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Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a country of remarkable natural beauty and wildlife diversity, making it one of Southern Africa’s premier safari destinations. Hwange National Park is famous for its vast elephant populations and an impressive variety of species, including the rare Roan and Sable antelope. The park is also a predator stronghold, with thriving populations of lions, cheetahs, and wild dogs.

Mana Pools offers exceptional opportunities to witness some of Africa’s most relaxed bull elephants, along with predators like lions and wild dogs. Together with Hwange and Gonarezhou, these parks boast healthy populations of buffalo, elephant, lion, and elusive leopards. For those seeking rhino sightings, Matobo National Park and Victoria Falls provide key locations, with Matobo Hills also offering chances to see leopards and Verreaux’s eagles.

Bird enthusiasts will find Zimbabwe a paradise, with national parks averaging 300 to 400 bird species. During the rainy season from November to April, the arrival of migratory species boosts these numbers even further. Whether you’re drawn by big game, diverse birdlife, or breathtaking landscapes, Zimbabwe offers a truly immersive and authentic African safari experience.

  • Mana Pools National Park, Sapi and Chewore Safari Areas is an area of dramatic landscape encompassing mountains, floodplains and the famous Zambezi River. The annual congregation of animals along the ancient floodplains constitutes one of Africa’s outstanding wildlife spectacles.
  •  Victoria Falls  or Mosi Oa Tunya – “the smoke that thunders” – this magnificent sight is a must for all to see. Known as one of the natural Seven Wonders in the World – the Victoria Falls is 1.7km wide and 108 metres drop into the chasm below. Amazing rainbows can be seen at certain times of the day and if you time your trip to Victoria Falls over the full moon, you can see the Lunar rainbow, something not to be missed. gorges. The spray of Victoria Falls rises kilometers above the Falls and is seen for miles.Victoria Falls is part of the Zambezi National Park, so why not incorporate a game drive or game walk into the Park, where you can encounter a variety of different animals. The Zambezi National Park runs along the Zambezi River (an area of 56 000 hectares) – so not only is it picturesque but you may also want to try your hand at a bit of fishing or enjoy a sundowner cruise where you can just relax and enjoy the scenery, animals and cocktails, with the grand finale of a beautiful sunset. There are a various other activities on offer in Victoria Falls – white water rafting, helicopter rides, bungi jumping for the more adventurous, the famous bridge tours just to name a few. Victoria Falls offers a wide variety of accommodation, from guest lodges, hotels to camps, so there is always something to fit everyone’s budget. If there is time, try and visit the Victoria Falls Bridge – interestingly this bridge was designed in England and was transported in pieces and assembled on site – this bridge connects Zimbabwe to Zambia and was built in 1906.
  • In Hwange National Park, visitors should explore the renowned waterholes like Ngweshla and Nyamandhlovu, which attract large herds of elephants and other wildlife. The park’s diverse habitats, from open grasslands to teak forests, offer excellent game drives with chances to spot rare species like Roan and Sable antelope, alongside predators such as lions, cheetahs, and wild dogs.
  • The ruins of Great Zimbabwe are a unique testimony to the Bantu civilization of the Shona between 11 – 15th centuries. These ancient ruins cover an area of over 80 ha and give an idea of the significance and size of this centuries old city
  •  Khami was abandoned in the mid-16th century. Objects from Europe and China show it was a major trading centre. The property demonstrates an outstanding example of the type of building from this era and is well worth a visit.
  •  Matobo National Park is a profusion of distinctive rock landforms. The large boulders provide shelter and have been associated with human occupation from early Stone Age to early historical times. The Matobo hills have one of the most outstanding and the highest concentration of rock art in Southern Africa.

November to May: This is our summer season where we experience tropical thunderstorms and have an average daily temperature of 34 degrees Celsius, reaching a high of 40 degrees Celsius.

June – August: This is our dry winter season where the temperature can drop to at night to 0 degrees Celsius and reach around 14 degrees Celsius in certain areas.

Sept – Oct: Our hottest and driest months in Zimbabwe. Average daily temperature during the day can rise to +/- 40 degrees Celsius

CAMPS

Camps in Zimbabwe tend to be small with a maximum of 20 guests. These small intimate camps offer a variety of activities dependent on area. Zimbabwe is world renowned for the professional guiding qualifications our Zim Pro-Guides have. Most camps employ a professional guide and can therefore offer a game walk as one of the activities from camp.

AVERAGE NIGHTLY COST OF A SAFARI

The average cost of a hotel in Victoria Falls or Harare is around US$250 per person per night on a bed and breakfast basis in a shared room.

The average nightly cost at a small intimate safari park is (please note this is dependent on the season and grade of the safari camp) in low season anything from US$450 per person in a shared room and high season varies from US$750 – US$975 per person in a shared room on an all-inclusive basis.  

SAFARI ITINERARIES ARE ON AVERAGE ARE  7 – 14 DAYS

  • Areas most frequently visited for first time travellers: Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park and Mana Pools National Park
  • Travellers interested in history and culture will enjoy visiting the Great Zimbabwe ruins, Matobo Hills and Victoria Falls
  • Regular travellers to Zimbabwe will usually visit other national parks, including Matusadona and Gonarezhou National Park
  • Those that prefer to self-drive and enjoy a longer holiday through the country will visit the eastern border mountainous areas of Nyanga, Bvumba and Chimanimani

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS

There are 3 main international airports which are the main gateway to Zimbabwe:

  • Harare International Airport
  • Victoria Falls International Airport
  • Bulawayo International airport

CURRENCY – The main currency used in Zimbabwe is US$ (United States dollars)

LANGUAGE – The main languages spoken are English, Shona and Ndebele