ZIMBABWE

Old 'Rhodesia' is a relatively small country but offers a lot of diversity. Among other things, you can visit the beautiful nature parks of Hwange National Park with its many elephants and Matobo National Park. But the modern capital Harare is also well worth a visit. And of course, the seventh wonder of the world should not be missed during your trip in Zimbabwe - the Victoria Falls! Here, the Zambezi falls some 100 metres down, a spectacular sight that never ceases to amaze!

"MUST SEE IN ZIMBABWE"

Hwange National Park

The park covers some 14 600 km² and is home to large herds of elephant, buffalo and zebra. You will also find many predators, endangered species (wild dog and giraffes) and a very large bird population. A trip to the park today gives an impression of what much of Africa's interior would have been a 150 years ago.

Victoria Falls
SMOKE THAT THUNDERS

Victoria Falls is both the name of the impressive natural wonder and the nearby town. Aptly called 'smoke that thunders', this waterfall is one of Africa's top tourist attractions. Here, the Zambezi plunges thunderously down, forming the largest water curtain in the world.

GONAREZHOU NATIONAL PARK
THÉ PLACE OF ELEPHANTS

Apart from being “the place of elephants”, Gonarezhou is home to a rich diversity of species with several unique and range limited species. The Park is home to over 450 species of birds, 89 large mammal species, 61 small mammals, over 50 fish species, 116 identified reptile species and 34 amphibian species.

Mana Pools National Park
AUTHENTIC & UNSPOILT

Together with Lower Zambezi NP in Zambia, this park forms one large area. It covers some 2 000km², but much of it is impossible to reach. Because this area is so vast, it is still plenty authentic and unspoilt. Large herds of elephant and buffalo like to linger here.

LAKE KARIBA & MATUSADONA
INCREDIBLE WILDLIFE VIEWING

Zimbabwe's beautiful Matusadona National Park, situated on the shimmering shores of Lake Kariba, was declared a non-hunting area in 1958 and as such is wonderfully rich in wildlife and vegetation. With an easy supply of regenerative grasses as a food source and an abundance of water from the lake, buffalo, waterbuck, zebra and impala thrive. So do predators, so you can expect incredible wildlife viewing opportunities. The lake itself is teeming with huge Nile crocodiles and the lakeshore is home to fantastic herds of elephants and the Big Five. Meanwhile, bird life flourishes here, so keep an eye on the population of ospreys, among others. With 2,000 km of shoreline, Lake Kariba is the fourth largest man-made lake in the world and the second largest in Africa - an impressive place to explore, especially by boat.

ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARK
BORDERING ZIMBABWE & ZAMBIA

The Zambezi National Park is located just a few kilometers upstream from Victoria Falls town. The northern border of the national park is formed by the mighty Zambezi River which also forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia for much of its length. 

The park is home to four of the Big Five. There are regular sightings of elephant and buffalo, and less common sightings of lion and leopard. Other animals include giraffe and zebra, as well as a variety of antelope like impala, sable and waterbuck. The Zambezi River is teeming with hippos and crocodiles, as well as over 75 different species of fish, including the famous tiger fish – a big drawcard for avid fishing enthusiasts. The park is also a birder’s paradise. It is home to over 400 species including specialty birds. For example, the Pel’s fishing owl, African skimmer, collared palm thrush, lanner falcon, goliath heron, African finfoot, rock pratincole and long-toed lapwing. 

MATOBE NATIONAL PARK

For a park of this small size, only 440 square kilometres, Matobo Hills certainly imprints a lot. The landscape of spectacular granite headlands and giant whalebone ridges has been sculpted and shaped by the elements over time, rock walls have been used as canvas, depicting the incredible art of bushmen and times of war and peace between races, and artefacts have been found more than 35,000 years old in archaeological digs.

GREAT ZIMBABWE

Great Zimbabwe Ruins are wondrous ruins of once mighty Zimbabwe. This is a mythical place, where African kings once ruled. And, according to legends, the Queen of Sheba also lived here.

Welcome to the unknown Great Zimbabwe Ruins, a town declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. That lies far off the beaten track. Where the past is there for the taking.

Make no mistake; Great Zimbabwe Ruins is man's fifth largest structure. After the Great Wall of China in China, Machu Picchu in Peru, the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and Angkor Watin Cambodia. That's quite a nice list right?

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL TO ZIMBABWE

With mild temperatures, virtually no rain and low malaria risk, the dry winter season from May to October is generally considered the best time to visit Zimbabwe to spot wildlife, although September and October are extremely hot and dry months. The best time to travel to Victoria Falls is at the end of the summer rainy season, when the falls are completely submerged - go between April and May for the most dramatic views. However, it is the low-water season from August to December that is considered the best time to go rafting at Victoria Falls - the volume and speed of the water are reduced and the rapids are more exposed.