Start with a pick-up from Victoria Falls Airport. For a small airport, Victoria Falls has a real buzz. Perhaps it’s the multi-million-dollar facelift and high-tech upgrades that will see more than 1.7 million passengers jump off into Africa’s adventure capital each year. Perhaps it’s the burst of dry heat as you exit onto the tarmac or, better yet, the heady sense of anticipation of experiences yet to come. Victoria Falls itself is a pretty little tourist town, situated a short drive from the airport, with vibrant cafes and curio shops all conveniently located within a square kilometre of each other and buffalo that jay-walk with no care for road rules. With visas in hand, it’s a steady process through Vic Falls airport customs. Once you exit into the arrivals hall, your driver will be waiting with a big smile and a firm handshake to welcome you and whisk you away to your lodge.

A little R&R poolside is the order of the day for the early arrivals or a chance to wander through the town, and as an optional activity (at own expense) you can pre-book the famous Stanley’s Terrance high tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel – complete with a goodie-laden cake tower in a magical delightful setting. If food is not your thing, it’s worth it for the views past ivory coloured umbrellas to the Victoria Falls Bridge in the distance and the spray from the Falls below.

And, as the sun throws a cloak of vibrant orange into the night sky, you’ll join a sunset cruise on the mighty Zambezi where crocodiles lurk and hippopotamuses wallow, while buffalo, zebra and giraffe graze on patches of green along the riverbank. As the last rays of light begin to fade, you’ll return to your Lodge, a home-away-from-home, for a peaceful evening peppered with the grunt from nearby hippos and the croak of a thousand frogs or a feast of mouth-watering African-fusion cuisine (own expense) as you dine beneath star-filled skies.

Wake with a morning coffee and the sounds of life on the Zambezi. After a leisurely breakfast, your local guide will collect you for the day’s adventure, so be sure to wear sensible shoes and comfortable clothes and pack a big water bottle. Today is about discovering two natural icons of Africa – the gigantic pre-historic Baobab tree of life and Mosi-oa-Tunya – the Kololo name for The Smoke That Thunders, Victoria Falls. Rainy season (from March to April) affords the absolute best viewing of Mother Nature’s power but, out of season and at their lowest ebb in November, the falls are equally as spectacular. There’s a real sense of anticipation as you wind your way through the entry gate and along bush-lined tracks whilst antelope graze just metres away in the nearby undergrowth. As you draw close to the viewing platform, there’s an almighty roar of water and a fine mist settles on your face. Rainbows refract and dance in the light as you stand in awe before this impenetrable barrage of water cascading into a gorge. In amongst the drama of the falls, you’ll notice the surrounding green lush cliffs thanks to the true rainforest micro-climate created by the wall of mist, 365-days-a-year. Be prepared to cover some distance as you follow the lines of the cliff-top snapping pictures at every twist and turn. A short drive away from this World Heritage site and the touristy strip lies another natural wonder… a pre-historic species that, over 2000 years, has grown over 24m high and 25m wide. The Big Tree or Giant Baobab, as it is known, is the symbol of life on the dark continent – a life-giving beacon in the arid landscape – its bark, its fruit, its leaves and trunk all used by the traditional owners of the land. Don’t be fooled by false history, this Big Baobab tree isn’t ‘the tree’ that Victorian Explorer, David Livingstone carved his initials on back in 1855 to claim the region for his Queen, but it’s certainly had its share of historic name-carvers over the years.

The afternoon is as action-packed or as laid back as you choose to make it. Your lodge’s swimming pool offers a welcome respite from the heat, or for those with a sense of adventure, an optional (own expense) ‘Flight of Angels’ helicopter flip over the Devil’s Cataract and wider falls offers the chance to appreciate the sheer power of this place. As the last rays of light begin to fade, you’ll return to your Lodge for another feast of mouth-watering African-fusion cuisine (own expense) as you dine beneath star-filled skies.

As the sun rises on your last day, dawn is a great time to reflect, to watch the sky colour over the mighty Zambezi and to spot the wildlife that will inevitably forage around your accommodation. If your flight is only later in the day, ask us to arrange extra adventure activities, as there’s plenty on offer to make the most of your stay. If not, consider extending your stay – it’s not easy to part with this piece of paradise. As a last goodbye, wander in your accommodation’s natural setting before your driver appears for your transfer back to Victoria Falls International Airport. Pilots in these parts are well aware of the region’s main attraction and will often tip their wings as they fly over the falls to afford travellers one last view of one of Mother Nature’s finest waterfalls.