Victoria Falls and the Zambezi gorge in warm evening light

Zimbabwe Travel Guide

Come for the Falls. Stay for Zimbabwe.

From the spray of Mosi-oa-Tunya to the stone walls of Great Zimbabwe, plan your journey with local knowledge.

Explore Victoria Falls Plan your trip

Victoria Falls
Mosi-oa-Tunya

Photo: lumoplank · CC0 1.0

Choose your Zimbabwe

Where will Zimbabwe take you?

Eleven destinations, from the Zambezi in the north-west to the baobab country of the south-east. Point at the map to preview each one.

See every place on the map

Western Zimbabwe · Zambezi River

Victoria Falls

The Smoke That Thunders: rainforest trails, gorge views and the mighty Zambezi.

Explore Victoria Falls

Pins show approximate destination areas. Map outline: geoBoundaries (ZIMSTAT, OCHA ROSEA) · CC BY 3.0 IGO

Four ways into Zimbabwe

One country, many landscapes

Mana Pools · Photo: Babakathy · CC0 1.0

Water

Follow the Zambezi.

The great river shapes the north: the spray of Victoria Falls, the wide waters of Lake Kariba and the floodplain pools of Mana Pools.

Hwange National Park · Photo: Fabio Achilli · CC BY 2.0

Wildlife

Into the wild.

Elephant country in Hwange, remote rivers and baobabs in Gonarezhou, and the Zambezi Valley in between. Go with patience; sightings are never guaranteed.

Great Zimbabwe · Photo: Andrew Moore · CC BY-SA 2.0

Stone

Stories written in granite.

The stone city of Great Zimbabwe, the balancing boulders of the Matobo Hills and the heritage city of Bulawayo.

Eastern Highlands · Photo: Teddy Matendawafa · CC BY-SA 4.0

Highlands & cities

Cool air and city life.

Mountain trails and waterfalls in the Eastern Highlands, galleries and jacaranda avenues in Harare, and museums in Gweru.

Destinations

Journeys to Remember

From the Zambezi to the granite hills of the Matopos, each destination shows a different side of Zimbabwe.

Victoria Falls

The Smoke That Thunders: rainforest trails, gorge views and the mighty Zambezi.

Hwange

Zimbabwe’s largest national park, known for its great elephant herds.

Eastern Highlands

Nyanga, Bvumba and Chimanimani: mountain trails, waterfalls and cool, misty air.

Great Zimbabwe

The ancient stone city that gave the country its name.

Lake Kariba

A vast lake on the Zambezi for slow days, long sunsets and wildlife on the shore.

Matobo Hills

Balancing granite boulders, rhino country and hills rich in heritage.

Mana Pools

A Zambezi floodplain of four pools, where elephants wade beneath the escarpment.

Gonarezhou

Rivers, baobabs and wide woodland in Zimbabwe’s remote south-east.

Harare

Jacaranda avenues, the National Gallery and granite hills within an easy drive.

Bulawayo

The country’s largest museum, a heritage city and the road to the Matopos.

Gweru & the Midlands

A museum city in the heart of the country, with stone-walled heritage and wildlife nearby.

Plan your days

Where to stay, what to do, where to eat.

Find a base, plan your days out and choose where to eat, in every destination.

Places to Stay

Find your base.

Safari lodges, riverside camps, hotels and guesthouses across Zimbabwe, with direct contact details for each.

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Eastern Highlands · Photo: Carissa Jade Drury Stay inspirationWake up close to the Zambezi.Places to stay in every destination

Published places to stay

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Things to Do

Go beyond the viewpoint.

Game drives in Hwange, canoe trips on the Zambezi, hikes in the Eastern Highlands and guided city walks.

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Lake Kariba · Photo: Visit ZimbabweOn the waterRiver cruises and paddling Hwange National Park · Photo: Visit ZimbabweInto the wildSafaris and wildlife

Published attractions & activities

Food & Drink

A taste of Zimbabwe.

Sadza and relish, Kariba bream, a cold drink at sundown. Find where to eat and what to try.

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Harare · Photo: Visit ZimbabweWhere to eatCafés, restaurants and dinner shows

Published food & drink places

Search every destination

Explore published places

Every listing across Zimbabwe, from lodges and cafés to sights and guides. Availability, prices and ratings are not provided.

Lake Kariba · Photo: SuSanA Secretariat · CC BY 2.0

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About Visit Zimbabwe

Discover the beauty of Zimbabwe.

Visit Zimbabwe is a travel guide to the country's wonders and its people: the thunder of Victoria Falls, big-game safaris in Hwange and Mana Pools, the stone city of Great Zimbabwe, the granite hills of Matobo and the cool Eastern Highlands. Meet its living culture through stone sculpture, mbira music, crafts and local food, and find places to stay, eat and explore, each with direct contacts.

5
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
11
destination guides
332
places to stay, eat and explore
Photo: Teddy Matendawafa · CC BY-SA 4.0

Plan your trip

Everything you need before you travel

Entry and visasPassports, e-visas and the KAZA UniVisa for Zambia. MoneyUS dollars, small notes, cards and tipping. Getting aroundFlights, transfers, driving and border crossings. When to goSeasons, Victoria Falls water levels and safari timing. Health and safetyMalaria, water, insurance and local laws. My TripSave places, plan your days and share your trip.
All travel tips

Photography credits

Images with clear provenance

Destination photography is sourced from Wikimedia Commons and shown separately from business listings. Images are resized, compressed and responsively cropped for this website. Other photos are shared with permission and credited to the person who took them.

Home page map outline: geoBoundaries ZWE ADM0 (ZIMSTAT, OCHA ROSEA), CC BY 3.0 IGO.

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