6 reasons to travel to Zimbabwe

Trying to whittle down a country’s wonders, charms, and other allurements into a short list is always a bit of a crazy endeavour; nonetheless, here is my pick of just six reasons to travel to Zimbabwe as a tourist …

1. Witness Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. It’s an astonishing display of power. Part of the Zambezi River, which serves as the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, it’s a colossal curtain of water that plunges 108 m (354 ft) into a basalt chasm. It’s locally known as Mosi-oa-Tunya (‘The Smoke that Thunders’), which aptly describes both the roar of the crashing water and the drenching spray it sends high up into the air.

Victoria Falls is about 1.7 km (5,604 ft) wide in full flow and doesn’t have a straight edge, so it’s worth pointing out that the fullest view of the falls comes from the town of Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwean side. What’s more, this side of the falls has a beautiful and unique rainforest that you can explore via a network of footpaths. (For more on this topic of which side of the falls to visit, please read Livingstone vs Victoria Falls.)

Adrenaline-lovers can bungy jump off Victoria Falls Bridge – the thrill of the 111 m (364 ft) drop towards the racing river is accompanied by the falls’ thundering soundtrack. You can also take a boat cruise above the falls to see wildlife like elephants and buffaloes. And you can go white-water rafting elsewhere on the Zambezi.

2. Experience a classic Big Five safari in Hwange

If your dream is to go on an African safari and see legendary animals like lions, elephants, and giraffes, then Hwange National Park in western Zimbabwe is one of the best parks on the continent for this. It offers a classic but uncrowded savannah safari experience.

Hwange is Zimbabwe’s largest game reserve (larger than the state of Connecticut, in fact) and also its most biodiverse (it hosts over 100 mammal species). Its residents include the Big Five (elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo, and leopard). In fact, during the dry winter months, tens of thousands of elephants roam the park, and sitting by a waterhole at sunset while hundreds of these gentle giants gather to drink can feel life-changing.

The park is also one of the continent’s greatest strongholds for rare and endangered painted wolves (African wild dogs). And you can find various other savannah icons here too, like cheetahs, jackals, hyenas, zebras, hippos, roans, sables, and oryxes. (Learn more in Meet the wildlife of Hwange National Park.)

3. Do a water-based safari in Mana Pools

Mana Pools National Park in the far north of Zimbabwe protects the rich ecosystem of the lower Zambezi River floodplains. It is, in fact, a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it has one of the most biodiverse and concentrated populations of large mammals in Africa.

The park’s floodplains offer a critical seasonal refuge for many thirsty animals and birds. So in the dry winter months, enormous herds of elephants, buffaloes, and zebras, as well as various other thirsty animals like antelopes and predators, migrate to the water’s edge. Here, they join the ranks of hippos and crocodiles, often creating glorious multispecies tableaus.

The delight of a Mana Pools visit is that you can go game-spotting both on land and on water. Observing elephants snorting mud onto themselves or waterbuck peeking out at you from among the reeds while you relax in a kayak or on a boat is an incredible experience that’s both serene and thrilling.

4. Escape to beautiful Nyanga in the Eastern Highlands

When you think of Zimbabwe, you might be picturing a place of mostly flattish, dry savannah. But the Eastern Highlands offer something completely different.

Running along the border with Mozambique, this cool, mountainous region is all about rolling green hills, pine forests, misty peaks, and waterfalls. It also has the allure of being somewhere not yet overtaken by Instagrammers and celebrity travel show hosts. So if you want a fuller picture of Zimbabwe, enjoy Victoria Falls and a safari, but then leave the heat of the valleys for the refreshing cool of the highlands.

Nyanga National Park in particular offers great natural beauty, incredible escarpment-edge views, and plenty of thrilling adventure activities. You can, for instance, go mountain biking or white-water rafting, hike through beautiful Afromontane moorland to reach the 2,593 m (8,507 ft) peak of Mount Nyangani, and zipline or skywalk at Mutarazi Falls, Africa’s second-highest waterfall.

Alternatively, take things at a gentler pace and enjoy trout fishing, driving to the Worlds View lookout point, and cosying by the fireplace each evening.

5. Do some world-class birding

Another reason to travel to Zimbabwe is its birds.

Anyone who’s been to Zimbabwe knows that the sounds and colours of its feathery friends pepper daily life, whether you’re in the city or on safari, and whether you’re paying deep attention or not. With over 670 recorded bird species, the country is a high priority among birders and nature photographers.

The country’s avian hotspots include Hwange for savannah species, Mana Pools for riverine birds, the Eastern Highlands for Afromontane species, and the Lake Chivero region for woodland and wetland species.

Some of the birds that are strongly associated with a Zimbabwean visit and are relatively easy to find are Bateleur and African fish eagles, secretary birds, southern yellow-billed and trumpeter hornbills, and southern carmine bee-eaters. As to rare birds, you might be fortunate enough to spot a Pel’s fishing owl and African pitta while on safari. While at Victoria Falls, keep your eyes peeled for the taita flacon, and while in the highlands, look for the striped flufftail.

6. Discover incredible pre-colonial history

Zimbabwe has a rich and sophisticated past, and you can’t appreciate the country today without some understanding of it.

One of the country’s most intact and awe-inspiring historical sites is the Great Zimbabwe National Monument, which protects the stone ruins of a mediaeval city complex within the Eastern Highlands. Reportedly built between the tenth and fifteenth centuries, it covers about 1,800 acres and has three sections: the Hill Complex, Great Enclosure, and Valley Ruins.

International visitors are often astonished to find such a site in southern Africa, as most pre-colonial societies here didn’t build with such lasting materials. But the Shona of this period were a mighty empire with trade networks that reached as far as the Swahili Coast, and they developed a distinct civilisation. In places, Great Zimbabwe’s mortar-less stone walls rise to 10 metres, and the close-fitting nature of the rocks attests to great engineering skills. Wandering the quiet passageways of the ruins in the company of a guide offers a fascinating glimpse into a complex dynastic era.

Zimbabwe is so much more than just Victoria Falls

For most international travellers, it’s Victoria Falls and a safari that bring them to Zimbabwe. But for the curious and those willing to step off the tourism carousel, there’s far more to this beguiling country that, all together, provides a deeper and better-rounded introduction to a unique land and people. Please browse the itineraries below to find a Zimbabwean overland tour that speaks to you.

Note: This blog post was created in April 215 by Sarah Duff. In July 2026, it was completely overwritten by Megan Abigail White.