Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a country full of friendly smiling people, green lush landscapes, ruins, rock art of the Matobo region, baobab trees and game reserves rich in birdlife with a variety of game. Zimbabwe offers both cultural and natural attractions.

VICTORIA FALLS - Discovered by David Livingstone in 1855, the Victoria Falls were named after Queen Victoria. Known as "The Smoke that Thunders" , due to the falling water that sends spray clouds high into the air, the falls are one of the seven natural wonders in the world and also the largest and perhaps most beautiful. Here the Zambezi River is over a mile wide and plunges into a vertical abyss across its entire width.

HWANGE NATIONAL PARK - This is Zimbabwe's biggest National Park with the largest amount of wildlife including over 400 species of birds. Hwange is known for its large herds of elephant. Scattered throughout the park are private lodges and camps. Game drives in open safari vehicles as well as walks with professional naturalist guides are the main activities.

MATOPOS NATIONAL PARK - The massive rock formations give the Matopos National Park its unique atmosphere. The Matobo Hills are home to the white rhino, sable antelope, leopard, klipspringer, as well as the greatest concentration of black eagles in the world.
Activities include game viewing by vehicle or on foot, visiting a local tribal village and expeditions to historical and scenic sites among the hills. Some of the finest examples of ancient art and Bushman paintings can be found in the caves of the Matobo Hills.

LAKE KARIBA - is the world's largest artificial lake and reservoir by volume. It lies 1300 kilometers upstream from the Indian Ocean, along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Lake Kariba was filled between 1958 and 1963 following the completion of the Kariba Dam at its northeastern end. Lake Kariba is over 220 kilometers long and up to 40 kilometers in width. It covers an area of 5,580 square kilometers and its storage capacity is an immense 185 cubic kilometers. It is the world's largest human-made reservoir.
The Matusadona National Park offers large herds of elephant, buffalo and hippo. Watching the incredible sunrises and sunsets together with the fantastic wildlife make Lake Kariba a truly African experience.

MANA POOLS NATIONAL PARK - is situated in northern Zimbabwe. A UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, extending over an area of 2,196 km2 . As the lakes gradually dry up and recede, the region attracts many large animals in search of water, making it one of Africa's most renowned game-viewing regions. In Shona language, ‘Mana’ means “four” referring to the four large permanent pools formed by the meandering ox-bow lakes of the middle Zambezi River. The wildlife is spectacular. The Mana Pools National Park supports one of the highest wildlife concentrations in Zimbabwe. Elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard are among the large mammals that can be found meandering along the river banks. The forest bordering the river contains ebony and mahogany these, making this a bird haven.

CHIMANIMANI NATIONAL PARK The Eastern Highlands range forms Zimbabwe's eastern border with Mozambique and comprises three main mountain groups - Nyanga (to the north) which contains Zimbabwe's highest mountain Mount Nyangani, Africa's second-longest waterfall Mutarazi Falls and the Honde Valley which leads into Mozambique; Bvumba Mountains (centrally situated near the city of Mutare); and Chimanimani (to the south). These regions are all sparsely populated, highland country and are covered in rich grassland and forests.
Chimnanimani NP is a mountainous terrain with peak heights of 2,436 metres and is the source of many streams and springs enriching the beauty of the park with natural falls such as in the Bridal Veil Falls in the Eland Sanctuary. It is approachable only by trekking along hill tracks. The village of Chimanimani was founded by Thomas Moodie in 1892.