Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Steam-train Journeys
To take in the romance of yesteryear, book yourself a ride on a historical steam train. On
the Zimbabwe side there is the 1953 class 14A Garratt steam train through
Victoria Falls
cl drinks US$40, incl dinner from US$75)
, that will take you over the iconic bridge at
sunset or through the Zambezi National Park with either a full dinner or gourmet canapes
and unlimited drinks. Even if you're not booked on a trip it's worth getting along to the
station to watch the incredible drama of its departure. There are also daily vintage tram
trips (one way/return US$15/30) that head over the bridge and which also have a drinks
and canapes option (US$40).
www.royal-livingstone-express.com
;
Mosi-oa-Tunya Rd, Livingstone; incl dinner &
drinks US$170; Wed & Sat)
takes you on a 3½-hour ride including five-course dinner
and drinks on a 1922 10th-class steam engine that will chug you through Mosi-oa-Tunya
National Park on plush leather couches.
Wildlife Safaris
There are plenty of options for wildlife watching in the area, both in the nearby national
parks and private game reserves, or further afield. Both guided walks and jeep safaris are
available in the parks on both sides of the border. At
Mosi-oa-Tunya Game Park
(wild-
life sanctuary admission US$10; wildlife sanctuary 6am-6pm)
in Zambia, there's a
chance to see white rhinos, while the Zambezi National Park in Zimbabwe has a small
population of lions. Walks cost around US$70, and drives US$50 to US$90. There are
also dusk, dawn or night wildlife drives (US$50 to US$90). River safaris (US$30) along
the Zambezi River are another popular way to see various wildlife including elephants,
hippos and plenty of birdlife.
Another convenient option, only 15km from Victoria Falls town, is the
Victoria Falls
Private Game Reserve
( 44471;
www.shearwatervictoriafalls.com/safaris
)
, a 4000-
hectare private reserve run by Shearwaters. Here you can track the Big Five on a game
drive (US$90), where apparently you stand a 97% (to be precise) chance of encountering
a black rhino.
You can travel further afield, with operators arranging day trips to Chobe National Park
(see
Click here
)
in Botswana for US$170 (excluding visas). It's only a one-hour drive
from Victoria Falls, and includes a breakfast boat cruise, a game drive in Chobe National
Park, lunch and transfer back to Victoria Falls by 5pm. Wildlife viewing is excellent:
lions, elephants, wild dogs, cheetahs, buffaloes and plenty of antelopes.
