Safari au Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe, Southern Africa's elite safari destination

Zimbabwe is one of the great undiscovered destinations of African safari. Long overshadowed by the reputation of its neighbors, South Africa, Botswana and Zambia, it nevertheless has everything that makes for an exceptional safari: immense and uncrowded parks, remarkably dense wildlife, some of the best trained local guides on the continent and two of the most intense experiences that Africa has to offer: Mana Pools and Victoria Falls.

Zimbabwe boasts one of the richest safari traditions in Southern Africa. Its professional guides, trained to exacting standards, have an international reputation that far surpasses the country's own renown. Safari professionals intimately familiar with the continent know that Zimbabwe is frequently cited as one of the best destinations for an authentic, uncompromising, and crowd-free bush experience.

At Fundis'Africa, Zimbabwe is the destination we recommend to travelers seeking the intensity of the African safari in its purest form, far from standardized circuits and tourist concentrations.

The must-see destinations for a safari in Zimbabwe

Hwange National Park

Hwange is Zimbabwe's largest national park, covering 14,600 square kilometers. It is also one of Africa's best parks for elephant viewing. Recent estimates put the population in the park and its surrounding areas at between 45,000 and 50,000 elephants, making it one of the continent's largest concentrations of these pachyderms. During the dry season, when natural waterholes dry up, the elephants congregate around artificial pumps, which help maintain a healthy wildlife population year-round.

But Hwange is not just elephant park. Its diversity of predators is remarkable: lions in large numbers, leopards in the wooded areas, cheetahs on the open plains, and one of the best populations of African wild dogs on the continent. Hwange's wildlife is accessible from private camps located in exclusive concessions, where night safaris are possible, just like in the private reserves of Kruger.

Mana Pools, the ultimate walking safari

Mana Pools is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the few parks in the world where unguided walking safaris are permitted within the national park itself, a freedom that speaks volumes about the Zimbabwean approach to safaris. With a certified guide, Mana Pools is an experience of an intensity that few African destinations can match.

The park is located in the Zambezi Valley, between the Zimbabwean bank of the river and the escarpments that rise above it. During the dry season, the floodplain transforms into an exceptional hunting and wildlife viewing area. Elephants rearing up on their hind legs to reach the fruit of the tall trees lining the Zambezi have become the iconic image of Mana Pools. This behavior, unique to this population of elephants, is not observed anywhere else in Africa.

The lions of Mana Pools are also famous. Some individuals have learned to climb trees to rest and survey their territory, a rare behavior that local guides have been observing for years. Canoe safaris on the Zambezi River, between vegetation-covered islands and hippos patrolling the waters, are another signature park experience. Paddling silently two meters from a hippopotamus, with a crocodile gliding beneath the surface nearby: this is Zimbabwe at its most intense.

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It is the largest waterfall on the planet in terms of combined height and flow rate: 1,708 meters wide, 108 meters high, and with an average flow rate of over one million liters per second during peak season. The roar of the falls can be heard for forty kilometers. The mist created by the impact of the water on the rocks is visible for miles and generates a unique microclimate that sustains a permanent rainforest on the banks.

Zimbabwe offers the "front-end" approach to the falls from the town of Victoria Falls, with direct views across the entire width of the waterfall from an accessible walking trail. In April and May, after the heavy rains, the falls are at their peak flow, and the mist is so dense that it completely soaks you from fifty meters away. During the dry season, the reduced flow allows access to the very edge of the precipice, offering breathtaking views of the opposite bank from dizzying vantage points.

Victoria Falls is the natural entry or exit point for any Zimbabwean itinerary and the connection with Zambia on the Livingstone side is easy and quick.

Why travel to Zimbabwe with Fundis' Africa?

Zimbabwe is a destination that requires careful planning. The best camps in Mana Pools, often limited to eight guests, are fully booked months in advance for the October peak season. Combined Zimbabwe-Zambia-Botswana itineraries, among the most comprehensive in Southern Africa, demand precise logistical coordination between domestic flights, transfers to Victoria Falls, and availability in each park.

Our FGASA-certified guides know Zimbabwe intimately. They select local operators based on the quality of their bush guides, who are often among the best trained on the continent. They prepare each guest for the specifics of a Zimbabwean safari: the intensity of the walking safari in Mana Pools, safety protocols when encountering elephants and lions, and the physical requirements for walking activities.

Every safari in Zimbabwe organized by Fundis'Africa is tailor-made in French or English, with particular attention paid to combining parks according to your profile and priorities. Mana Pools for the intensity of the walking safari, Hwange for its dense wildlife and elephants, Victoria Falls for the sheer scale of its natural wonders: three radically different experiences that come together in a single, cohesive journey.

Safari in Zimbabwe as a couple, with family or among enthusiasts?

Zimbabwe is often the destination for discerning travelers who have already experienced a safari and are looking for something deeper and more intense. For couples, the Mana Pools camps, with their nights on the banks of the Zambezi and morning walking safaris in bushland where elephants roam freely, offer an experience of intimacy and emotional power that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.

For walking safari enthusiasts, Mana Pools is a world-class destination. The freedom of movement this park offers is unique in Africa. With a certified Fundis'Africa guide, this freedom is complemented by safety and a deep understanding of nature, transforming each outing into an unforgettable bush lesson.

For families, Hwange National Park, with its private camps, is perfectly suited for children aged 8 to 10. The herds of elephants that come to the waterholes in the late afternoon are an accessible and captivating spectacle for all ages. The walking safaris at Mana Pools, however, are reserved for adults and teenagers due to their intensity.

Zimbabwe naturally combines with neighboring Zambia for Victoria Falls and South Luangwa, with Botswana for the Okavango Delta and Chobe, or with South Africa for a grand tour of Southern Africa. Consult our Destinations FAQ for all practical information about Zimbabwe, including health recommendations and visa requirements.