Discover Zimbabwe's Top Attractions in 2022
It’s not surprising that, despite its political turmoil, Zimbabwe has remained a long-awaited home for people who have been raised, nurtured, and captivated by it. A humble demeanour belying magnificent beauty, a beguiling warmth that makes you feel at ease right away, and a calm, meditative pace are just a few of the characteristics that make this Southern African jewel unique. We discovered the enchantment of this amazing, multifaceted land, at these places in Zimbabwe, and we promised to return again and again.
Zambezi River
It’s not surprising that, despite its political turmoil, Zimbabwe has remained a long-awaited home for people who have been raised, nurtured, and captivated by it. A humble demeanour belying magnificent beauty, a beguiling warmth that makes you feel at ease right away, and a calm, meditative pace are just a few of the characteristics that make this Southern African jewel unique. We discovered the enchantment of this amazing, multifaceted land, at these places in Zimbabwe, and we promised to return again and again.
Victoria Falls
The Victoria Falls’ grandeur, magnitude, and majesty are impossible to convey in a photograph. The world’s tallest waterfall, with an incredible amount of water rushing over its crags, its trademark rumbling and infamous smoke screams its presence far and wide, making it one of Africa’s greatest natural wonders. It’s tempting to dismiss it as simply another overrated tourist trap because it’s become one of those inevitable destinations on a Southern African vacation, but once you’re there, you’ll see that its popularity is well-deserved and that nothing could have prepared you for that first encounter. If you find yourself in the south of the African continent, you would be remiss if you did not take advantage of the opportunity to witness one of the region’s natural wonders.
Hwange National Park
If man and nature coexist peacefully for a long time, the land’s beasts will remember and uphold an unwritten truce between species — a truce that permits them to coexist in the same precious sanctuary. Hwange National Park’s wildlife is fierce, gorgeous, and magnificent, yet it is also at ease among the throngs of people that cross the park’s various terrain to marvel at its beauty. In this national park, safari vehicles appear to function as part of a strange species that the animals are uninterested in and cautious of, giving the visitor a cinematic peek into the inner workings of the animal kingdom. It is without a doubt one of Zimbabwe’s top safari spots.
Lake Kariba
Lake Kariba is a magical wonderland whose grandeur strikes you out of nowhere somewhere in the midst of its expanse and epic peaks on its otherwise unspoiled horizon. You are easily caught by the wistful relaxation of a remote excursion while cruising its breadth, as there are few reminders of land and its many diversions for hours on end. Travel in a houseboat through this enchanting waterway if you can, and take your time. Exchange your idyllic home for a speedboat and travel across the lake to Sanyati Gorge, a canyon-like watercourse where large crocodiles sunbathe while the skies are decorated by a variety of birds in what feels like a scene from a fantasy film; undoubtedly one of Zimbabwe’s most scenic destinations.
Mana Pools National Park
Mana Pools National Park, a large unfenced wilderness so magnificent and revered that it was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, is one of those secret sanctuaries cherished by those fortunate enough to have found it. The Zambezi River’s eastward flow for thousands of years left behind vestiges of former river channels and produced several hundred square kilometres of little seasonal ponds that make up this stunning wilderness. It is one of Africa’s most enduring wildlife sanctuaries, running from Kariba to the Mozambique border. It is home to about 200 000 km2 of protected land and is regarded as one of the continent’s most enduring wildlife sanctuaries.
Wildlife roams freely in this ecosystem, which boasts some of Africa’s most spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Hippo grunts, lion roars, and the incessant ballad of Cape turtle doves punctuate a night spent at one of the camps. Diverse fauna can be seen along the river and floodplains as you go through this region. Over 350 bird species, as well as animals such as zebra, kudu, leopard, and hyena, may be seen on the park’s signature guided walking safaris.
Gonarezhou National Park
Gonarezhou National Park is a neglected wilderness with unique vistas just waiting to be discovered. If Hwange is an enchanted forest, Gonarezhou is the forbidden forest, a wild and largely undisturbed environment of incredible beauty in Zimbabwe’s Lowveld. There’s something more rugged and fierce about this park, which transforms itself from a canyon of layered red sandstone dating back millions of years to cordons of plantation-like vegetation, veld, and floodplains; you can navigate the park’s length and feel like you’re visiting a new park every day.
With one of the highest densities of elephants in Africa, as well as robust populations of lions, spotted hyenas, and wild dogs (one of the largest populations of these endangered creatures thanks to strong anti-poaching measures), the safari experience is heightened, but rewarding.
