TRAVEL GUIDE : Useful Zimbabwe Travel Advice

Giving Zimbabwe travel advice is best done by reviewing the country's national parks and noting the wonders that are found there. The first to be established was Matobo Park, which is situated 35 kilometers from the city of Bulawayo. This is an area where all of nature's wonders can be found and is best known for its rock formations and wooded areas.



The park is an essential visit for anyone with an appreciation of wildlife and nature. It is populated with a vast collection of game including antelope, impala, leopard, giraffe, white rhino and zebra. Over 175 species of bird, including the black eagle, fly above.

For history and culture enthusiasts, the park also contains many rock paintings. These were created by the Bushmen who used to make this area of Zimbabwe their home.


Mana Pools National Park is another of Zimbabwe's national parks. It is made up of four pools formed from the Zambezi River and is a place where large animals come to in search of water, so there is plenty of wildlife for tourist to see. This is one of the least developed parks in Zimbabwe so is the ideal place to see hippopotamuses, crocodiles, elephants and buffalo.

One of Zimbabwe's most famous attractions is the Victoria Falls. They can be found along the Zambezi River and are considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. This is one of the largest waterfalls in the world and is preserved as a United Nations Heritage Site. One of the attractions there is the Devil's Pool. This is a shallow pool on the edge of the waterfall. Here it is possible for swimmers to swim up to the edge without worry that they might go over. This is due to the rock wall below the water. This is also the best place to see the rainbow that permanently hangs over the falls.

Hwange National Park is situated on the main road between Victoria Falls and Bulawayo. It was founded in 1928 and is the largest of all game reserves in the country. This is an area where hyena and antelope can be seen as well as all species of African wild dog. Elephants have also made the place their home along with the other four animals that make up Africa's Big Five. Lions and buffalo are often seen, but the leopard and rhino are not as regularly witnessed as they are not as many of them. In the sky above keen birdwatchers can see up to 400 species in flight and after dark, it is possible to see the springhare which looks like a small kangaroo.

 Unlike Hwange, Nyanga National Park is not a game reserve, but that doesn't mean that visitors won't see wildlife. Buffalo and lion, who have strayed from Mozambique, can be seen as well as antelope, leopard and hyena. The park contains the Kairezi River where the African clawless otter makes its home. Rainbow trout, brown trout and the American brook trout are also inhabitants.

It is possible to climb Mount Nyangani whilst on a visit to Nyanga. It's in the centre of the park and is the highest mountain in Zimbabwe. It would take those with average fitness up to 3 hours to climb to the peak. There are a lot of unmarked roads on the way up there and the weather can also change rapidly, so caution is advised.