Types of Tourism in Zimbabwe

ECOTOURISM

The area of protected areas of Zimbabwe is 44,700 square meters. km, they occupy about 11% of the total area of the country.

The largest National Park in Zimbabwe is Hwange. It is located south of Victoria Falls. Its area is 14651 sq. km. Hwang has one of the largest African elephant and buffalo populations. At the end of the dry season (September), you can see herds of 100 elephants on the banks of the local reservoirs. Among other animals living in the reserve, there are lion, eland, giraffe, rhinoceros, zebra, saber-horned antelope, where and beyza.

Gonaresor National Park is the only large national park in Zimbabwe. located outside the Zambezi Basin. It is located in the southeast of the country and is the driest and hottest place in Zimbabwe, the maximum temperatures here can reach +50 degrees. The area of the park is 5000 sq. km. In Gonaresor you can see sheer orange-red cliffs and sandy banks of the Runde River. The park is home to such animals as the armadillo, wild dog, long-eared fox, ruan antelope, nyla and the unique small suni antelope. Check top-medical-schools.org for travel information in Zimbabwe.

Mathusadona National Park is located on the southern shore of Lake Kariba and is most easily accessible from the city of Kariba. on water. The area of the park is 1500 sq. km. Here you can go on a safari, both by car and by boats and canoes. The park has a large population of elephants, as well as antelopes, buffaloes, lions, crocodiles and birds such as the screaming eagle, stork, heron and even flamingos. In the reservoirs of the park and on the Zambezi River, you can fish, the weight of some specimens sometimes reaches 15 kg.

Mana Pools National Park located on the Zambezi River. Its area is about 2200 sq. km. It is mainly occupied by a forested area surrounding the banks of the Zambezi River. The word Mana means four, and the park was named so because there are 4 lakes. Elephants, buffaloes, leopards and cheetahs live in this place. The largest population of Nile crocodiles lives here, as well as many hippos. The park is known for its bird diversity, with the Lesser Flamingo, Malachite Kingfisher and Purple Roller in Mana Pools. During the rainy season, the only way to get around the park is by boat or canoe.

Matobo National Park (Matopos) is located 32 km from Bulawayo. It includes stone formations and caves with cave paintings of ancient tribes. Matobo stone formations change their shape and seem to move. This happens as a result of wind erosion, which has been shaping the local landscape for more than 3 million years. The park is rich in diverse bird species and includes a large population of black eagles. Here you can meet baboons, monkeys, leopards, saber-horned antelope, beizu antelope, white rhinoceros, wildebeest and zebra. The most popular spot in the park is Malindijimu Hill. Locals consider this hill sacred because good spirits live here. In the vicinity of the hill is the grave of Cecil John Rhodes (British imperialist), who wished to rest here.

On the Zambezi River (on the border with Zambia) is the main attraction of Zimbabwe – the famous Victoria Falls. It is divided into five separate streams with a total length of -1800 m, and the height of its ledges reaches 120 m. It was discovered by the explorer David Livingstone in November 1855 and was later included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. When the Zambezi River is full of water, every minute the waterfall overthrows about 500 thousand cubic meters. m of water, so March (the end of the rainy season) is considered the best time to travel to it. The spray rising up is visible 30 km from this place and resembles a haze, because of this, the indigenous people call the waterfall “smoke that thunders”. Often a rainbow appears over the waterfall. The most popular flights over the Victoria Falls are in small planes called “flight of the angels”. For the most courageous, this type of entertainment is offered, such as going down the river on rafts, kayaks or canoes, Zimbabwe and Zambia, from a height of 111 meters. Not far from the waterfall is a monument to David Livingston and a huge baobab tree, which is 2000 years old.

The Zambezi National Park is located just a few kilometers upriver from Victoria Falls. Elephants, hippos, crocodiles, zebras and exotic birds live here, as well as herds of the rarest saber-horned antelopes.

Lake Kariba . This is an artificial reservoir, which was formed as a result of the construction of a 112-meter dam on the Zambezi River. The shores of the lake, whose area is about 7770 square meters. km., are known for their picturesque nature and a variety of recreational opportunities – boat trips on the water, water skiing and fishing.

SAFARI Zimbabwe

_both traditional car and mini-bus safaris are offered, as well as boat and canoe safaris in the National Parks, which are located along the Zambezi River and on the Kariba reservoir. Safari can last up to 10 days. The best time to visit the parks is between April and November.

HUNTING

IN Zimbabwe 14 special places for hunting have been opened. There are several safari regions in the Zambezi river valley that are home to elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards and all kinds of antelope. It is allowed to hunt here with a permit from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. Usually the hunting season is open from the beginning of May to the end of September. You can hunt only when accompanied by a professional hunter or a special guide. For each trophy, you must pay a tax.

FISHING

In the Zambezi you can go fishing. The best places to do this are Kariba Reservoir, where large tiger fish are found, the area of ​​​​the Zambezi River above the Victoria Falls, where channel catfish are found, as well as the mountain rivers of the Eastern Highlands. In the case of trout fishing, a permit must be obtained.

HIKING

The best place for hiking in Zimbabwe is the Eastern Highlands which is located on the border with Mozambique. All routes to these places start from the city of Mutare. There are three mountain ranges of Inyanga, Wumba and Chimanimani. The slopes of the mountains are covered with forests. Wumba is an area of ancient forests, subtropical plants, flowers and a variety of ferns, and an extensive Botanical Garden is located here. To the north of Mutare lies Inyanga – an area covered with mountains, waterfalls and mountain streams. Here is the highest point of the country – Mount Inyangani (2592 m). The eastern highlands are permeated with a network of hiking trails, hiking along which will be possible even for unprepared tourists.

EXCURSIONS

Zimbabwe offers tours of the ruins of ancient settlements. Most popular destination – Greater Zimbabwe (the capital of the ancient civilization of Monomotapa). Excursions to the protected areas of the country are also very popular.