Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls’ wall of water is iconic and one of our favourite ways to finish a southern African trip. However, if you dig a little deeper, you’ll discover a country retaking its place as one of the continent's premier safari destinations.

More than a quarter of the land is protected, encompassing diverse ecosystems and a rich variety of wildlife. Hwange’s sandveld and teak forests host over 100 mammal and 400 bird species, as well as Africa’s largest elephant herds. Follow the Zambezi River along Zimbabwe’s northern border across Lake Kariba to the lush Mana Pools National Park. The walking safaris here are legendary and canoeing on the meandering river among hippo pods and crocodiles is a bucket-list experience for many. To the far southeast, Gonarezhou National Park is a remote and rarely visited wilderness that rewards the intrepid with awe-inspiring landscapes and a near private safari experience.

But it’s the people of Zimbabwe that are the real highlight. The safari guides are regarded as the best in Africa and many lodges have strong links to the community so you can learn about local life in a genuine way. In recent years, Zimbabwe has suffered, with turbulent domestic politics and economic instability. Against this, safari camps and lodges here have helped safeguard huge tracts of wilderness, wildlife and jobs, which is why travelling here is so important.