Things to Do in Zimbabwe | Safari Experiences | Activities

What To Do In Zimbabwe?

With its mystifying baobab trees, dry sands of Hwange, balancing rocks of Matobo, and the magnificent Zambezi River raging over Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe offers all one could need in an African vacation spot. It’s more than the Big Five; it’s a place where hundreds of unforgettable ingredients, including the warmth of the people, combine to yield a unique and special experience.

We’ve compiled a list of our favourite experiences to inspire your imagination.

Things to Do in Zimbabwe

1. An Angel’s View of Victoria Falls

When David Livingstone first spied the majesty of Victoria Falls, he is said to have exclaimed that “scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.” So it is for those who take the opportunity to rise up and explore this wonder of nature by helicopter.

Looking down from above, one can see the entire African landscape, the thundering depths of the chasm, the exposed basalt geology, the magnificent rainbows, and the mile-long sweep of the falls. You’ll also see the churning rapids of the Zambezi, the ambition of the Victoria Falls Bridge, and spot game from above the Zambezi National Park.

2. Tea by the Smoke that Thunders

The locals have long used the term “The Smoke That Thunders” to describe the atmosphere around their falls, which includes more than just its outward appearance. Victoria Falls is a visceral, whole body experience that can be enhanced through taste and relaxation in the most colonial English tradition of afternoon tea.

From the shaded terrace of the Victoria Falls Hotel, looking across lush deep lawns towards the famous arching bridge with the thundering cloud of the falls beyond, you can indulge. There’ll be tiered plates of cakes and scones, along with tea served in silver pots and crisp white napkins. Unless you’re dressing for a specific scenario, linen suits aren’t necessary.

3. Rafting the Zambezi below the Falls

Despite its 1,600-mile length and passage through six nations, the Zambezi is most known for its jaw-dropping plunge into a basalt valley, where it forms the largest waterfall on Earth. It’s a place of boiling, swirling clouds and rainbows from which the river emerges once again to race down some of the most challenging rapids that rafters will ever encounter.

Not only will you feel your heart racing and your hands shaking as you ride the waves and test your endurance, but you’ll also form bonds with other riders and learn to work together as a team as you follow your guide’s precise instructions through the turbulent waters. The power of the water will put you firmly in your place, but you will learn that you can rise to the challenge and become invigorated by the sheer thrill of navigating the raging torrent.

4. The Pump Run at Hwange

Where there is water, there is life. Water is the universal necessity, and any safari expert worth their salt can tell you that any given water hole will attract every kind of wildlife in the area. But what happens if there is no reliable water? This is the reality that environmentalists confront in Hwange National Park throughout the dry season.

The solution for more than 75 years has been to pump water into 15 waterholes, but this requires rangers to maintain each pump by living in situ. You’ll be playing a vital role when you take part in a “pump run”, delivering much needed food, diesel fuel and company to these isolated individuals. They are happy to tour you around their remote spot and tell you stories about their life.

5. Canoe the Zambezi

Rivers are the arteries of life, and there is no better way to appreciate this than to glide down the tranquil waters of the Zambezi in a place such as Mana Pools National Park. To truly enjoy the fluttering of water birds, the lilies, and the animals lured to the banks to drink the life-giving water, you can paddle your wide Canadian canoe gently yourself or relax and allow your guide do it.

You may observe the water’s perpetual cycle of replenishment from a picnic area on an island. As the locals will tell you, this is the realm of the river god Nyaminyami: it certainly has the feeling of the divine.

6. House Boats and Fish Eagles on Lake Kariba

Lake Kariba is one of the biggest man-made lakes in the world, stretching over 280 kilometres (170 miles) in length and up to 40 kilometres (25 miles) wide in some spots. It is a truly monumental place. In addition to storing the most important component for ecosystems, the picturesque Kariba Dam generates much-needed energy by retaining 185 cubic kilometres of water. You will be able to hone your binocular skills while seeing the plentiful wildlife from the comfort of a house boat as you stare into the crystal-clear waters, where you can find forty different species of fish, including the world-famous tiger fish.

Witnessing the majestic and fearless fish eagle, the national bird of Zimbabwe, silhouetted against a fiery sunset is an experience that will stay with you forever.

7. Tiger Fishing on the Zambezi

It’s a fish famed for its aggressive and territorial nature, for its unique striped scale pattern and ferocious teeth, and for its tendency – like the piranha of South America – to join forces with others to hunt in a pack. Because it is the sole fish known to have been seen capturing birds in flight, the “striped water dog” moniker is appropriate.

Even the most seasoned adventurers will find this fish to be a formidable foe due to its intelligence, power, and aggressiveness. The guides here at Journeysmiths have the kind of familiarity with this incredible creature’s habits that can only be gained from years of experience in the field.

8. Wellness, Wildlife and Community at Singita Pamushana

A balanced life is not just one of tranquillity and calmness, but also of involvement, engagement and connection with a world beyond ourselves. While staying at the Singita Pamushana Lodge on the private Malilangwe reserve in Zimbabwe, you will have access to these ingredients. As a result of the efforts of the Malilangwe Trust, this area is no longer merely a habitat for animals; it is now a peaceful community where lions, leopards, and black rhinos walk freely among towering baobab trees and lush mopane forests.

On a community visit, you may learn about Shangaan culture and witness the successful development programs that have grown out of Pamushana Lodge. Traditional knowledge from the surrounding area is incorporated into the lodge’s wellness program through rituals and treatments.

9. Discover the Jurassic Landscapes of Matobo

As if placed carefully by the gods, precariously rounded rocks sit atop massive granite domes, pink-hued in the slanting light of the African dawn: this is the landscape of Matobo. Millions of years of weathering and erosion have sculpted the fantastical shapes of sensuous spires and blocks that could equally be the art of Henry Moore rather than the product of the relentless forces of nature since the Jurassic.

The cracks and crevices of this walker’s paradise produce a labyrinth to explore in the footsteps of ancient explorers. This is the spot where the rock paintings of the bushmen have been found, giving the otherwise awe-inspiring geological wonders a human touch.

10. Wild Dog Tracking in Mana Pools

On the southern banks of the Zambezi River, Mana Pools is a biodiversity hotspot that will provide you with the complete package of African wildlife experiences, but it’s the population of the endangered African Wild Dog that we consider to be more than just special. These dogs, which are unique in the canine family because they only have four toes per foot, are nimble, quick, and astute hunters who also exhibit unique personalities, friendliness, and a clear sense of enjoyment.

Your expert guide will often recognise particular dogs by their individual markings, and they will introduce you to important behavioural and physical adaptations which contribute to their remarkable 80% success rate when hunting