Zimbabwe Safari Holidays

Zimbabwe Safari Holidays

Wild, untouched and great value for money, Zimbabwe is the destination for those wanting to avoid the crowds and experience industry leading guiding.

Highlights

• Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites Mana Pools and Victoria Falls.

• Visit Hwange National Park for authentic Big 5 game viewing.

• Explore the mighty Zambezi River on a multi-day canoeing expedition.

• Elephant lovers will marvel at the massive herds in Hwange National Park.

• Embark upon serious walking safari including approaches on large animals, including potentially dangerous predators.

• Be in awe of the quality of the guiding and tracking throughout the country.

• Visit Victoria Falls and partake in some serious adrenaline-fuelled activities.

Zimbabwe is widely regarded as the premier destination on the African safari circuit for exceptional guiding and the all-round outstanding quality of the safari experience. It boasts exceptional diversity, an abundance of wildlife and exciting activities ranking it alongside renowned peers Botswana and Zambia.

Unfortunately, its tourism sector has suffered due to its well documented political and economic upheaval since the turn of the century. The effect on its safari industry, namely a sharp reduction in visitors, has ironically been the catalyst for its resurgence in recent years. The combination of low visitor numbers and attractive prices has seen Zimbabwe slowly re-emerge as a destination for travellers wanting an authentic wilderness safari at a fraction of its usual costs.

Zimbabwe is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite its woes it is a safe country to visit. Zimbabweans, alongside the Ugandans (in our opinion), are amongst the most welcoming and friendly people you will meet anywhere in the world. The safari infrastructure remains excellent making travel between domestic parks and cross-border travel effortless.

Zimbabwe has a total land mass of 390,752 km² and a relatively low population of only 16.1 million residents. This equates to it being one and a half times the size of the United Kingdom with less than 25% of the human population. The Zimbabwean Government has protected 12% of its surface area for conservation, a relatively small percentage compared to its peers, but still a sizeable portion.

Hwange National Park, with a land mass equal to that of Belgium, is the flagship park in the country. It is a Big 5 destination and is famous for its strong populations of elephants, estimated at 44,000 individuals at the last census. It is also home to endangered species such as African wild dogs, lion, cheetah, and black rhinoceros. Rarer species of antelope such as eland, sable and roan are present, as well as the beautiful oryx.

Mana Pools National Park is a wilderness-seekers dream. Tucked away in the far north-west of the country it forms the eastern border of the Zambezi River. Walking safari is a speciality with some of the most famous guides in the industry operating here. You will experience the heart-thumping feeling of approaching Mana’s resident predators such as hyena clans, packs of wild dogs and prides of lions on foot. Multi-day canoe expeditions are an excellent way to experience the raw beauty of Zimbabwe’s wilderness.

If all this isn’t quite exhilarating enough for you then there’s always the option to head down to Victoria Falls to partake in adrenaline-fuelled activities such as white water rafting, helicopter and microlight flights, and bungee jumping.

Zimbabwe is a destination that leans more towards accommodating the experienced and more outdoorsy travellers. However, it has accommodation options to suit all types and budgets from luxury to small and intimate bush camps.

Visit Zimbabwe before the secret is let out and the crowds inevitably return to safari within the borders of this sleeping safari giant.

Contact us to discuss designing your perfect Zimbabwe wildlife adventure or peruse our suggested itineraries below for more information and inspiration.