Great Zimbabwe, Hwange and the Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa with superb parks, dramatic granite hills and the most famous views of Victoria Falls. Hwange has huge elephant herds, Mana Pools offers walking and canoe safaris, and Great Zimbabwe is the largest ancient stone city south of the Sahara. Guides are among Africa's best. It suits safari lovers and history fans who want quieter parks.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
The Zimbabwean side gives the widest, most dramatic views of the falls through a rainforest path. Spray can soak you in high water.
Zimbabwe's largest park, famous for big elephant herds at waterholes. Lions, wild dogs and many antelope are seen.
A Zambezi floodplain park of ana trees and oxbow pools, known for walking and canoe safaris. It is UNESCO-listed.
Massive dry-stone walls of a medieval city, including the Great Enclosure and Hill Complex. It gave the country its name.
Balancing granite hills with San rock art and rhino tracking on foot. Cecil Rhodes's grave sits on World's View.
A vast man-made lake with houseboats, tiger fishing and sunsets over drowned trees. Matusadona park is on its shores.
A lakeshore park managed with African Parks, with elephants and lions. Boat safaris add variety.
A remote southeastern park with red Chilojo Cliffs and big elephant herds. It is run by a conservation trust.
Cool mountains with waterfalls, trout streams and Mount Nyangani, the country's highest point. It is great for hiking.
Rugged quartzite peaks on the Mozambique border with trails and caves. It is wild hiking country.
Sunset cruises on the Zambezi, white-water rafting, helicopter flights and the bridge swing. It is an adventure capital.
Stone ruins of a later capital after Great Zimbabwe, near Bulawayo. They are UNESCO-listed.
Zimbabwe's second city, with wide colonial streets, a natural history museum and a railway museum. It is the base for Matobo.
Limestone caves with a deep blue pool called the Sleeping Pool. Divers explore it.
The capital has the National Gallery and stone sculpture centres. Mbare market is lively.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
Falls and adventure.
nature, adventure · Open the city guideSafari base.
safari · Guide comingMatobo base.
history · Guide comingGreat Zimbabwe base.
history · Guide comingLake and Mana Pools gateway.
nature · Guide comingCapital and gateway.
gateway · Guide comingGateway to the Eastern Highlands.
hiking, scenery · Guide comingFalls and big game in the northwest.
Victoria Falls, Hwange
River safaris and the great lake.
Mana Pools, Lake Kariba, Matusadona
Granite hills and ruins.
Matobo, Bulawayo, Khami
Ancient city and remote park.
Great Zimbabwe, Gonarezhou
Cool mountains.
Nyanga, Chimanimani
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: May to October. The dry season concentrates wildlife at waterholes.
Victoria Falls is fullest from about March to May; Mana Pools is best from July to October.
January. Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
87°F daily high, 77°F average, 5.5 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
The US State Department rates Zimbabwe Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, due to crime and official harassment of US citizens.
Roads are long and some are poor; most visitors fly or use operators.
Safaris are costly, but Victoria Falls has options at all levels.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Check visa and entry rules on the Zimbabwe eVisa Platform (evisa.gov.zw) and your own government's travel advice before you go. |
| Plugs | Type D, G; 220 V 50 Hz |
| Tap water | not safe |
| Tipping | Tip guides and camp staff; about 10 percent in restaurants. |
| Payments | US dollars cash is widely used; cards work in hotels. |
| Emergency | 999 medical, 995 police |
| Etiquette | Greetings are important. Avoid photographing government buildings or police. Avoid political talk with strangers. |
| What to wear | Neutral colours on safari; modest dress in villages. |
| Driving | On the left |
| Between cities | Flights connect Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, and charter flights reach parks. Roads link main towns, but self-drive needs care with potholes and checkpoints. |
| Main airports | VFA, HRE, BUQ |
| Ride apps | Vaya, Zimride |
Great Zimbabwe was built between the 11th and 15th centuries as the capital of a trading kingdom. British colonisation under Cecil Rhodes's company created Southern Rhodesia, and a white-minority government declared independence in 1965. A liberation war led to majority rule and independence as Zimbabwe in 1980. Economic and political crises followed, but tourism has recovered.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.