Zimbabwe is home to a great number of amazing sites. From the Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park.The mighty Great Zimbabwe Ruins to one of the world’s largest artificial lakes, The Kariba Dam. Zimbabwe will not fail to impress, here are some of best places to visit in Zimbabwe.
Great Zimbabwe Ruins
Covering almost 1,800 acres of land, the Great Zimbabwe is a complex of ruins built by the indigenous Africans believed to be the ancestors of modern Zimbabwe. Built between the 13th and 14th centuries, the complex was once a center of a vast empire known as the Munhumutapa Empire.
At the Great Zimbabwe are three distinct architectural groupings known as the Hill Complex, The Valley and The Great Enclosure. Formed of a regular, rectangular granite stones carefully placed one upon the other, all of the structures were built without the use of mortar. Despite this, the remarkable buildings have survived for seven centuries. The stone walls are up to 6 metres thick and 12 metres high with a section of wall running 60 metres long.
Harare
If you happen to be in the capital city, Harare, then you are in for some good treats. Harare is the gateway to the country’s incredible wildlife destinations. However, you cannot just pass through the capital, it is also one of the best places to visit in Zimbabwe.
The city has plenty of attractions and boasts an enjoyable laid back vibe. A city with many towering skyscrapers and many natural beauty spots like the Botanical Garden of Harare, it has over 900 various species of trees and shrubbery to admire and it is a great place to spend the day relaxing.
If you visit Harare in September or October, you will see the purple blossoms of the Jacaranda trees in full bloom. It’s also a place you can learn a lot about Zimbabwe’s crafts work, a source of national pride in Zimbabwe on display in the National Gallery. To admire the city’s skyline, you can head to Kopje, a granite hill that rises out of the center of the city.
Victoria Falls
It is the crowning jewel of Zimbabwe and certainly the best place to visit in the country. Victoria Falls is a small town on the east side of one of the world’s greatest waterfalls. On the Zimbabwean side, the falls lie within the wildlife-rich Victoria Falls National Park. Victoria Falls is the adventure capital of Africa with an array or air, water and land based activities. For a spectacular bird’s eye, take a Flight of Angels helicopter ride or an exhilarating micro light flight over the falls, and for those brave enough, there is the famous Victoria Falls Bungee Jump.
Matobo National Park
Considered the spiritual home of Zimbabwe, Matobo National Park has some of the world’s most impressive granite scenery. As well as wildlife, including Zimbabwe’s highest concentration of White and Black Rhinos found in the game park section, the recreational park had Southern Africa’s highest concentration of ancient rock art. The 3,500 sites dates back to 13 000 years.
The national park is in the perfect location for people to visit on the road to Hwange and Victoria Falls.
Lake Kariba
One of the world’s largest artificial lakes, covering an area of 5,00sq km and holding 180 billion tonnes of water, Lake Kariba is an area of extreme beauty. Remote and slightly trickier to get to that Zimbabwe’s other wildlife destinations, but if you do make the journey here you will be rewarded with an incredible safari experience. As well as being home to the Big Five, the largest island on the lake has Impalas, Hippos, Crocodiles and an array of bird life. A wonderful way to experience the wildlife of Lake Kariba is by setting off on a houseboat or a motorboat.
- Bulawayo
Zimbabwe’s second largest city. Founded in the 1840s by the Ndebele King, Lobengula Khumalo. The striking colonial architecture still stands today, lining the tree-lined avenues and streets. Walk down the boulevard to the beautiful parks full of Jacaranda trees. The city’s attractions include the Bulawayo Railway Museum where you will learn the history of the country through the extensive railway network, The Natural History Museum, it is Zimbabwe’s largest museum alongside a number of Galleries and a Cathedral.
It is one of the best places to experience Zimbabwe’s cultural diversity as well as a relaxed atmosphere.
Hwange National Park
Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s biggest national park and is one of Africa’s finest for wildlife. It also holds the title of one of the best places in the world to see Elephants, thanks to the population of over 40,000 of these animals.
The vast amount of Elephants is not however the only wildlife calling card to this incredible park, herds of Buffalos, Zebras, Giraffes, Leopards, Cheetahs, Hyenas and Wild Dogs are all found there.
There are also over 400 different species of birds.
Mutare
Zimbabwe’s fourth largest city, Mutare boasts an incredibly picturesque setting, found at the foothills of the Eastern Highlands north of the Bvumba Mountains.
Mutare means ‘metal’, the city’s name coming from its history as a fort when Gold was discovered in the nearby Penhalonga Valley.
There are more than many amazing places you can visit in Zimbabwe, like the breathtaking Mutarazi Falls, The Mountain View in Nyanga, The Bridal Falls among a few. So, if you are thinking of visiting Zimbabwe, do not hesitate, pack your bags and let’s go on an amazing adventure together!
