Zimbabwe: A Realm of Natural Splendor

In 2017, Zimbabwe witnessed a momentous event when peaceful protests led to the resignation of former dictator Robert Mugabe after 37 years of rule. Since then, Zimbabwe’s tourism industry has experienced a much-needed revival, greatly benefiting the country’s elephant populations and other wildlife due to the significant uptick in visitors. Boasting world-renowned national parks, Zimbabwe is home to vast herds of wildlife and provides exceptional opportunities for game viewing. The grand Zambezi River offers a plethora of stunning scenery and aquatic activities, while the views of the majestic Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwean side are notably expansive, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the grandeur of the world’s largest waterfall.

Exploring Zimbabwe’s Wilderness Gateways

Zimbabwe’s international airports facilitate easy global travel with regular flights between Victoria Falls and Harare, the country’s primary access points. Travel to the national parks is typically arranged through private or scheduled charter flights.

Victoria Falls, a breathtaking spectacle on the Zambezi River bordering Zambia and Zimbabwe, ranks among the seven Natural Wonders of the World. The Kololo tribe, residents of the area in the 1800s, referred to it as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ or ‘The Smoke that Thunders’. The falls’ mist can be seen from miles away, especially during the peak rainy season when over 500 million cubic meters of water cascades down nearly two kilometers wide into a gorge over a hundred meters below. Zambezi National Park, located upstream, stretches 50 kilometers along the river. Despite its proximity to the falls, this 560 square kilometer haven of wilderness and wildlife remains relatively undiscovered.

Where the Wilderness Thrives

Zimbabwe is home to the second-largest elephant population in the world, alongside significant and increasing numbers of lions, wild dogs, and other emblematic species.

Bordering Botswana, Hwange National Park stands as Zimbabwe’s vastest wildlife sanctuary, showcasing diverse landscapes from semi-desert scrubs on the Kalahari’s fringe in the south to the northern regions’ forests, granite hills, and mopane woodland valleys. This park, hosting over 100 mammal species including lions, leopards, rhinos, buffaloes, and sable antelopes, is renowned for its substantial elephant populations. The dry season, spanning June to October, presents the ideal visiting period, as wildlife gathers in large numbers around the watering holes. The park’s private concessions offer untouched wilderness where animals roam freely along their ancestral paths.

Nestled on the Zambezi River’s floodplains within Africa’s Great Rift Valley, Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe’s second World Heritage Site, delivers unparalleled wildlife viewing against a stunning backdrop of Rift Valley mountains. The park is named after the Shona word ‘Mana’, meaning ‘four’, alluding to the four significant pools along the Zambezi River. It harbors vital populations of lions, wild dogs, hippos, and crocodiles and attracts elephant herds to its banks. Famous for its canoe safaris, Mana Pools invites adventurers to explore its waterways and landscapes.

Flanking Lake Kariba’s shores, Matusadona National Park, established in 1975, was once a bastion for elephant and black rhino conservation and a popular tourist destination. However, it experienced periods of neglect until a 20-year management agreement was signed in late 2019 with African Parks and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, aimed at revitalizing this secluded and rugged park to its historical grandeur.

In Zimbabwe’s southeast lies the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve, a secluded gem known for exceptional wildlife viewing. ‘Malilangwe’, translating to ‘Call of the Leopard’, encompasses a 50,000-hectare private reserve teeming with lions, buffaloes, leopards, and elephants, and serves as a sanctuary for both black and white rhinos. Managed by a non-profit trust, Malilangwe collaborates closely with local communities, enhancing healthcare, education, and providing significant employment opportunities.

Situated in Zimbabwe’s southeastern region, this expansive national park covers over 5,000 square kilometers and is characterized by the majestic Chiojo Cliffs, winding rivers, and vast woodlands. Renowned as a leading safari destination, it houses more than 11,000 elephants, positioning it as a premier site for encountering these magnificent animals.