Zimbabwe - Simply Africa

Explore Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is home of the ‘wonder safaris’.

Zimbabwe is a land that feels carved out of myth and then casually left behind for us to wander through. Out in the great game parks—like Hwange National Park and Mana Pools National Park—the earth breathes in dust and exhales elephants. Lions stretch in the shade like they own the lease on the savanna, and fish eagles call over the wide shimmer of Lake Kariba. Then there’s the thunderous curtain of Victoria Falls, where the Zambezi throws itself into the gorge with the kind of drama that makes you rethink your life choices. It’s wilderness on a grand scale.

And beyond the wildlife, the land keeps its older secrets. Granite stone hills rise like the backs of sleeping giants, balancing boulders as if gravity here negotiates. At Great Zimbabwe, dry-stone walls stand without mortar, a reminder that civilizations flourished here long before Europe learned to pronounce the continent’s name properly. Tucked into caves and overhangs, ancient San rock art watches quietly, ochre figures still hunting across the stone. Zimbabwe isn’t just scenery—it’s time layered in rock, water, and memory, waiting for you to walk through it slowly enough to hear what it’s been saying for centuries.

Ready to embark on your next adventure?

Where to go in Zimbabwe - game parks, waterfalls & lakes, stone hills, ancient ruins & rock art

Hwange National Park

Only a scenic, two-hour drive from Victoria Falls lies Zimbabwe’s largest and oldest Game Park – considered to be one of the most important conservation areas in Africa. The savannah, teak and mopane forests provide safe habitats for an incredible variety of mammal species, including 20 000 elephants and 14 000 buffalo, and over 400 species of birds.

Game viewing and birdwatching are superb – spot the Big Five and the Little Five on game drives and bush walks.

Mana Pools National Park

This World Heritage Site is downstream from the Victoria Falls, on the great Zambezi River. This park is famous for its stately elephant, feeding under giant Acacia trees, amongst the termite mounds, in a magical light. Endangered Painted Hunting Dogs are seen regularly here.

A canoe trip along the Lower Zambezi is the experience of a lifetime.

Matobo National Park

Near Bulawayo, the Matobo Hills offer breathtaking granite landscapes, adorned with thousands of beautiful ancient rock paintings. They shelter part of the world’s dwindling rhino population, many leopards, and the world’s largest population of Black Eagles. The area is historically significant for the Ndebele people, and the burial site of their King Mzilikazi. British empire builder, Cecil John Rhodes, is also buried here.

Climb the hills, view the rock art, track rhinos, visit Khami Ruins, explore the city of Bulawayo.

Gona-re-Zhou National Park

Shangaan for ‘the place of the elephant’, this remote and pristine park shelters several endemic species and showcases the stunning Chilojo sandstone cliffs, towering above the Runde River. It now forms part of a giant Transfrontier Park – adjoining the Kruger Park in South Africa – a pioneering experiment to allow free movement of wildlife across man-made borders.

A drive up the the top of the cliffs provides an amazing view.

The Victoria Falls

Shared with Zambia, this is the most famous waterfall on the planet, designated one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and a World Heritage Site. Visit the Victoria Falls page to see the many activities you can do here.

Victoria Falls village is known as ‘The Adventure Capital of Africa’ and offers exciting things to do, such as high adrenalin bungee jumping and white water rafting. More relaxed and sedate pursuits are also on offer – canoeing, river cruising, helicopter trips over the Falls, game drives in the adjacent Parks, village visits, golf on the Gary Player course at Elephant Hills, and shopping in the markets for that special memento. This is the home of www.stonedynamicsgallery.com where you can view this unique contemporary Zimbabwe Stone Sculpture. We suggest a three-night stay.

Great Zimbabwe Monument

Zimbabwe means ‘house of stone’ and the country takes its name from the impressive, beautiful and mysterious ancient walled city. This well preserved city, built over 700 years ago, is the largest ancient dry stone structure in the Southern Hemisphere.

Climb the Acropolis and explore the Great Enclosure below. Visit the site museum and view the beautiful soapstone Zimbabwe Birds that were unearthed here.

Lake Kariba & Matusadona National Park

Damming the Zambezi River, the lake is 260km long and 30km wide and, for many years, was the world’s largest man made dam. Wild and beautiful game parks, such as Matusadona, are found on its islands and hilly shores.

A live-aboard houseboat safari is an experience unique to Kariba. Or stay in a lodge on the shores or an island and take boat trips on the waters and game drives into the Park.

Zambezi National Park

The lovely Zambezi National Park is split into two sections. The northern section runs along the Zambezi River, with pristine riverine forest, as well as Mopane and Teak forest, and glorious Baobabs. The southern section is mainly Vlei (grassland) bordered by Teak forest. A variety of animals can be found here, including elephant, lion, buffalo and leopard. Sable, eland, zebra, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck and impala, as well as many of the smaller species of game, are also seen. The birdlife is excellent, and twitchers can find specials, such as the African Finfoot and African Skimmer here. Seventy-five species of fish are found in the Zambezi, which is famous for its bream and fighting tiger fish.

Take a game drive along the river banks, or inland, and a cruise on the river. Sit on a viewing platform overlooking a waterhole.