28 Best Places To Visit In Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe, in southern Africa, offers striking landscapes, friendly locals, and vibrant cities. It shares Victoria Falls with Zambia and has Africa’s largest elephant population.

Harare, the capital, features many art galleries, museums, and nightlife venues, hosting the annual Harare International Festival of the Arts in April-May.

Zimbabwe’s acclaimed wildlife and landscapes are best seen in parks and reserves, attracting various tourists, from solo travelers to families and wildlife enthusiasts. here are the 28 best places to visit in Zimbabwe

Harare

Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, is home to over a million people and offers many natural attractions and activities. Start with a city center tour.

Notable sights include the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Epworth Balancing Rocks, and Mukuvisi Woodlands’ bird park.

Harare features historical landmarks and shopping centers. Explore the Avondale flea market for affordable clothing and local crafts.

Great Zimbabwe National Monument

Great Zimbabwe, near Masvingo and Lake Mutirikwi, was a medieval capital from 1100 to 1500 C.E. Now a national monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site, it features mortarless walls over five meters high.

The site includes the Hill Complex, Great Enclosure, and Great Court. Notable areas are the Great Enclosure, Hill Ruins, and Valley Ruins.

The Hill Ruins, 80 meters high, are the oldest, while the Great Enclosure, 250 meters long and 38 meters high, is the most impressive.

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls, on the Zambezi River, is the world’s largest waterfall, with spray visible up to 50 kilometers away during the wet season. It is over 100 meters high and more than a kilometer wide.

Visit between June and September for the best views. Explore nearby Victoria Falls National Park, Hwange National Park, or Mana Pools National Park.

Devil’s Pool

Devil’s Pool, a natural rock pool, sits on Victoria Falls’ edge near Livingstone Island. During the dry season, shallow water and submerged rock protect from the 330-foot drop.

Guided tours provide safe access to the falls. A tour includes two guides, one accompanying visitors into the water, and another taking photos. Tips are optional.

Victoria Falls Snake Park

Victoria Falls Snake Park houses large and dangerous snakes in natural habitats, offering guided tours and snake handling. Nearby activities include white water rafting, costing about $120 per person.

The best time to visit is November to April, with the dry season from August to November allowing Devil’s Pool swimming.

Victoria Falls Bridge

The Victoria Falls Bridge, an iconic Zimbabwean structure, spans the Zambezi River below Victoria Falls. Built over the Second Gorge, it offers breathtaking views and is a must-see attraction. The bridge connects Zambia and Zimbabwe, allowing visitors to view Victoria Falls from both countries.

Tourists can walk along the paved paths near the falls to experience the spray. After the bridge, enjoy views of the Zambezi River and Batoka Gorge. As a border crossing and one of the world’s natural wonders, the Victoria Falls Bridge provides a memorable experience.

Hwange National Park

Hwange National Park, western Zimbabwe, offers lions, African wild dogs, and large elephant herds. Nearby are Mandavu Dam, Masuma Dam, and Bumbusi National Monument with pre-colonial rock carvings.

Man-made waterholes attract various animals. Visit between November and April. Spanning 14,600 km², Hwange features diverse landscapes and supports Africa’s big cats.

Bulawayo

Bulawayo offers unique cultural heritage and wildlife experiences. Matobo National Park hosts various animals, including kudu, leopards, black eagles, and rhinos. The city has multiple museums, such as the Bulawayo Museum of Natural History with 75,000 specimens.

As Zimbabwe’s second-largest city and Matabeleland’s capital, Bulawayo is clean and pleasant. Its proximity to Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park makes it a good base for nearby attractions.

Mutare

Mutare, in Manicaland, is Zimbabwe’s third-largest city, with a 2012 population exceeding 220,000. Surrounded by hills, it serves as the provincial capital and a base for exploring the Eastern Highlands, Mozambique, and Nyanga National Park.

The city has good road connectivity, including routes to Harare, Chimanimani, Chimoio, and Beira, although potholes may be present.

Kuimba Shiri Bird Sanctuary

Kuimba Shiri Bird Sanctuary, Zimbabwe, offers a tranquil environment with over 400 bird species, including rare and endangered ones.

Located on Lake Chivero’s shores, it is recognized for wildlife preservation and was declared a Sri Chinmoy International Peace Park in 2014.

The sanctuary hosts indigenous birds like African eagles and features a restaurant and gardens. The World Wildlife Fund collaborates with local communities to establish a bird park and education center.

Matusadona National Park

Matusadona National Park, in northern Zimbabwe on Lake Kariba’s southern shore, offers safaris, fishing, and game drives.

Notable are tigerfish, endangered and exclusive to the Zambezi River, and abundant birdlife.

The park comprises northern and southern regions, with the eastern section featuring the 1968-foot Matuzviadonha Hills.

Chinhoyi Caves

Chinhoyi Caves, a group of limestone and dolomite caves, were established as a National Park in 1955. Managed by Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority, the caves feature blue pools, natural lighting, and a cool atmosphere.

They are located near Chinhoyi town, 128 km south of Harare. The name comes from a local chief who sought refuge there. Human remains and pottery dating back to AD650 have been found in the area.

Lake Kariba

Lake Kariba, on the Zimbabwe-Zambia border, features expansive shorelines, diverse wildlife, and scenic islands amidst mountains. Local legend Nyaminyami inspires art and crafts.

The dry season (April to October) is optimal for visits, with average daytime temperatures of 82°F (28°C). Wildlife, including Nile crocodiles, elephants, the Big Five, and fish eagles, is abundant.

Chiremba Balancing Rocks

Chiremba Balancing Rocks, a natural phenomenon, are situated 13 kilometers from Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital. The site, also known as Domboramwarwi, is reached via a 7.4-kilometer route through several suburbs.

Though smaller than other balancing rock formations in Zimbabwe, Chiremba’s granite structures are notable, with one featured on old Zimbabwean currency. A tour of the site typically lasts an hour.

Gweru

Gweru, in Zimbabwe’s Midlands Province, offers a high quality of life and low cost of living, with activities like river relaxation and outdoor pursuits in game reserves. Established in 1894, it’s the provincial capital, hosting Thornhill Air Base, the Military Museum, and Antelope Game Park.

The city boasts year-round flowers and nearby 17th-century Naletale ruins with views of Somabula flats. Gweru’s central recreational park attracts with its wildlife, bush walks, carriage rides, and horseback safaris.

Matobo National Park

Matobo National Park, in southwest Zimbabwe, is renowned for its balancing rock formations, the Matobo Hills, and Nswatugi Cave’s Stone Age rock art.

It hosts significant populations of white rhinos and black eagles, as well as Cecil Rhodes’ grave. The landscape features granite whaleback hills, angular boulders, and diverse flora, including over 200 tree species, various aloes, and over 100 grass species.

The park has one of the highest concentrations of raptors and the world’s highest concentration of Black Eagles. Optimal wildlife viewing is from April to October, though the park remains beautiful year-round.

Chirinda Forest Reserve

Chirinda Forest Reserve, in Zimbabwe, is the southernmost tropical rainforest globally. Located on Mount Selinda, it’s managed by the Forestry Commission and accessible 30 kilometers south of Chipinge.

The reserve is home to rare trees, including the Big Tree, a 65-meter-high, 1,000-year-old mahogany. It showcases eco-tourism, with a blend of tropical and subtropical vegetation, and is one of Zimbabwe’s largest protected forest areas.

Sapi Concession

The Sapi Concession, a 300,000-acre game location in Zimbabwe, offers diverse wildlife and activities. View lions, elephants, and hyenas, or enjoy a canoe safari along the Zambezi River.

Adjacent to Mana Pools, it features three ecosystems: a floodplain, lakes, and diverse landscapes with rivers, islands, sandbanks, and a mahogany forest. The region is a wildlife sanctuary with abundant birdlife.

Gonarezhou National Park

Gonarezhou National Park, in southeastern Zimbabwe, hosts diverse wildlife, including rare Gonarezhou eland, crocodiles, elephants, rhinos, buffalos, zebras, giraffes, various antelopes, over 400 bird species, and dozens of fish species.

The park is well-managed, with increasing wildlife populations. It faces tourism challenges, addressed through community outreach and education.

Optimal wildlife viewing is during the dry season (May to August). The park closes during summer rains due to high water levels and poor track conditions.

Lion and Cheetah Park

Lion and Cheetah Park, 40 minutes from Harare’s center and 50 minutes from the airport, is a top Zimbabwe wildlife attraction. It offers close-up experiences with lions, zebras, giraffes, tortoises, eland, and wildebeest.

The park has a café and various animal enclosures. A drive-through lion enclosure allows observation of lions in their habitat. While cheetahs are no longer present, the lions remain a major draw.

Lake Chivero Recreational Park

Lake Chivero Recreational Park, 32 km from Harare, features a lake and unique ecosystem with various animals, including hippos, crocodiles, and dehorned white rhinos.

Formerly Lake McIlwaine, it offers picnic sites, fishing, and boat rentals. The park is home to giraffes, ostriches, and crocodiles. Ranger hire is recommended. Accessible by taxi or car, it provides horseback riding trails and picnic areas.

The Zambezi Riverfront

The Zambezi Riverfront in Zimbabwe offers stunning wildlife views and various activities for tourists.

Enjoy a scenic boat cruise, take a small plane flight to photograph Victoria Falls from different angles, or engage in adventure sports like river rafting, jet boating, or river boarding.

During the rainy season, the river stretches up to 400m wide and flows rapidly at Chavuma Falls and Cholwezi rapids.

Chimanimani National Park

Chimanimani National Park, on Zimbabwe’s eastern border, features Bridal Veil Falls and a natural cliff jump at Nyamzune Mountain.

Ideal for hiking, it offers highland peaks like Mt Binga (2437 meters), Tessa’s Pool, San rock art, and diverse flora and fauna.

Notable wildlife includes the Blue Duiker, eland, bushbuck, leopard, and Yellow-rumped tinkerbird.

Shona Sculpture Gallery

Shona sculpture, a traditional African art form, evolved into a world-renowned movement in the mid-20th century.

Crafted from Zimbabwe’s distinct, colorful rocks, these sculptures express Shona spiritual and cultural values.

They are a significant art export and economic contributor. Notably, the Great Dyke is a massive geological formation in Zimbabwe.

Mana Pools National Park

Mana Pools National Park, in northern Zimbabwe, offers African wildlife viewing along the Zambezi River.

Notable wildlife includes elephant and hippo herds, best seen at Long Pool and Chitake Spring, especially during the August to September dry season.

Canoe safaris allow close wildlife encounters and island camping.

Malilangwe

Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve, in southern Africa, spans 130,000 acres with diverse plants and animals, including endangered black rhinos and over 400 bird species. Activities include guided bush walks, sundowner cruises, and exploring ancient rock art sites.

The reserve features sandstone outcrops, Baobab trees, and Mopane forests. It has over 100 rock art sites and an energy efficiency program to reduce carbon emissions.

Thetford Game Reserve

Thetford Game Reserve, a 3,300-hectare park located 30 kilometers from Harare, offers wildlife sightings, including zebras, buffalo, impala, and blesbok.

Nearby, the National Heroes Acre honors liberation war fighters and serves as the annual independence celebrations’ focal point, featuring a museum, shrines, and a tomb of an unknown soldier.

Additionally, Lion Park provides a closer encounter with wildlife, allowing visitors to get close to lions and even walk among them.

Kwekwe

Kwekwe, a small town in Zimbabwe’s Midlands Province, was settled as a gold mining camp in 1898. Today, it hosts large mines producing gold, iron ore, and chrome for steelmaking. Recreational activities include fishing, photography, water sports, and summer swimming.

The town features Zimbabwe’s National Mining Museum, the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company headquarters, the Islamic Mission of Zimbabwe, a major power plant, and a provincial cricket team.

Conclusion

Zimbabwe boasts an abundance of wildlife, including thousands of elephants, hippos, lions, and zebras, as well as diverse bird species like ostriches and storks. The country also features modern cities like Harare and ancient ruins dating back to the Stone Age.

Zimbabwe offers a wide range of activities, such as safaris, hiking, visiting ruins, and relaxing on beaches. With its pleasant weather and stunning scenery, Zimbabwe is an excellent destination for travelers.