Saturday 22 March 2025

OUR TOP REASONS WHY ZIMBABWE ROCKS AND SHOULD BE YOUR NEXT SAFARI DESTINATION!

We are in love with Zimbabwe… a country of breathtaking beauty, rich wildlife, and warm-hearted people. From the golden sunsets over vast plains to the excitement of spotting elephants standing tall to reach for fruits in the towering trees,this incredible country offers an unforgettable safari experience. Whether you’re an adventurer, a nature lover, or a family looking for a special getaway, Zimbabwe has something magical for everyone.

Here are our top reasons why Zimbabwe should absolutely make it onto your guests’ safari bucket list:

Outstanding Value for Money: Zimbabwe offers unbeatable value for a safari experience. From accommodation to activities, guests get amazing experiences at affordable prices.

Brilliant Guides with Excellent Training: One of the things that stood out for Mia was the expertise of the guides. They are not only knowledgeable about the wildlife and terrain but also passionate about sharing their insights with visitors. Guests feel like they are in the hands of experts every step of the way.

Diverse Safari Experiences: Zimbabwe’s diverse landscape offers a range of safari adventures, from water-based activities on Lake Kariba, where Mia spotted hippos and crocs, to land safaris delving into the heart of the bush. Mia loved her guided walk in Mana Pools, encountering an abundance of plains game and marvelling at the majestic giant trees.

Relaxing Armchair Safaris: For those moments when guests prefer to unwind and observe wildlife from the comfort of their rooms or main areas, Zimbabwe has it covered. Mia enjoyed memorable moments at lodges like Bumi Hills and Somalisa, where she could soak in the scenery and enjoy looking at wildlife come and go all day.

Child-Friendly Camps: If planning a family safari, Zimbabwe is the perfect choice! With its array of child-friendly camps and lodges, guests can rest assured that the little ones will have safe and unforgettable adventures in the African wilderness. From educational activities to specially tailored game drives, there’s no shortage of fun for the whole family.

The Victoria Falls is one of the Seven World Wonders: a must for most travelers visiting Southern Africa. Victoria Falls town is fast growing but kept its charm, the choice of accommodation goes from affordable to luxurious. There is so much to explore besides the magnificent waterfalls. How about dinner at the authentic Dusty Road followed by the vibrant and colorful Simunye theater show?

Additional Reasons to Visit Zimbabwe:

• Breathtaking Sunsets: Whether over Lake Kariba or the vast plains of Hwange, Zimbabwe’s sunsets are truly mesmerizing and a highlight for any visitor.
• Birding Paradise: Zimbabwe boasts more than 650 recorded bird species, including some rare and endemic gems. It’s a destination where you can tick off dozens of lifers in a single trip.
• A Photographer’s Dream: With close animal encounters and unique photographic opportunities—such as elephants in Mana Pools standing on their hind legs to reach higher branches—Zimbabwe is a must-visit for photography enthusiasts.
• Warm, Welcoming People: Zimbabweans are known for their genuine hospitality and friendliness. Guests often comment on how the people made their trip extra special.

Zimbabwe is also the country of numerous National Parks. Guests can explore a total of 11 National Parks – we can not think of another country where clients can visit so many National Parks in just one safari:

1. Hwange National Park – The largest park, famous for its elephant population and diverse wildlife.
2. Mana Pools National Park – A UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for canoe safaris and walking safaris.
3. Matobo National Park – Home to unique balancing rock formations and one of Africa’s highest concentrations of leopards.
4. Gonarezhou National Park – Part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, known for its rugged wilderness and large elephant herds.
5. Matusadona National Park – Located on the shores of Lake Kariba, offering boat safaris and excellent game viewing.
6. Nyanga National Park – Features Zimbabwe’s highest peak, Mount Nyangani, and stunning waterfalls.
7. Chimanimani National Park – A paradise for hikers, with scenic mountains and lush forests.
8. Kazuma Pan National Park – A lesser-known park ideal for birdwatching and wildlife viewing.
9. Zambezi National Park – Near Victoria Falls, offering game drives and river safaris along the Zambezi River.
10. Chizarira National Park – Known for its dramatic gorges and remote wilderness.
11. Victoria Falls National Park – Protects part of the iconic Victoria Falls and the surrounding rainforest.

So, there you have it! Zimbabwe truly rocks as a safari destination, offering unbeatable value, exceptional guides, diverse safaris, armchair adventures, and family-friendly experiences.

Friday 5 June 2020

Hwange: A special place in all ways

Be prepared for the safari of a lifetime. Hwange is an amazing destination due to its diversity of landscapes, experiences and activities. There is, however, one constant throughout: the superior guiding standards! Zim is known for its phenomenal and, dare I say, legendary guiding. This is brought about by some of the strictest and most vigorous guide training in Africa.

It takes years of training, dedication and (financial) investment before one qualifies as a professional guide in Zimbabwe, which guarantees you guides who are passionate about what they do. You’ll be hard pressed to find a question they can’t answer or a topic they aren’t willing to discuss – I know because I tried on my last Hwange safari…

These professional guides also offer a most welcome alternative to the usual game drive activities in the form of walking safaris, which are an absolute highlight when visiting Hwange. Many lodges have a professional walking guide in camp to offer exactly that and it needs to be experienced to be believed: there really is no better way to experience the bush then up close and personal in the trusted, experienced hands of your (armed) walking guide. Before embarking on a walking safari, they ask what type of walk you’d like: big game encounters, interpretive walks or exercise walks but most often it’s a combination of all three catered to clients’ wishes. No matter what landscape or which habitat you’re walking through – be it the teak forests, open grasslands or granite kopjies (hillocks) abundant in Hwange – your guide will make sure you feel safe at all times while learning so much about the environment you’re in. 

Hwange is not only ideal for walking it also excels in offering a different perspective on game viewing: from ground level looking up at elephants drinking metres away from the safe surrounds of an underground hide. Hwange has close to 50 000 elephants and, especially in dry times, they dominate the waterholes (when not slurping from the lodges’ swimming pools), making game viewing and photography from an underground hide an experience not easily forgotten.

As if superb guides, walking and underground hides aren’t enough, Hwange also offers horseback safaris both inside and outside the park, thereby combining big-game viewing with an immersion in the incredibly rich Zimbabwean culture found in villages and settlements. 

Another reason to spend time in Hwange is its ease of access; whether coming from Victoria Falls (by road transfer or short flight) or from Botswana, Hwange is an ideal safari destination. A little hidden gem is the Pandamatenga border crossing connecting Zimbabwe and Botswana. This is the closest border post to Hwange National Park and an absolute pleasure to experience. Officials on both sides of the border are super-efficient, very friendly and, best of all there are no queues, so you’re in and out in five minutes! Once through immigration, the game viewing starts the moment your visa has been stamped in your passport due to the adjoining game management area that lies on the northern boundary of the park. Our Best in Travel in Zimbabwe offers plenty of itineraries that include Hwange. Here is an example which travels via the above mentioned Pandamatenga border post: 12N Zambia – Zimbabwe – Botswana Safaris (also ideal for family travel).

Most suppliers have already confirmed to freeze their 2020 rates for 2021. Contact your Safari Destinations consultant for more information.

Monday 4 August 2014

Have you ever heard of the GRUFFALO?

Last year Lorraine and I started a tradition of our two families going on safari together. This year our annual family safari took us to Hwange. Travelling with kids is an adventure. Seeing nature through their eyes makes you realize how wonderful our planet really is. Did you know that a wildebeest looks a bit like a Gruffalo. For all ignorant people out there, “The Gruffalo” is one of the best-loved children’s books ever. “A gruffalo? What’s a gruffalo?”
“A gruffalo! Why, didn’t you know? He has terrible tusks, and terrible claws, and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws.”
And so begins the story of a quick-witted mouse as he encounters a host of predators who seem to think he might make a tasty treat. As he ventures deeper into the deep dark wood, stumbling across a hungry fox, a not-so-wise owl, and a slimy snake, spinning ever-extraordinary yarns about the scary, scaly gruffalo, he quickly realises that the hungry beast he has been talking of isn’t imaginary after all.

On Safari with the Gruffalo:

Three bush babies strolled through the Hwange vlei,

they saw some Lions lying in their way,

snoozing and dreaming of roasted Gruffalo on a spit,

the Bush Babies turned around and away they slid…

Our days in Hwange were filled with extraordinary gamedrives. Living in Botswana also means that our children grow up being spoilt safari-goers, but Hwange can easily compete. Especially the south-east of Hwange offered outstanding game viewing (Davisons, Bomani, Camelthorn and Little Makalolo). It never got boring, the kids loved every moment of it. Hwange in combination with Victoria Falls and Chobe is a great destination for a family safari!