Zimbabwe is one of Africa’s great unsung safari destinations — a country that offers world-class wildlife, uncrowded wilderness, and some of the continent’s most skilled guides, all without the premium price tags of its neighbours. While the world fixates on the Serengeti and the Okavango, those who know Africa intimately will tell you that Zimbabwe’s parks rank among the very finest on the continent.
What sets Zimbabwe apart is its walking safari tradition. Mana Pools is widely considered the best walking safari destination on Earth. Hwange holds one of the largest elephant populations of any single park. Matobo Hills shelters the densest concentration of leopards and black rhinos in Southern Africa. And then there’s Victoria Falls — arguably the most spectacular natural wonder on the planet.
As a Johannesburg-based operator, Bakubung Safaris has been guiding clients to Zimbabwe for years. It’s close, it’s affordable, and it delivers experiences that stay with you forever. This guide covers everything you need to plan your 2026 Zimbabwe safari.
Why Choose Zimbabwe for Your Safari?
Zimbabwe offers a combination that’s hard to match anywhere else in Africa:
- Uncrowded wilderness — Fewer tourists than Kenya or Tanzania means more intimate wildlife encounters and exclusive sightings
- World-class guiding — Zimbabwe’s guide training programme (FGASA-recognised) is considered the gold standard in Africa; your guide will be exceptionally knowledgeable
- Walking safari heritage — The birthplace of the modern walking safari; Mana Pools allows walking without a guide in certain areas (for experienced visitors)
- Incredible value — Dollar for dollar, Zimbabwe offers some of the best safari value on the continent
- Victoria Falls — Combine a bush safari with one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World
- Easy access from South Africa — Direct flights from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls, Harare, and Bulawayo
Top Safari Destinations in Zimbabwe
1. Hwange National Park — The Elephant Capital
Zimbabwe’s largest and most famous park spans 14,651 km² of Kalahari sandveld, mopane woodland, and open grassland. Hwange is home to one of the largest elephant populations in the world — an estimated 45,000 elephants — and the waterholes here produce some of Africa’s most dramatic wildlife gatherings, particularly in the dry season (August–October) when hundreds of elephants congregate at a single pan.
Beyond elephants, Hwange supports over 100 mammal species including lion, leopard, wild dog (one of the best populations in Africa), cheetah, sable antelope, roan antelope, and gemsbok. The park’s western Kalahari section is particularly special — a landscape of ancient dunes and teak forest found nowhere else in Zimbabwe.
Best for: Classic big game, elephant encounters, wild dog tracking, photographic safaris
2. Mana Pools National Park — Walking Safari Paradise
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and arguably the most exclusive safari experience in Southern Africa. Mana Pools sits on the floodplains of the lower Zambezi River, where ancient albida trees create a cathedral-like canopy attracting huge herds of elephant, buffalo, and eland. The park is famous for its elephants standing on their hind legs to reach albida seed pods — a behaviour seen almost nowhere else.
Mana Pools is the undisputed king of walking safaris. Unlike most African parks, qualified visitors can walk unguided through the bush — though we strongly recommend walking with one of Mana’s legendary professional guides, who rank among the most experienced in Africa. Canoe safaris on the Zambezi are equally spectacular, drifting past hippo pods and crocodiles with the Zambian escarpment as your backdrop.
Best for: Walking safaris, canoe safaris, photography, exclusive wilderness, experienced safari-goers
3. Matobo Hills — Rhino Tracking & Ancient Rock Art
A mystical landscape of enormous balancing granite boulders (kopjes), Matobo Hills is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with one of the highest concentrations of rock art in the world — over 3,000 sites painted by the San people over 13,000 years. But Matobo’s wildlife credentials are equally impressive: the park has the densest population of leopards in Zimbabwe and one of the best places in Africa to track black and white rhino on foot.
The guided rhino tracking walks here are extraordinary — approaching these magnificent animals on foot in the granite landscape is an experience unlike any other safari activity.
Best for: Rhino tracking on foot, leopard sightings, rock art, cultural history, birdwatching
4. Victoria Falls — The Smoke That Thunders
No Zimbabwe trip is complete without visiting Mosi-oa-Tunya (“The Smoke That Thunders”). At 1,708 metres wide and up to 108 metres tall, Victoria Falls is the largest curtain of falling water on Earth. The Zimbabwe side offers the best vantage points for viewing the falls from the rain forest walk, and the town of Victoria Falls is a superb base for adventure activities: helicopter flights, bungee jumping, white-water rafting on the Zambezi, sunset cruises, and zipline canopy tours.
Victoria Falls combines perfectly with a Hwange safari (just 2 hours away) for the ultimate Zimbabwe experience.
Best for: Natural wonder, adventure activities, photography, honeymoons, family-friendly
5. Gonarezhou National Park — The Wild Frontier
Zimbabwe’s second-largest park and part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (linking to Kruger National Park in South Africa and Mozambique’s Limpopo NP). Gonarezhou means “Place of Many Elephants” in Shona, and it lives up to its name. The park’s dramatic Chilojo Cliffs — towering red sandstone formations overlooking the Runde River — are one of Zimbabwe’s most iconic landscapes.
Gonarezhou is raw, remote, and largely undeveloped, making it ideal for adventurous travellers seeking a true wilderness experience. The Singita Pamushana luxury lodge on the park’s border is one of Africa’s finest.
Best for: Remote wilderness, off-the-beaten-track, elephant encounters, dramatic landscapes, luxury lodges
6. Lake Kariba — Houseboat Safari
One of the world’s largest man-made lakes, Kariba offers a completely different safari experience. Houseboat safaris let you drift past drowned trees silhouetted against legendary sunsets while elephants and buffalo drink on the shoreline. Matusadona National Park on Kariba’s southern shore is a hidden gem for walking safaris and canoe trips, and tiger fishing on the lake is world-class.
Best for: Houseboat safari, fishing, sunsets, relaxed pace, unique experience
Best Time to Visit Zimbabwe on Safari
| Season | Months | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Dry/Peak (best game viewing) | May – October | Animals concentrate at waterholes; Hwange elephant gatherings spectacular Aug–Oct; excellent visibility; cool mornings |
| Green/Wet (lush & dramatic) | November – April | Lush landscapes; Victoria Falls at full force (Feb–May); excellent birding (350+ migrants); baby animals; lower rates |
| Victoria Falls peak | February – May | Highest water flow; dramatic spray and rainbows; rain forest walk gets you drenched; less visibility of the rock face |
| Victoria Falls low water | September – December | Rock face fully visible; Devil’s Pool open (Zambia side); less spray; better for photography |
Our recommendation: For the ultimate all-round experience, visit August to October — dry season game viewing is at its peak, and Victoria Falls still has enough water to be spectacular while showing the rock face.
What Does a Zimbabwe Safari Cost?
We believe in honest, transparent pricing. Here’s what to budget in South African Rands:
| Package | Duration | Price (ZAR) | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Falls Getaway | 3 nights | From R14,999/pp | Falls, sunset cruise, activities, accommodation |
| Hwange Explorer | 4 nights | From R24,999/pp | Full-board lodge/camp, game drives, park fees |
| Hwange & Vic Falls Combo | 6 nights | From R39,999/pp | 3 nights Hwange + 3 nights Vic Falls, transfers |
| Mana Pools Walking Safari | 5 nights | From R49,999/pp | Walking & canoe safaris, exclusive camps, all meals |
| Ultimate Zimbabwe | 10 nights | From R89,999/pp | Hwange + Mana Pools + Matobo + Vic Falls, private guide, luxury lodges |
All prices per person sharing. Include accommodation, meals as specified, activities, park fees, and internal transfers. International flights excluded. Prices valid for 2026 season.
Getting to Zimbabwe from South Africa
Zimbabwe is one of the easiest African countries to reach from Johannesburg:
- Victoria Falls: Direct flights from OR Tambo (∼2 hours) with Airlink, Fastjet, or Ethiopian Airlines
- Harare: Daily direct flights (∼1.5 hours) with SAA, Airlink, or Ethiopian Airlines
- Bulawayo: Direct flights (∼1.5 hours) with Airlink
- Road: Victoria Falls is approximately 1,600 km from Johannesburg via Beitbridge border (self-drive or transfer possible)
Visa: Most nationalities receive a visa on arrival (US$30 single entry, US$45 double entry). The KAZA UniVisa (US$50) covers both Zimbabwe and Zambia — essential if you’re visiting Victoria Falls from both sides or adding a Chobe (Botswana) day trip.
Planning Tips for Your Zimbabwe Safari
- Combine Hwange and Victoria Falls — They’re only 2 hours apart and together create the perfect Zimbabwe introduction
- Book Mana Pools early — The park has limited camps and fills up months in advance for peak season (July–October)
- Consider the green season — November to April offers dramatically lower rates, lush photography, and Victoria Falls at its thundering peak
- Pack layers — Winter mornings (June–August) are cold (5°C on game drives); afternoons are warm (25°C)
- Malaria precautions — Zimbabwe is a malaria area; consult your travel clinic and take prophylactics
- USD cash is king — Zimbabwe uses US dollars; bring clean, post-2006 bills (ATMs are unreliable outside cities)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zimbabwe safe for tourists? Yes. Tourism areas (Victoria Falls, Hwange, Mana Pools, Matobo) are safe and welcoming. Zimbabwe’s people are renowned for their warmth and hospitality. The tourism industry is well-established and professional.
How does Zimbabwe compare to Botswana? Zimbabwe offers similar quality wildlife (Hwange rivals Chobe) at significantly lower prices. Mana Pools’ walking safaris are unmatched. Botswana’s Okavango Delta is unique, but Zimbabwe’s variety (falls + bush + culture + lakes) is hard to beat.
Can I combine Zimbabwe with other countries? Absolutely. The most popular combos are Zimbabwe + Botswana (Chobe is a day trip from Victoria Falls), Zimbabwe + Zambia (KAZA UniVisa), and Zimbabwe + South Africa (easy flights from Joburg). We specialise in these multi-country itineraries.
Is Zimbabwe suitable for families? Very much so. Victoria Falls activities cater to all ages, Hwange’s vehicle-based safaris are family-friendly, and several lodges offer dedicated children’s programmes. Matobo’s rock art walks are educational and engaging for older children.
What about LGBTQ+ travellers? While Zimbabwe’s laws are conservative, the private tourism sector is welcoming and discreet. Luxury lodges and camps operate to international standards of hospitality regardless of who you are. We’ve sent many LGBTQ+ clients to Zimbabwe with excellent feedback. Read our LGBTQ+ safari guide for more.
Zimbabwe is raw, real, and utterly magnificent. Whether you’re watching 200 elephants jostle for space at a Hwange waterhole, walking silently through Mana Pools’ albida woodland with a world-class guide, tracking rhino on foot among Matobo’s ancient boulders, or standing in the spray of Victoria Falls, this country will give you stories you’ll tell for the rest of your life.
Ready to experience Zimbabwe? Get in touch with our team and let’s build your perfect Zimbabwean safari.
Bakubung Safaris & Tours — Born in Johannesburg, made for Africa.