Zimbabwe Family Safari

Look for acrobatic monkeys, shy antelope, and vivid flowers among the emerald foliage. As with many creatures in Africa, keep your distance while watching the tame warthogs’ antics.

A sunset sail is a highlight of Victoria Falls. Late afternoon on a roomy cruiser, you and your family can enjoy armchair game viewing: Matriarchal herds of elephants cross the river, protecting the babies by keeping them in the middle of the group and helping them up the slippery, muddy slopes; pods of hippos blow bubbles and show off their impressive jaws; implacable Nile crocodiles lie on the shores, warming their massive bodies under the African sun.

Birders should watch for terns, waders, spoonbills, and the African fish eagle, which has an outstanding cry as it searches for tiger fish and Zambezi bream.

From there, you travel to Hwange for traditional morning and afternoon game drives in search of the Big 5 — wild dogs and leopards are making a comeback thanks to conservation programs.

Hwange is Zimbabwe’s largest national park and reaches to the Kalahari Desert, combining scenery and animals. There are 100 animal and 400 avian species. Hwange’s wild dog and leopard populations are thriving thanks to conservation efforts.

Your time at Somalisa Acacia will fall into the eternal rhythms of safari: up before dawn to witness animals drinking, back to the lodge for lunch and relaxation, then out into the bush in the late afternoon to see nocturnal predators revving up for the evening. In a private concession, you can take nocturnal rides and nature excursions with a guide. Night drives give owls, porcupines, and anteaters; nature walks offer animal hollows, insects, butterflies, and birds.

Finally, relax aboard a luxury cruiser on 226/140mi long Lake Kariba. As you sail, look for African fish eagles, cormorants, hippos, elephants, and the occasional Nile crocodile. Lake Kariba crosses the Zimbabwean-Zambian border and is the world’s largest dam by volume. You can observe game and birds from the decks of the Matusadona, a luxury safari cruiser.

While the chef prepares meals and snacks, you’ll explore Kariba on speed boats and pontoons and attempt tiger fishing. As a water source, Kariba attracts plenty of game. You may witness buffalo, impala, giraffe, zebra, and elephant quench their thirst. If your boat passes Matusadona National Park, look for lion and leopard on the shore.