ZIMBABWE
A destination that will blow your mind
ZIMBABWE
Probably the most underestimated safari destination in Africa
Z imbabwe could very well be the most underestimated safari destination anywhere in Africa. Due to it's rather dramatic history, most people are not familiar with the amazing safari opportunities that lie within this nation. This is the home of the majestic Victoria Falls and the wild Zambezi River! Remote Matusadona, on the shores of Lake Kariba will mesmerise you with it's sunsets. The walking safaris in Mana Pools are most likely the best in the entire safari universe, in terms of close encounters with elephants.
The Eastern Highlands including Nyanga and Chimanimani will take your breath away with it's amazing mountains and hiking opportunities. The label of being the last frontier of the safari world could very well be handed to Gonarezhou in the Southern part of Zimbabwe, and historical sites like the Great Zimbabwe and Matobo Hills will take you back in time. Hwange is probably the most complete safari destination in Zimbabwe if you only have to choose one, with most safari activities available, including safari trains and horseback safaris.
We promise you this -you will never regret choosing Zimbabwe as your destination.
Hwange National Park
The perfect game drive option in Zimbabwe
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Established as a game park in 1928, and as a national park in 1961
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Hwange is Zimbabwes largest national park (14 651 km2)
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Varied landscape consisting of large water holes, panoramic views and open savannas, the majority of these pans are pumped as the combination of low rainfall and Kalahari sand soils means that natural water does not stand on the surface that long. This means they are essential to sustain the ecology of this region.
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Apart, from perhaps the largest herds of elephants in Africa, the park is also an important breeding ground for wild dog.
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All of the big cats can be found in Hwange National Park
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Activities include:
Game drives, night drives,
walking safaris
Hwange National Park
Zambia
Botswana
Namibia
Hwange is a MUST visit for those who have limited time, but still wish to combine an amazing safari with viewing the majestic Victoria Falls
Easily accessible from Victoria Falls by car and train, and by flights from Harare
Best time to visit is in the drier months between June and October. That being said the green season is fantastic to experience all the young antelopes that are born
Easy to combine with Victoria Falls area and even roundtrip including Botswana & Zambia
Elephants, are what really define Hwange, being home to one of the world's largest population of elephants counting over 40 000. The park is also an important breeding ground for wild dogs
Mana Pools National Park
Amazing walking safaris and canoeing on the Zambezi River
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The park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, and designated a Ramsar wetland of international importance in 2013
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Mana Pools National Park covers an area of 2,200km squared
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Mana means ‘four’ in the Shona language, in reference to the four large permanent pools formed by the meanderings of the middle Zambezi. The parks river frontage, islands, sandbanks and pools are flanked by forests of apple ring acacia, wild figs, ebonies and baobabs
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Specialists are investigating the remains of dinosaur skeletons which have recently been found in the south of the park in Chitake Springs area
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Activities include:
Game drives, night drives, walking safari and canoeing on the Zambezi River
Mana Pools National Park
Zambia
Botswana
Namibia
Mana Pools is a unique and wild safari destination, where you can combine canoeing safaris on the Mighty Zambezi River, and unforgettable walking safaris
Mana Pools can be accessed via road transfer from Harare or Lusaka (Zambia), safari plane or a boat transfer from Chirundu (border Zim/Zam)
Game viewing is at its best during the dry season, between June and October. The months of October and November are known to reach high temperatures of over 40 degrees celcius, and most camps and lodges are closed from January to March
Great to combine with safari in Matusodona National Park or a Houseboat trip on Lake Kariba. You could also easily add on a safari in one of Zambia’s National Parks
Some privately pumped pans that are artificially lit at night, attract vast numbers of wildlife and make for excellent game viewing. The National Park is also home to a number of wild dog packs, some of which have been collared for scientific research
Matusadona National Park
A unique and remote safari destination
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Matusadona was proclaimed a non-hunting area on 7 November 1958, before being declared as a Game Reserve in 1963, and then in 1975 it became a National Park, under the Parks & Wildlife Act of Rhodesia
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Matusodona National Park is relatively small, covering an area of 1,400 km2 squared
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This park gets its name from the rolling Matusadona hills that form part of its water rich landscape. Located on the shores of Lake Kariba, Matusodona offers unique game viewing, with elephant herd’s congregating along the shoreline
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In November 2019, African Parks and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) signed a 20-year agreement to restore, develop and manage Matusadona National Park with the aim to make this park a haven for black rhino once again.
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Activities include:
Game drives, night drives, walking safari, boat safari, fishing
Matusadona National Park
Zambia
Botswana
Namibia
Matusadona is a remote and unique safari destination on the shores of Lake Kariba.
Once in Kariba Town, Matusadona National Park is accessible by speed boat across Lake Kariba. Kariba is easily accessible by road from Harare and Lusaka, and by safari plane directly into Matusadona
The best wildlife viewing in Matusadona National Park takes place from June to October, during the Dry season. Animals are easier to observe because the bush thins out and wildlife gathers on the shores Lake Kariba
Great to combine with a Houseboat trip on Lake Kariba, or a safari in Mana Pools National Park. You could also easily add on a safari in Zambia
A unique wildlife viewing experience is offered along the shoreline from houseboats and fishing boats. Another highlight is the archaeological history where dinosaur footprints and artefacts as well as petrified wood are found scattered in selected area
Gonarezhou National Park
The last safari frontier and home of the elephants
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The Gonarezhou National Park was formed in 1975, by uniting former hunting areas and tsetse fly control corridors. The park was closed for a period whilst there was civil unrest in neighbouring Mozambique, but was re-opened in 1994
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Gonarezhou covers an area of 5,000 km squared and is Zimbabwe’s second largest National Park after Hwange
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Gonarezhou, a lowveld region of baobabs, scrublands and sandstone cliffs. It protects beautiful spreads of mahoganies, ironwoods and tall faidherbia albida trees
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Gonarezhou is a great park to see some of the more unusual antelope species, including the shy nyala antelope and the tiny suni
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Activities include:
Game drives, night drives, walking safari (Chilojo, Mwatomba Pool and Makonde Pool)
Gonarezhou National Park
Zambia
Botswana
Namibia
Gonarezhou, a Shona name meaning "Place of the Elephants", is one of the least visited of Zimbabwe's national parks and a special hidden gem of Zimbabwe.
Gonarezhou is a 8 hour drive from Harare, but it's not recommended to do it in one stage. We would normally add a day in Nyanga/Chimanimani on the way down, unless you prefer a direct private safari flight
The best time to visit is during the dry season, in the months of June to October. Access to the park is restricted during the months of December to March in the wet season
Perfect to combine with hiking in Nyanga and Chimanimani or the western circuit with Matobo, Hwange and Victoria Falls
One of the most prominent features is the beautiful Chilojo Cliffs, which present magnificent red sandstone cliffs that have been formed through eons of erosion and overlook the scenic Runde River
Nyanga National Park
Perfect hiking and outdoors activities in the Eastern Highlands
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This national park is one of the oldest in Zimbabwe, established as Rhodes Inyanga National Park, a bequest from Cecil Rhodes
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Stretching for 300km down the eastern side of Zimbabwe, bordering Mozambique, are the Eastern Highlands – the combined name for three ranges of hills and mountains – the rolling countryside and tea plantations of the Nyanga range; the granite peaks of the Chimanimani Mountains; and the green meadows and the coffee plantations of the Bvumba range.
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Nyanga National Park is situated in one of the most scenic areas of Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands. Rolling green hills and perennial rivers transverse the Park. With its stunning mountainous views, numerous waterfalls, varied activities and unique flora and fauna, Nyanga National Park can provide the visitor with an unforgettable holiday experience
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Activities include:
Scenic drives, hiking, golf, skywalk, ripcord, fly fishing, swimming
Nyanga National Park
Zambia
Botswana
Namibia
Nyanga and the Eastern highlands are a true mekka for those who are after hiking trips in raw unspoiled nature, in combination with an amazing skywalk and ripcord
Easy accessible from Harare with a drive of about 3,5-4 hours
Best time to visit is in the drier months between June and October.
Perfect to combine with a road trip including Gonarezhou, possibly connecting with Hwange and ending up in Victoria Falls
Mount Nyangani (2 593 masl) offers a challenging climb and spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. The Mtarazi Falls is the highest waterfall in Zimbabwe and the second highest on the Continent where you can do both ripcord and an amazing skywalk
Victoria Falls National Park
One of the 7 natural wonders of the world
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David Livingstone was the first non-African person to view the Victoria Falls in 1855
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While it is neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, Victoria Falls is classified as the largest, based on its combined width of 1,708 metres and height of 108 metres, resulting in the world's largest sheet of falling water
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As the sun sets on a full moon, Victoria Falls offers a rare and beautiful sight, as the light from the moon bouncing off the spray gives life to a ‘moonbow’- a rainbow during the night! The spectacle lasts from sunset to sunrise and is one of Africa’s most distinctive and striking secrets
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Victoria Falls is located about mid-way through the course of the Zambezi River, which is about 2600km in length
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Activities include:
Helicopter flights over the falls, bungee jumping off the Victoria Falls Bridge, gorge swing, zip-lining white water rafting, Zambezi River cruises and more
Victoria Falls National Park
Zambia
Botswana
Namibia
Victoria Falls, locally known as “Mosi- oa- Tunya” -The Smoke that Thunders is the main attraction of the vibrant city of Victoria Falls.The perfect start or end point to any safari. Add adrenaline rush activities to make it a complete holiday destination
Victoria Falls is easily accessible, with daily international flights to Victoria Falls Airport as well as a short drive from Livingstone Int. airport in Zambia
Victoria Falls is great to visit all year round, however the waterfalls are at its peak during the months of April and May
Victoria Falls is just 40km from Zambezi National Park, and 200km from Hwange National Park. Both parks are perfect to follow a visit to Victoria Falls, or you could choose to fly out of Victoria Falls to Tanzania, Zambia or Botswana
Special features of Victoria Falls include the Rainforest walk to witness the falls, local markets and souvenir shops, and a number of local restaurants and bars. An interesting and vibrant city to explore
Zambezi National Park
Perfect add-on to a Victoria Falls visit
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Split off from the Victoria Falls National Park in 1979, the pristine wilderness and wildlife habitat has been a National Park in its own right ever since
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The size of Zambezi National park is 560km squared
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The Zambezi River runs the length of the park for about 50km. The vegetation is mainly mopane woodland and riverine forest with some amazing trees, including apple-ring, fig and ebony
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Zambezi National Park is an excellent birding destination
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Can be visited as a day trip from Victoria Falls
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Activities includes:
Canoeing, fishing, game viewing, night drives, sunset cruises, day trip to Victoria Falls
Zambezi National Park
Zambia
Botswana
Namibia
Quiet and secluded on the banks of the Zambezi River, the Zambezi National Park offers game viewing and water based activities, without having to drive for hours to reach your safari destination
From Victoria Falls Town, Zambezi National Park is just a short one hour drive in a safari vehicle, and about 1,5 hours from Livingstone in Zambia
All year although in November to March you will experience some thunder showers. In the dry season, wildlife is easier to spot because vegetation is thinner, and animals gather around the Zambezi River
Perfect to combine with a visit to Victoria Falls Town, and a safari in Hwange National Park, as well as a daytrip to Chobe NP in Botswana
The Zambezi River is a special feature to the park, running for about 50km as the northern border to the park. Combine game viewing and water based activities, without having to drive for hours!
Matobo National Park
A great add-on destination for rhino tracking and history
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First declared as a National Park in 1926, when it was originally named the Rhodes Matopas National Park. It is the oldest National Park in Zimbabwe. The park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.
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The original boundary of Matobo National Park has been shifted and extended to the south, when an area of the Park was designated for a resettlement area, this benefited in a larger area than it was originally, covering an area of 424km squared.
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The name Matobo is the name that the local people, the Ndebele, call the area. The parks river frontage, islands, sandbanks and pools, flanked by forests of mahogany, wild figs, ebonies and baobabs.
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Matobo National Park is the location of Cecil John Rhodes grave, the Shangaan Memorial and a WW1 Memorial to the MOTH (Memorable Order of Tin Hats). It is also where local legends, claim that indigenous spirits are said to dwell.
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Activities include:
Game drives, walking, bird viewing, Stone Age Rock Art and Historic sites
Matobo National Park
Zambia
Botswana
Namibia
One of the highlights of going to this magnificent national park is the possibility of getting up close and personal with one of the most majestic and endangered species on the planet – The Rhino
Easily accessible from Victoria Falls by car and train to Bulawayo. The latter also offers flights from Victoria Falls and Harare
Best time to visit is in the drier months between June and October.
Easy to combine with Victoria Falls and Hwange NP, as well as Gonarezhou in the Southern part of the country
Fine rock paintings - within the park there are numerous sites which were once occupied by the San hunter-gatherers. The paintings at Nswatugi Cave are perhaps some of the finest in the country and contain beautiful renditions of giraffe, eland and kudu. The faint but distinct outline of a rhinoceros at the White Rhino Shelter was the impetus for the reintroduction of the species to the park in the 1960's
Visit our other destinations
HOME OF THE GORILLAS
HOME OF LAKE MALAWI
HOME OF CONSERVATION
HOME OF THE ZAMBEZI RIVER
