Destinations
Thundering water, elephant country, great rivers and ancient granite hills. Here are the places our journeys are made of.
Most of our guests combine two or three of these destinations into a single journey. Use this page for inspiration, then tell us what calls to you and we will suggest the best way to bring it together.
Draft noteThe experiences listed below are a starting point written from general knowledge of each area. [Edit them to match the experiences, lodges and seasons you actually offer.]
Victoria Falls & the upper Zambezi
Long before you see it, you hear it. Victoria Falls, shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most spectacular sights on earth: a curtain of water plunging into a narrow chasm, sending clouds of spray high above the rainforest.
Above the Falls, the Zambezi slows into a broad, peaceful river dotted with islands, where sunset cruises drift past hippo and elephant. It is a wonderful place to begin or end a journey.
- Best time to visit
- Every season has its magic. The Falls are at their fullest after the rains, roughly February to June; later in the year, lower water reveals the rock face and the gorges.
- Pairs well with
- Hwange, Lake Kariba, Mana Pools
Experiences to consider
- A guided walk through the rainforest, facing the Falls
- A sunset cruise on the upper Zambezi
- A scenic helicopter flight over the Falls
- White-water rafting in the gorges below (seasonal)
- Local markets and crafts in Victoria Falls town
Hwange National Park
Zimbabwe’s largest national park is a place of great open pans, teak woodland and golden grasslands. Hwange is famous for its elephant herds, and it is home to lion, buffalo, giraffe and the rare, beautifully patterned painted dog.
As the dry season deepens, wildlife gathers around the waterholes, making for unforgettable game drives and long, quiet hours simply watching the world come to drink.
- Best time to visit
- The dry season, roughly July to October, is classic game-viewing time. The green season brings lush landscapes, newborn animals and superb birding.
- Pairs well with
- Victoria Falls, Matobo Hills
Experiences to consider
- Morning and afternoon game drives with experienced guides
- Time at a waterhole or hide, watching wildlife up close
- Guided bush walks
- Birding in the green season
Along the Zambezi
Zimbabwe’s great river shapes some of its most memorable journeys: sunset cruises above Victoria Falls, the vast waters of Lake Kariba and the wild floodplains of Mana Pools.
[Add your own Mana Pools photo]
Mana Pools National Park
On the banks of the lower Zambezi, Mana Pools is one of Africa’s most beautiful and untouched wilderness areas. Ancient trees shade wide floodplains where elephant, buffalo and antelope wander, and the river is the lifeblood of it all.
It is a place for slowing right down: gliding past wildlife by canoe or exploring on foot with a professional guide.
- Best time to visit
- The dry season, roughly May to October. Access can be limited during the rains.
- Pairs well with
- Lake Kariba, Victoria Falls
Experiences to consider
- Canoeing on the Zambezi with an expert guide
- Walking safaris across the floodplains
- Game drives along the river
[Add your own Lake Kariba photo]
Lake Kariba
One of the largest man-made lakes in the world, Kariba stretches to the horizon like an inland sea. Its shoreline is wild and beautiful, and its sunsets, glowing through the silhouettes of drowned trees, are the stuff of legend.
Days here are slow and easy: on the deck of a houseboat, out on the water with a fishing rod, or watching elephant along the shore.
- Best time to visit
- A year-round destination. The cooler, drier months are especially comfortable.
- Pairs well with
- Mana Pools, Victoria Falls
Experiences to consider
- A houseboat stay on the lake
- Sunset cruises among the drowned forests
- Fishing for the famous tigerfish
- Game viewing along the shoreline
[Add your own Matobo Hills photo]
Matobo Hills
South of Bulawayo, the Matobo Hills are a landscape unlike any other: great granite domes and impossibly balanced boulders, shaped over millions of years. The hills hold a deep spiritual significance and shelter a remarkable collection of ancient rock art.
Matobo National Park is also one of the best places in Zimbabwe to track rhino on foot, in the company of an expert guide.
- Best time to visit
- Year-round. The dry winter months bring cool mornings and clear skies.
- Pairs well with
- Hwange, Victoria Falls
Experiences to consider
- Rhino tracking on foot with an expert guide
- Visits to ancient rock art sites
- Walks among the granite hills
- Time in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city
Not sure where to begin?
Tell us a little about who is travelling, when, and what you dream of seeing. We will come back to you with ideas shaped entirely around you.