11 Days Highlights of Zimbabwe

About the destination: Harare is the capital of Zimbabwe, once known as Salisbury. Once a city of modern buildings, wide thoroughfares, numerous parks and gardens, it suffered from increasing disrepair thanks to Zimbabwe's economic downward spiral. However, there have recently been a few signs of improvement as the decision of the country to adopt the US dollar as its currency has begun to facilitate some investments. There is a strong appreciation for the city's cultural and historical heritage and a number of the older buildings have been preserved. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: • The Mining Pension Fund Building at Central Avenue and Second Street is one example and many more are to be found along Robert Mugabe Road between Second Street and Julius Nyerere Way. • The National Gallery houses not only a valuable and interesting national collection but also hosts travelling international exhibitions and has a permanent display of some outstanding Shona soft-stone carvings. • The priceless collection of Rhodesiana and Africana in the form of diaries, notebooks and reports of various origins, are housed in the National Archives. Some of the original works of some of the greatest names in African exploration and missionary can be viewed. • Queen Victoria Museum. • Harare City Library. • The National Botanic Gardens, with more than 900 species of wild trees and shrubs from all over the country.

About the destination: Mana Pools National Park, located in northern Zimbabwe along the Zambezi River, is renowned for its stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife. Covering over 2,500 square kilometers, it features a combination of riverine forests, floodplains, and baobab-studded woodlands. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its large populations of elephants, hippos, and crocodiles, as well as a rich variety of bird species. Mana Pools offers exceptional opportunities for game viewing, walking safaris, and canoeing, making it a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers.

About the destination: Hwange (formerly Wankie) is a town in Zimbabwe, located in Hwange District, in Matabeleland North Province, in northwestern Zimbabwe, close to the international borders with Botswana and Zambia. It lies approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi), by road, southeast of Victoria Falls, the nearest large town. The town lies on the railway line from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second-largest city, to Victoria Falls. Hwange sits at an elevation of 770 metres (2,530 ft), above sea level.

About the destination: "Victoria Falls, or Mosi-oa-Tunya is a waterfall in southern Africa on the Zambezi River at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Canoeing on the river above the falls, is a nice way to see some wildlife and relax. • White water rafting, on the river below the falls, spectacular. • Sunset cruises on the Zambezi River, which is beautiful above the falls. • Bungee-jumping. • Gorge-swing. • Abseiling / rappelling. • Vic Falls Tram, an old tram carriage from Cape Town • Canopy Tour."

About the destination: The border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique runs north / south along the highest peaks of the Chimanimani’s. These mountains are really for those who like to explore by foot and feel the grandeur and majesty of being alone in a wild place. ZPWMA say they have a deliberate policy to limit development within the National Park to preserve its natural, pristine beauty and the wild landscapes of this mountainous area. For walkers’ familiar with the south-western Cape the Chimanimani feels and looks very similar, the difference being that Chimanimani has far fewer visitors and a much greater sense of isolation and a feeling of being very much in touch with wild nature. The Chimanimani National Park also includes the Eland Sanctuary. It is a mountainous terrain with peak heights of 2,436 metres (7,992 feet) and is the source of many streams and springs and natural falls such as in the Bridal Veil Falls in the Eland Sanctuary and spectacular views of the Pork Pie Mountain Range. Wildlife in the Chimanimani National Park is not abundant, but includes species such as eland, sable, bushbuck and blue duiker, and less frequently seen are klipspringer and leopard.