Exploring the Best of Greater Zimbabwe & Surroundings 2024

Exploring the Best of Greater Zimbabwe & Surroundings 2024

Situated in Southern Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, Zimbabwe is a landlocked nation bordered by Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana, and Zambia. The Greater Zimbabwe is one of the most popular tourist destinations, and Harare is the nation’s capital and largest metropolis. Bulawayo is the second-largest city.

Zimbabwe greater zimbabwe

Photo Source : traveldreamdiary.com

Table of Contents

Zimbabwe Map

Informations

Temperature: April, May, August and September are the best months to make a trip to Zimbabwe.

Language: The country’s main languages are Shona, spoken by roughly 70% of the population, Ndebele and English.

Currency: USD

Food Prices: Meal in a cheap restaurant=6 USD, Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant=40 USD.

You can find more information about the visa here.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you, I will receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Read our full affiliate disclosure here.

Things to do

Victoria Falls National Park

Located directly on the Zambezi River, which serves as Zimbabwe’s boundary with Zambia, lies Victoria Falls National Park. The national park is 23 km2 in size and is accessible to visitors year-round. There is a walkway that hugs the Zambezi Canyon in this little park. You will be facing the Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwean side, which are especially striking during the wet season due to their size and volume of water.

Victoria Falls National Park

Photo Source : Brent Lindeque on Facebook

Harare Botanical Gardens

The National Botanic Garden of Zimbabwe is located in the Alexandra Park district, 4 km north of the Harare City Center. The National Herbarium of Zimbabwe is also housed there. The gardens cover over seven square kilometers. In 1902, it was first created as a recreational park. In 1962, Prof. Hiram Wild oversaw its transformation into the National Botanic Gardens.

Harare Botanical Gardens

Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe

Situated on Leopold Takawira Avenue in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, is the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe. The museum was formally inaugurated in 1964 and features displays that highlight Zimbabwe’s wildlife, mineral wealth, and history. Among the exhibits is the world’s second-largest mounted elephant.

Vumba botanical gardens

The complete collection of plants found in Zimbabwe’s botanical gardens is made up of native and indigenous species; most of them also contain plants from other parts of the world. All of Zimbabwe’s states and territories have botanical gardens and arboreta; the majority are run by local governments, while some are privately held.

Vumba botanical gardens

Mukuvisi Woodlands

Is a large conservation area with woody green areas that are abundant in natural plants and animals. It offers one of the few sizable green areas that are still accessible to the general population in Harare. In the center of the Sunshine City, stop by and experience a little bit of nature. Mukuvisi Woodlands makes a significant contribution to Zimbabweans of all ages’ environmental education.

Mukuvisi Woodlands

Photo Source : Mukuvisi Woodlands on Facebook

Harare Gardens

The primary garden in the city is the Harare Gardens. Particularly if you work in the city center, the gorgeous gardens are a great spot to relax. On the north side of the gardens is a charming tiny pond, and the lawns and flowers are kept in good condition.There is a restaurant that offers both sitting service and takeout, and patrons can take in the surroundings as they eat. 

Harare Gardens

Worlds View

Situated just north of Nyanga in eastern Zimbabwe, on the escarpment of the Nyanga Downs plateau in the Eastern Highlands mountain range, is a breathtaking vista known as World vista. Situated on the west side, it descends 600 meters to the plain below from an elevation of 2,248 meters.A toposcope with the direction and distance to thirty African locales etched on slabs of black granite is mounted atop a tower at the viewpoint. 

Worlds View

Zambezi National Park

Zambezi National Park is a national park situated on the Zambezi River, upstream of Victoria Falls. It encompasses 56,000 hectares and was divided from Victoria Falls National Park in 1979. The park is split into two sections: the river side and the Chamabonda Vlei side, by the road that leads to Kazungula.In addition to more than 400 kinds of birds, including the lanner falcon, goliath heron, and African skimmer, the park is home to herds of sable, kudu, impala, zebra, giraffe, and other smaller fauna.

Zambezi National Park

Photo Source : Chiawa Safaris on Facebook

Mutarazi watterfall

The waterfall known as Mutarazi Falls is located in Zimbabwe’s Manicaland Province’s Mutasa District. is situated next to Nyanga National Park’s southern boundary within the 2,495-hectare Mutarazi National Park.The Eastern Highlands are incredibly beautiful, with deep valleys, naked granite peaks, gorges, glittering trout streams cascading over sheer cliffs, and pine-forested hill slopes. It is the ideal vacation spot because it offers a plethora of enjoyable activities. 

Mutarazi watterfall

Photo Source : SaManyika Connect on Facebook

Nyanga National Park

Located in Zimbabwe’s Manicaland Province’s eastern highlands is Nyanga National Park. It’s roughly 105 kilometers north of Mutare. One of Zimbabwe’s oldest national parks, Rhodes Inyanga National Park, was first established under protection; nevertheless, the park’s boundaries and structure have seen multiple changes. By century’s end, its dimensions had nearly doubled.

Nyanga National Park

Photo Source : Nyanga National Park on Facebook

Devils Pool Victoria Falls

Adjacent to the well-known Livingstone Island, which is perched on the edge of the Victoria Falls, is Devil’s Pool.When visiting Livingstone Island, visitors may opt to take an exciting swim to the edge of the falls.Depending on the Zambezi river levels, the Devil’s Pool is often open from mid-August to mid-January.

Devils Pool Victoria Falls

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Gonarezhou National Park

After Hwange National Park, Gonarezhou National Park is the second-largest national park in Zimbabwe. It is a part of the larger, cross-border Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, which also includes the Kruger National Park in South Africa, the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, and a few other protected areas. Gonarezhou is a place where elephants are plentiful.

Photo Source : Oana Alexandra Cristea on Facebook

Greater Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe’s Masvingo Province, 39 kilometers from Masvingo, is the abandoned city of Greater Zimbabwe. Depending on the dialect, the word Zimbabwe means either “honored houses” or “big stone houses.” The capital of the defunct Munhumutapa empire, which covered portions of modern-day Mozambique in addition to Zimbabwe, was the hamlet on the plateau with the same name.

Greater Zimbabwe

Photo Source : One Africa on Facebook

Mana Pools National Park

In 1984, the region was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Shona word mana (meaning “four”) refers to the four substantial water basins of the Zambezi, which are likewise full of water during the dry season. The Zambezi flood plain is converted into a lake landscape during each rainy season and then dries out again during the dry season. The Muzarabani, a group of remote settlements on this level, are home to sparse millet farmers.

Mana Pools National Park

Matobo National Park

About 35 kilometers south of Bulawayo, in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe, is where you’ll find the Matobo National Park, also known as Matopos National Park. Originally established as Rhodes Matopos National Park in 1926, it is the oldest national park in the nation. It is one of the most well-liked parks because of the striking rock formations and the contrasts between soft grassland and rough granite, in addition to the fact that Cecil Rhodes and other notable people are interred here in the Matobo Mountains.

Matobo National Park

Hwange National Park

Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s largest national park, spanning 14,651 square kilometers. 200 kilometers northwest of Bulawayo, in the western part of the nation, on the foothills of the Kalahari, is where the park borders Botswana. One of the most significant natural reserves in the nation is the park, which is rich in biodiversity. It is included in the Transfrontier Conservation Area of the Kavango-Zambezi.

Hwange National Park

Photo Source : Larry Norton Art on Facebook

Activities include golf, canoeing safaris, hiking, trekking, freshwater fishing, bungee jumping at Victoria Falls, and safaris. Mukuvisi Woodlands, Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences, and National Gallery of Zimbabwe are some of the attractions.

Book your perfect vacation!

Vacations: We are happy that we have the opportunity to work with the most famous companies in the world, we always order our vacations from these companies and we have never been disappointed: Check 24, Trivago, Trafalgar, TravelUp, Insight Vacations, Explorer Fernreisen.

Where to stay

Hotels, bed & breakfasts, and guesthouses, regardless of location—in the center of town, close to a lake, or amid natural surroundings. We were able to identify the top companies providing the best hotels: Booking.com, Trip.com, TravelUp, esky, Hoteltopia, Millennium Hotels and Explorer Fernreisen.

Restaurants

There are numerous dining alternatives available in all of Zimbabwe’s major cities. Zimbabwe offers a diverse range of cuisine options to suit every taste preference, including native Southern African food and more international fare. The majority of excellent eateries are found in Harare, the country’s capital. Try Amanzi’s (158 Enterprise Road, Highlands, Chisipite, Harare) for a sample of the local cuisine. This elegant restaurant in a stunning colonial-style home serves some of the greatest food in the nation in a beautiful setting.

restaurants in Zimbbwe

For foreign cuisine, the Shop Café (Doon Estate, 1 Harrow Road, Msasa, Harare) is a great option. It’s well-known for its homemade muesli, stewed fruit, and yogurt breakfasts. Excellent lunch options at the restaurant include oven bakes and fish curries. The café is connected to a charming store that offers hand-painted fabrics, ceramics, and other handicrafts.

Try Jaipur (Sunrise Sports Club, Hurtsview Road, Ridgeview, Harare) for Indian cuisine. The tastiest vegetarian thalis and masala dosas in town can be found at this little restaurant that has a beautiful view of a cricket stadium. The Italian Bakery (Ground Floor, Avondale Shopping Centre, King George Rd Avondale, Harare) offers mouthwatering treats that are perfect for a sweet tooth.

Travel Tips

It is highly advised to vaccinate against polio, diphtheria, hepatitis A and B, and tetanus. If you have previously visited a nation where the disease has been present, you must also have a current Yellow Fever vaccination certificate in order to enter Zimbabwe. Consult your physician prior to go to Zimbabwe as there is a significant risk of malaria. The dry winter months of June through October are the prime season.

saving tips Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, tap water is not regarded as safe to consume. It is advised against using credit cards in Zimbabwe since certain establishments do not take them as payment. It is forbidden to enter Zimbabwe wearing clothing with camouflage patterns or designs. It is forbidden to snap pictures of government structures, military personnel, or public buildings.

Book your tours!

Tours: If you do not go by car and need to know more information about the tours, and things to see, we recommend these companies that are offering tours for any kind of activity you want to do and where you can buy trips much cheaper than if you buy them when you arrive at your destination. It is always good to be able to save some money!

Viator, Get Your Guide, Tiqets, City Sightseeing, Sesame, Sightseeing Pass, Contiki, Riviera Travel, CityPass: the best activities in town!

shopping

The rich indigenous culture of Zimbabwe offers remarkable and broad artisan shopping. Mukwa (or mahogany) sculptures are among of the most traditional souvenirs from Zimbabwe; you can find them in markets all around the nation. The Ndebele people’s instrument, the batonka drum, is among the most well-known sculptures. The area is particularly well-known for its amazing assortment of valuable stones, which include serpentine and emerald. These stones are typically found at established businesses and marketplaces, usually in the form of jewelry. Lastly, a lot of neighborhood hawkers now sell handcrafted baskets and mats, reflecting the growing popularity of basketry.

shopping in Zimbabwe

The largest curio and handicraft store in Harare might potentially be among the biggest in the nation. If you want to bring home some unusual mementos, this is the place to go. It’s located approximately two miles (three kilometers) outside of the Mbare city center. Discover everything from elaborate soapstone sculptures to traditional artwork and genuine Mbira musical instruments. In addition, there’s a huge assortment of gently used apparel and a large assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables for grocery shoppers.

Getting around

The main routes linking Bulawayo, Victoria Falls, Labatse, Harare Chiredzi, Mutare, and Plumtree are overseen by the National Railways of Zimbabwe. There are three class options: economy, second class, and first class, all at very low fares. The majority of trains are sleepers, meaning they run at night and give their passengers fresh blankets, pillows, and sheets. In the nation, there are two primary bus types: express and local. Express services follow a predetermined schedule and need ticket purchases prior to departure. Local buses don’t have a set timetable and usually depart when they are full. These local buses are stationed at major town centers and at markets.

getting around Zimbabwe

Airports both international and regional are home to major vehicle rental firms such as Europcar, Hertz, Avis, and Budget. Since the highways connecting major cities like Bulawayo, Masvingo, Mutare, and Harare are in good shape, hiring a car is a suitable choice for overland travel. However, gasoline availability is frequently an issue, with nationwide shortages occurring frequently. Make sure you have enough cash on you so you can fill up the tank because most gas stations do not take credit cards.

Book your transport!

  • when it comes to buses, Busbud is the best choice.
  • when I want to travel by train, I choose Omio.

Here you can find the best offers to rent the right car for you, as well as parking right in the airport: esky, Explorer, Centauro and intui.travel.

Getting to Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is not well-served by many airlines. Most travelers take a plane to Johannesburg, from which they make connections the same day to Bulawayo, Harare, or Victoria Falls. The majority of visitors arrive by air at Victoria Falls Airport (VFA), which is situated 18 km/11 mi south of the town of Victoria Falls. From there, they travel by car or private aircraft.

getting to Zimbabwe

This influx is made possible by international airports in Victoria Falls, Bulawayo, and Harare. As Zimbabwe’s economy and stability grow, more and more international and regional airlines are opting to fly in directly. The road system is excellent, however there are some terrible border posts, including Beitbridge and Chirundu, which cause a lot of delays. Hopefully, as and when new technological systems are deployed, things will get better.

Book tour Flights!

If you have not found your desired flight, or you simply want more flight options to find the best and cheapest, we will help you with the best flight plans, where you will definitely find what you are looking for. With just one click you will find the cheapest flights to a wonderful destination!

Book your Cruise!

Here you can find the best offers for luxury cruises, or cheap cruise offers. We went on a cruise in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman and we can only recommend this unforgettable experience, not just here, but around the world!

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a type of insurance designed to cover the costs and losses associated with traveling. It serves as a safeguard for travelers in case of unexpected events. Here are the main types and key components of travel insurance: Trip Cancellation,Medical Insurance,Baggage Insurance, Travel Delay Insurance, Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation Insurance, Accidental Death , Rental Car Insurance:

Order your Luggage!

Choosing the right travel luggage can make your journey more comfortable and hassle-free. Here are the best offers to help you select the best travel luggage for your needs:

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