Top 10 Best Things To Do in Zimbabwe
Tucked away in the southern heart of Africa, Zimbabwe is a land of astounding contrasts—where ancient kingdoms meet raw wilderness, and untamed rivers carve stories into deep gorges. While often overshadowed by its more frequently visited neighbors, Zimbabwe emerges as a soul-stirring destination that rewards the curious traveler with unforgettable experiences.
From the thundering spectacle of Victoria Falls to the haunting silence of the ancient Great Zimbabwe ruins, this country offers more than just sightseeing. It offers an awakening—a reconnection to nature, history, and humanity. If you’re seeking authenticity and wonder, Zimbabwe is where your African dream finds its truest form.
Victoria Falls: The Smoke That Thunders
At the heart of every Zimbabwean itinerary lies Victoria Falls, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, “The Smoke That Thunders.” This colossal natural wonder, where the Zambezi River plummets into a 108-meter chasm, has long held the power to silence even the most seasoned travelers. As mist rises into the air, rainbows often appear in defiance of the roaring waters.
Exploring the falls on foot through the lush rainforest that surrounds them reveals more than just visual grandeur. The thunder of cascading water, the damp breeze on your skin, and the chorus of birdsong from hidden canopies make this an all-senses encounter. For the daring, the experience can be elevated by helicopter flights, white-water rafting, or swimming in the notorious Devil’s Pool.
Hwange National Park: A Realm of Giants
As Zimbabwe’s largest and oldest national park, Hwange is synonymous with elephants. Home to one of the densest elephant populations in Africa, this vast wilderness becomes a theater of survival where lions stalk prey under acacia shadows, and painted dogs hunt with silent precision.
Here, the wildlife is as wild as the land itself. Game drives conducted at dawn and dusk unveil the secrets of a vibrant ecosystem—where over 100 mammal species roam. The park’s remoteness ensures encounters are intimate and far removed from the crowds typical of other African parks. Every rustle in the grass could reveal a story—a hunt, a chase, a mother leading her calves to water.
Great Zimbabwe: Whispers of an Ancient Civilization
Centuries before colonial maps marked the continent, a thriving city of stone had already risen in southern Africa. The ruins of Great Zimbabwe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stand today as a majestic testimony to a forgotten empire that once ruled vast trade routes.
Walking through the stone corridors, one is surrounded by massive granite walls meticulously stacked without mortar—a technique that baffles modern architects. The silence here is not empty but echoes with the footsteps of kings, priests, and traders. The conical towers, royal enclosures, and hilltop forts are a symbolic reminder that Africa’s greatness did not begin with colonization but was already etched into its soil long before.
Matobo Hills: Sacred Stones and Spiritual Landscapes
Outside Bulawayo, the Matobo Hills rise like petrified waves, sculpted over millennia by time and wind. These ancient granite formations are more than geological wonders; they are sacred sites steeped in legend and spirituality. This is a land where ancestors are honored, where spirits are believed to whisper through the rocks, and where rock art dating back 13,000 years tells stories older than written history.
Matobo is also the final resting place of Cecil Rhodes, whose grave sits atop a panoramic hill ominously named “World’s View.” Yet, beyond colonial legacies, Matobo offers an ethereal connection to the spiritual heart of Zimbabwe. It’s where nature meets belief, and where the weight of history is carried in the silence of stone.
Mana Pools: Where Time Stands Still
On the floodplains of the lower Zambezi River lies Mana Pools National Park, a remote, untamed wilderness renowned for its haunting beauty. In this sanctuary of water and life, the days stretch long and unhurried, dictated by the rhythm of elephants wading through pools and hippos basking under baobab shadows.
Unlike conventional safaris, Mana Pools allows for walking safaris, offering a primal closeness to the wild that is rarely experienced elsewhere. Imagine locking eyes with a lion on foot, feeling the pulse of the land through your soles. There’s a stillness here, a rare kind of peace where humans are mere guests in a kingdom ruled by nature.
Lake Kariba: Sunset Serenades and Aquatic Adventures
When the mighty Zambezi River was dammed, it created one of the world’s largest man-made lakes—Lake Kariba, an inland sea stretching over 220 kilometers. This shimmering expanse offers a perfect juxtaposition of tranquility and adventure.
Houseboat cruises glide through calm waters as golden sunsets bathe the horizon. The lake’s islands and shorelines are dotted with wildlife, where herds of antelope and prides of lions come to drink. Anglers from across the world are drawn to Kariba for its tiger fishing, while photographers find inspiration in its haunting landscapes where drowned trees rise from the depths like skeletal sculptures.
Chimanimani Mountains: A Hiker’s Paradise
To the east, bordering Mozambique, lie the Chimanimani Mountains, a rugged and mystical range shrouded in mist and mythology. This is Zimbabwe’s highlands—where waterfalls cascade through valleys and rare orchids bloom in secluded groves. It is a paradise for hikers, botanists, and dreamers alike.
Trails meander through montane forests and across crystal-clear streams. The air here is cooler, the pace slower, and the beauty ever-present. With every step, one moves deeper into a sanctuary untouched by time, where legends of spirits and ancient guardians still breathe through the pine-scented wind.
Eastern Highlands: Where Earth Meets Heaven
Beyond Chimanimani, the Eastern Highlands stretch like a ribbon of green hills, gentle waterfalls, and misty tea estates. Nyanga National Park, nestled in this region, boasts Zimbabwe’s highest peak, Mount Nyangani, and the serene Mutarazi Falls.
The climate here is cooler, the terrain lush, and the vistas sweeping. Horse riding through valleys, fly-fishing in icy streams, or simply enjoying tea from a plantation are activities that contrast Zimbabwe’s drier, wilder west. It is a region that reveals the quieter, gentler side of Africa—one filled with poetry and peace.
Bulawayo: The Cultural Heartbeat
Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, Bulawayo, is a city of wide boulevards, colonial charm, and deep-rooted culture. Unlike the bustling capital of Harare, Bulawayo moves to a slower rhythm, offering an authentic glimpse into Zimbabwean urban life.
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe and Natural History Museum invite reflection on both the country’s art and its ancient origins. A walk through the city’s historic train station or along its jacaranda-lined avenues is a walk through the crossroads of time—where colonial structures, African pride, and cultural evolution intersect.
Gonarezhou National Park: The Untamed Frontier
Often described as Zimbabwe’s best-kept secret, **Gonarezhou—“The Place of Elephants”—**is raw, rugged, and untouched. Located in the country’s southeast, this park is part of the larger Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, a bold conservation initiative uniting Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa.
What sets Gonarezhou apart is its remote beauty. Fewer visitors mean unspoiled experiences—giant baobabs, deep gorges, and wide plains dotted with wildlife. This is safari as it once was—no fences, no crowds, only you and the wild. The park demands patience and rewards it with authenticity.
A Journey Worth Taking
Zimbabwe isn’t a place to rush through. It’s a country that must be felt—in the spray of Victoria Falls, in the hush of Matobo Hills, in the call of fish eagles over Lake Kariba. It speaks through landscapes carved by gods and cultures crafted by time. To travel here is not just to see Africa but to experience its soul in one of its purest forms.
Each destination within Zimbabwe offers a deeper connection—to history, to nature, to self. And for those willing to listen, the land reveals its secrets with profound grace.
Plan Your Journey with WildHorn Africa
For travelers ready to explore Zimbabwe with authenticity and expertise, WildHorn Africa offers carefully curated tours and safaris that go beyond the surface. Whether it’s tracking lions in Hwange, sailing across Lake Kariba, or uncovering the mysteries of Great Zimbabwe, WildHorn Africa brings your journey to life with passion and precision.
Let your African story begin where the thunder rolls, the rivers whisper, and the ancient stones still speak. Book your unforgettable adventure today with WildHorn Africa—and discover the Zimbabwe you never knew existed.
