Zimbabwe

GETTING THERE

• Flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town (South Africa), Nairobi (Kenya), Windhoek (Namibia), Gaborone (Botswana), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) to Victoria Falls International Airport
• Flight to Livingstone, Zambia and a road transfer across the bridge to Zimbabwe….double entry visa required, a KAZA visa grants you access to both the Zambian and Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls (subject to change)
• Self drive

(All Airline carriers, air flights & routings are subject to change).

OVERVIEW

Victoria Falls, straddles between Zimbabwe and Zambia and can be viewed from either country, an adventure seekers paradise. Close to Victoria Falls is Hwange National Park, a sprawling wildlife park with lion, leopard, large herds of elephant, buffalo, antelope, wild Dog and more. Mana Pools National Park lies at the heart of the Zambezi Valley. It is a remote, beautiful area with spectacular views of the Mighty Zambezi, floodplains, tree canopy and the mountains of the Rift Valley escarpment. It holds water all year round, attracting wildlife and waterfowl in dry season.  Game viewing is on foot, by vehicles or canoe in an area filled with elephant, buffalo, hippo and crocodile. Matusadona National Park, situated on the shores of Lake Kariba, a haven for rhino, elephant and home to a thriving lion population.  The remote fly-in destinations of Gonarezhou National Park and Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve are in extremely wild, remote areas, inhabited by elephant and predators, very difficult to see. The Matobo National Park, lovely reserve of tumbled rocks, lovely views San (Bushman) rock art, ideal for short hikes.

Victoria Falls
Traditionally known as Mosi-oa-Tunya or ‘the Smoke that Thunders’, Victoria Falls is  1 708 metres wide, the most expansive curtain of water in the world and drops more than 108 metres (twice the height of Niagara Falls) into the sheer Zambezi Gorge. Visit Victoria Falls at peak flow and discover why it’s considered one of the 7 Natural Wonders and UNESCO’s World Heritage Site; the falls are immense, the towering column of mist is unique and the whole area is scenically beautiful. This unspoilt beauty is what makes the experience so special; you can easily imagine what it was like for those explorers seeing it for the first time. Victoria Falls sits on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia. On the Zimbabwe side, paths in lush rainforest reveal extensive views of the Main Falls

The town of Victoria Falls is known as Africa’s Adventure Capital offering a wide range of activities: scenic flights by helicopter or microlight, elephant-back safaris, bungee jump of the historic bridge, white-water rafting, canoeing, game viewing and Zambezi River cruises plus access to places of interest such as local markets and traditional villages.

Hwange National Park
Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s largest park 15,000 km² and is close to Victoria Falls. It is teeming with big game and is famous for large herds of buffalo, elephant (second to Chobe), the rare and endangered black rhino and sable antelope. Predator such as lion, leopard and cheetah are regularly seen, night drives reveal the smaller nocturnal predators such as serval, civet cats and bat-eared foxes.

During the dry winter months (May to October) wildlife congregates around the shallow pans and man-made waterholes making for excellent game viewing. Once the rains arrive, the vegetation bursts into life, dry pans fill up and wildlife disperses to graze the more remote stretches of the park thanks to the abundant surface water. Bird watching is particularly good at this time.

Mana Pools National Park
Mana Pools National Park is situated in the hauntingly beautiful Zambezi Valley. It is a genuine wilderness area that delivers an exciting, off-the-beaten-track safari experience. It is a remote area, rich in wildlife, with spectacular views of the mighty Zambezi River, floodplains, woodlands and riverine forest.  The mountains of the Rift Valley Escarpment across the waters in neighbouring Zambia, tower over it, adding to it’s enormous beauty.

This wilderness area with it abundance of water attracts a variety of wildlife; elephant, buffalo, predators such as lion, leopard and wild dog are often seen. The rivers and pools are home to large populations of hippo and crocodile, tiger-fish and bream. Waterbuck graze peacefully on the wide green floodplains. Bird watching is superb.

Visitors can enjoy traditional game drive safaris and walking safaris.  The river-based safaris include a mix of kayaking / canoeing, boating, fishing, fly camping, game drives and walking activities. These exciting and interactive expeditions combine adventure on the great Zambezi River with excellent hospitality, comfortable serviced tented accommodation, hot bucket showers and 3-course dinners served on linen table cloths.  If “traditional” is not for you, there are more luxurious lodges in the Mana Pools area that offer every creature comfort, yet affording you the complete wilderness experience and excitement.

Matusadona National Park and Lake Kariba
Matusadona National Park borders Lake Kariba, it is home to large herds of elephant and buffalo together with lion, leopards, cheetah, wild dog, spotted hyenas, rhino (white and black) and antelope.  Tiger Fishing and cruising are very popular activities on the lake.

Due to it’s proximity to Lake Kariba, safaris in Matusadona National Park revolve around the lake and the game it attracts both alongside the lakeshore and in the water. Game drives / walks are generally conducted in the mornings with guides / rangers. Evening safaris are more leisurely affairs with a boat cruise on the lake to witness elephant, hippos and crocodiles splash around and play in the water as the sun sets beyond the horizon. Birding is very good.

The dry season, May to October, is the best time to visit when the inner side of the park dries up and animals arrive at the lakeshore in numbers. When the rains arrive around December, Matusadona is largely inaccessible and most of the animals retreat inland.

Gonarezhou National Park and Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve: pure Big 5 wilderness, phenomenal diversity & scenery
Gonarezhou National Park is an undeveloped, unspoilt wilderness in the south of Zimbabwe, where few people venture, but those who do, are rewarded by beautiful scenery and the Big 5, it is truly a “hidden gem”. Visitors have to work hard to spot these magnificent creatures who tend to shy away from humans. The rivers that run through the park, attract many animals such as antelope, zebra, giraffe, wild dogs and cheetah.  The bird life is amazing, around 400 species. The park is reckoned to have the world’s greatest concentration of raptors, including 14 species of eagle making it a birder’s paradise. The name Gonarezhou means “Place of Many Elephant”

Malilangwe is a private reserve bordering Gonarezhou National Park, it boasts dramatic red cliffs and Baobab tress, fondly known as “upside down” trees.  It is an exciting wilderness and has the Big 5 as well as wonderful birding.

The best time to visit Gonarezhou and Malilangwe is during the dry season May to August when temperatures are conducive to good game viewing

Matobo National Park
Matobo National Park is set just outside the town of Bulawayo. Huge outcrops of Granite boulders and examples of Khoi Rock are to be found here. It is home to a limited variety of wildlife, the most exciting of which is it’s rhino population, Rhino-tracking can be pre-arranged on request. Leopard roam the area, they are very illusive creatures. Walking safaris and horse trails are conducted in the park. The Matobo’s are also famous for the burial site of Cecil John Rhodes.