Important Information from Imvelo Safari Lodges on flights into Victoria Falls International, Zimbabwe

With the recent expansion and refurbishment of Victoria Falls International Airport, there are now 4 airlines and over 30 flights a week flying into VFA! We wanted to make sure operators have all the relevant information required to make the booking process as straightforward as possible and to provide our recommendations on the best routings for onward transfers to our various camps in Hwange National Park to ensure the best guest experiences.

Download a full round up of all the airlines, flight times and flight routings into VFA.

Below you’ll find detailed information on connecting from VFA to the various Imvelo lodges in Hwange.

Bomani Tented Lodge and Camelthorn Lodge – southeastern Hwange

Elephant Express railcar  
Bomani and Camelthorn guests arriving into VFA on SAA (from Joburg), SA Airlink (from Capetown), BA (from Joburg), and Ethiopian Airways (from Addis Ababa) unfortunately land too late to catch the Elephant Express train on that same day. Therefore we recommend over-nighting at Gorges Lodge and catching the Elephant Express rail transfer into camp the following day. The same applies on departure day as the flights all depart too early for guests to catch the Elephant Express Rail Car. Guests must opt for a road transfer, flight or depart the day prior to the flight and overnight in Victoria Falls.

Bomani and Camelthorn guests arriving and departing on the Air Kenya flight from and to Nairobi (09h35 and 18h05 respectively), will be able to make use of the Elephant Express Rail Car on their day of arrival and day of departure, provided the flight is on time. Those coming/going from/to Cape Town on the Air Kenya flights will not be able to catch the Elephant Express on arrival/departure day.

Road transfer:
On their day of arrival to VFA, guests can opt for a road transfer all the way to Bomani/Camelthorn. The road transfer is approx 4.5 hours, with the final 1.5hrs in an open game viewing vehicle through the Ngamo forestry land. However, with the current delays at the airport (see more below on this), it is likely that guests will arrive at camp in the late evening depending on border formalities at the airport. Wherever possible we do not recommend a road transfer off a flight currently.

On departure day, guests can opt for a road transfer from Bomani or Camelthorn to VFA. The road transfer leaves early (between 05h00 and 06h00) in order to ensure guests reach VFA in time for their departing flight. Please ensure your guests are aware of the very early start to reach VFA in time if the road option is chosen.

Charter flight: 
For Bomani and Camelthorn guests arriving on any flight into VFA may opt for a charter flight to Bomani Airstrip, just 5 – 15 minutes from each lodge respectively. Guests can also fly from Bomani/CT back to VFA on the day of departure, but as this requires considerable pre-planning, please work with the Imvelo reservations team on a case by case basis with this routing to ensure it can be included. Charter flights with seat rates operate from 1 May – 30 November into Bomani Airstrip and private charters can be arranged outside of these dates.

 

Nehimba Lodge – northern Hwange

Road transfer: For Nehimba guests arriving and departing on any flight into VFA, it is possible to road transfer into camp on the day of arrival/departure. However with the long queues that might be experienced at the airport, this will also mean a very late arrival into camp that night or a very early departure (between 05h00 and 06h00) as it is approximately a 4.5 hour road transfer to/fromVFA.

Charter flight:
Nehimba guests may also opt for a charter flight into Giraffe Springs Airstrip, just 20 minutes drive from the lodge. Charter flights with seat rates operate from 1 May – 30 November into Giraffe Springs and private charters can be arranged outside of these dates.

 

Jozibanini Camp – remote southern Hwange

Road transfer:
Due to the remote location of Jozibanini Camp, guests transferring in by road must overnight at Bomani, Camelthorn or Nehimba or another Hwange camp before heading to Jozi the next day, and for departure it is necessary to overnight at one of these camps again before their onward travel to VFA for departure.

Charter flights:
Jozibanini guests wishing to fly into and out of camp and arriving on Air Kenya to/from Nairobi may take an air charter to Manga Airstrip before the final 2 hour road transfer into Jozi on arrival and departure.

For Jozi guests on SAA, SA Airlink, BAA and Ethiopian Airways we recommend over-nighting at Gorges Lodge on arrival and then catching an air charter into camp the following morning. We advise the same on departure in order to ensure guests are not delayed for their departing flights.