Where to go in Zimbabwe

Similar to the best red wine and cheese, Hwange has only gotten better with age. Designated a national park in 1928, it’s one of the oldest on the continent and the largest in Zim at 14,650 square kilometres, most of which is deep Kalahari sand dotted with patches of mopane woodland. Doesn’t sound particularly safari-like? Well it wouldn’t be were it not for the network of watery pans, artificially pumped in the dry season, and the life source for over 100 mammal species. Elephants are the stars of the show here however, and the enormous pachyderms plod majestically over the plains and through the pretty camps to get to their drinking holes (and sometimes the camp swimming pool!)

Of all the magnificent sights in Zimbabwe, Mana Pools was the first to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it’s easy to see why. Named after the four wildlife-magnet oxbow lakes that sprawl across it, the park is a network of mini waterways and hippo-strewn sandbanks, with startlingly green grasslands and groves of mahogany trees sheltering a spectacular amount of game, including wild dog, buffalo and lion. And of course there’s the Zambezi – the mighty river that runs through the park, attracting elephant in their droves and canoeists looking for an epic water-based safari. Prefer to be on land? You’ll be in safe hands with some of the best walking guides on the continent.

Along the Zambezi River's great circuit, it replenishes the waters of Lake Kariba, a sprawling inland sea where super (and we mean super) herds of buffalo and elephant congregate, while the surrounding wilderness of Matusadona is home to the rest of the Big Five and much more. This was the place of Operation Noah, a rescue mission for thousands upon thousands of animals trapped by rising waters in the 1950s and since then, populations have flourished. Take in the view from tiny Kariba Town and learn the legend behind its near-destruction, as told by the Batonga people who lost their land in its construction. The sunsets are truly spectacular, especially from the water. Watch as the lake shimmers in a kaleidoscopic of pinks and yellows, oranges and reds, framed by the looming Matuzviadonha Mountains and the inky black fingers of the drowned leadwood trees. Wow.

Many would say that Zimbabwe as a whole is rather ‘off-the-beaten-track’, but wait until you visit Gonarezhou. Wild and rugged, untouched and nearly unexplored, it’s the second largest national park in the country and tucked far away in the deep south on the border of Mozambique. Conservation is alive and well down here and the area is part of The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a 35,000 square kilometre area, protecting wildlife corridors between Gonarehzou, Limpopo in Mozambique and Kruger in South Africa. Inside the park you’ll find baobabs and butterflies, wildebeest and waterbuck and a fair few predators too. Oh and elephants. Legend has it that they used to be as tall as the trees and they’re still pretty impressive these days.

If you like your game viewing served with a spot of culture and a touch of history then Matobo is the place for you. The final resting place of Cecil John Rhodes, the Matopos Hills are known for the enormous piles of Flinstone-esque boulders, nerve-shatteringly balanced against each other and littered across the wooded landscape. Their smooth curves contain some of the best rock art in Southern Africa, dating back at least 2000 years from the San bushmen. Game-wise, the Whovi Wilderness Area is dedicated to the protection of white and black rhino and a wonderful place to spot the Jurassic creatures. This is a hauntingly beautiful and totally underrated part of the country and its just waiting to welcome you…

If there’s one city in Africa that doesn’t deserve a poor reputation, it’s Harare. Just like any city in the world, there are some areas that are urban, dirty and a little bit gritty. But then there are the wide, bustling avenues, lined with flamboyant trees and granite sculptures; the Botanical Gardens, with more than 900 tree and plant species from all over the country; and what about the thriving arts scene, ranging from the craft stalls peddling eccentric carvings and baskets, to the hip galleries springing up in the suburbs? If you do find yourself here, breathe in the crisp, clean air, buy a roasted mealie (corn on the cob) to munch on, and take a wander.

Running along the border with Mozambique (for a spectacular 300 kilometres no less!), Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands are the stuff of dreams. Rolling hills are carpeted in green, lush forests, rugged peaks rise up from swirling mists and waterfalls cascade into deep gorges, rivers and lakes. The highlands are really three different areas - the lolloping tea plantations of the Nyanga (alongside Zimbabwe’s highest mountain, Mount Nyangani), the granite turrets of the Chimanimani Mountains, and the green meadows and coffee bushes of the Byumba range – and each has its owns quirks and charms. It is, however, safe to say that this is an area in which to celebrate the joy of being outdoors and with everything from gentle strolls to epic mountain climbs, bike rides and adventures on horseback, it’s not hard to do.