12 years ago, when I first joined Steppes Travel, Zimbabwe was our biggest selling safari destination. After spending a decade off the tourist map, Zimbabwe is slowly making a comeback as the political situation improves.
I have recently returned from trip to Zimbabwe, which has reminded me how remarkably diverse and easily explored the country is. Many of Zimbabwe's highlights are often not more than a couple of hours drive from another, making it both a self drive and guided touring destination.
Victoria Falls, with the iconic Victoria Falls Hotel, has always been the centrepiece of the Zimbabwean tourism industry and it provides an ideal springboard to explore other parts of the country, including Hwange National Park, famous for its elephant herds and lion prides, and the expansive Lake Kariba.
Further afield lies Mana Pools, on the Lower Zambezi, renowned for canoe trails, Bulawayo (Zimbabwe’s second city) and the Matobo Hills, the Great Zimbabwe Ruins and the remarkable Eastern Highlands, with deeply forested and mountainous scenery.
The accommodation is also certainly worth a mention. As I travelled to various regions, the service, food and hospitality remained outstanding. The Victoria Falls hotel, is aptly named, of all the hotels in the area this has the best views of the falls. Davison's camp, Makalolo and Little Makalolo are all in Hwange and have exceptional game viewing - I counted 70 elephants on one safari. In Mana, the Ruckomechi Camp is superb for canoeing, fishing or boat trips and Singita Pamushana in Malingwe is luxury at its finest.
10 reasons to go to Zimbabwe:
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Incredibly friendly, positive & intelligent people
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Great service
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The best trained guides in Africa
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Fabulous game viewing
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Exceptional accommodation
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Delicious food
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Unspoilt scenery
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Very few tourists
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2/3’s of the price of neighbouring countries
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Safe - Foreign office advice is fine