Zimbabwe: What To See, Where To Go

Here is what you can expect on a holiday in Zimbabwe. A visual destination report compiled by Dubai-based Holiday Guide magazine for those planning a holiday in Zimbabwe. 

Our editorial team travelled to Zimbabwe to attend the Sanganai/ Hlanganani World Tourism Expo in Bulawayo and took the opportunity to explore the various tourist attractions in Zimbabwe. We also talked to officials and major players in the tourism and hospitality industry to know about Zimbabwe’s booming tourism industry. A report by Nomad Naved…

Zimbabwe Holiday Guide

Travelling through Zimbabwe, epicentre of Southern Africa’s wildlife and tourism activities, is one of the best journeys one can make in a lifetime, specially for desert-dwelling travellers from the Middle East. It’s a country that offers breathtaking natural splendour, exciting wildlife safaris, mystical ancient towns and a plethora of UNESCO world heritage sites. Witness the largest herds of elephants as they lazily hobble across the African savannah and herd around a watering hole for a communal gathering.

However, Zimbabwe has more to offer than just a Big Five safari experience. Africa’s largest waterfall, the Lozi: Mosi-oa-Tunya (smoke that thunders), also known as the Victoria Falls, is a major tourist attraction that attracts visitors to this landlocked country from all across the world. With a span of about 1.7 kilometres (over a mile long) and a drop of 108 metres, the Victoria Falls is indeed a sight to behold.

Most visitors to Zimbabwe end their unforgettable safari and African adventure with a serene and relaxing cruise on the calm waters of the famous Lake Kariba that takes you to far-off, isolated and uninhabited islands situated on the lake. Zimbabwe also harbours some of the world’s finest and most luxurious hotels & lodges, matching the country’s breathtaking scenery.

Get the most out of your holiday in Zimbabwe with our travel guide. Find out more about:

• Best time to visit
• How to get there
• Travel requirements
• Getting around
• Activities
• Recommended hotels
• Photos
• Editor’s Note

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in the southern part of Africa and enjoys a pleasant climate year round . While there’s little fluctuation in monthly temperatures, the seasons do differ in the amount of precipitation received, which will affect your holiday, whether you are looking for a exciting fun-filled trip to Victoria Falls, a cruise holiday on Lake kariba, or a safari in the national parks.

The best time to visit Zimbabwe is during the long, dry season, from June to October, when most days are sunny and substantial rainfall is fairly unusual. It is also the best time to get away from simmering heat in the Middle East countries during those months.

Another popular time to visit Zimbabwe is during the short dry season from January to February when dry weather prevails although humidity is picking up.

During November and December there’s another rainy season, the so-called ‘short rains’, but these are much lighter, less frequent and less reliable than the long rains.

THINGS TO DO IN VICTORIA FALLS

Visit the park to see the Falls from the Zimbabwe side. The park entrance fee is about US$ 30 – remember take some waterproof clothing!

Walk across the frontier into Zambia to see the Zambian part of the Falls. Between the Zimbabwean and Zambian frontier posts you cross the famous steel bridge carrying the road and railway across the Zambezi between the Zimbabwean and Zambian sides of the river.

Take afternoon tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel, the poshest hotel in town. The hotel is right next to the railway station.

For those interested, there are a whole range of adventure activities available such as white water rafting down the Zambezi, or for the complete adventure junkies, bungee jumping off the Zambezi bridge.

Go on an afternoon river cruise on the Zambezi. Many operators offer similar trips, which includes plentiful drinks and snacks. You will most likely see hippos, elephants and crocodiles.

BULAWAYO: TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Bulawayo is a pleasant town, well spread out with wide open streets and relatively little traffic. There is an excellent railway museum, which features Cecil Rhodes’ private railway coach. You should not miss a day trip to the Matobo National Park, some 25 miles South of Bulawayo, where Cecil Rhodes is buried. Day tours generally visit the Whovi Game Reserve in the morning (famous for its rhinos), then the haunting hills of the main park in the afternoon.

HOW TO GET THERE

Zimbabwe receives numerous international and domestic daily flights via its three main airports:

Robert Gabriel Mugabe Airport (HRE) is the international airport of Harare, the largest city in Zimbabwe and its capital. It is located about 11 kilometres (7 miles) from the city centre. The airport has flights to destinations in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. It is named after Robert Mugabe, the nation’s second president.

Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) is the main airport in the Victoria Falls region. It is about 18 kilometres (11 miles) south-west of the town, also known as the Victoria Falls. In April 2013, Exim Bank of China had provided a $150 million loan to build the airport’s new runway, taxiways and a new terminal to increase the airport’s capacity from 500,000 to 1.7million passengers annually.

Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (BUQ) is the international airport in Bulawayo that serves the cities of Arusha and Moshi and is located 25 kilometres outside the city. Originally known as Bulawayo Airport, it was renamed in honour of the late Dr Joshua Nkomo, the leader and founder of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union in 2001

If you want to travel the entire country, it’s best to either arrive in Harare and depart from Victoria Falls, or the other way around. Some airliners offer multi-city tickets at often the same price for a round-trip ticket. KLM, Emirates, and Ethiopian Airlines currently have the best connections to the country from the Middle East.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

You need an international passport with at least six months validity to enter Zimbabwe.
Most nationalities get a visa on arrival to enter Zimbabwe. Or you could get one from your nearest Zimbabwe embassy or consulate before you travel.

GETTING AROUND

Self-driving in Zimbabwe is not as problematic as some people think. The main cities are connected via good asphalt highways – you can also get around by making use of one of the several modes of transportation that are available.

When you book a safari, the operator or lodge will always arrange a driver who doubles as an informal guide. Most tourists will explore the National Parks with a driver in a four-wheel drive vehicle.

Domestic flights are the quickest and most comfortable option if you want to visit several parts of the country during your journey. There are several domestic airlines that link the most popular safari destinations and provide services to the coast. Some of the more upmarket safari lodges have their own airstrips and use small planes operated by private air charter companies to ferry their guests in, which is a good alternative to long drives on dusty roads. These are some of Zimbabwe’s domestic airlines that offer online bookings:

• Executive Air
• Fastjet Zimbabwe
• HAC
• Guthrie Aviation

ACCOMMODATION

Zimbabwe offers several accommodation options. It boasts of a wide spectrum of lodges to hotels, safari camps and luxury accommodation for those that really want to spoil themselves. Many lodges and hotels provide scenic views, exciting activities, ideal locations and untouched wilderness. There are new properties popping up all the time and the older more traditional properties have all seen a recent makeover, and continue to win prestigious awards.

For a luxurious option in Hwange National Park we recommend staying at Hwange Safari Lodge! If you’re headed to Lake Kariba then Caribbea Bay Resort is well worth considering.

RECOMMENDED HOTELS & LODGES IN ZIMBABWE

Consider visiting our top rated hotels, based on our first-hand own experience:

• Cresta Oasis (Harare)
• The Kingdom Hotel (Victoria Falls)
• Holiday Inn (Bulawayo)
• Caribbea Bay Resort (Lake Kariba)

EDITOR’S NOTE

Emerging from a period of economic and political turmoil, Zimbabwe is certainly one of the most underrated countries in Africa and offers a plethora of gems ready to be explored.