The two countries are linked by a famous steel bridge. If you need an adrenalin surge,  jump off the Falls bridge on the end of a bunjee rope, swing across the Batoka gorge on a giant cable, canoe the rapids above the Falls, or raft the turbulent white waters of the basalt Batoka Gorges, below. Alternatively, if you prefer something more sedentary, enjoy a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River above the Falls, or a morning game-drive in the nearby Zambezi National Park.   One of Africa’s top national parks, Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe’s northwest should be on any safari lover’s bucket list. Hwange’s savanna grasslands and woodlands are home to the Big Five and has the biggest diversity of mammals out of the world’s national parks. It is known for regular sightings of cheetah, leopard and lion, as well as one of Africa’s largest populations of the endangered wild dog and rare species such as roan and sable. Birdwatchers will be impressed with the 500 species recorded here.

Mana Pools National Park, which fronts onto the Zambezi River is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This magnificent and extensive wildlife and wilderness complex is widely recognized as one of the finest in Africa. The Park has special significance for photographic tourism. Activities in Mana Pools are exclusively nature-based: day-long or extended canoe trips down the Zambezi River, walking, hiking, game viewing, bird watching and, at night, studying the stars in an incredibly clear sky. 

Lake Kariba is a laid-back holiday playground with a wide choice of activities ideal for families, a hot, tropical climate, fantastic fishing, lots of boating choices, houseboats, motorboating, sailing, and watersports and wildlife and safari opportunities second to none.

Matusadona National Park, about 30kms across the lake, where there are islands, tranquil bays and creeks teeming with wildlife against the magnificent backdrop of the Zambezi escarpment mountains.  If you are lucky, you can see a variety of large African mammal species, including elephant, buffalo, lion and cheetah and a staggering variety of water birds.

Zimbabwe is distinctive in Africa for its large number of medieval era city ruins built in a unique dry stone style. Possibly the most famous of these are the Great Zimbabwe ruins in Masvingo which survive from the Kingdom of Zimbabwe era. Other ruins include Khami Ruins, Zimbabwe, Dhlo-Dhlo and Naletale.

The Matobo Hills are an area of granite kopjes and wooded valleys where Cecil John Rhodes was famous for his vision that led to foundation of Rhodesia.

Guidelines On Climate

Summer runs from October to April and has hot, sunny days with daytime temperatures around 30oC (86oF) in the main centres and hotter in the low-lying areas such as the Zambezi Valley, Kariba and Victoria Falls. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible. The rainy season runs from November to March, although the Eastern Highlands experience rain throughout most of the year. Winter days are warm and dry, approximately 20oC (68oF), with a vast drop in temperature at night and runs from May to September. Winter is the most pleasant time to travel and is best for game viewing and white water rafting; however this is also peak tourist season and is the busiest time to the year.