When
it
comes
to
choosing
where
to
go
on
safari,
the
options
can
be
overwhelming.
From
walking
with
elephants
in
Zimbabwe
to
exploring
wildlife
from
boats
as
you
float
down
the
River
Zambezi,
it’s
hard
to
know
where
to
begin
when
planning
your
bucket-list
trip.
But
if
you’re
looking
to
explore
the
wildlife
in
Africa, Yellow
Zebra
Safaris can
help
curate
your
perfect
trip.
Experts
in
the
field
–
or
the
plains,
should
we
say
–
they
can
tailor-make
your
trip,
whether
you’re
looking
for
a
romantic
honeymoon
or
a
fun-filled
family
holiday.
Below,
one
writer
details
her
trip
to
Zimbabwe,
curated
by
the
safari
specialists…
Day
one
The
flight
from
Victoria
Falls
to
Hwange
National
Park,
a
reserve
on
the
edge
of
the
famed
Ngamo
Plains,
takes
90
minutes.
Following
a
15-hour
journey
from
London
to
Zimbabwe,
I
was
expecting
to
head
straight
to
Wilderness
Linkwasha,
the
camp
we’d
be
calling
home
for
the
next
three
nights,
for
some
sleep
and
a
chance
to
freshen
up
–
but
in
Africa
there’s
more
important
things
to
do.
Our
guide,
Tongo,
told
us
a
family
of
lions
had
been
spotted
close
by;
when
you’ve
travelled
for
24
hours
to
try
and
catch
a
glimpse
of
‘the
big
four’,
you
don’t
waste
time
on
sleep.
With
Tongo
driving
us
through
the
deserted
and
untouched
paths
of
the
Ngamo
Plains,
my
exhaustion
slipped
away.
Half
an
hour
later,
there
we
were:
watching
a
group
of
six
lionesses
resting
in
the
sun.
It
was
thrilling,
it
was
beautiful.
Our
safari
adventure
had
begun.
Day
two
The
day
began
at
sunrise.
We
ate
breakfast
looking
out
over
the
never-ending
plain
surrounding
our
camp.
Metres
away
a
family
of
elephants
drank
from
a
water
hole
while
monkeys
made
themselves
known
in
the
distance.
Heading
out
on
our
first
morning
game
drive,
we
were
searching
for
a
cheetah
that
had
been
spotted
by
a
guide
earlier
that
morning.
On
our
way
to
the
area
it
was
last
seen
in,
we
passed
herds
of
elephants
making
their
way
to
a
water
hole
as
a
tower
of
giraffes
lowered
their
long
necks
to
drink
from
it.
As
we
approached,
in
the
distance
we
saw
not
one,
but
two
cheetahs
on
top
of
a
mound
in
the
open
plain
–
they
were
waiting
for
us.
We
admired
them
stretch
and
walk
the
plains
gracefully
for
the
next
hour.
It
was
only
11am.
We
made
our
way
back
to
camp
for
lunch
and
to
spend
the
afternoon
poolside.
The
day
was
finished
with
a
group
dinner
with
other
guests,
exchanging
stories
of
the
day’s
excitement.
But,
as
becomes
expected
on
an
African
safari,
wildlife
is
never
too
far
away.
A
hush
descended
on
the
table
as
an
elephant
appeared
from
the
darkness
to
take
a
drink
from
the
camp’s
pool.
The
perfect
ending
to
day
two.
Day
three
As
we
were
enjoying
breakfast,
one
of
the
guides
alerted
us
to
a
herd
of
buffalo
in
the
distance
that
were
making
their
way
to
the
water
hole
next
to
camp.
We
took
turns
looking
through
binoculars
out
to
the
plains:
it
was
an
alarming
site.
Hundreds
of
buffalo
were
getting
closer,
looking
bigger
by
the
second.
What
better
time
to
head
out
to
Wilderness
Linkwasha’s
sunken
hide?
Providing
a
unique,
ground-level
perspective
of
wildlife,
it
is
as
up
close
and
personal
as
you
can
get.
One-by-one
we
made
our
way
out
to
the
waterhole
and
climbed
down
the
ladders
to
the
lookout.
We
sat
and
waited
as
the
buffalos
descended
on
the
water
hole.
It
was
equal
parts
terrifying
and
awe-inspiring.
We
watched
in
silence
as
the
buffalo
surrounded
us,
mesmerised.
Suddenly,
an
enormous
foot
thudded
down
right
in
front
of
our
eyes.
The
buffalos
had
been
joined
at
the
water
hole
by
a
herd
of
elephants,
all
of
them
unaware
we
were
sat
watching
below.
Day
four
After
three
days
in
Hwange
National
Park,
we
travelled
45
minutes
by
plane
to
Wilderness
Ruckomechi
in
the
heart
of
the
Zambezi
Valley’s
Mana
Pools
National
Park.
All
internal
flights
are
organised
by
Yellow
Zebra
Safari
so
travelling
between
camps
is
surprisingly
straight-forward.
Our
jeep
pulled
up
to
our
new
home
on
the
banks
of
the
Zambezi
River
and
we
were
greeted
by
singing
from
the
camp’s
team.
Distracted
by
our
welcome,
we
hadn’t
noticed
an
elephant
approaching
from
behind
us.
The
camp’s
team
and
the
jeep
became
silent
as
it
walked
slowly
in-between
us,
an
arm’s
reach
away.
My
heart
was
racing.
The
elephant
was
known
to
the
camp;
she
was
a
local
who
regularly
came
to
visit,
so
she
was
at
ease
with
her
surroundings
–
so
much
so
that
she
stopped
to
graze
in
front
of
us,
gently
lifting
leaves
into
her
mouth
with
her
trunk,
her
body
brushing
past
the
front
of
the
jeep.
What
a
welcome.
Day
five
The
tented
rooms
were
on
the
banks
of
the
Zambezi
River
with
views
of
the
flowing
water
below
and
the
Zambia
mountains
in
the
distance.
It’s
a
morning
shower
view
that
stays
with
you
for
life.
After
five
days
of
game
drives,
it
was
time
to
take
our
exploring
to
the
water.
We
boarded
Wilderness’
boat
to
journey
down
the
Zambezi
for
some
catch-and-release
fishing.
But
fishing
soon
became
a
second
thought
as
we
navigated
the
hundreds
of
hippos
in
the
water,
countless
alligators
on
the
river
banks,
and
herds
of
elephants
crossing
through
the
river
from
Zimbabwe
to
Zambia.
We
finished
our
day
trip
with
sundowners
on
the
river
bank
listening
to
the
sound
of
the
hippos
around
us.
Day
six
Our
final
day
began
with
a
baby
elephant
joining
us
at
breakfast.
The
calf
stepped
up
onto
the
decking
of
the
camp’s
dining
area
and
bounced
around
with
the
enthusiasm
of
a
puppy,
enticed
by
the
smells
coming
from
the
morning’s
barbecue.
It
was
good
preparation
for
the
day’s
activity:
a
walking
safari.
We
drove
out
of
camp
to
find
a
good
spot
to
embark
on
our
hike.
Walking
a
small
section
of
Mana
Pools
National
Park,
we
listened
to
the
bellows
of
lions
in
the
distance
and
the
calls
of
birds
as
we
silently
moved
between
bushes,
not
knowing
what
was
round
the
next
corner.
Although
I
felt
entirely
safe,
thanks
to
the
guides,
I
still
got
jolts
of
adrenaline
as
the
trees
around
us
rustled.
Back
at
camp
we
looked
back
over
the
last
week,
sharing
our
favourite
moments
as
we
sat
round
the
fire.
It
was
hard
to
name
one
thing
as
a
highlight,
but
I
know
I’ll
never
forget
falling
asleep
in
my
four-poster
bed
on
the
banks
of
the
River
Zambezi
to
the
sound
of
cackling
hyenas.
Yellow
Zebra
Safari offers
six
nights
in
Zimbabwe
–
three
at
Wilderness
Linkwasha
and
three
at
Wilderness
Ruckomechi
–
including
food
and
drink,
flights,
transfers
and
safari
activities,
from
£5,497
a
person,
based
on
two
sharing.
Source:
“My
heart
was
racing”:
a
breathtaking
encounter
with
an
elephant
in
Zimbabwe
Post
published
in:
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