Zimbabwe Travel

Zimbabwe is a beautiful African country, rich in resources and hardworking people. Despite political turmoil, it is a beautiful travel destination. What brings visitors to Zimbabwe is its unbelievable natural beauty. It is home to Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall in the world, and Lake Kariba, the largest man-made lake in terms of volume. Zimbabwe is also known for it`s fantastic safari`s thanks to the beautiful national parks such as Hwange and Mana Pools.

Victoria Falls, known locally as `The Smoke That Thunders,` is one of the most extraordinary natural sights on the African continent. Located on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, it is the world`s largest waterfall.

Great Zimbabwe, is the medieval capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe during the late Iron Age. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and comprises three connected complexes full of ruined towers, turrets, and wall all brilliantly engineered and constructed from stone.

Located in western Zimbabwe, Hwange National Park is the largest and oldest game reserve in the country. It is especially famous for its huge herds of elephant and buffalo. Hwange is also a haven for several rare or endangered species.

On the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe lies Lake Kariba, the largest man-made lake in the world. It was created in 1958 by the damming of the Zambezi River and supports an incredible variety of bird and animal life. It is famous for houseboat vacations and for its population of tigerfish (one of the most sought-after game fish in Africa).

Generally, the best time to visit Zimbabwe is during the dry season (April through October), when the weather is at its most pleasant. The lack of available water this time of year forces animals to congregate around rivers, lakes, and waterholes, making them easier to spot whilst on safari.

In Zimbabwe, the summer months (November through March) are the hottest and the wettest. The annual rains arrive earlier and leave later in the northern part of the country, whereas the south is generally drier. Winter months (June through September) see warm daytime temperatures and cool nights. The weather is generally dry during this time.

For more information, check out: Best Time to Visit South Africa

We recommend 7-10 days based on what you want to see and do. We offer flexible vacation packages so you can select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities. We suggest a minimum of 3 nights in larger cities.

Between cities, you travel using luxury coaches like Pathfinder and Citilink. You can also get decent buses from RoadPort in Harare to other major cities including those in neighboring countries like Johannesburg, Lusaka, Lilongwe.

Minibus taxis are available for intra-city transport, and are relatively inexpensive by European standards. They provide a cheap, though a not necessarily comfortable way of seeing the true Zimbabwe.

The condition of the roads in Zimbabwe seems to have improved considerably since the stabilization of the economic. Roads between Victoria Falls and Bulawayo, Bulawayo and Masvingo (Great Zimbabwe) and Masvingo and Mutare are all in relatively good condition.

Almost no fuel station in Zimbabwe takes credit cards. Also road blocks are common but usually police just want to see your driver`s license and your Temporary Import Permit (TIP). Police can fine you if you do not have reflective reflectors on your car, red hazard triangles in your boot, a spare tire, or a fire extinguisher, so be sure to carry those items if you want to avoid a fine.

The taxi app in Zimbabwe is called Vaya, but you will need a Zimbabwean phone number to use it. Its exchange rate is fixed at Z$1 to US$1, so you will want to pay in Zimbabwean dollars (RTGS).

The more courageous tourists could travel by train around Zimbabwe. National Railways of Zimbabwe runs services between most major cities at least three times per week. However, due to ongoing economic difficulties and rundown tracks, there are often delays and cancellations. The most popular route is the daily overnight train between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. This train passes through Hwange National Park, one of the biggest national parks in Africa, and there are plenty of opportunities to see wild animals along the route. There is a tri-weekly overnight service between Bulawayo and the capital Harare as well.

The U.S. dollar was introduced as the official currency of Zimbabwe in 2009 in response to the hyperinflation of the Zimbabwean dollar. Although several other currencies (including the South African rand and the British pound) are considered legal tender, the U.S. dollar is still the most widely used.

Zimbabwe has no fewer than 16 official languages (the most of any country). English, Shona and Sindebele/Ndebele are the `big three` most popular. English, besides being traditionally used for official business, serves as a lingua franca between Zimbabweans of different ethnicities.