Why We Love Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls
3 Great Experiences in Zimbabwe (Outside of Victoria Falls)
Most visitors to Zimbabwe experience the “must-see” Victoria Falls, ‘one of the seven natural wonders of the world,’ and the adventure capital of the region. Described as the world’s largest curtain of falling water, Victoria Falls is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Zimbabwe's game-rich national parks offer breathtaking sunrises, up-close wildlife encounters, and star-studded night skies.
After experiencing the awesome Victoria Falls and its plentiful adventure activities, visitors to Zimbabwe have a wealth of safari opportunities. Victoria Falls is an exciting way to start or end any African safari adventure.
Suggested Safari: Ultimate South Africa and Victoria Falls
1) Hwange National Park
It’s a short flight to the largest park in Zimbabwe, the diverse Hwange National Park, with an extensive network of waterholes that draw large herds of elephant and plains game to the park and surrounding private reserves. Covering more than 5,657 square miles the park has more animals and a greater variety of species than any other park in the country, and more than 400 species of birds. During the dry winter months, the landscape starts to dry out from the month of June, allowing for amazing game watching. Animal sightings include wild dog, lion, leopard, and cheetahs. During the rainy season from late November through to April, a completely different park emerges to that of the dry season. Parched savannahs turn into lush fields with an abundance of grazing. The animals disperse and game viewing becomes limited. This is called the green season and has its own magic as this is when the park and all the animals rejuvenate themselves, feeding on the abundance of food. Newborn animals can be seen everywhere, and the birdlife is prolific.
Suggested Safari: Best of Zimbabwe
The Hwange National Park is most famous for its elephants, as roughly 50,000 of them roam freely around the park.
2) Ngamo Village
Located just outside of the Hwange National Park, a visit to the village in Ngamo provides visitors with an outside perspective on the life of the people of Zimbabwe. This is an incredible experience as speaking with the people of Ngamo and learning about their rich cultures and traditions is a highlight of any Zimbabwe trip.
3) Mana Pools National Park
Mana Pools is the country’s second World Heritage Site where one can canoe and walk in a wildlife-rich and scenic region. Spectacular views of the Zambezi River, floodplains, the rift valley escarpment, and tree canopy make this a wildlife photographer's paradise. Situated at the northernmost point of Zimbabwe straddling the Zambian border, Mana Pools is remarkably beautiful: a riverine wilderness on the Zambezi River. Mana Pools National Park is famous for sightings of large elephant herds that are paired with unique sightings of both lions and leopards. The park has also been known to have many endangered species such as the wild dog. The appeal of the park is not just its wildlife – it is how you get to experience the bush in immersive ways: staying in unfenced campsites amid the wildernesses and going on walking and canoeing safaris to see animals in this untouched land.
Suggested Safari: Zimbabwe Safari in Style
