4 Day Victoria Falls Explorer Safari

Guests are met at any location of their choice in Johannesburg or Pretoria and transferred to the airport for the scheduled flight to Livingstone in Zambia. On arrival you are welcomed by our representative and driven to Stanley Safari Lodge, set on a hill bordering Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and overlooking the spray of the mighty Victoria Falls and the Zambezi River. After settling in, there is time to soak up the views from the lodge terrace before departing for your first visit to the falls themselves, where a network of paths and viewpoints reveals different angles of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the great natural wonders of the world.

Depending on the season, you may feel the cooling mist from the “Smoke that Thunders” or see sections of the rock face exposed in the drier months, offering completely different photographic opportunities. Your guide introduces the history and geology of the falls, as well as their importance to local communities on both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides, before you return to the lodge in the early evening for dinner and a relaxed first night in the Victoria Falls area.

This morning you return to the Zambian side of Victoria Falls to explore Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park more thoroughly. The name translates as “the smoke that thunders”, a reference to the towering spray and constant roar created as the Zambezi River plunges into the narrow Batoka Gorge between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Well-maintained trails lead to viewpoints where you can appreciate the scale of the cataract, and in the drier months it may be possible to walk out toward Livingstone Island for a dramatic look into the chasm below, conditions permitting and subject to safety guidelines.

After time to browse the curio market near the entrance, where local artisans display carvings, textiles and other crafts, you return to the lodge for lunch and a short rest. In the late afternoon you board a boat for a leisurely sunset cruise on the upper Zambezi River, watching hippos, crocodiles and prolific birdlife along the banks while enjoying drinks and snacks as the sky glows with one of Africa’s classic sunsets – an evening that will linger long in your memory.

Today is devoted to a memorable elephant experience in a wilderness area not far from Victoria Falls. After a detailed safety briefing, you meet the elephants and their handlers (mahouts). This is a gentle, ethical encounter focused on interacting respectfully with the animals. You'll spend time observing them feeding, socializing, and walking alongside them through the riverine bush near the Zambezi. This intimate time allows you to learn how these magnificent animals are cared for and gain a unique perspective on their behavior and personalities, all while enjoying the natural environment surrounding Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and the wider Victoria Falls area.

After the activity, you have time for a late breakfast or early lunch back at the lodge and a short rest before an afternoon visit to a nearby village and craft market. Here you are introduced to the customs and daily life of the Leya people, who have lived in the vicinity of present-day Livingstone for centuries and maintain strong cultural ties to the falls and the river. The day ends with an opportunity to browse for locally made crafts and then return to Stanley Safari Lodge for a final night under the Zambian stars.

After breakfast there is time for a final look toward the spray of Victoria Falls from the lodge or, time permitting, a short walk in the surrounding grounds to savor the sounds of the bush and the distant roar of the Zambezi River. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have a few moments to take photographs or purchase last-minute curios before checking out and meeting your driver for the transfer to the airport in Livingstone.

At the airport you board your return flight to Johannesburg, where our representative meets you on arrival and arranges the road transfer to any central location in Johannesburg or Pretoria of your choice. As the journey ends and you say goodbye, you carry with you lasting memories of the “Smoke that Thunders”, tranquil evenings by the river and the warm hospitality that defines this Victoria Falls Explorer Safari.