Zambezi river Victoria Falls Zimbabwe
Cultural Vibes Travel & Tours
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- Zimbabwe Tourism Authority
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $900 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Otto Voettiner | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The tour operator can make or break your trip. We had a 5 star operator. First class tour.
Our tour guide was always early to pick us up and a first class guy. The vehicles were clean and the operator was well connected in the community, which allowed us to make on the fly schedule changes. Victoria Falls is incredible on foot at the park as well as touring via helicopter. The tour operator arranged it all. You can’t do it by yourself. They arranged 5 star hotel for us to stay and have some meals. Everything was perfect. I would highly recommend this tour company and our tour.
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Email Otto | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our guide was very kind and professional, extremely flexible, and he had great connections.
Our tour was fantastic! Our guide was always on time, showed up with a smile, and was very knowledgeable. Our family of four thuroughly enjoyed our experience. We would highly recommend this 5 star experience!
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Email Zoe V | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kind, funny, and very organized and flexible
Cultural Vibes was amazing. They picked us up from the airport, set up all of our tours and meals, and were amazing when we asked for things to be added to our schedule. Would definitely recommend booking with them!
IL
Email Richard | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extremely organized, flexible and delivered a complete amazing tour.
I used Cultural Vibes to organize a tour for myself of Victoria Falls. Half of the activities were conducted by Cultural Vibes itself and the other were by operators hired by them. The best thing about the tour was their flexibility to meet my constantly changing requests. Tongesai had to build my tour not once, but twice due since I had to postpone my initial dates due to an injury. He always got back to me promptly and in the end everything worked out as expected, sometimes better.
Tongesai met me at the airport and took me to my lodgings at the Victoria Falls which lives up to its reputation for facilities and service. The breakfast and dinner buffets are exceptional in quality and selection. The first evening was a Zambezi river cruise which was beautiful.
On the first day contained an extremely interesting Elephant Interaction where I got to feed and touch an elephant. Later Tongesai took me around Victoria Falls which was as beautiful as advertised. I was there in September which meant the flow over the falls was at its minimum but Tongesai pointed out I could actually see them because there was no mist. That afternoon I walked around the town of Victoria Falls which has interesting shops, but a little less interesting.
On my second full day I started off with a game drive in Zambezi National Park which was a little less interesting than Kruger National Park, but the driver was excellent and fun to talk to. Later I took a helicopter ride over the falls which is worth every penny (especially when you get the front seat with the best view). That evening I went to the Boma dinner and cultural show which was outstanding both in food and entertainment.
The next day Tongesai took me over the border into Zambia where we were taken around by a Zambian guide. The Livingstone Museum is excellent for its history and nature collections, the rest of the town was less interesting and we didn't go to the Zambia side of the falls as I expected. On our return to Zimbabwe, Tongesai went out of his way to take me to the curio shops and helped me find a picture book of the falls I wanted.
The local village with its singing and dancing was more interesting. On my last full day Tongesai escorted me to the Botswana border where I was taken with another group on a tour of Chobe National Park which was simply the best day of animal spotting I had in two weeks. The numbers of elephant, hippos, tigers, giraffes and buffalo all gathering at the river is beyond description.
On my last day Tongesai took me to the airport where I easily made my flight on time.
In short, I was hoping for a trip of a lifetime and I got it. Everything that was promised was delivered and there were no disputes about money. I definitely recommend Cultural Vibes.
CZ
Email Viktor Chrást | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Cultural Vibes Travel & Tours - Zimbabwe (Botswana and Zambia)
On 10.9. until 1.10. In 2023, I went on a trip to Botswana, Zimbabwe and a short visit to Zambia with my clients - friends. I carefully prepared the trip in cooperation with the manager of Cultural Vibes Travel & Tours, Mr. Tongesai Mutematsaka.
After arriving in Gaborone we organized a short tour of the city ourselves and met Tongesai in Maun. Tongesai was our driver and guide practically the whole way. We visited the Okavango River Delta and its surroundings (Moremi Reserve, Mokoro boat cruise, flight over the Okavango Delta. This was followed by a visit to the Makgadikgadi Salt Flats, then the Elephant Sands area and in Botswana Chobe National Park with a cruise on the Chobe River.
Then we crossed to Zimbabwe, which was the main part of our journey. In the Victoria Falls area, we visited the Monde settlement, took a helicopter flight over Victoria Falls, followed by a cruise on the Zambezi River as part of a visit to the national park of the same name. We also walked past Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwean side and had a Boma dinner in the evening (too much of a "tourist thing").
On the Zambian side of the falls we saw white rhinos in Mosi - oa - Tunya National Park, then visited the museum in Livingstone and walked the Zambian side of the falls.
From Victoria Falls, we headed to Hwange National Park, where we had a beautiful program - a safari, and after Hwange, there was also a very interesting program in Matobo National Park (there, among other things, white rhinos (a mother with her little daughter), beautiful rock formations and prehistoric cave drawings.
The next place visited was Khami with very interesting buildings, and then we visited the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, which are among the most important world monuments. This was followed by a visit to the Chinhoya Karst and finally the gallery in Harare.
I would also like to comment on the provision of services: Accommodation in the hotels was at the standard, expected level, only the service at the Great Zimbabwe Hotel was rather lazy. Accommodation in lodges - very good and the best accommodation was in Iganyana tented camp in Hwange National Park, mainly due to the extraordinary professionalism and very friendly attitude of the staff there towards us, the visitors.
I must also highly praise all the local guides we met everywhere, e.g. in Chobe, Hwange and Matobo National Parks.
I want to emphasize that this journey is one of the most interesting that I have made around the world. I believe that my clients - friends were also satisfied with the set. Thanks to the travel agency Cultural Vibes Travel & Tours and Mr. Tongesai Mutematsaka.
I recommend Cultural Vibes Travel & Tours to anyone considering a trip to Zimbabwe.
BE
Email Bayram KOYUNCU | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Punctual and professional
Punctual and professional approach, everything went according to plan, thank you very much Tongesai and Conrad
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Email Kimberly Wix | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tongesai was helpful, friendly, open and trustworthy.
Our tour of Victoria Falls and our helicopter ride was amazing. Tongesai was very helpful and tailored our visit to what we wanted to see and do. We loved hearing about the history of Zim. Our accommodations were wonderful and the food was delicious!
LU
Email Dimitrios Galanakis | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An excellent tour operator with a very high level of professionalism and knowledge.
We opted for the offer of Cultural Vibes Travel & Tours for our safari thanks to, among other things, the very good reviews that we read online. And they were correct. Cultural Vibes, and especially Tongesai Mutematsaka, organised the tour perfectly.
Since the moment we made the booking, communication with them was easy and seamless, providing us with all the necessary information. During our tour, Tongesai was an excellent guide and a pleasant companion. He knew the areas very well, was well prepared and gave us useful instructions and information about the places, the people and the wildlife. The activities were exciting and the whole programme was well thought out. Accommodation was perfect and we were provided with all necessary amenities.
All in all, this tour allowed us to get the most out of the places we visited. A big thank you to Tongesai, and to Cultural Vibes, for this beautiful experience.
LU
Email George | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Extremely professional, very organized with attention to detail and high quality of service provided
The experience with Tongesai from Cultural Vibes was excellent from the start. The information before the actual booking was provided quickly and in a very professional and illustrative fashion. Very detailed program was provided in advance, with plenty of pictures, so we knew exactly what we were going in for! On the day of our arrival we were met by Tongesai at the airport and transferred to our lodge. All of our lodges were of very high standard, just as they looked in the pictures. The food was excellent too. Also, and very importantly, Tongesai was a very pleasant and knowledgeable guide. He drove us everywhere in his van, which was very comfortable, clean and air-conditioned. He was also very flexible when we proposed slight changes to the plan, for example some later departures from the lodges in the morning or a drive to a nearby city on a free morning, which he took upon himself to organize and he accompanied us, for no extra cost. The game drives were excellent too, conducted by professionals who were organized and committed to delivering the best possible service. The tour was admittedly not cheap, but not more expensive than other analogous options available, and it was definitely great value for money. All in all, our experience with Cultural Vibes was excellent and I would warmly recommend them, and particularly Tongesai, for an amazing experience in Africa!
Very efficient and good service
All arrangements for our stay in Zimbabwe were done vua email with Tongesai and it was lovely to actually meet him when we started our tour. We stayed in Pioneers Lodge which is a beautiful place designed lkke an kld style colonial home. Comfortable room with nice bathroom. Beautiful gardens, two pool areas and plenty seating in veranda and lounge. Only negative would be service is a bit erratic for a place if this standard and although food good was not piping hot. The tours were excellent and Garry, our main driver/guide was reliable, helpfuland very knowledgable. We went on helicopter ride over Victoria Falls and a guided walk by them - spectacular! We had an early morning drive in Zambezi National Park (it is VERY cold that early so even though we thought we had warm enough clothing on and they give you ponchos and hot water bottles it is still cold as vehicle has open side). We saw giraffes and a group of 5 lions just lazing in the early morning sun! Had a welcome stop for hot chocolate next to the river. We went on a sunset cruise on Zambezi river which was enjoyable and saw hippos. Also went to a cultural drumming show called BOMA which was OK with masses of food but wasn't very good quality. The highlight was a day trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana. We saw the largest groups of giraffes and elephants that we have seen on any safaris. Our guide Ledge had seen lion tracks and we drove to that area and were so lucky to see 2 lions sleeping undet bushes. The second one woke when we were there and put his head up and roated!! Amazing to be so close to these powerful beasts. We had a good buffet lunch and then went on a river cruise snd saw hippos, crocodiles and groips if elephants crossing the river. It was a wonderful day we will always remember. As well as seeing all of the animals it is a very scenic place. We would highly recommend Tongesai and his team at Cultural Vibes. We went on to stay in Zambia for a couple days and they arranged our transfers for this as well. We viewed the Falls from this side and although not as powerful, you get up closer to them. Would recommend asking for a trip that went to both sides (could do in a day).