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.
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest, covering more than 5000 square miles, is the country’s premier wildlife destination, attracting visitors to both the great diversity and sheer numbers of animals. It is home to 100 species of mammals, and 400 bird species, including one of the largest elephant populations in Africa, and one of the few parks left with the rare African wild dog. Due to the lack of permanent water, animals rely on the park’s waterholes. In dry season, rather than driving around looking for wildlife, this is where the action is. There are animals coming to drink, and predators coming to hunt them when they dare try and quench their thirst. In some camps, with private waterholes, you can even “game watch” from the comfort of your own bed. “It really doesn’t get much better than this anywhere in Africa.”
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.
