Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe — from the Shona ‘dzimba dzemabwe’, meaning “houses of stone”, referring to the ancient city of Great Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe is a country of big skies, ancient rock formations and two great rivers: the Zambezi to the north and the Limpopo to the south. Between them lie national parks rich in wildlife, canyoned landscapes and the thunder of Victoria Falls. Culture and history run deep, from rock art and ruins to modern city life.
NATIONAL FLAG
Horizontal stripes of green, gold, red and black with a white triangle bearing a red star and the stylised Zimbabwe Bird.
NATIONAL FLOWER
Flame Lily (Gloriosa superba) – a climbing lily with curling red‑and‑gold petals, the fiery national flower of Zimbabwe.
NATIONAL ANIMAL
Sable Antelope – the national animal, known for its elegant curved horns, glossy dark coat in males and proud, upright stance.
CAPITAL HARARE
A high‑plateau city with leafy suburbs, jacaranda trees and a vibrant arts and market scene, and a good starting point for exploring Zimbabwe’s wild areas.
NATIONAL FLAG
Horizontal stripes of green, gold, red and black with a white triangle bearing a red star and the stylised Zimbabwe Bird.
NATIONAL FLOWER
Flame Lily (Gloriosa superba) – a climbing lily with curling red‑and‑gold petals, the fiery national flower of Zimbabwe.
NATIONAL ANIMAL
Sable Antelope – the national animal, known for its elegant curved horns, glossy dark coat in males and proud, upright stance.
CAPITAL HARARE
A high‑plateau city with leafy suburbs, jacaranda trees and a vibrant arts and market scene, and a good starting point for exploring Zimbabwe’s wild areas.
Best Places
Eastern Highlands
Cool, green and mountainous, the Eastern Highlands form Zimbabwe’s scenic frontier with Mozambique. Waterfalls tumble through dense forests, mist clings to rolling tea estates and granite outcrops crown the hills. From Nyanga’s vast vistas and Mount Nyangani — the country’s highest peak — to the botanical richness of the Bvumba and the rugged beauty of Chimanimani, the region offers hiking, birding, culture and some of Zimbabwe’s prettiest small towns. It’s a refreshing, nature-rich alternative to the lowland heat.
Great Zimbabwe
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa’s most astonishing archaeological wonders, Great Zimbabwe is a sprawling complex of dry-stone walls, towers and maze-like passages built without mortar. Once a powerful Iron Age capital, it thrived between the 11th and 15th centuries and remains a proud symbol of Zimbabwean identity. The Great Enclosure, the Hill Complex and the mysterious Zimbabwe Birds found here offer rare insight into a sophisticated civilisation whose legacy continues to shape the nation’s cultural story.
Lake Kariba & Matusadona National Park
Stretching 280 km between Zambia and Zimbabwe, Lake Kariba is the world’s largest man-made lake by volume — a shimmering expanse alive with hippos, crocodiles and dramatic golden sunsets. Houseboats and boat safaris glide past drowned forests, sandy coves and quiet bays perfect for tiger fishing. Along its southern shore lies Matusadona National Park, a rugged wilderness of mopane woodland, shoreline plains and the imposing Matusadona Mountains. Game drives and boat-based safaris offer sightings of elephant, lion, buffalo and rich birdlife in one of Zimbabwe’s most scenic safari settings.
Mana Pools & Hwange National Parks
Mana Pools, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a wilderness of ancient floodplains, albida forests and broad Zambezi channels where elephant, buffalo and eland roam beneath soft, dappled light. It’s one of Africa’s best destinations for walking and canoe safaris, offering intimate encounters with lions, painted wolves and the rich wildlife drawn to the river. Hwange — Zimbabwe’s largest national park — complements Mana perfectly with vast grasslands, seasonal pans and one of the continent’s last great elephant populations. With over 100 mammal species and nearly 400 bird species, Hwange offers classic, big-scale safari drama and spectacular dry-season wildlife concentrations.
Matobo National Park
A landscape of giant granite domes, balancing boulders and dramatic koppies, Matobo feels ancient — a place shaped by wind, time and the footsteps of early humans. Its caves and rock shelters hold some of southern Africa’s most significant rock art, while the surrounding hills are home to both black and white rhino, leopard, cheetah and exceptional birdlife, especially Verreaux’s eagles. Hiking is the best way to explore the sculpted terrain, from winding footpaths to Malindidzumu, where Cecil Rhodes’ grave overlooks one of Zimbabwe’s most inspiring views. Look closely and you’ll also spot the “small wonders” — elephant shrews, rainbow skinks and other tiny creatures that bring the granite world to life.
Victoria Falls
Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya — “the smoke that thunders” — Victoria Falls is one of Earth’s most powerful natural spectacles, where the Zambezi plunges into a deep basalt gorge in an explosion of spray and rainbows. The lively town of Livingstone and neighbouring Victoria Falls Town buzz with adventure: helicopter flips, microlighting, white-water rafting, bungee jumps, sunset cruises and the iconic (and exhilarating) Devil’s Pool experience on the very lip of the falls. Cultural visits add depth, while the surrounding rainforest, constantly fed by mist, feels lush, cool and otherworldly.
Best Places
Eastern Highlands
Cool, green and mountainous, the Eastern Highlands form Zimbabwe’s scenic frontier with Mozambique. Waterfalls tumble through dense forests, mist clings to rolling tea estates and granite outcrops crown the hills. From Nyanga’s vast vistas and Mount Nyangani — the country’s highest peak — to the botanical richness of the Bvumba and the rugged beauty of Chimanimani, the region offers hiking, birding, culture and some of Zimbabwe’s prettiest small towns. It’s a refreshing, nature-rich alternative to the lowland heat.
Great Zimbabwe
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa’s most astonishing archaeological wonders, Great Zimbabwe is a sprawling complex of dry-stone walls, towers and maze-like passages built without mortar. Once a powerful Iron Age capital, it thrived between the 11th and 15th centuries and remains a proud symbol of Zimbabwean identity. The Great Enclosure, the Hill Complex and the mysterious Zimbabwe Birds found here offer rare insight into a sophisticated civilisation whose legacy continues to shape the nation’s cultural story.
Lake Kariba & Matusadona National Park
Stretching 280 km between Zambia and Zimbabwe, Lake Kariba is the world’s largest man-made lake by volume — a shimmering expanse alive with hippos, crocodiles and dramatic golden sunsets. Houseboats and boat safaris glide past drowned forests, sandy coves and quiet bays perfect for tiger fishing. Along its southern shore lies Matusadona National Park, a rugged wilderness of mopane woodland, shoreline plains and the imposing Matusadona Mountains. Game drives and boat-based safaris offer sightings of elephant, lion, buffalo and rich birdlife in one of Zimbabwe’s most scenic safari settings.
Mana Pools & Hwange National Parks
Mana Pools, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a wilderness of ancient floodplains, albida forests and broad Zambezi channels where elephant, buffalo and eland roam beneath soft, dappled light. It’s one of Africa’s best destinations for walking and canoe safaris, offering intimate encounters with lions, painted wolves and the rich wildlife drawn to the river. Hwange — Zimbabwe’s largest national park — complements Mana perfectly with vast grasslands, seasonal pans and one of the continent’s last great elephant populations. With over 100 mammal species and nearly 400 bird species, Hwange offers classic, big-scale safari drama and spectacular dry-season wildlife concentrations.
Matobo National Park
A landscape of giant granite domes, balancing boulders and dramatic koppies, Matobo feels ancient — a place shaped by wind, time and the footsteps of early humans. Its caves and rock shelters hold some of southern Africa’s most significant rock art, while the surrounding hills are home to both black and white rhino, leopard, cheetah and exceptional birdlife, especially Verreaux’s eagles. Hiking is the best way to explore the sculpted terrain, from winding footpaths to Malindidzumu, where Cecil Rhodes’ grave overlooks one of Zimbabwe’s most inspiring views. Look closely and you’ll also spot the “small wonders” — elephant shrews, rainbow skinks and other tiny creatures that bring the granite world to life.
Victoria Falls
Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya — “the smoke that thunders” — Victoria Falls is one of Earth’s most powerful natural spectacles, where the Zambezi plunges into a deep basalt gorge in an explosion of spray and rainbows. The lively town of Livingstone and neighbouring Victoria Falls Town buzz with adventure: helicopter flips, microlighting, white-water rafting, bungee jumps, sunset cruises and the iconic (and exhilarating) Devil’s Pool experience on the very lip of the falls. Cultural visits add depth, while the surrounding rainforest, constantly fed by mist, feels lush, cool and otherworldly.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Zimbabwe’s wildlife destinations shine brightest in the dry season, though each time of year brings its own charm.
June to October (Dry Season)
The best time for safari. Water becomes scarce, drawing wildlife to pans, rivers and waterholes, especially in Hwange and Mana Pools. Days are warm, skies are clear and game viewing is reliable and dramatic.
November to May (Green Season)
Rains transform the landscape into a lush, green tapestry. Birding is exceptional, photography is beautiful and visitor numbers drop. Some areas become more challenging to access, but the scenery is breathtaking.
Epic Experience
The Power and Poetry of Victoria Falls
Standing at the edge of Victoria Falls feels like encountering nature at its rawest. The ground trembles beneath your feet as the Zambezi hurls itself over the basalt cliffs, sending clouds of mist swirling into the sky. Sunlight fractures into rainbows, drifting through the spray while the roar of the water rises like thunder. Walk along the rainforest pathways and each viewpoint reveals a new angle — sheets of white water, swirling currents far below and the deep, echoing boom of the gorge. In the dry months, you can even wade to Devil’s Pool for a heart-thumping view from the very lip of the falls. Whether seen from ground level, a helicopter or a twilight cruise on the upstream river, Victoria Falls is an experience that moves through your chest long after the mist fades from your skin.
Did you know?
At full flood, Victoria Falls sends more than 500 million litres of water per minute crashing into the gorge — enough to create a permanent rainforest, fed entirely by the spray.
Epic Experience
The Power and Poetry of Victoria Falls
Standing at the edge of Victoria Falls feels like encountering nature at its rawest. The ground trembles beneath your feet as the Zambezi hurls itself over the basalt cliffs, sending clouds of mist swirling into the sky. Sunlight fractures into rainbows, drifting through the spray while the roar of the water rises like thunder. Walk along the rainforest pathways and each viewpoint reveals a new angle — sheets of white water, swirling currents far below and the deep, echoing boom of the gorge.
In the dry months, you can even wade to Devil’s Pool for a heart-thumping view from the very lip of the falls. Whether seen from ground level, a helicopter or a twilight cruise on the upstream river, Victoria Falls is an experience that moves through your chest long after the mist fades from your skin.
Did you know?
At full flood, Victoria Falls sends more than 500 million litres of water per minute crashing into the gorge — enough to create a permanent rainforest, fed entirely by the spray.