Zimbabwe

A landlocked country situated in the Southern part of Africa, the name Zimbabwe derives from "dzimba dzemabwe" meaning "houses of stone " in  Shona. Its use as the country's name is a tribute to Great Zimbabwe, site of the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. A destination with the most diverse of the major African safari activities, Zimbabwe safaris offer white water rafting, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, mountain climbing and all forms of game viewing; by foot safaris , open  vehicle and boat. Unfortunately at this time the country is plagued by economic and political unrest. Nonetheless much of the country remains safe and we encourage you to visit major parks and most certainly the Victoria Falls area. We frequently visit Zimbabwe to assure our guests of the most current and expert advice. Small charter air taxis connect the major parks and reliable camps and lodges within the parks. Camps have had very attractive, competitive rates these past several years to try and attract visitors. We have visited Zimbabwe often since independence in 1981 and know Zimbabwe very well.  Richard lived in Harare several years heading up a project to bring indigenous people into tourism. VICTORIA FALLS Perhaps the single greatest scenic wonder in Africa, Victoria Falls has been attracting travelers for more than a century—since Dr. David Livingstone reported its existence to the outside world in the mid-19th century. This legendary waterfall, largest in the world, is created by the entire mile-wide Zambezi River plummeting into a huge chasm that separates Zimbabwe and Zambia. In the local language, Victoria Falls is Mosi-oa-Tunya, "the smoke that thunders."  Sizable resort towns have grown up around the falls, both on the Zimbabwe and Zambia side. The most atmosphere-filled place to stay is the old Victoria Falls Hotel. There are numerous other excellent hotel choices to fit every taste and pocketbook. It’s easy to spend three days in VF area. There is a wide variety of activities available in the region. Spend three unforgettable days taking trips on foot, or hop onto the optional ‘Flight of Angels’ for a panoramic aerial view, while enjoying the lavish service of the ornate Victoria Falls hotel, an opulent building in the grandest colonial sites after picturesque game viewing. There are numerous other excellent hotel choices to fit every taste and pocketbook. HWANGE NATIONAL PARK Hwange National Park, the largest park in Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe’s wildlife showcase is best known for its big elephant herds intermingling with 40 other species of mammals and 400 species of birds. Hwange is a dry park (no lakes or streams) but waterholes created throughout the park attract and sustain an enormous array of animal life and provide excellent game viewing. Wildlife viewing is mostly done from open safari vehicles or at watering holes near camps and lodges. LAKE KARIBA & MATUSADONA NATIONAL PARK In 1958, the Kariba Dam created 120-mile-long Lake Kariba, an inland sea of great beauty that attracts abundant wildlife. The lake is famous for its “drowned forests”—upright remnants of trees left in the rising waters that created the lake. The blackened trees make picturesque perches for the lake’s exotic birdlife, and often one sees crocodiles and hippos in the lake’s waters. There are also big populations of elephant, lion, and cape buffalo. Some 40-50 rhinos inhabit the park, but they are intensely protected and can only be seen on special guided walking safaris. The lake is interesting in itself, with its fishing fleet, spectacular sunsets, and blue-black mountains sloping to its forested shores. There are a number of very good lodges in the region. We recommend at least two nights in the lake region, more if possible. Matusadona National Park takes up 1400 square kilometers on Lake Kariba’s southern shore, and there are dense wildlife populations here. From the town of Kariba near the dam, short charter flights or high speed boats take visitors to safari lodges for wildlife viewing in small motor-powered boats or in open safari vehicles. Some lodges offer wildlife walks or canoeing, activities that include an armed professional guide for protection against wildlife. MANA POOLS NATIONAL PARK & LOWER ZAMBEZI RIVER Below Kariba Dam, the Zambezi River flows unimpeded for 167 scenic miles through a stunning wilderness that is perfect for canoe safaris. The canoe safari is one of Zimbabwe’s unique and best experiences. There is wildlife all along the river, with the largest concentrations in Mana Pools National Park (Zimbabwe side of the river) and Lower Zambezi National Park (Zambia side). Canoe safaris can last three to ten days and are available all year. Mana Pools, where the Zambezi flows through a wide valley, is a wildlife paradise with an abundance of hippos, lions, elephants, and cape buffaloes, seen in the background of spectacular bird watching. In recognition of its ecological significance, it was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Adjacent to Mana Pools are several safari lodges that offer wildlife drives and walking trips. Two nights is a minimum stay here, and we recommend three because it takes time (and expense, if you charter a flight) to get to some of the lodges. Mana Pools National Park is closed from the end of November to the first of April because of the rainy season. Some lodges on the Zambia side remain open all year using riverboat access from the Kafue/Zambezi River confluence. THE EASTERN HIGHLANDS Stretching some 180 miles from north to south along Zimbabwe’s eastern border is a mountain chain known as the Eastern Highlands, a place of striking beauty that reminded homesick British settlers of Scotland. The highlands range from gentle, rolling moorlands to the rugged granite peaks of Chimanimani National Park. The attraction here isn’t wildlife—it’s great hiking and fabulous scenery unlike any other place in Africa. The Eastern Highlands are popular in regional tourism for hiking, golfing, horseback riding, and birdwatching. There are several luxurious hotels and resorts. Further south is an archipelago of forested peaks called the Vumba Mountains (meaning “misty mountains”), home of the Vumba and Bunga Botanical Reserves, with their amazing range of shrubs and trees gathered from all over the world. The Vumba reserve is of special interest to birders, and includes an English country garden and teahouse on an ornamental lake. At the southern end of the Eastern Highlands is Chimanimani National Park, accessible only to hikers. This hiking paradise has big sandstone peaks, savanna valleys, wildlife that includes baboons and antelopes, and there’s wonderful birding. GONAREZHOU NATIONAL PARK Bordering South Africa and Mozambique lies Gonarezhou (“place of the elephant”); Zimbabwe’s most recently created park. This 5,000-square-kilometer park is not yet on the beaten track—it’s a place your friends probably haven’t been! It’s a true wilderness and an extraordinary landscape that shelters a profusion of rare species. In time, it will become more formally linked with the wildlife parks in adjoining countries. As wildlife is reintroduced to Gonarezhou, it may become one of the largest private reserves in all Africa. Foot safaris are possible here, and the park is worth a two-night visit if you are touring Eastern Zimbabwe. There are several fine lodges in the area. GREAT ZIMBABWE Built by the Shona ancestors of modern Zimbabweans, Great Zimbabwe is one of the most extraordinary man-made remains in Africa and the most significant ancient monument south of the Sahara. The modern nation of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) took its name from this haunting, ancient city, which prospered between the 12th and 15th centuries. A long granite wall, a citadel, and number of stone buildings remain, and there is a small museum. It’s a pleasant place to walk around in, especially in the mornings and evenings in order to enjoy the changing light. The Great Zimbabwe Hotel (a Zim Sun hotel) is just a few minutes from the entrance gate and the Touch the Wild Lodge is nearby. An excellent road connects Great Zimbabwe with Harare. MATOBO NATIONAL PARK Matobo National Park is one of Zimbabwe’s prime attractions, and is just an hour’s drive from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city. The park is a wondrous world of granite rock outcroppings with walking trails, spectacular scenery, and ancient San rock paintings. There are a number of lodges in the area, and the wildlife possibilities include white rhino, giraffe, zebra, and leopard. Matobo also has the world’s largest concentration of nesting black eagles. The park includes the stone ruins of Khami, capital of the Torwa civilization that once flourished here, and the burial sites of 19th century Ndebele chieftain Mzilikazi and colonial kingpin Cecil Rhodes. CHIZARIRA NATIONAL PARK On the top of the Zambezi escarpment is wild Chizarira National Park, Zimbabwe’s remotest park and a place right out of a Wilbur Smith adventure novel. There’s lots of game, including the world’s last breeding herd of black rhinos (only a few individuals left), but the wildlife is not concentrated in one area, and the main activity of interest is adventurous walking safaris. Views down into the Zambezi Escarpment from the cliffs at Chizarira are awesome, and the birding is excellent. Access is by a charter flight or a six-hour drive from Victoria Falls.

 

Next >