7-Day Victoria Falls & Hwange Safari - Standard - NETT

Lush tropical mountain forests, savannah plains, gigantic rivers and fascinating ancient ruins. Add the diversity of wildlife and the wonder of Victoria Falls to top it off. Zimbabwe is your all-in-one African safari holiday destination.

Zimbabwe is a small country and its diverse attractions are packed into short easy drives or even quicker, easier flights. Expect beautiful waterfalls and rivers, exceptional wildlife safaris and spectacular scenery from classic African plains to vast river valleys, mystical hills and misty mountains.

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you probably associate Zimbabwe with great political and economic turmoil. We won't go there. We will instead tell you how it is now and we'll do it in a word: fantastic!

The Zimbabweans, known for their happy outlook on life, gentle ways and generous spirit have rallied around each other to save one of Africa's true gems from ruin. Now, fuel, food and general supplies are back in the shelves at the supermarkets; the banks dispense US dollars in manageable wallet-sized wads - replacing the shopping trolleys of trillion-dollar notes; and the magnificent natural attractions remain undisturbed as they have been for millennia.

Besides the world-famous attractions in Zimbabwe, there are many smaller and equally opportunities for specific activities such as birding, fishing, hunting, photography, adventure, golf, cultural and historical pursuits or just plain relaxing. These we call the secret attractions and as we explore them we will post our reports here. In the meantime, please talk to your Travel Expert for details of Zimbabwe's hidden gems - real ones that is, not diamonds.

Zimbabwe Attractions

The main attractions, however, are the main attractions for good reason. Zimbabwe is the ultimate all-in-one African holiday and safari destination. With World Heritage Sites galore - including Victoria Falls, Mana Pools, Great Zimbabwe Ruins, Matopos Hills and Khami Ruins - travelling through Zimbabwe is like traversing the highlights of an entire continent.

• Victoria Falls: seventh wonder of the natural world, UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site and adventure capital of Africa
• Hwange National Park: among seasoned safari-goers, many agree Hwange to be one of the best game reserves in the region
• Mana Pools National Park: pristine wilderness safari destination, UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site famous for its walking safaris and big game
• Lake Kariba and Matusadona: one of the world's largest man-made lakes and a great fishing/game viewing/birding/relaxing destination
• Eastern Highlands: slice of Scotland in Africa with mountains, rain-forests, rivers and waterfalls including the 5th highest in the world at 762m
• Great Zimbabwe and Midlands: UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site and one of the oldest and largest man-made structures in southern Africa
• Matobo National Park: a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site of great beauty crammed with history from the Stone Age to the present day
• Chizarira National Park: a large and untamed beast of a game reserve on the Zambezi escarpment where leopards are rife and walking safaris are your only means of transport
• Khami Ruins: the successor dynasty to Great Zimbabwe also a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site
• Ghona-re-zhou, Matestsi, Chete, Mavhuradona, Nyanga, Bunga Forest, Upper Zambezi, Charara, Kazuma Pan, Chimanimani...The many lesser-known wildlife parks and nature reserves offer beautiful scenery, fascinating flora and fauna and a refreshing break from over-developed tourist areas.
• The People: without doubt Zimbabwe's best asset and greatest attraction will be your abiding memory of its people; Zimbabweans are innately friendly, warm and welcoming and you will experience this warmth wherever you go.

Currency

US dollars are universally accepted as well as South African rands, euros and pounds sterling.

The official currency of Zimbabwe is the Zimbabwe dollar (ZWL). This currency is in the form of *Bond Notes and **RTGS (real time gross settlement). The currency consists of bond coins and banknotes, with denominations including 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 bond coins, as well as 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollar banknotes. The currency was reintroduced in 2019 and even though the Zimbabwean dollar is still accepted and in circulation, the US dollar is the dominant currency.

It's important to note that exchange rates and the use and value of the Zimbabwean dollar can fluctuate, so it's advisable to check with official exchange bureaus, banks, or financial institutions for the most up-to-date information and rates for travel to Zimbabwe.

Banking

Banks in Zimbabwe are open for business Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 08h00 to 15h00, on Wednesdays from 08h00 to 13h00 and Saturdays from 08h00 to 11h30. They are closed on Sundays and Public Holidays. 

Only VISA and MasterCard are accepted in Zimbabwe, however it should be noted that very limited facilities will have credit card machines, and the connection is not always reliable so it is advisable to carry cash as back up.

Taxis are safe and reliable, and can be booked through your hotel front desk. Taxis in cities travel within a 40km radius of the city. Always take a taxi at night.

Major airlines fly into Victoria Falls, Harare and Bulawayo. Charter flights are available to most attractions and camps. 

Zimbabwe has a good road infrastructure, by African standards, although potholed. Between major towns, there are frequent road blocks. Traffic drives on the left side of the road. 

If you are driving yourself around Zimbabwe, be sure to check on fuel availability in advance. If you are covering long distances within the country, ensure you carry extra fuel in 5 or 10lt metal containers in case of emergency. Fuel is generally available, but supply can fluctuate. Fuel is only available for cash.

Zimbabwe's native cuisine is based on sadza, a cooked porridge made from ground maize which is normally accompanied by some tasty relish, perhaps made of meat and tomatoes, or dried fish. Safari camps will often prepare sadza if requested, and it is almost always available in small restaurants in the towns.

Camps, hotels and lodges that cater to overseas typically serve a variety international fare, and the quality of food prepared in the most remote bush camps is usually excellent.

If you are driving yourself around and plan to cook, then get most of your supplies in main towns. There are a number of South African shopping chains operating in Zimbabwe which will generally have all that you will need.

Water in the main towns is usually purified.. The locals drink it, and are used to the relatively innocuous bugs that it may harbour. If you are in the country for a long time, then it may be worth acclimatising yourself to it. However, if you are in Zimbabwe for just a short period of time, then try to drink only bottled, boiled, or treated water available in towns and from all camps, lodges and hotels.

In Zimbabwe, the rains come principally in December, January,February and March; the further north you are, the earlier the precipitation arrives and the later it leaves. Zimbabwe's higher eastern areas usually receive more rainfall than the lower-lying western ones.

By April and May most of the rain is gone, leaving a verdant setting, which is starting to dry out. Especially in more southerly and higher locations, the night-time temperatures start to drop.

The nights in June, July and August become much cooler, so don't forget to bring some warmer clothes, in case you want to spend an evening outside; the days are still clear and warm. For Zimbabwe, this is the start of the 'peak season'– days are often cloudless and game sightings continually increase.

Into September and October the temperatures rise once again: Zimbabwe's lower-lying rift valley – Mana Pools – can get very hot in October. During this time, you'll see some fantastic game, as the Zimbabwe's wildlife concentrates around the limited water sources.

November is unpredictable; it can be hot and dry, it can also see the season's first rainfalls – and in this respect it's a very interesting month, as on successive days, you can see both weather patterns.

When in Zimbabwe the cardinal rule is to wear casual, comfortable clothes during the day as temperatures can get very hot. It is advisable to wear light loose-fitting clothing, such as cotton or linen, as they are cool and easy to wash. Warmer clothes are advised for the evenings and rainwear for the wet season. 

A brimmed hat and sunglasses are a good idea year-round. Long-sleeved shirts and long trousers will also guard against the scorching sun rays. It is recommended you wear light shoes, especially if your itinerary entails a lot of walking. 

For safaris, please remember to wear appropriate clothing and shoes. Earth colour clothes, such as browns, greens and tans are advisable. 

Internet availability is very limited especially outside of the major cities. 

Most holiday accommodation venues offer internet and/or WiFi (free or paid) to their guests but there are often disruptions in service.

Electrical sockets in the Republic of Zimbabwe are Type G (BS-1363) and Type C (CEE 7/16 Europlug) and Type D (BS-546). If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance's plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. If it's crucial to be able to plug in no matter what, bring an adapter for all types.

Electrical sockets usually supply electricity at 230 volts AC / 50 Hz frequency.  If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 230 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need. If your appliance isn’t compatible with 230 volts, a voltage converter will be necessary.