi River at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Commonly known as Mosi-oa-Tunya – ‘the smoke that thunders’, the spectacular waterfall boasts the largest sheet of freefalling water with a 108m drop to the gorge floor. Entering the rainforest, you can spend a few hours exploring the twisting paths and different viewpoints. Explore on your own or embark on a guided tour. Either way, you get the chance to wander through the dense rainforest, learn about the history of the falls and see the unique bird and wildlife that live here. Top Tip: Grab a raincoat before you head in and wear hiking /running shoes with grip.

Alison Baker, who runs the horse trails in this unique area, works closely with the Wildlife Trust and has set up the IMPI – Anti-poaching unit. She is a passionate conservationist and supporter of animal welfare, who goes out of her way to rescue any animal that needs help. Alison and her team of Scouts and horses play a massive role in wildlife conservation and have been doing so, very quietly, for years. They are an integral part of anti-poaching work around Victoria Falls, doing daily patrols in areas that other units cannot reach by road or on foot. They are constantly on the lookout for poaching activities, snares and injured animals.

The Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust began in 2008 by Gavin and Shay Best, two passionate conservationists who at the time were shareholders in Wild Horizons; a top adventure & activity tour operator in Victoria Falls. They believed more needed to be done in the region for wildlife conservation. Wild Horizons helped establish the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, which initially involved a lot of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation due to the economic situation in Zimbabwe. In the last 15 years they have developed conservation efforts to include working with local communities to focus on conserving habitats, finding scientific wildlife management solutions, and improving health through screening and prevention of transboundary animal diseases.

GAME DRIVES AT THE WALLOW OR CAMP ELEPHANT
Head out on guided game drives in the private reserve in open vehicles. This is a great opportunity for photographing wildlife such as elephants, zebra, antelope and giraffe. Heading home in the dark, gives you the chance to see nocturnal wildlife.

GAME DRIVES AT OLD DRIFT
Situated in the Zambezi National Park, this diverse reserve is where the woodlands meet the river, and often attracts huge herds of buffalo and elephants. You’re also more likely to see lions or leopards in this reserve, although they are not easily spotted.

SUNSET CRUISE (SIGNATURE SAFARI/PAYABLE LOCALLY)
From the water you get the perfect vantage to watch the herds of elephant and buffalo come to drink as the sky catches fire at sunset.

HELICOPTER TOUR OVER THE FALLS (SIGNTURE SAFARI/ PAYABLE LOCALLY)
David Livingstone famously wrote on seeing the Victoria Falls for the first time in 1855 that “Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight”. Little did he know that 150 years later he could have exactly that opportunity. Embark on either a 13 minute flight or the longer 25 minute flight that includes both the falls and the spectacular Batonka Gorge.

WHITE WATER RAFTING (EXTRA COST)
The walls of basalt rock that capture the mighty Zambezi forms one of the great river corridors of the world. This is the domain of the Nyaminyami, the River God of the Tonga people and is the ‘highway’ for the rafts and offer some of the most adrenaline fueled white water rafting in the world.

ZIPLINING, CANOPY TOURS & BUNGY JUMPING
Imagine the Adrenalin rush traveling a speed of 106 km’s hurtling 425 m across the gorge, while suspended 120 m above the Zambezi water below! If this Zipline is too intense for you, embark on the Canopy Tour where you will be able to see the riverine forest from a whole new perspective or be a risk taker and leap off a 111m high bridge.