Umfurudzi Park is one of the most sought-after national parks in Zimbabwe. It is spread over an area of 76000 hectares which is equivalent to almost 760 square meters. This impeccable natural beauty and biodiversity park were brought into being in the year 1981 and it happens to be one of the very first parks that was formed under free Zimbabwe.
1. Explore The Victoria Falls: If you're looking for a rejuvenating break, you must explore Victoria Falls, renowned for its milky white waters. From the sheer force of the waters tumbling into the canyons to the endless number of beautiful rainbows, surrounding rainforest, and local wildlife, Victoria Falls is a magical spectacle of nature.
This waterfall turns into an active rappelling spot during peak monsoon season. You can swim in the rock pools perched below the falls and enjoy bungee jumping over the spectacular falls.
Location: Zambezi River, Livingstone 10101 Zimbabwe
2. Visit The Zambezi River: One of the best activities to do in Zimbabwe is visiting The Zambezi River that is the fourth largest basin in Africa. The river is flanked by the national parks, and you can spot here crocodiles and hippos.
You can go canoeing in the Zambezi river, and it will give you a glimpse of the wildlife species, birds, and national parks. The different types of water levels here make it the best destination for white water rafting. You can also go for a nature walk alongside the Zambezi River.
Location: Livingstone 10101 Zimbabwe
3. See Great Zimbabwe Ruins: Feel like you're time traveling by setting your foot on Great Zimbabwe Ruins, an age-old site attributed to some Greek colonizers. They are the most extraordinary remains in Africa formed of rectangular granite stones that have been carefully placed one upon the other.
The ruins are considered to be the largest of their kind on the entire Zimbabwe Plateau. They can be classified into 3 separate archaeological zones –the Valley Ruins, the Hill Complex, and the Great Enclosure. The Valley Ruins include many mounds that are remnants of daga buildings.
Location: Masvingo, Masvingo Province
4. Explore Lake Kariba: If you're looking for a sun-kissed mini-vacation, you should head to Lake Kariba that is a magnificent attraction surrounded by grazing areas that attract many animal species.
The Lake is home to many fish species, including chessa bottlenose, nkupe, barbell, tigerfish, and vundu. This man-made Lake is a great fishing spot, and you can also enjoy horse rides and guided walks on the Lake's banks. You can also rent a houseboat to have a stunning watery sunset and sunrise views.
Location: Kariba Zimbabwe
5. Visit Chinhoyi Caves National Park: Indulge in a blissful sanctity of nature by visiting Chinhoyi Caves National Park, a hidden gem of Zimbabwe. The caves are made up of several tunnels that take you to the main cave renowned for its aquamarine-colored water.
The main highlight of the Chinhoyi Caves is "The Wonder Hole," which is a large cavern having a collapsed roof. The sides of the Wonder Hole drop down for one hundred and fifty feet to The Sleeping Pool or (Pool of the Fallen). The pool is known to be an excellent diving site for adventure enthusiasts.
Location: 5km From Chinhoyi Town Scubaworld & Universal Adventures, Chinhoyi Zimbabwe
6. Safari at National Park: Live out your safari dreams by visiting Hwange National Park that is home to over forty thousand elephants, big cats, and more than four hundred species of birds.
From big five animals like leopards, elephants, and lions to exotic birds flying in the sky, there are plenty of opportunities to spot the beasts in their natural habitat here. One of the best things to do in Zimbabwe at night is enjoying camping at this national park to reinvigorate your senses and get up close and personal with the bounties of nature.
Location: Matabeleland North Province
Price: Rs 600 per person
7. Walkthrough The City of Bulawayo: One of the best things to do in Zimbabwe is having a walk through the city of Bulawayo, a laidback place where modern and ancient meets. The city's highlight is its wide roads flanked by parks and tree-lined streets.
It has many Art Deco and Victorian-style buildings and Cecil Rhodes' legacies. Bulawayo also houses the National History Museum of Zimbabwe that features exhibits illustrating the country's mineral wealth, wildlife, and history. It also has some of the hippest clubs where you can party the night away.
Location: Southwest Zimbabwe
8. Mana Pools National Park: If you're looking for one of the best things to do in Zimbabwe, you should definitely explore Mana Pools, a biodiverse wonderland. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site dotted with acacia trees, plants, and shrubs. You can spot here hippopotamus, elephants, crocodiles, and a wide array of aquatic birds.
It is a paradise for canoeing and walking safaris, and you'll relish the feeling of serenity and remoteness here. This national park's unique thing is that you can walk unaccompanied by guides on the old river terraces and open Albida woodland.
Location: Mana Pools National Park Zimbabwe
Price: Rs 1103 per person
Timings: 10 am- 6 pm
9. Safari at Matobo National Park: If you're looking for the best activities to do in Zimbabwe, you should definitely enjoy a safari at Matobo National Park. Spanning over forty-four thousand hectares, Matobo National Park is uniquely decorated by domes, balancing rock formations and spires hewn out of the solid granite plateau.
It has an Intensive Protection Zone, where White and Black Rhinoceros have been kept for breeding. You'll likely spot hippos, giraffes, crocodiles lurking in the rivers, and more than two million wildebeests arriving during the Great Migration.
Location: Matopos road, Bulawayo Zimbabwe
Price: Rs 800 per person
Timings: 10 am- 5:30 pm
10. Explore Khami Ruins: One of the best activities to do in Zimbabwe is exploring Khami Ruins, a magnificent stone structure building located about twenty-five kilometers from Bulawayo. It is an awe-inspiring feat of defensive architecture that is still intact with the remains of Rozvi Kingdom's early settlers.
It is dominated by a network of terraced stone ruins, out of which the largest ruin comprises three-tiered platforms that were the home of the royal dynasty. Visitors can wander around the ruins on several paths to learn about the area's unique natural and cultural heritage.
Location: 22 km West of Bulawayo, Bulawayo Zimbabwe
1. Matetsi Private Game Reserve: Matetsi Private Game Reserve, situated on the elephant route, encompasses a large woodland and floodplain and offers incredible wildlife sightings. The reserve is home to leopard, lion, spotted hyena, African wild dog, and various other animals. You can enjoy here daily game drives, walking safaris, boat cruises, upper Zambezi canoeing, fishing, bird watching, and horseback safaris.
2. Matobo National Park: This is an iconic destination known for protecting Africa's endangered black and white rhino. The park is home to eighty-eight mammal species, including hippo, giraffe, hyena, zebra, wildebeest, leopard, sand ostriches, etc. A rhino-tracking walking safari is considered to be one of the greatest wildlife adventures at this national park.
3. Chobe National Park: One of the best activities to do in Zimbabwe is enjoying a safari tour of Chobe National Park, the best game viewing park in the world. It is the world's best elephant viewing site, and large herds of elephants gather at the Chobe river's edge during the day. It is also home to wildebeest, giraffe, hippo, zebra, hyena, cheetah, and other smaller species.
4. Zambezi National Park: If you're looking for one of the best activities to do in Zimbabwe, you should enjoy a safari tour of Zambezi National Park that has an incredible variety of wildlife. Step onboard on a boat or silently pass the riverbank in a canoe to have the best wildlife viewing. If you wish to have a real bush experience, you can stay in the lodges located near the Zambezi River inside the park.
1. Appreciate the beauty of Victoria Falls: One of the most romantic things to do in Zimbabwe is admiring the beauty of Victoria Falls that is the most iconic waterfall in Africa. If you're looking to propose your date on a special day, you can visit Victoria Falls during a full moon when the light of the moon strikes through the waterfall and produces a lunar rainbow.
2. Enjoy jet boating on the Zambezi River: If you and your partner are an adventurous soul, you can enjoy jet boating on the Zambezi River for the adventure of a lifetime. Race over rapids, past the basalt, rock walls, and feel your heart racing while enduring the "Hamilton Spins."
3. Malachite Luxury Cruise: One of the best things to do in Zimbabwe at night is to enjoy an unparalleled sunset cruise experience on the Zambezi river's azure waters. You'll also have a scrumptious dinner during the cruise tour, and you can watch the glorious colors of the African sky from the upper deck at dusk.
4. Shake your legs at the bar: One of the most romantic things to do in Zimbabwe at night is dancing endlessly while sipping your favorite drinks at famous bars such as Chiedza bar, Tequila bar, and Brothers bar. If live music, great vibes, and amazing food are some of the things you and your partner love, you should definitely indulge in bar hopping in Zimbabwe.
1. Visit Bulawayo Railway Museum: One of the best things to do in Zimbabwe with kids is visiting Bulawayo Railway Museum that houses various exhibitions on Zimbabwe's railway system's rich history. You can brush up your kids' inquisitive skills as they witness the carriages, engines, cutlery and crockery, and wonderful photographs from Royal visits.
2. Enjoy a picnic at Domboshava Hills: If you're looking for the best things to do in Zimbabwe with kids, you should definitely enjoy a picnic at Domboshava Hills. The geological formations, flowing streams, pools, and wooded vegetation are some of the most scenic things you will witness here. The kids can also admire the beautiful paintings on the granite rocks.
3. Enjoy thrilling rides at Longcheng Amusement Park: One of the best things to do in Zimbabwe with your kids is visiting Longcheng Amusement Park that has some of the best kid-friendly rides such as Kangaroo rides, flying fish, flying dinosaurs, small bees, etc. You can also enjoy water slides, trampoline, and club rollers.
4. Explore Mukuvisi Woodlands: Exploring Mukuvisi Woodlands is considered one of the best things to do in Zimbabwe with kids as it houses indigenous flora and fauna. You can opt for a horse or bike safari or observe the stunning vistas from the platform of a viewing deck.
1. Bungee Jumping: One of the best activities to do in Zimbabwe is taking a plunge over Victoria Falls that is renowned for its awe-inspiring landscapes. You'll experience one hundred and eleven meters of freefall and four seconds of pure adrenaline while bungee jumping here.
2. White Water Rafting: Rafting on the Zambezi River is considered one of the best things to do in Zimbabwe to spike your adrenaline level. Zambezi river offers Class V and IV rapids within a fifteen-mile stretch of water, and you can enjoy here the most thrilling and adventurous white water rafting experience.
3. Flying Fox: Explore Zimbabwe's native forests and surreal landscapes from a whole new perspective while zipping over the Batoka Gorge. The flexible harnesses at Batoka Gorge allow you to go upside down or side by side while enjoying the breathtaking vistas.
4. Tandem Skydiving: One of the best activities to do in Zimbabwe for adrenaline lovers is skydiving at Victoria Falls to admire the splendid views of the Main Falls, Devil's Cataract, Horseshoe Falls, and Rainbow Falls from above. Freefall until your parachute opens up and you drift back to the drop zone in Zambezi National Park.
- By Flight: There are three airports in Zimbabwe-The Harare International airport, Victoria Falls airport, and Bulawayo International airport. You can go from London, New York via Johannesburg by South African Airways. British Airways have direct flights to Harare. Fastjet Zimbabwe, Airlink, South African Airways, TAAG Angola Airlines, Kenya Airways, Air Zimbabwe, KLM and Air India all fly direct to Zimbabwe from India.
- By Rail: There are 2 trains from South Africa to Zimbabwe- the Trans-Limpopo Express to Harare from Johannesburg and the Bulawayo Express to Johannesburg from Bulawayo.
May to September is considered the best time to visit Zimbabwe as, during this time, you can have an excellent wildlife viewing experience as animals and birds congregate around the waterholes and rivers. Additionally, the weather is pleasant during the day, making it easier to enjoy outdoor activities and sightseeing.
1. Mana Pools National Park: It is the only national park in Zimbabwe where you can walk among elephants, buffaloes, and predators without a guide.
2. Hwange National Park: It is the largest national park in Zimbabwe, home to savanna woodlands and grasslands, the Big Five, and a hundred other species of mammals.
3. Victoria Falls: It is the largest waterfall in the world, with a height of more than one hundred meters and a length of more than one kilometer. You can enjoy bungee-jumping, white water rafting, and canyoning.
4. Lake Kariba: It is the largest artificial Lake in the world where you can enjoy diverse wildlife allure and the beautiful sunset.
5. Balancing Rocks: Balancing Rocks are the igneous rocks found in several parts of Zimbabwe. They occur in a balanced state without any additional support.
Yes, it is absolutely safe to go to Zimbabwe as the crime rate is low over here. But robbery and mugging cases are found, so you're advised to keep your valuables safely. Take basic precautions and you are good to go.
Yes, you need a visa to visit Zimbabwe, and this can be obtained in the United States from the Zimbabwe Embassy. If you're visiting Zimbabwe for business, transit, or tourism, you can obtain a visa at the border ports-of-entry or airports.