Zimbabwe is a country of big water, big herds and big stone. Victoria Falls drops over a wall more than a mile wide, Hwange holds some of the largest elephant herds in Africa, and Mana Pools lets you walk among wildlife with only a guide for company. Further south, the granite hills of Matobo and the ruins of Great Zimbabwe tell a deeper story.
It is also a country of warm, well-trained guides, some of the best in Africa, and of lodges that have been run with care for decades. Visitor numbers are still low, so the parks are quiet.
We shape each trip around what matters to you, often pairing Victoria Falls with Hwange or Mana Pools, and adding Matobo or Great Zimbabwe for travellers who want history as well as wildlife.
Zimbabwe has some of the largest elephant herds in Africa, and Hwange holds tens of thousands. Mana Pools has lions, wild dog and big herds of buffalo and elephant on the Zambezi floodplain, and Lake Kariba has elephants, hippos and crocodiles on the shore. The Matobo Hills hold white and black rhinos that can be tracked on foot, and one of the densest populations of leopards in Africa.
Chance of seeing
Our estimate for a stay of two or three nights with a good guide. Wildlife is wild, so nothing is promised.
Popular activities
Zimbabwe is mild for its latitude, because much of it is high. The days are warm and sunny, the winter nights are cool to cold, and the Zambezi valley and the lowlands are hot. The rains fall from November to March.
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26 | 17 | 190 |
| Feb | 26 | 16 | 170 |
| Mar | 26 | 15 | 100 |
| Apr | 25 | 12 | 35 |
| May | 23 | 9 | 10 |
| Jun | 21 | 7 | 3 |
| Jul | 21 | 6 | 1 |
| Aug | 23 | 8 | 2 |
| Sep | 26 | 11 | 5 |
| Oct | 28 | 14 | 30 |
| Nov | 27 | 16 | 100 |
| Dec | 26 | 17 | 170 |
Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.
The dry season runs from May to October, with clear skies, warm days and cool to cold nights, and animals gathered at the waterholes and rivers.
The rains fall from November to April, mostly as afternoon storms, with the most rain from December to March. The landscape turns green, and Victoria Falls swells.
May to October is the best time, with dry weather, cool nights and animals gathering at the water. Victoria Falls is at its fullest from March to May, with a lot of spray, and quietest from October to December. November to April is the green season, with births and migrant birds, but some roads and camps close.
Best time to visit Jul to Nov
Scenic AreaVictoria FallsThe smoke that thunders
National ParkMana Pools National ParkWalking and canoeing on the Zambezi
National ParkHwange National ParkGreat elephant herds and painted dogs
Lake & IslandsLake Kariba and MatusadonaSunsets over a drowned forestMost travellers arrive at Victoria Falls airport, with flights from Johannesburg, or at Harare, with flights from Johannesburg and Addis Ababa. Bulawayo has a smaller airport. Light aircraft link the camps in Mana Pools, Kariba and Hwange, and we can combine Zimbabwe with Botswana, Zambia or South Africa.
Most visitors can buy a visa on arrival (valid 30 days) or apply for an e-visa in advance. The KAZA UniVisa, currently US$50 and valid for 30 days, covers Zimbabwe and Zambia and day trips to Chobe in Botswana. Your passport should be valid for at least six months and have three blank pages. Rules and fees change, so please check the current requirements for your nationality before you travel.
Please talk to your doctor about vaccinations. Most of Zimbabwe, including Victoria Falls, Hwange and Mana Pools, is a malaria area, so take advice on prophylaxis, and use repellent in the evenings. Carry travel insurance that covers medical evacuation, and bring plenty of water and sun protection.
Our take
“Pair the water with the wild”
We always suggest pairing Victoria Falls with at least one wild place: Hwange for the elephants, or Mana Pools for walking and canoeing. The Falls are best as one or two nights, and the wild places reward three. If you have time, add the Matobo Hills for rhinos on foot and rock art, or Great Zimbabwe for history, and tell us your travel month early, because the Falls and the rivers change with the season.
Safaris from
US$263 per person
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Made to measure
Tell us how you like to travel and we will build a private journey around it: the right lodges, the right pace and the permits already in hand.
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