Zimbabwe Travel Guide

Zimbabwe with its political turmoil, fuel shortages and general unrest has in effect restricted your experience in Zimbabwe to Victoria Falls, Lake Kariba and a variety of safari destinations. These areas are safe to travel to, but Zimbabwe has so much more to offer, but as these are most easily accessible by self-driving, visits to these areas are not recommended at this time.

If you are comfortable and are experienced in self-drive trips in Africa, places that would be of interest are the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, Matobo Hills and the eastern highlands.

For those not quite as adventurous, no trip to Zimbabwe is complete without including Victoria Falls in your itinerary. If you have some time to spend, in addition to Victoria Falls add on Hwange, Matusodona or Mana Pools (one or all as they are very different) and perhaps a few days cruising Lake Kariba.

For a short stay, you can fly into Victoria Falls for a 2 or 3-night stay. I personally could stay longer as there are so many activities to fill my time. If you just want to experience a cruise on Lake Kariba, a 3 or 4-night stay would be sufficient.

If you have 5 nights or more, I suggest that you combine Victoria Falls with Hwange, Matusodona or Mana Pools.

For a combination of Victoria Falls, Hwange, Matusodona and Mana Pools and 11 or 12-night stay would be in order.

Thunderstorm over Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe, which lies north of the Tropic of Capricorn, is in the tropical zone, but because most of the country is on a high-lying plateau it experiences a variety of climates. The southern and western areas are warm and dry, the far southeast is very dry, the eastern highlands and central areas, temperate to subtropical and the northern areas, tropical.

Zimbabwe, except for the central and north regions, experiences the traditional 4 seasons, namely summer, autumn, winter and spring. October to March is considered summer, April & May, autumn, June to August, winter and September spring. Days are usually hot and during the winter, nights can get cold. In the north, it is hot and humid for most of the year. The year in the central and northern regions is rather defined as the rainy or dry season.

Zimbabwe’s rainy season is from November to March and dry season from May to October. The eastern parts of Zimbabwe receive more rain than the western areas and the rainy season also starts earlier and ends later.

Harare and Central Plateau Climate Chart

Victoria Falls and Zambezi Valley Climate Chart

Visa requirements fall into 3 categories; Those that do not require a visa to visit Zimbabwe, those that do need a visa but can also get their visa on arrival and those that must have a visa prior to travel.

Visa can be obtained in one of 3 ways: Online, at a Zimbabwean High Commission/Embassy or on arrival. Please check before you travel what the requirements are for your country.

A KAZA Uni visa is available at port of entry. It allows access to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana on the one visa. Again, the above methods of obtaining the visa must be checked before travel.

Zimbabwe is a malaria risk area. Anti-malaria medication is recommended, and you should consult your doctor in this regard. To minimise the risk of contracting malaria, wear long trousers and cover your arms in the evening, and apply mosquito repellent.

Zimbabwe is a malaria risk area. Anti-malaria medication is recommended, and you should consult your doctor in this regard. To minimise the risk of contracting malaria, wear long trousers and cover your arms in the evening, and apply mosquito repellent.

Yellow fever vaccination is required if you are coming from an endemic country. The following vaccinations are recommended, but not compulsory:

• Hepatitis A & B
• Typhoid
• Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis (TDAP)
• Mumps, Measles and Rubella (MMR)
• Chickenpox
• Shingles
• Pneumonia
• Influenza
• Rabies
• Meningococcal meningitis

Only the main tar roads in Zimbabwe are in reasonable condition and this could quite quickly change during the rainy season. As Zimbabwe is in a financial crunch (2019), there may or may not be funds to provide the necessary upkeep on the roads. Car rental for self-driving is an option in Zimbabwe, but we suggest that you inquire just before travelling due to the changing political, safety and economic conditions.

Most tourists fly into Zimbabwe. Light aircraft transfers are available between Harare/Victoria Falls and the main tourist attractions. Air-conditioned vehicles, most in good repair, are available in all the major centres, for transfer or to hire together with a driver and /or guide.

Long distance luxury busses connect Harare with South Africa and local busses and taxis are available almost everywhere, but this is not recommended.

Train travel is possible in Zimbabwe, but not recommended.

Elephants around a waterhole – photo by Christine Donaldson

Hwange lies about 2 hours drive from Victoria Falls. It is largest national park in Zimbabwe, at 14 650 km², and is made up of the National Park and several private concessions, both in and just outside the National Park (much the same as the greater Kruger National Park).

Hwange has savannah, rivers, dams, pans and forests. Habitats range from semi-desert in the west to teak forests in the east which is the reason that you will find over 400 bird species.

Known to have some of the largest elephant herds in the world, Hwange is also a great place to spot wild dogs.  Hwange is home to the Big 5, including black and white rhino, cheetah and wild dog. Clients can self-drive in the National Park but can only leave camp after sun-up and must be back in camp by sundown. This rule does not apply to the private concessions (self-drivers not allowed in these areas) where night game drives and walking is possible.

Hwange is much wilder and gives more of a feeling of remoteness than the northern part of the Chobe National Park (often referred to as Chobe) which can be very busy and congested. Hwange and Chobe are approximately the same travelling time from Victoria Falls, but the experience is much more authentic in Hwange.

Hwange has several airstrips that clients can fly into if they prefer not to arrive by road.

Zambezi National Park

The Zambezi National Park is adjacent to the Victoria Falls National Park in the east and extends about 50km along the Upper Zambezi in the northwest. The main road between Victoria Falls and Kasane bisects the park, with the northern section referred to as the riverine section and the southern section the Chamabonda Vlei section.

Home to all the Big 5, (excluding the rhino) and with the Zambezi River as its northern boundary, Zambezi National Park offers a great safari and river experience, right on the doorstep of the Victoria Falls. This fact is attested to but quite a few safari lodges opening up on the Zambezi River in this park. The traditional game drives while on safari are supplement by game boat and sunset cruises adding an extra dimension to your stay here.

Lake Kariba – photo by Arpit Rastogi

Lake Kariba is the world’s largest man-made reservoir by volume. With the damming of the Zambezi River, the valley flooded 226 km upstream from the Kariba Dam wall and in places gets up to 40km wide. Over 57000 people and 6000 animals that lived in the areas now flooded under the waters of Kariba Dam, were translocated during Operation Noah.

Built to supply both Zimbabwe and Zambia with hydroelectric power to fuel their economies, Lake Kariba also offers the tourist beautiful sunsets, game viewing, tender boating along its shores and excellent fishing (including tiger fish in season). There are few things as special as relaxing on your houseboat enjoying a good meal or sipping sundowners while watching the calm waters (most of the time) of Lake Kariba float by.

While most of the house boats are moored at Kariba Harbour, there are a few companies that offer boats at Binga. There is one company (2019) that offers multiday cruises for individuals or groups that start either from Binga or Kariba Town.

Kariba has several islands, some of which house luxury lodges. Fothergill Island is the most well-known of these.

Matusadona

During Operation Noah, much of the game that was relocated found its way to the Matusodona and Chete Safari Area. It was declared a National Park in 1963. Home to the Big 5 (black and white rhino have been reintroduced) and cheetah, with the backdrop of Lake Kariba is a truly special experience.

The central plateau, with its rolling savannah plains and bush, extends towards the Zambezi River. It is cut by river courses and the Matusodona mountain range that drops to the shores of Lake Kariba. All this is part of the Matusodona National Park that extends from Sanyati Gorge in the east to the Ume river in the west.  The Sanyati gorge is well known as being spectacular, wild and rugged. A series and bays, coves and islands just off the mainland, makes for a varied and scenically beautiful experience.

This is a great place for walking safaris (including rhino tracking), game drives, canoeing and boat trips. Fishing, particularly tiger fishing in season, is excellent as is birding.

Matusodona is accessible by light aircraft, 4×4 vehicles and boats only. It is not a self-drive destination as it is best explored while staying at a lodge on the shores of the Zambezi River.

Mana Pools – views towards the Zambia escarpment

Mana Pools is situated downstream of the Kariba Dam and opposite the Lower Zambezi National Park. To understand its uniqueness, you have to understand its annual cycle. The Zambezi River floods during the summer and the flood plains of Mana Pools fill with water resulting in lakes and pools. The wildlife moves to the higher ground of the escarpment only to return to the flood plains and the Zambezi River itself when the ground starts drying out in about April.

With most lodges and camping sites closed during the wet season, Mana Pools is open for business during the dry season. Mana Pools offers a true wilderness experience and you will often find yourself alone on a game drive. Known as Zimbabwe’s best National Park, Mana Pools is one of the best places to see wild dog and to experience walking safaris. It is the only national park in Zimbabwe where you can walk unguided. Other activities include game drives, boat trips and canoeing.

Home to the Big 5 (excluding rhino), cheetah and wild dog, large herds of buffalo, elephant and plains game, Mana Pools offers a superior safari experience in a variety of habitats ranging from flood plains and savannah to forests and hills. The one notable species that is absent is the giraffe which never occurred here naturally.

Part of the beauty of this park, are the floodplains of green, the blue Zambezi River with the Zambian escarpment in the background.

Access is by 4×4 vehicle or by light aircraft.

The red cliffs of Gonarezhou

Situated in the semi-arid region in the southwest of Zimbabwe, Gonarezhou National Park is the second largest national park in Zimbabwe. Eons ago, water eroded the sandstone leaving behind the characteristic sandstone cliffs, the most well-known are the red Chilojo Cliffs, that overlook the Runde River. The Save, Runde and Mwenezi Rivers have carved out steep gorges with waterfalls and rapids making the area spectacularly beautiful. Adjacent to Gonarezhou is the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve. The perennial Chiredzi River runs north to south along the western border of the reserve and sandstone hills and the Runde runs east to west, bisecting the property. These features make for a varied landscape, range of habitats which in turn support a wide variety of wildlife. In addition there are over 80 bushmen painting sites to add a little ancient flavour to your safari.

Gonarezhou is part of the Greater Limpopo Transfontier Park together with the Kruger National Park in South Africa and Gaza in Mozambique. These parks, together with private and communal land, form a conservation area of 100 000 km².

Home to over 11 000 elephants, black and white rhino and the rest of the Big 5, Gonarezhou also has a healthy population of wild dogs. The rivers have over 50 species of fish, including Tiger Fish and over 400 species of bird. 6% of the endemics of Southern Africa are found here.

Gonarezhou is accessed by 4×4 vehicle or by light aircraft.

Bushmen paintings in the Matobo Hills

This is a world of massive granite hills, steep valleys and small swamps (vlei areas). The granite hills are home to many large caves and ancient Khoikhoi paintings. The park is just south of Bulawayo and has the world’s densest population of leopards. Black and white rhino have recently been reintroduced.

The park is accessible by motor vehicles.