Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe holds the dramatic southern bank of Victoria Falls and some of Africa's most intimate wildlife areas. Mana Pools lets you walk among elephants, while Matobo and Great Zimbabwe add granite hills and a lost stone city.

Why it is on my list

Victoria Falls from the other side and canoeing past elephants in Mana Pools. It is the chance to see the falls with fresh eyes, then trade the spray for a silent paddle on the Zambezi, with elephants on the bank and nothing between us but a guide.

Best time to go

• May to October: dry season and the best wildlife viewing. Mana Pools is open roughly from mid April to October.

• February to May: Victoria Falls at full volume, with great views and heavy mist.

• September to November: hot, dry and very good for game, with low water at the falls.

• November to March: the rainy season. Green, hot and good for birding, but many roads are hard to use.

Where to stay

• Victoria Falls town: walkable and lively. The Victoria Falls Hotel, from 1904, is the grand historic option.

• Mana Pools: tented camps and canoe safaris along the Zambezi floodplain.

• Hwange National Park: big elephant herds at waterholes in the dry season.

• Matobo Hills: a short stay for granite domes, rock art and rhinos.

• Harare: an arrival point with good restaurants and galleries.

Getting there and around

• Airports: Victoria Falls (VFA) and Harare (HRE), plus Bulawayo.

• From the US: usually one or two stops via Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Nairobi or Doha.

• Internal: small planes link Harare, Kariba and Mana Pools. Self drive is possible, but road conditions vary.

• Border: you can walk or drive across the Victoria Falls Bridge to Zambia.

• Permits: park fees are paid through operators or on entry.

What to eat

• Sadza: thick maize porridge served with stew or greens.

• Braai: barbecued beef, boerewors sausage and chicken.

• Kapenta: small fried fish, a lake favorite.

• Mopane worms: a dried, salted snack. Adventurous eaters try them.

• Dovi: chicken or beef cooked in a peanut sauce.

What to drink

• Zambezi lager: the local beer, easy to find.

• Mazoe orange crush: a bright, sweet cordial and a national favorite.

• Zimbabwean coffee: grown in the Eastern Highlands.

• Chibuku: traditional sorghum beer sold in cartons.

Don't miss

• Victoria Falls: walk the rainforest path and see the Devil's Cataract and Main Falls.

• Canoeing in Mana Pools: paddle quietly past elephants and hippos with a guide.

• Walking safari: Mana Pools is one of the few parks where you can walk on your own with a guide.

• Great Zimbabwe: the ruins of a stone city from around the 11th to 15th century.

• Matobo Hills: ancient rock art and the grave of Cecil Rhodes at World's View.

• Lake Kariba sunset: houseboat life on one of Africa's biggest reservoirs.

Day trips and side trips

• Chobe National Park: day trips from Victoria Falls for river wildlife in Botswana.

• Zambezi National Park: game drives right beside the falls.

• Helicopter flight: a view of the full length of the falls.

• Livingstone, Zambia: cross the bridge to see the Zambian side.

Festivals and events

• HIFA: the Harare International Festival of the Arts, usually in April or May.

• Intwasa Arts Festival: a Bulawayo festival of music and theater, usually in April.

• Victoria Falls Carnival: a New Year's party, usually in late December.

Music and dance

• Mbira: the thumb piano at the heart of Shona music.

• Sungura and Chimurenga: guitar driven popular styles heard across the country.

Nightlife

Zimbabwe's social life is warm and low key. Harare and Victoria Falls have lively restaurants and bars, while the bush goes quiet after dinner.

• When people go out: dinner around 7 to 8, bars fill after 9 on weekends.

• Where the action is: Victoria Falls town for bars and Harare's Avondale and Borrowdale areas.

• Good to know: power cuts happen, so many places have generators.

Photography spots

• Falls viewpoints: Devil's Cataract and Danger Point for dramatic views.

• Victoria Falls Bridge: sunset light and bungee jumpers.

• Mana Pools: elephants standing on their hind legs to reach acacia pods.

• Matobo Hills: balanced granite boulders in golden light.

• Drones: restricted and need a permit from civil aviation. Flying near the falls and in parks is generally not allowed. Check before packing one.

Cost of living

• Overall: $$ in towns and $$$$ on safari, versus New York.

• Coffee: $2 to $4.

• Local lunch: $4 to $8.

• Dinner for two: $25 to $60.

• Beer: $1.50 to $3.

• Mid range hotel: $70 to $180 per night.

• Daily budget: $90 to $180 in towns, $350 and up on safari.

Activities at the falls add up quickly, but food and local transport are cheap. Prices are approximate in US dollars as of 2026.

Working remotely

• Wi-Fi: reliable in Harare hotels and Victoria Falls lodges, patchy elsewhere.

• Coworking: a few spaces in Harare.

• Time zone: 6 hours ahead of US Eastern in summer, 7 in winter.

• Longer stays: visas cover up to 90 days. Longer stays need a permit.

• Nomad rating: 2/5.

Good to know

• Language: English, Shona and Ndebele. English is widely spoken.

• Currency: US dollars are widely used, alongside the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG). Bring small bills in good condition.

• Plugs: Types D and G, 230V.

• Entry for US citizens: a visa is required, available online or on arrival. Check current rules. The KAZA univisa covers Zimbabwe and Zambia for short trips.

• Getting around apps: Uber in Harare and taxis at the falls.

• Tipping: about 10 percent in restaurants, and $10 to $20 per day for safari guides.

• Water: drink bottled or filtered.

• SIM/eSIM: local SIMs are available at the airport, and eSIMs work in cities.

Useful phrases

• Mhoro: hello in Shona.

• Ndatenda: thank you in Shona.

• Salibonani: hello in Ndebele.

• Siyabonga: thank you in Ndebele.

Meeting people

• Social scene: safari camps and backpacker lodges at the falls are easy places to meet people.

• Apps: travel Facebook groups and local WhatsApp groups help more than dating apps.

• Etiquette: greet before asking anything, and avoid political talk with strangers.

• Stay smart: book through licensed operators and agree prices first.

Staying safe

• Wildlife: never walk away from camp at night, and follow guide instructions on foot.

• Cities: keep phones and cameras out of sight in Harare and avoid walking after dark.

• Politics: avoid protests and photographing government buildings or police. Check current advisories.