The Imvelo Safari Lodges are situated in superb wildlife areas, with some spectacular locations and views, located in Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park and with an emphasis on responsible tourism. The lodges enjoy incomparable wildlife and photographic safaris with fully qualified and highly experienced guides, guided game walks, bird watching, breathtaking views and surroundings, adrenaline packed activities, luxurious accommodation and thoughtful, friendly and attentive staff. The majority of their lodges are situated in private conservancies either in, or adjacent to, the Parks. Imvelo believe in giving back to the local communities and are involved in a number of community outreach programmes as well as conservation projects directly aimed at improving and assisting wildlife.

We are proposing a press trip to experience the camps to be hosted by Mark Butcher, the inspiration and drive behind Imvelo. There is a brand new airport at Victoria Falls with lots of plans afoot for new schedules from Europe which has the potential to make an enormous difference to tourism to Zimbabwe.

Why come to Zimbabwe?  Why with Imvelo? 

• Visit Victoria Falls, one of the wonders of the World and the highest Falls in the World.  Victoria Falls is geographically at the heart of Southern Africa and with a brand new airport opened in 2016, it is teetering on becoming one of the key hubs for arrivals to Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia and Namibia.  Imvelo has 2 lodges near to the Falls, offering more than just a visit to see this amazing wall of water.  Add on raptors at eye level, canoeing the mighty Zambezi, community support and walks, water and wildlife; a winning combination.
• Dig below the surface of one of Zimbabwe's greatest National Parks – Hwange.  Visit the wide open Ngamo plains in the South East, the wild and largely unvisited Jozibanini and then the craggy, hilly Northern area which offers a different aspect of this mighty Park.  With a population of 44,000 elephant, at the 2015 count, you are sure to see a few of these mighty giants and learn and partake in the discussions as to how to manage their march on the precious water pumped for them.  However it is not all about elephant, there is a lion guardian programme, cheetah and wild dog research and the best of all is the fact that it is still relatively unknown and visited.  In 2015 40,000 visitors entered, compare that to the 1.6 million to the Kruger.
• Experience safaris from all angles: game drives in 4x4 safari vehicles, walking, night drives, full day game drives that, during dry season, are a 'pump run' which assists with the water supplies that are the heartbeat of Hwange, safari cycling, rail car, canoeing as well as a tour of the Falls and rainforest all with Imvelo's passionate and excellent guides.
• Visit the communities that we work with, meet the head man and visit one of his villages and take a walk to school like a kid again. Community involvement is at the heart of what Imvelo do.

Brief details of the trip are as follows:

16th to 22nd March 2017

6 nights

Cost: US$500 per person

16 – 17 March – Gorges – 1 night

17 - 18 March – Camelthorn – 1 night

18 - 20 March – Jozibanini – 2 nights

20 – 22 March – Bomani – 2 nights

22 – 23 March – Nehimba – 1 night

23 - 24 March - Zambezi Sands – 1 night

24th March - Depart

16th March – Arrive Victoria Falls and overnight at our latest new camp Little Gorges Tented Lodge with a visit to Gorges Lodge, Victoria Falls

17th March – Transfer to Camelthorn Lodge in the South East of Hwange, using the Elephant Express for a really unusual rail safari experience. 

18th/19th March – Jozibanini is also relatively new and is situated in one of the least explored corners of Hwange where the wildlife is still not used to humans. It was inspired by a poaching incident here in late 2014 but has proved to be one of our best camps for unique, up close and extraordinary game viewing.

20th/21st March - Bomani Tented Camp; whilst at Bomani, we will visit some of the community programmes Imvelo are involved with and take a full day game drive and visit one of the many pumps that we keep operational and that provide water for wildlife, also called the 'pump run'.

22nd March - Transfer to Nehimba on the Elephant Express for a really unusual rail safari and then continue by safari vehicle to hilly Northern Hwange which offers a different wildlife experience.

23rd March – Return to Victoria Falls and stay at Zambezi Sands River Camp, situated on the upper Zambezi River, take in the view or canoe this mighty river.

24th March – Depart

Total cost is US$500 and includes all accommodation (sharing), meals, soft drinks, national parks fees and transfers. We are heavily subsidising this trip but we would consider waiving the fee for the right commission or offsetting it against appropriate marketing opportunities.  The cost does not include international flights to/from Victoria Falls but we would be happy to put you in touch with tour operators that work with us.

At this stage we are looking at the feasibility of running this as a very small press trip across the UK, US and Nordic areas so please let us know if you are interested and if so, what opportunities and commissions might be possible?  The final deadline for registration for this trip is 31 December 2016.