National parks · Zimbabwe
Hwange, Mana Pools, Matobo, Gonarezhou and Chimanimani: a short guide to Zimbabwe’s parks, with links to the trips and articles that cover them.
National parks
Zimbabwe’s parks run from Hwange, the largest and most accessible, with more than 40,000 elephants, to the canoe and walking safaris of Mana Pools, the granite hills of Matobo, wilder Gonarezhou and the mountain footpaths of Chimanimani.
The largest and most accessible of Zimbabwe’s national parks, and one of the ten largest in Africa. It is especially known for its elephants, with more than 40,000 in a park of 14,651 square kilometres.
Our Zimbabwe guide points to the dry season, May to October, for wildlife here.
Named for four large pools carved by the Zambezi River. It has Zimbabwe’s largest populations of hippos and crocodiles, and is well known for its canoe and walking safaris.
Our Zimbabwe guide points to the dry season, May to October, for wildlife here.
A World Heritage site of 44,500 hectares, with a distinctive landscape of granite boulders, a rhino breeding programme and rock art that goes back more than 13,000 years.
Zimbabwe’s second-largest national park, with sandstone cliffs, baobabs, forest and savannah, and around 12,000 elephants. It is a wilder park, with animals less used to visitors.
On Zimbabwe’s eastern border, one of the less developed areas, with mountains of up to about 2,436 metres, scenic footpaths and Bridal Veil Falls. Recommended for serious mountain hikers.
Trips
Our 12-Day Zimbabwe Bush & Falls visits Mana Pools and Hwange. The other journeys here reach Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls. Every trip is quoted for your dates and your party.
Read next
Three articles from our travel blog to read before you choose your parks.
Zimbabwe’s top attractions, including Hwange, Matobo and Mana Pools, and the best time to travel.
Read the articleAfrica’s national parks are delicate ecosystems, protected by rules that ensure their survival and your safety.
Read the articleVictoria Falls is neither the highest nor the longest waterfall in the world. Read about the falls and a visit to them.
Read the articlePlan my trip
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There is no obligation. Every journey is quoted for your dates and your party.
Frequently asked questions
For wildlife, June to October works best. On our 12-day Zimbabwe route, July to September is the strongest window: Mana Pools, Lake Kariba and Hwange all work together, and elephants gather at the pans. Mana Pools closes in the rains, roughly November or December to March. Victoria Falls is fullest from about March to June and thinner from September.
Victoria Falls works as a short stay of four or six days, which is how our two Falls trips are built. To add the bush, our 12-day Zimbabwe Bush and Falls links Mana Pools, Lake Kariba, Hwange and the Falls. The Falls also sit close to Chobe in Botswana, so many journeys pair the two countries.
Zimbabwe is best for Victoria Falls, walking and canoe safaris at Mana Pools, and big elephant herds at Hwange, which has more than 40,000 elephants across 14,651 square kilometres. Mana Pools is one of the few African parks where walking is allowed, always with a guide. Matobo adds granite hills, a rhino breeding programme and ancient rock art.
Entry and health rules depend on your nationality and change, so check the official source rather than a summary. For entry, see the Zimbabwe eVisa platform at evisa.gov.zw. For health, see the Zimbabwe page on TravelHealthPro (travelhealthpro.org.uk) or speak to your travel clinic, and ask about malaria prevention early.
A safari day starts at first light with a game drive, then breakfast and a rest while it is hot, then an afternoon activity and sundowners. At Mana Pools that can be a canoe trip or a guided walk instead. Road transfers and any charter flight, such as the flight into Hwange on our 12-day route, are planned into your itinerary.
We tailor every trip. Send your dates, party size and interests through the enquiry form on this page, and we will reply by email with what is possible and a quote for your party. There is no obligation to go ahead. If you do, payment is by invoice.
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Tell us when you would like to go and how many of you are travelling. We will reply with what is possible and a quote for your party.
