Tailormade Holidays in Zimbabwe

Mana Pools is widely regarded as one of the finest national parks in all of Africa. The name, ‘Mana’, is the local word for ‘four’ and refers to the reserve’s four permanent pools, the remains of oxbow lakes formed by the ever-changing course of the Zambezi River. The 2,500 square kilometres of river frontage that make up the reserve is comprised of islands, sandbanks and pools, flanked by towering ebony and mahogany trees, wild figs, mopane and stately baobabs.  

Hippopotamus and Nile Crocodile can be found in great abundance here throughout the year, whilst the dry season sees impressive gatherings of Cape Buffalo, Elephant and other plains grazers including Greater Kudu, Eland, Common Waterbuck, Impala and Burchell’s Zebra. Prominent large predators include Lion and African Wild Dog; with Leopard, Cheetah and Spotted Hyena also present, although generally harder to locate.

Over 380 bird species have been recorded in the park. Birding is excellent throughout the year, but is especially exciting in May – at the end of the ‘Green Season’ – when the resident birds are augmented by migrants heading back north and many of the weavers and widows are still in their breeding dress. Kingfishers, darters, herons and storks are in plentiful supply along the river year-round, whilst other highlights include Nyasa Lovebird, Livingstone’s Flycatcher, White-collared Pratincole, Banded Snake-eagle, Collared Palm Thrush, Racket-tailed Roller, Yellow-spotted Nicator and for the fortunate perhaps a Pel’s Fishing Owl. 

The majority of camps can only be accessed during the dry season between May and November, and even then, locally-chartered flights are still the easiest way to access the reserve. This inaccessibility does have its advantages, however, for the area sees very few visitor, and so game drives are wonderfully private affairs. Walking safaris are also extremely popular, with the wildlife easy to approach having suffered little human-wildlife conflict over the years. Although the forests surrounding the rivers can be thick in places, the undergrowth is usually minimal allowing for easy and safe walking safaris which are always enjoyed in the company of one of the park’s highly-trained guides. The river edges can also be explored by canoe and peaceful half or full-day excursions can be taken from a number of the camps. Motorised boats are banned within the park, and so the waterways remain tranquil throughout the day with just the deep rumble of a pod of Hippos or the splash of an Elephant to break up the silence.

Hwange is the oldest, and by far the largest, national park in Zimbabwe, covering an area the size of Belgium. This vast reserve supports an incredible diversity of wildlife including over 100 mammal species such as African Wild Dog, Aardwolf, Bat-eared Fox, Caracal, Cheetah and African Wildcat; in addition to Africa’s more famous ‘Big Five’. Hwange is perhaps most well-known, however, for its impressive ‘tusker’ Elephants. As many as 45,000 of these magnificent mammals have been recorded in the park, many of which live in herds of up to 100 individuals and continue to traverse their ancient migratory pathways between Zimbabwe and Botswana.

It is not just the mammal-life that is impressive in Hwange, birders too will delight in the wonderful variety of avifauna that lives here with over 400 species recorded. Some to look out for include Red-billed Spurfowl, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Broad-billed Roller, Kalahari Scrub-robin, Cut-throat Finch, Red-eyed Bulbul and Southern Pied Babbler, which complement a delightful assemblage of weavers, larks, woodpeckers, sunbirds and many others. The park is also recognised as being internationally important for a number of species including Bradfield’s Hornbill, Kori Bustard, Woolly-necked Stork, Maccoa Duck and Lesser Moorhen. Raptors too are well represented and a glance skyward may reveal a soaring African-Hawk Eagle, Martial Eagle, Tawny Eagle or Bateleur.

Game viewing is generally at its peak during the dry winter months when much of the wildlife relies on artificially-pumped waterholes, and so becomes somewhat easier to see. A mixture of mopane and teak woodland dominate the north of Hwange while grassland and semi-desert scrub predominate in the southern portion of the park which borders the Kalahari.

A number of the most prominent camps in Hwange are situated in the private concessions which edge the reserve. Within each sit between two and four camps which enjoy exclusive use of these wildlife-rich areas. Camps within the concessions also offer a greater variety of activities than those on offer within the national park itself, including walking safaris, boat trips (where possible) and even horseback safaris for the particularly adventurous. Night drives are also possible within a number of the private concessions, allowing visitors to enjoy the region’s rarely-seen nocturnal mammals and birds as well as the chance to see hunting cats.

Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya (‘the smoke that thunders’), the Victoria Falls are an astonishing natural phenomenon that many people choose to visit either at the start or the end of a holiday to Zimbabwe, Botswana or Zambia. The Falls themselves are certainly more spectacular from the Zimbabwe side, although it is easy to nip across the border to Zambia for those who wish. Quite apart from viewing the Falls, there is a great deal to do in the vicinity. A sunset cruise on the Zambezi is a favourite, whilst the more adventurous may choose a helicopter flight over the Falls or white-water rafting on the Zambezi. The small Victoria Falls National Park, and the riverine forest that lines the Zambezi, are also a great area for wildlife and worth a visit.

Running alongside a portion of Hwange National Park’s eastern boundary, one of Zimbabwe’s most enthralling experiences can be found – the Elephant Express! For those visiting the southern regions of the park around Bomani Tented Camp and Camelthorn Lodge (and, for some, then travelling onwards by road to Jozibanini), this offers a truly unique mode of transport. Sit back in the comfortable, open-sided railcar with a gin and tonic or refreshing soft drink and scan the surrounding landscape for the plethora of wildlife that roams this region, with the help of a specialist on-board wildlife guide. You might even like to try your hand at driving the train! Although particularly exciting for children, the Elephant Express is a truly wonderful experience for those of all ages, allowing a unique perspective from which to experience this magnificent area. The journey is relaxed, making stops for key wildlife sightings – particularly big cats, who use the raised, open railway line as a vantage point, or just somewhere to soak up the sun!