Resting on the southern banks of the Zambezi River at the western end of the 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 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 microlights, bungee jumping off the Victoria Falls Bridge, white-water rafting (seasonal), and day trips to Chobe National Park. The town itself offers an eclectic variety of African curios and authentic art sold by friendly Zimbabwean locals who are 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.
Mana Pools National Park, a Natural World Heritage site, is named for its large pools of water, some 5 miles long, not really “pools” at all, where a great abundance and diversity of wildlife come to drink and forage on the lush vegetation on shore. It is well-known as one of Africa’s best game-viewing areas, including large herds of elephant and buffalo. The park is in a spectacular location, in the heart of a beautiful valley, with the backdrop of the dramatic Rift Valley Escarpment, and the mighty Zambezi flowing through it. Although game drives are possible, canoe safaris are amazing here because of all the animals attracted to the pools. A calm, drifting approach to wildlife grazing on the banks provides a different point of view than the typical land rover, allowing for quiet, intimate moments with wildlife, as well as thrilling opportunities to encounter one of Africa’s highest concentrations of crocodiles and hippos in their natural habitat.
Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve (Malilangwe meaning ‘the call of the leopard’), is a breathtaking private reserve located in the beautiful southern reaches of Zimbabwe, bordering spectacular Gonarezhou National Park. This scenic corner of the world spans 40,000 hectares of diverse landscapes - sandstone outcrops, vast mopane woodlands, and majestic baobab trees. These provide habitats for a wide variety of wildlife (including high concentrations of endangered black rhino). Visitors can also look forward to spotting over 14 species of eagle, as well as giraffe, zebra, impala, wildebeest, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, sable antelope, hippo, crocodile, elephant, buffalo, terrapin, lion, hyena, and leopard. History lovers will enjoy exploring the impressive collection of ancient 2000-year-old rock art. Enjoy hiking, guided bush walks, excellent game drives, and superb fishing opportunities.
