Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Highlights

Zimbabwe is home to one of the world's seven natural wonders, the world famous and spectacular Victoria Falls. A Zimbabwe safari offers beautiful landscapes and fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities; situated between the mighty Zambezi River and the seasonal Limpopo. Prominent areas such as Victoria Falls town, also known as the adventure capital of Africa offer thrilling adventure sports such as white water rafting and bungee jumping from the Victoria Falls Bridge. Victoria Falls is the most visited destination in Zimbabwe and it also offers easy access to neighbouring countries like Zambia, Botswana and Namibia providing a complete and unique safari experience. Significant parks that play an important role in the protection of wildlife in Zimbabwe include Mana Pools National Park, Hwange National Park, Lake Kariba, and Matusadona National Park, Matobo National Park and Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve as well as a few other smaller parks.

Zimbabwe Activities and Game Viewing

Victoria Falls offers a hive of activities and there is something for everyone from bungee jumping for the adrenalin junkies to tranquil sunset cruises on the Zambezi River. A Zimbabwe safari also offers photographer's spectacular scenery, incredible wildlife and last but not least the famous Victoria Falls. Other popular activities include white water rafting on the Zambezi River; Elephant back safaris, helicopter flights over the falls as well as a visit to the local markets and traditional villages or a traditional African boma dinner where visitors can enjoy local cuisine and traditional African dancing. Victoria Falls is within close proximity to the famous Chobe National Park and safari day trips can be arranged as well as day trips into Zambia. A safari in the parks in Zimbabwe is incredible and wildlife includes but may vary in the different parks, elephant, Cape buffalo, sable, roan, southern giraffe, blue wildebeest and impala. Hwange National Park is one of the best parks for predators, lion, leopard, wild dog and cheetah are regularly sighted, along with the smaller African wildcat, serval, honey badger, civet and spotted hyena. Bird life in the area is fantastic, with more than 400 species found.

How to Get there

SUNSAFARIS can arrange scheduled flights for visitors from all major airports in South Africa into Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls airports. Most safaris start or end in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Once guests arrive in Zimbabwe; SUNSAFARIS will arrange a light aircraft transfer or a road transfer for guests depending on their destination, hotel, camp or lodge. The national airline is Air Zimbabwe; however, British Airways and South African airways also operate into Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe Seasons and Climate

Victoria Falls experiences summer rainfall, making the moderate winter months the most popular time to visit. Summer is from November to March and it can get very hot with temperatures in December and January averaging around 30°C, while night temperatures drop to around 14°C. Summer is also the rainy season, thunderstorms may occur in the late afternoon. The higher areas in the east and the highveld of Zimbabwe receive more rainfall and are cooler than the lower areas. Rainfall decreases from east to west. The south and southwest receive little rainfall. Seasonal shortages of water are common. Temperatures start dropping in May and winter is from June until August with September and October also still cool and dry. The days are usually dry and sunny with average temperatures around 20°C, night temperatures can get as cold as 5°C.

Hwange National Park

Hwange National Park is the largest park and protected area in Zimbabwe; at approximately 14 500 km² in size offering diverse habitats and vegetation types. Hwange National Park is famous for its large concentrations of wildlife especially during the winter months. The Park supports enormous species diversity and provides visitors a traditional safari experience. Hwange is situated on the eastern edge of the Kalahari Desert and the area is dry and water is scarce during the winter months. There are a number of pans throughout Hwange National Park providing drinking water where wildlife congregates; this in turn offers incredible and consistent game viewing. During the summer months when plains game migrates onto the plains to give birth to their young it offers an easy meal to predators. Rare species like gemsbok and red hartebeest can sometimes be seen. Hwange is an important element to wildlife conservation in southern Africa as well as neighbouring countries like Botswana and Zambia.

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Lake Kariba

Lake Kariba is an enormous man-made inland sea situated on the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe; one of the largest reservoirs in the world. Lake Kariba offers remarkable natural beauty protected by some of the finest nature reserves on the planet it offers an abundance of wildlife. The dam was originally built to produce hydroelectricity for use by both Zimbabwe and bordering Zambia and the town of Kariba was built to accommodate the construction workers between 1958 and 1963. Today Lake Kariba is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Zimbabwe. Lake Kariba is famous for their house boats as well as floating chalets. Kariba is just a short flight away from Victoria Falls and offers the ideal add-on safari for visitors staying in Victoria Falls wanting a two or three night add-on safari-experience. The remarkable Matusadona Game Reserve; a World Heritage Site is situated along the southern shoreline of Lake Kariba and provides incredible game viewing opportunities. Kariba offers a variety of activities and superb game viewing year round.

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Malilangwe Private Wildlife Reserve

Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve in Zimbabwe has been rated by many as one of the finest wildlife reserves in the country; situated in the lowveld of south eastern Zimbabwe offering geological diversity, diverse habitats and a wide variety of plant and animal species. Guests can expect to see white rhino, black rhino, giraffe, zebra, impala and wildebeest as well as sable antelope and Lichtenstein's hartebeest are found in the mopane woodlands in the south. Malilangwe means "call of the leopard" and this magnificent reserve consists of 100,000 acres of pristine African bushveld. Predators in Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve include lions, hyenas and leopard. Apart from the big five Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve is home to one of the highest concentrations of endangered black rhino. The reserve offers over 400 species of birds and other highlights in the reserve include magnificent rock formations, breathtaking views as well as a wealth of archaeological history.

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Mana Pools National Park

The Mana Pools National Park; Zimbabwe's second World Heritage site offers visitors an incredible wildlife experience as well as close up encounters with game. Mana Pools National Park is famous for offering some of the best canoe safaris and walking safaris in Africa. The park is host to large numbers of elephant, buffalo, hippo and eland, especially during the winter when they concentrate along the river. Predators such as lion, leopard and wild dog are all found in the area. Mana Pools is also known for its abundance and enormous beautiful trees providing the ideal habitat for incredible bird-watching as well as walking. The "pools" which the park is famous for provide permanent water year round attracting an enormous amount of wildlife. Close encounters with animals are offered and the best way to explore this beautiful park is either on foot or by means of a canoe down the Zambezi River. Activities offered in the park usually include wildlife viewing in open game vehicles as well as on pontoon boats, guided walks and canoe safaris.

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Matobo National Park

The Matobo National Park in Zimbabwe is a small and intimate park and easily accessible. Matobo National Park offers extraordinary scenery and the park is characterized by huge piles of granite boulders and rocks balancing on rocks at unbelievable angles. The park is known for rhino tracking and guests can track the endangered black rhino. White rhino can be seen more frequently. Another highlight in the Matobo National Park is the fascinating Bushman rock art; the rocky granite topography boasts more than 2000 sites of the San (Bushman) tribes and is most likely the richest source of San rock art known. Mzilikazi, founder of the Ndebele nation, gave the area its name, meaning 'Bald Heads'. The Hills cover an area of approximately 3100 km², of which 424 km² is the National Park. Guests may see wildlife including warthog, zebra, klipspringer, kudu, impala, wildebeest, reedbuck, duiker, steenbok as well as incredible bird life and the elusive leopard may also be seen if guests are lucky.

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Matusadona National Park

Matusadona National Park in Zimbabwe offers a unique safari experience. Matusadona offers picturesque landscapes and magical sunsets; the ideal destination for keen photographers. The area is one of the few places remaining where Black Rhino can regularly be seen in Southern Africa. Matusadona National Park offers incredible game viewing opportunities and guests can enjoy wildlife activities including game drives, walking safaris, boat and canoe excursions as well as fishing, hence offering a year round safari destination. Wildlife in general includes large herds of elephant, buffalo and plenty of hippos and waterbuck. Walking safaris in Matusadona National Park offer a unique experience and fishing for tiger and bream is another option. The bird-life in the park is incredible and over 240 bird species have been recorded in the park.

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Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is one of the most remarkable natural wonders of the world; known by the locals as "Mosi-oa-Tunya", the Smoke that Thunders; this awe-inspiring world famous natural wonder was discovered by the great explorer David Livingstone in 1855. The spray from the falls can be seen from as far as 50 km (30 miles) away. Victoria Falls Town is also known as the adventure capital or adrenalin capital of Africa and the most visited city in Zimbabwe. Apart from viewing the falls, the town is famous for its adventure sports including bungee jumping from the Victoria Falls Bridge, white water rafting down the majestic Zambezi River, river cruises, and helicopter flights over the falls and many more. In 1989 Victoria Falls was declared a World Heritage site and attracts tourists from all over the world every year. It also forms the ideal base for guests wanting to go on safari into Zimbabwe, Zambia or Botswana.

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Top Destinations in Zimbabwe

Mana Pools National Park

Mana Pools National Park is located in the heart of the Zambezi Valley and offers incredible wildlife viewing opportunities.
1. Zambezi-Canoeing-Safaris offers a thrilling canoeing safari down the mighty Zambezi River and has been rated by many as one of the greatest adventures on the planet.
2. Ruckomechi Camp is a nature lover's paradise and guests can explore the Zambezi River and Mana Pools National Park in canoes or open 4x4 safari vehicles.
Victoria Falls

A holiday or safari to Zimbabwe is not complete without a visit to the town of Victoria Falls to see the mighty and majestic Victoria Falls, one of the most remarkable natural wonders of the world.
1. Matetsi Water Lodge offers luxury and charm with a touch of romance situated on the banks of the game rich Zambezi River.
2. Victoria Falls Hotel overlooks the Victoria Falls Bridge and is situated only a short walk away from the mighty Victoria Falls.