EXPLORE ZIMBABWES BEST GUIDED TOURS AND DESTINATIONS
Zimbabwe is one of Africa’s secret safari powerhouses. While most visitors to Southern Africa flock to the usual parks in South Africa or Botswana, Zimbabwe has some of the largest and most beautiful destinations for game viewing on offer. The landscape is extremely varied and you will find anything from beach-like lake shores to enchanted forests and typical lowveld, all teeming with wildlife.
Unlike other regions in Southern Africa, there are hardly any fences in Zimbabwe and animals can mostly roam freely. Don’t be surprised; even in more populated areas, a herd of buffalo or elephants might suddenly cross the street in front of you. Zimbabwe also looks back on a tumultuous history – including an economic rise and fall like almost no other in Africa, formerly known as the “Jewel of Africa” or the “Breadbasket of Africa”. It is home to some of the continent’s oldest ruins, the Great Zimbabwe, and other important archeological sites.
Zimbabwe’s infrastructure beyond the main tourist hubs is not as developed as in South Africa, for example, but overland tours and self-drives are possible. The same applies to accommodation; expect the majority of the lodges and guesthouses to be more on the rustic and dated side, which adds to the charm, however. Most visitors choose to combine several destinations during a fly-in safari – Zimbabwe is a vast country after all.
You have a plethora of national parks to choose from in Zimbabwe, starting with the country’s largest, Hwange National Park. Often compared to the more famous cousin Kruger in South Africa, it boasts a beautiful mix of open spaces, waterholes and thick bush – and less tourist crowds. Other unique parks are Matusadona National Park on the shores of the world’s largest manmade Lake Kariba and Mana Pools, a fairy-tale forest where elephants get up on their hindlegs to feed. Head into the country’s capital Harare or to Bulawayo to experience a truly African city or experience one of Zimbabwe’s top highlights, the Victoria Falls.