A warm welcome awaits in Zimbabwe as the locals are renowned for their warmth and hospitality and the guiding standards are exceptional, possibly the highest of any African country - many surrounding countries send their guides to Zimbabwe to learn from the local guides. To qualify as a professional guide in Zimbabwe it takes four to seven years. There is a rigorous learners license that encompasses wildlife, the environment, firearms and Zimbabwe country laws. After that, a learner guide must be an 'appy' (apprentice) for at least two years working under a qualified professional guide. Once deemed ready, the learner guide must pass one of the most stringent week-long practical exams in order to earn their Professional Safari Guide license.
No problem, Zimbabwe is home to the world’s largest manmade lake. With an extreme width of 40 kilometres, its shore is fragmented by numerous rivers. Guests can enjoy a wide range of activities from houseboats, game viewing, and fishing. Lake Kariba encompasses a quiet beauty and a laidback experience with a slow cruise past the riverbanks and wildlife.
The cost of a safari in Zimbabwe is also incredibly well priced. In fact, many travellers are converted to Zimbabwe's charms when they compare it to the higher cost of safari in the neighbouring countries of Botswana and Zambia.
The country boasts some of the most unspoiled and untouched wilderness areas: from the legendary elephant herds of Hwange to the Big Five beauty of the UNESCO world heritage-designated Mana Pools, and from the perfect sunsets of Lake Kariba to the gravity-defying rock formations of the Matopos. And no visit to Zimbabwe is complete without the truly humbling experience of witnessing the mesmerizing strength and power of Victoria Falls.
Summer (September - April) - temps between 32° and 34°C
Summer in Zimbabwe is generally hot to very hot and wet during the rainy season. Very seldom you find day after day of rain but is more often characterised by thunderstorms building up in the late afternoon, which is a welcome relief from the heat. Most rain falls December through to March.
October and November can be very hot and often uncomfortable in areas like Hwange and Mana Pools, from mid-November most of the Mana Pools camps start closing down for season and re-open again roughly April/May. During the rainy season Mana Pools becomes a wetland, and almost uninhabitable, being located on the lower reaches of the Zimbabwean side of the Zambezi, the park is made up of large areas of floodplain that merge into broad expanses of seasonal rivers and pools. As there is no off roading allowed in the park the road network is extremely limited and the sticky black-cotton soil that makes up most of the park, makes access almost impossible in the rainy season. The Zambezi River water level drops to its lowest around November/early December.
Autumn (April - June) - average temps between 28° and 30°C
Autumn marks the end of rainy season, and when the water from the catchment area upstream in Zambia has arrives. This is when The Victoria Falls is at its highest flow with an average of 500 million litres of water per minute and the temperatures really start to level out, days are warm to hot with a chill coming into the evening air. You will also find that most animals are in peak condition at the end of the rainy season, due to the volume of food available.
Winter (June - August) - Mild and dry with average temps between 22° and 27°C
Noting areas like Hwange can drop to low temperatures in the middle of winter with evenings hitting around 4° and 7°C. However, the daytime temperatures can get up to 27°C so it is important to consider layering when it comes to clothing. The rains will have completely stopped by May and generally, the skies are cloudless and beautifully blue, making this a very pleasant time of year to visit. Winter is also a great time to see wildlife as the game tends to congregate along the river. July and August are the best months for viewing the Falls when the water flow is at medium strength and provides the perfect photo opportunities.
Wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers - with some of the most quintessential safari experience guests are able to see a wide variety of animals, from the smallest scrub hare through to the largest land mammal - the African Elephant. Zimbabwe is home to a great selection of esteemed national parks from Hwange, Matusadona, Gonarezhou to Mana Pools offering a variety of animals and over 685 bird species.
Photographers - huge opportunities to get your best shot, from underground sunken hides, walking safaris to being on a canoe or boat looking up towards the banks of the Zambezi. Zimbabwe has some of the most exceptional scenic areas, and a must mention - golden hour at Lake Kariba might rival some of the best African Sunsets.
History and culture - from the Bumbusi ruins of Hwange to Cecil Johns Roads Grave and the ancient Zimbabwe Ruins, Zimbabwe is rich in history, visit a local a community with the opportunity to meet community members and learn about traditions that the Shona people live by.
Couples - from luxury lodges to humble tented camps, depending on your location you can enjoy relaxing having spa treatments or why not try a romantic sleepout or heighten your senses with a walking safari in Mana Pools National Park in search of Boswell the famous elephant who stands on his back legs.
Families with Teenagers - since Zimbabwe is a malaria area, it is best suited to families with older children. There also tends to be age restrictions on a number of the activities, including bush walks in the National Parks for children 12 years and older, and Vic Falls whitewater rafting or canoeing in Mana Pools that is only suitable for children 16 years and up.
Victoria Falls Airport had a full upgrade in 2016 allowing for several great air connections. Kenya Airways connects Nairobi, Fly Namibia connects Windhoek, Ethiopian Airways from Addis Ababa and the most popular routes flying from Johannesburg and Nelspruit South Africa is Fastjet and Airlink. This allows Victoria Falls to be a seamless connection and inclusion on an itinerary.
Harare has a number of large international airlines that fly in, from Emirates flying directly from Dubai, Ethiopian Airways from Addis Ababa, Qatar from Doha, from South Africa there are connections from both Cape Town and Johannesburg. Harare is the ideal entry or exit point when using Mana Pools or Kariba in an itinerary.
Bulawayo, although more limited in connections, has a flight from Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa and Ethiopian Airways from Addis Ababa.
Mack Air Zimbabwe has really forged ahead and opened up the flying sector in Zimbabwe offering really competitive seats rates connecting all the main tourist hubs from Victoria Falls, Hwange, Kariba, Mana Pools and Harare. With areas like Bulawayo and Gorongosa still accessible with Mack Air but on a private charter basis.
With Zimbabwe being perfectly located in Southern Africa, road connections to both Livingstone - Zambia and Kasane-Botswana are extremely easy all within a few hours all depending on the border you can be in a neighbouring country.
Zimbabwe can comfortably be sold as a standalone destination with the variety in activities, locations, hotels and camps, there truly is something for everyone.