Zimbabwe

The Journey Begins Here

The smoke that thunders

Hear the thunder of Victoria Falls and walk through the uprising mist, or catch the lunar rainbow in the waterfall spray. Swim in Devils Pool, if you dare, and then walk amongst the huge strewn boulders in Matobo National Park, and enjoy amazing food and night life in the town of Victoria Falls after a day of wildlife encounters in Hwange National Park. Most of the country is elevated, with a central plateau with a mountainous eastern region. Zimbabwe is known for its tropical climate and a rainy season lasting from late October to March.

We would be amiss not to mention Zimbabwe’s checkered past. Prior to 1980, the country was incredibly successful, known as the “Jewel of Africa” for its prosperity, with a thriving tourism industry, being a net exporter of food, and part of the Commonwealth. Sadly, in the decades that followed, the country has been in economic decline, with a corrupt government, human rights violations, a disastrous land reform programme implemented in 2000, and several market crashes, with the currency suffering from severe hyperinflation. By 2003, the economy had fully collapsed and up to one-quarter of the population is believed to have fled the country. NGOs have frequently stepped in to provide food to the people here. However, the former president is no longer in power. Almost 10% of Zimbabwe’s GDP is due to tourism, and we would actively like to help with the rebuilding of this country by supporting their tourism efforts. Given this reliance on tourism, tourists are generally safe in the country, and especially when accompanied on a tour, within national parks, and in lodges and camps.

Begin your Safari Today

Recommended Destimations

There’s much to see and do, but these are a few of the highlights:

Hwange National Park, Victoria Falls National Park and town,
Matobo National Park

  • Hwange National Park

  • Victoria Falls National Park and town

  • Matobo National Park

Safari Essentials

What to see

Hwange National Park

At over 14,500 km2, the park is one of the 10 largest national parks in Africa, reportedly containing almost 400 species of bird and over 100 types of animals – lions, giraffe, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas.
Pronounced “wang-ee”, the elephant defines the park, having a population in the park of around 40,000. When to visit? May to October. Best time for wildlife viewing? July to October when animals congregate near the 60 waterholes or pans. Moonlight game viewing, escorted daytime walks, game viewing, and some fishing may be possible. Three camps are available here, accessible by paved road until the entrance of the park, and the park is only an hour’s drive from Victoria Falls.

Victoria Falls National Park and town

Victoria Falls needs no introduction. Its local name, Mosi-oa-Tunya, which means “the smoke that thunders” , captures it perfectly.
With 2/3 of the falls being inside Zimbabwe, the views are spectacular as the falls flow year-round. Nights and morning of the full moon, the park is open early and late for those who wish to see the lunar rainbow. The town of Victoria Falls is known for its excellent restaurant options and vibrant night life.

Matobo National Park

Feel as if you’re on another planet, surrounded by stunning landscape of balancing rocks, kopjes, giant boulders impossibly balancing on top of one another.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park is considered the spiritual centre of Zimbabwe, with rock art caves, stunning viewpoints,

What to do

  • Victoria Falls, Devils Pool
  • Good food
  • Local cuisine and crafts

  • River swim (conditions permitting)

  • Safaris

  • River rides

  • Game drives

The Stats

  • Official name
    Republic of Zimbabwe
  • Population
    Roughly 16 million
  • Language
    16 official languages, with English, Shona, and Ndebele most commonly used.
  • Currency
    Given hyperinflation, their own currency, the Zimbabwean dollar, was suspended by the government and is no longer in use. USD has been adopted instead and the official currency, and many others are used, such as the South African rand, the euro, Botswana pula, pounds sterling, etc.
  • Area
    390,757 km2
  • People
    99.4% Black African, 0.2% White African, 0.4% Others
  • Established
    Self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia in 1923, independence declared 1965 unilaterally.
  • Capital
    Harare
  • Dress
    Conservative dress, especially for women, is recommended here
  • Part of
    UN, South African Development Community (SADC), African Union (AU), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
  • Economy
    Since the 1990s, Zimbabwe has been in economic decline, experiencing several crashes and hyperinflation.
  • Banking
    Cash generally not easily available in ATMs
  • Transportation
    Road and airway transport available from Harare and Victoria Falls
  • Issues
    About 60% of Zimbabwe’s wildlife has died since 2000 due to poaching and deforestation.
  • Government
    Unitary presidential republic
  • Main industries
    Minerals, gold, mining, agriculture, and tourism.
  • Rainy season
  • Borders
    Landlocked between South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Mozambique
  • Sport
    Football (soccer), rugby, cricket
  • Religion
    85% Christian, often mixed with enduring traditional beliefs – Ancestral worship

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