Africa Travel Newsletters > Zimbabwe Travel African Safari and Adventure Travel

1. Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Travel – Rewarding African Safaris and Victoria Falls Adventures

Zimbabwe is a premier African safari destination, and is good for all sorts of adventure travel. The landlocked country is wrapped by Zambia (to the north); Mozambique (to the east); and Botswana and South Africa (to the west and south). It offers some of Africa's outstanding popular safari sites including the magnificent Victoria Falls, the imposing Kariba dam, Hwange National Park, and more.

Zimbabwe is situated on a high plateau, with its landscape consisting of grasslands, and is bordered on the east by mountains. The highlight of the northeastern border of the country is the Zambezi River – along which are situated Victoria Falls and Lake Kariba. The mighty river offers remarkable white water rafting, kayaking and canoing.

Zimbabwe's story dates as far back as 200 B.C, when the Khoisan community occupied the country. However, the more accurate history of Zimbabwe is more recent- dating back to the 1850's when British explorers arrived in the country. This influx of foreigners saw the establishment of the territory of Rhodesia, named after Cecil Rhodes of the British Southern Africa Company.

In 1923, British settlers voted to become the self-governing British colony of Rhodesia. In 1965 the settlers issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI), which triggered a bloody and protracted civil war between fighters for African independence  and the white minority government. The settlers held up until finally giving up on April 18, 1980 when the country attained independence and majority rule.

The country has experienced the vagaries of an economic crises in recent years – mainly attributable to bad leadership by president Robert Mugabe. Zimbabwe has nevertheless not lost any of its natural gifts, and it remains one of the most stunning countries in Africa. A Zimbabwe safari offers you the opportunity to explore the signature features of this beautiful country, from the Victoria Falls and Lake Kariba to the enchanting Hwange National Park.

Victoria Falls, referred to by Zimbabweans as Mosi oa Tunya, meaning 'the smoke that thunders', is a 1.7 kilometers wide waterfall dropping about 128 meters into Bakota Gorge. The gorge spans 120 meters across- and forms a thick mist that engulfs the entire neighborhood. Placed along the Zambezi River on the Zimbabwe and Zambia border, Victoria Falls is one of the world's natural wonders. Although the falls can be accessed from either the Zambian or Zimbabwean sides, it is commonly agreed that the view from Zimbabwe is the more attractive.

Victoria Falls is a part of two national parks: Zambia's Zambezi National Park and Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls National Park. The falls are located along the southern banks of the Zambezi River, and hence the spectacular views.  The best months for going on a safari to Victoria falls are July and August. This is midway through the dry season, which is also the cold season. Temperatures during this season range from daytime highs of 20 degrees Celsius, to as low as 5 degrees Celsius at night.

Guided canoe safaris on the upper section of the Zambezi River or downstream from the falls are a must while touring Victoria Falls. The white water through the picturesque gorges of the Zambezi are also enchanting, and so are sunset cruises on the river at Victoria Falls. The latter allows tourists close observation of hippos and elephants crossing the Zambezi.

On its part, Lake Kariba is easily Zimbabwe's leading destination for fishing, boating, game watching and relaxing. The 282 km long lake is the product of the 1958 initiative to flood a section of the Zambezi Valley so as to create  a hydroelectric power plant for both Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The lake has many secluded inlets and islands, which are home to a wide range of animals, a thriving population of birdlife, as well as over 40 fish species. Many visitors  prefer to take house boats with crew and drift off to go fishing. Among the commonly tagged fish include bream, crap, tiger fish and black bass.

Situated on the eastern edge of the Kalahari Desert, Hwange National Park is the largest and most popular game reserve in Zimbabwe. It is a haven for 105 mammal species that include buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, kudu, zebra, antelope, impala and hyena. The 14,500 sq km park also hosts more than 400 species of birds including falcons, kestrels, osprey, buzzards and goshawk. The park has more than 1,000 tree  and shrub species that provide a rich habitat and scenery.
 
The best time to visit Hwange is in the dry season - between September and October, when the animals are concentrated around permanent water sources. The foliage is also thinner than in the rainy season, which makes spotting the animals easier.

The wet summer months of November to April provide afternoon thunderstorms and the park is turned into a lush green haven. During this period, the animals are scattered around the park and this makes game viewing less rewarding.

Hwange offers a wide range of accommodation options . These range from basic camping to  luxurious Zimbabwe hotels and top star lodges.

Zimbabwe has a moderate climate, with higher temperatures being experienced from November to April and lower temperatures from May to October.  September and October are the best months for game viewing safaris in Zimbabwe.

Harare and Victoria Falls are the main travel hubs of Zimbabwe; both have daily flights to Zimbabwe from Johannesburg, South Africa. Almost all of the country's tourist areas are easily reached from these hubs.

Visitors to Zimbabwe are required to carry a valid passport and tickets for return or onward journeys, as well as sufficient funds for their duration of stay. Visa fees, where applicable, are payable in US dollars and cost between USD 30 and USD 55 depending on currency fluctuations. Single entry visas can be obtained from Zimbabwe's embassies abroad; for multiple-entry visas, travelers must apply direct to the Chief Immigration Officer in Harare.  .

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