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Zimbabwe overview and best spots
- Remains one of Africa's best safari spots despite politics and a shattered
economy - the safari spots are
safe, top
guides, excellent game, no crowds
- Victoria Falls is Africa's top travel spot and the rafting is the best
you'll get anywhere - Hwange's on the doorstep for safaris.
- Zimbabwe's Professional Guides are still recognized as the most qualified and
amongst the best in Africa
- Walking and canoeing safaris are particularly good
- Best spots are Hwange, Mana Pools, Matusadona, Victoria Falls - in that
order (Matopos/Bulawayo and the Eastern Highlands have lost their infrastructure)
- Our top votes: The Hide (Hwange), Steve Edwards' Musango camp (Matusadona), Ian
Fearon's canoe trail (Mana Pools) and in Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
and Ilala Lodge
- Lemon's: robert mugabe
and the entire political fraternity.
- find out more on our
public
site, pick up the latest news, go to
the maps
Best Spots
- Matusadona National Park:
- A little known reserve on the shores of Lake Kariba, an excellent
"big five" safari destination. Contains one of the last
remaining wild sanctuaries of the black rhino. Until a few years ago Matusadona had one of the most dense buffalo populations in Africa -
habitat changes since 1998 and the explosion in the lion population are
changing this. Includes some birder's specialties - 240 odd species
recorded. Matusadona is one of the best walking safari spots in
Zimbabwe.
- Easily accessed from Kariba and easily combined with Mana Pools and
Victoria Falls. Good at any time of the year.
- Best safari: Steve Edward's Musango Camp
- Mana Pools National Park:
- World Heritage Site on the lower Zambezi. Mana Pools is renowned for
its walking and canoe safaris. Mana Pools has very strong elephant,
buffalo and hippo populations - birding is exceptionally good with over
300 species having been recorded.
- Easily accessed from Kariba, usually combined with Matusadona. Walking
safaris run May to mid-November, canoe safaris are good year
round.
- Best safari: Ian Fearon's canoe safaris, Camp Zambezi and
Chitake Wilderness trail.
- Hwange National Park:
- Zimbabwe's largest wildlife reserve, a "big five" safari
spot. Contains Zimbabwe's greatest diversity and wildlife variety. Has a
particularly strong elephant population. Also good for buffalo, rhino,
lion and leopard - wild dog are a specialty. Home to just over 100
mammal species and 400 bird species.
- Hwange has some excellent honeymoon hideaways. Easily accessed from
either Kariba or Victoria Falls.
- Best safari: The Hide and Little Makalolo
- Victoria Falls:
- A World Heritage Site, a Natural Wonder of the World and Africa's
"adventure capital". Victoria Falls is renowned for its one
day whitewater rafting - considered to be the wildest one day white
water trip in the world. For the "adrenaline junkies",
consider river boarding, bungee jumping (the 2nd highest commercial jump
in the world), skydiving, micro lighting, canoeing,
hiking, horse riding and more. Victoria Falls is a very popular
honeymoon stopover. This is a serious tourist spot...
- The falls themselves flow at peak in April each year to create the
largest curtain of falling water on earth. Rafting improves as the
Zambezi River level drops progressively from July to mid-December.
- Vic Falls is an ideal hub for safaris into the main safari spots in
Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Easily tackled on "short stay" basis
using Johannesburg for access.
- Best places: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and Ilala Lodge.
- Best operators:
Safari
Par Excellence
Best time of year
- ...for wildlife May to October, October and November
particularly good but it's very hot!
- ...for birding September to March especially Zambezi
Valley
- ...mildest climate May to September
- ...best discounts: January to June, high season specials July
to October
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