Zimbabwe is a captivating destination in southern Africa, renowned for its dramatic landscapes, abundant wildlife, and rich cultural heritage. The country is home to some of the continent’s most iconic natural attractions, including Victoria Falls, one of the world’s largest waterfalls, where the mighty Zambezi River plunges into a deep gorge in a spectacular display of power. Wildlife enthusiasts can explore Hwange National Park, famous for its large elephant population and diverse game viewing opportunities, or visit Mana Pools National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its walking safaris, canoeing adventures, and close wildlife encounters. Lake Kariba, one of the world's largest man-made lakes, offers scenic boat cruises, excellent fishing, and breathtaking sunsets. Combining adventure, natural beauty, and authentic safari experiences, Zimbabwe remains one of Africa’s most rewarding travel destinations.
Resting on the southern banks of the Zambezi river at the western end of the eponymous falls, this popular tourist town is compact enough to walk around and makes an ideal base for travellers exploring the seventh wonder of the world, the unfathomably vast Victoria Falls. About two thirds of the falls can be viewed from the Zimbabwean side and, while the falls are undoubtedly the star attraction, the area provides both adventure seekers and sightseers with plenty of opportunities to warrant a longer stay. Popular activities include scenic flights over the falls in helicopters or micro lights, bungee jumping off the Victoria Falls Bridge, white-water rafting (seasonal), and day trips to Chobe National Park. The town itself offers some excellent accommodation and restaurant options as well as an eclectic variety of African curios and authentic art sold by friendly Zimbabwean locals who are wonderfully welcoming and eager to help you enjoy your stay.
Located in western Zimbabwe, Hwange National Park (formerly Wankie Game Reserve) is the largest natural reserve in the country and is famous for its rich diversity of wildlife. Home to one of the biggest elephant populations in the world, as well as around 100 mammal species, the park is a wonderland for animal lovers. Several protected animals inhabit the awe-inspiring open landscapes, including the endangered wild dog, critically endangered black rhino, and rare roan and sable - along with lion, cheetah, and around 500 bird species. Adventurers can look forward to guided bush hikes, game drives, and horse riding safaris, all of which offer excellent photographic opportunities. Hwange boasts several unique natural features, most notably the natural seeps such as Nehimba and Shakwanki animals dig for water.
Idyllically located in the spectacular Matobo Hills, the renowned Matobo National Park is known for its rich human history, its remarkably diverse flora and fauna and its magnificent rugged terrain. This unspoiled natural wilderness features a range of massive red-tinged, granite boulders interspersed with gorgeous wooded valleys making it a dream destination for hikers, climbers and nature lovers alike. The reserve is compact, easily accessible and is home to an impressive range of African wildlife including the highly endangered black and white rhinoceros, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, cheetah, hippo, warthog and crocodile as well as Africa's largest concentration of leopard and black eagles. This unforgettable national park serves as an ideal stopover for travellers heading to the popular tourist sites of Hwange and the majestic Victoria Falls.
Despite recent and surprisingly rapid modernization, Botswana’s cities provide little in the way of tourist attractions. However, what the cities lack in excitement, the surrounding wilderness areas more than make up for in outstanding natural beauty. The country’s primary tourist draw card is undoubtedly the vast red expanse of the Kalahari desert and its remarkably beautiful Okavango Delta - the largest inland delta in the world provide a haven for an abundance of African wildlife. Other highlights include the impressive Makgadikgadi salt pans where visitors are privy to massive zebra migrations during the flood season; the Savuti plains which host large prides of lions; and the Tsodilo Hills where 4500 rock paintings form a unique record of human settlement over many millennia.
This small village, situated 180km north of Francistown, is a popular stop-over destination on the way to or from Maun and Kasane (both ~300km away) further north. The white sand, tall termite mounds and Mokolwane palm trees are a feature of the area around this village. Due to the number of tourists passing through there are now three filling stations (Engen, Shell and Caltex) close together on the outskirts of Nata at the junction with the Maun road Shops in Nata are limited with North Gate filling station being the only decent option - there is a Southern Fried Chicken takeaway here as well as a shop selling basic food stuff and cold drinks. The Engen filling station, on the left before the Maun junction, also has a Wimpy fast food restaurant. Nata is the best place from which to explore the eastern section of the Makgadikgadi Pans. Nata Sanctuary is only 10km away and self-drive trips here can be rewarding at the right time of year with large flocks of Flamingos and Pelicans which breed here each year.
Maun is the starting point for most expeditions into the Okavango Delta and as a result, has developed into a bustling metropolis that is considered Botswana’s tourism capital. Area attractions include a renowned river boat that offers ‘booze cruises’ up and down the Thamalakane River, and the forest groves of the Maun Game Reserve.
Maun can also be the start or finish point of your self drive or private safari.
Bordering both the Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park in northern Botswana, Khwai Private Reserve spans approximately 180,000 hectares along the north-eastern edge of the Okavango Delta. Established through a community-based partnership between local villages and the tourism sector, the reserve supports conservation alongside sustainable economic opportunities for nearby communities. Riverine forests, seasonal floodplains, open grasslands, mopane woodland, winding channels and lagoons create a varied landscape that supports an exceptional diversity of wildlife. Elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, African wild dog and sable antelope are among the species found here, together with abundant birdlife. Visitors explore the reserve on guided game drives, walking safaris and mokoro excursions through the Delta's waterways, with night drives on private concession land adding opportunities to encounter nocturnal animals.
Guma Lagoon is found in the northern reaches of Botswana. This wonderful retreat on the banks of the Okavango River is a dream destination for animal lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, providing a range of sights and activities. Not only can visitors enjoy premium bird watching with over 200 native species and freshwater fishing opportunities, both spin and fly-fishing; but Guma Lagoon is also a fantastic base for self-guided game drives and traditional dug-out canoe (mokoro) tours, which allow you to navigate the palm islands and waterlily beds of the scenic Okavango. Other key activities include bush walks, forest trails and stargazing. Finally, note that accommodation is provided exclusively through Guma Lagoon Camp – and so advance booking, particularly for the self-catering units, is highly recommended.
With its well-developed infrastructure, some of the best tourist facilities in Africa and an impressive list of breathtaking natural wonders, touring Namibia is truly a pleasure. Visit the capital of Windhoek and the lovely coastal town of Swakopmund to discover remnants of the country’s German influence, reflected in the architecture, culture, cuisine and the annual Oktoberfest celebrations. To properly appreciate this extraordinary country, you will have to venture out of the cities to explore the remarkable natural landscapes Namibia has to offer. These include: the impressive Fish River Canyon Park; the vast Etosha National Park teeming with local subspecies, such as desert lions, desert elephants and the Hartmann's Mountain Zebra; the hauntingly beautiful Kalahari Desert; and of course the Namib Desert stretching for nearly 1000 km along the magnificent Atlantic coastline. Namibia is an ideal destination for travellers seeking an unforgettable African experience in a uniquely beautiful untamed wilderness.
Flowing through the Zambezi Region of northeastern Namibia, close to the borders of Botswana, Zambia and Angola, the Kwando River is a scenic waterway that forms part of the vast Kavango–Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area. Lined with riverine forests, floodplains and reed-fringed channels, it supports an exceptional diversity of wildlife and birdlife, making it one of Namibia's premier safari destinations. Visitors can enjoy game drives, boat cruises, canoeing and guided nature walks, with opportunities to spot elephants, hippos, crocodiles and an abundance of bird species. The river also borders Bwabwata National Park and provides access to nearby Mudumu and Nkasa Rupara national parks, where seasonal wetlands support a rich diversity of wildlife throughout the year.
Despite recent and surprisingly rapid modernization, Botswana’s cities provide little in the way of tourist attractions. However, what the cities lack in excitement, the surrounding wilderness areas more than make up for in outstanding natural beauty. The country’s primary tourist draw card is undoubtedly the vast red expanse of the Kalahari desert and its remarkably beautiful Okavango Delta - the largest inland delta in the world provide a haven for an abundance of African wildlife. Other highlights include the impressive Makgadikgadi salt pans where visitors are privy to massive zebra migrations during the flood season; the Savuti plains which host large prides of lions; and the Tsodilo Hills where 4500 rock paintings form a unique record of human settlement over many millennia.
Kasane is almost part of the Chobe National Park as there are no boundary fences separating the village from the park. In fact, game such as elephant and hippo are often spotted in Kasane. If on the lookout for game in the area, pay a visit to the large, dead trees along the Sedudu Valley Road as they often act as temporary homes for leopards. These aren’t the only enticing trees in Kasane – the village is also the proud owner of an old baobab tree whose tree trunk was once a local prison. Kasane is the main town servicing Chobe and the Linyanti.
