We booked the 5-day tour of Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana.
The accommodation throughout was lovely, and we were met with genuinely warm hospitality from all the staff. One of the highlights was the sunset river cruise on the Zambezi River, an absolutely unforgettable experience. Visiting Victoria Falls from both the Zimbabwean and Zambian sides was another major highlight. Just be warned: you will get absolutely soaked on the Zimbabwe side, but it's all part of the fun!
All our drivers were friendly, knowledgeable, and welcoming, we really appreciated their insight and energy.
However, a few things could have been better. Having travelled extensively through Africa, we found it quite unusual not to have a consistent guide for the full tour. At times, we were simply dropped off and handed over to a new driver or guide, which made the experience feel a bit disconnected. Perhaps it was due to border crossings, but clearer communication around this would have helped. Also, having drinking water available in the vehicles would’ve been appreciated, especially in Africa.
The biggest letdown was the Chobe "safari" day. Unfortunately, we found it disappointing and far from what we would consider a genuine safari experience. Having done a 12-day safari in Tanzania previously, this felt more like a theme park ride than a wildlife adventure. At one point, there were 11 vehicles lined up in a convoy. It was chaotic and, honestly, quite stressful, especially when surrounded by elephants. We witnessed a clearly agitated elephant cow trying to shield her calf from the crowding vehicles, and another elephant reacting aggressively to a car that came too close. While we understand that Cuckoo Tours are not the direct operators in the park, it's worth reconsidering this part of the itinerary. There are likely more ethical and immersive day safari options elsewhere.
Lastly, travellers should be aware that park entry fees are charged at nearly every stop, often around $50 USD per person per park, something that can add up quickly over multiple days. Make sure you do your research and have a KAZA visa, which gives you unlimited access into these countries, otherwise that would be an additional cost each time your passport is stamped.
In all, the trip had some memorable and special moments, but there are a few areas where the experience could be improved for future travellers.
June is a fantastic time to visit the Victoria Falls and Game Parks. The weather is mild, but fine. The Victoria Falls are absolutely beautiful and Chobe National Park was amazing. All the activities that are included in the tour give you an amazing overview of the area. Could see ourselves coming back here. The sunset river cruise and 3 course dinner was wonderful and the sunset safari and African BBQ braai was fabulous. Nicholas our guide was very informative. Our guide Simon for the Victoria Falls was also very informative. Hwange National Pk was good, but is a 3hr long drive there and back. The roads are terrible, but our driver did an amazing job getting us there and back. Highly recommend this tour if you want to experience as much as you can, but allow yourself an extra 2 days to fit in a helicopter flight and if you like adventure sports there’s lots to do.