Great stone ruins, Victoria Falls and some of Africa's finest guiding.
Zimbabwe combines big landscapes with deep history. Victoria Falls is seen from a rainforest walk along the gorge, Hwange National Park has large elephant herds, and Mana Pools on the Zambezi is known for walking and canoeing safaris. Great Zimbabwe's stone walls are the largest ancient ruins south of the Sahara, and the granite domes of the Matobo Hills shelter rock art and rhino.
Zimbabwe's guides are among the best trained in Africa, and lodges are often small and personal. Expect sadza with stews and grilled meat. June to October is the dry season and best for wildlife, though October gets very hot; the rains from roughly December to March make some roads and parks hard to reach, while the falls peak around April.
Best time to visit Zimbabwe
June, July, August, September.
Places to visit in Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls: One of the world's great waterfalls, a curtain of the Zambezi plunging into a narrow gorge on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border.
Hwange National Park: Zimbabwe's largest national park, known for large elephant herds, lions and waterholes pumped through the dry season.
Great Zimbabwe: The ruins of a great medieval city of dry-stone walls, capital of a trading kingdom and the source of Zimbabwe's name.
Mana Pools National Park: A remote UNESCO-listed park on the Zambezi, famous for walking safaris and canoeing among elephants and hippos.
Harare: Zimbabwe's capital, with wide tree-lined streets, stone sculpture galleries and markets for crafts.
Essentials
Currency: Zimbabwean Gold (ZWG)
Language: English; Shona and Ndebele are widely spoken
Plugs: Type D / G, 220 V
Driving: Left side
Time zone: UTC+2
Tipping: Tip guides and lodge staff; around 10% in restaurants
Getting around: Transfers and self-drive between parks; light aircraft to remote camps
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking