Private African safaris in Zimbabwe
Luxury Zimbabwe Safaris
Victoria Falls, Hwange, Mana Pools and expert walking guides, planned around you by our team.
Why Zimbabwe with Nova
Zimbabwe, Planned Around You
A luxury Zimbabwe safari is the African safari for travellers who want to feel the wilderness up close: walking among elephants on the Zambezi, canoeing past hippos, and standing in the spray of Victoria Falls.
Zimbabwe’s guides have a strong reputation. Becoming a fully licensed professional guide here takes years of training and demanding exams, which is why walking safaris in Mana Pools and Hwange are so well regarded. The parks are wild and uncrowded, and many camps have only a handful of tents.
We design each journey from scratch, often starting at Victoria Falls and then flying into the parks by light aircraft. Zimbabwe also pairs naturally with Botswana: Chobe is about an hour and a half by road from the Falls, including the border. Our team arranges the flights, transfers, guides and camps, and stays in touch from your first enquiry until you are home.
Our promise
“Luxury travel, focused on eco-tourism and protecting Africa’s wildest regions and animals.”
In Zimbabwe that means supporting the camps and trusts that protect wild areas such as Hwange, Mana Pools and Gonarezhou, where tourism helps fund anti-poaching teams, research and work with neighbouring communities.
Getting there
Via Johannesburg to Victoria Falls, or Emirates to Harare
Best time
May to October, and March to May for the Falls
Ideal for
Walking safaris, photographers and adventurous families
Combine with
Where we go
Zimbabwe’s Safari Regions
Zimbabwe has far more to offer than the Falls alone. These are the areas we plan journeys around, often two or three in one trip.
The smoke that thunders
Victoria Falls
One of the world’s largest waterfalls, on the Zambezi between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Walk the rainforest paths, fly over by helicopter and cruise the upper river at sunset.
Elephants and waterholes
Hwange
Zimbabwe’s largest national park, with big elephant herds, lions and wild dogs. Private concessions in the south-east offer quiet game drives and guided walks.
Walking and canoeing
Mana Pools
A UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Zambezi, where elephants stand on their hind legs to reach the pods of tall albida trees. Known for walking with expert guides and canoeing on the river.
Islands and houseboats
Lake Kariba
A vast lake on the Zambezi, with drowned trees, sunsets over the water, houseboats and boat safaris along the shore of Matusadona National Park.
Granite hills and rhino
Matobo Hills
Balancing granite boulders, ancient San rock art and rhino tracked on foot. A UNESCO World Heritage Site within reach of Bulawayo.
Red cliffs and solitude
Gonarezhou
A remote park in the south-east, known for the red sandstone Chilojo Cliffs and its elephants. Very few visitors, and a real sense of wilderness.
Upstream from the Falls
Zambezi National Park
Riverside lodges a short drive from the Falls, with game drives, boat trips and quiet evenings on the river.
On foot
Walking Safaris
Zimbabwe’s professional guides are known for their walking safaris, from a morning walk to several days on foot.
Over the border
Botswana
Chobe’s elephants and the Okavango Delta are a short hop from Victoria Falls.
When to go
Zimbabwe Month by Month
Zimbabwe has a clear dry season and a green season. Here is how the year usually looks; weather patterns vary from year to year.
| Months | What to expect | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| January to February | The rainy season, hot and green. Some remote camps close. | Birdlife, newborn animals and quiet parks |
| March to May | The rains ease and the Falls are at their fullest, with towering spray. | Victoria Falls at its most powerful |
| June to August | Dry, clear days and cool mornings. Bush thins out and game gathers at water. | Walking safaris, Hwange, Mana Pools and summer holidays |
| September to October | Hot and very dry, with excellent game viewing. October is the hottest month. | Peak wildlife, canoeing and photography |
| November to December | The first rains arrive and the bush turns green. | Dramatic skies, fewer visitors and good value |
Mana Pools and some remote camps are only open in the drier months, usually from around April or May to November. The Falls are spectacular all year, but from about September to December the flow drops and the Zambian side can be nearly dry. Summer school holidays in July and August, in Europe, North America and the Gulf, fall in the heart of the dry season, a good time for walking and game viewing.
Getting there
Getting to Zimbabwe
Most journeys reach Victoria Falls through Johannesburg, which has nonstop flights from Europe, the USA and the Gulf.
From Europe
Fly nonstop to Johannesburg from London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, Zurich or Istanbul, then connect to Victoria Falls.
From the USA and Canada
Delta flies nonstop from Atlanta and United from Newark to Johannesburg, with a short connection on to Victoria Falls. You can also connect through a European or Gulf hub.
From the Gulf
Emirates flies daily from Dubai to Harare via Lusaka, in about nine hours. For Victoria Falls, fly to Johannesburg with Emirates, Etihad or Qatar Airways and connect on a flight of under two hours.
Into the bush
Light aircraft fly from Victoria Falls, Harare and Kariba to airstrips in Hwange, Mana Pools and the other parks. Flights between areas are often one to two hours.
Flight times are approximate and routes change, including seasonal and regional changes, so we confirm the current options when we plan your journey.
Experiences
Ways to Experience Zimbabwe
Every journey is built around what matters to you. These are some of the things our guests ask for most.
Mana Pools and Hwange
Walking Safaris
Follow a professional guide on foot and learn to read tracks, sounds and the behaviour of the animals around you.
Hwange
Elephant Herds
Watch family groups come down to the waterholes in the dry season, often just metres from a hide.
The Zambezi
Sunset on the River
A sunset cruise above the Falls, or a gentle canoe trip past hippos and elephants in Mana Pools.
At your own pace
Private Guiding
Your own vehicle and guide, so you decide when to set off, where to linger and when to head back.
Honeymoons
Time for Two
Quiet camps, private dinners and a day at the Falls before you fly home.
Families
Safari Together
Family-friendly camps, a private vehicle and flexible timings that suit younger travellers.
Sample journey
Nine Nights: The Falls, Hwange and Mana Pools
A starting point only. We change the regions, camps and pace to suit you, and can add Chobe and the Okavango Delta in Botswana if you wish.
Day 1
Arrive at Victoria Falls
Fly into Victoria Falls, usually via Johannesburg. You are met on arrival and driven to a riverside lodge such as Victoria Falls River Lodge.
Days 1 to 3
Victoria Falls
Two nights on the upper Zambezi, with a guided tour of the Falls, a sunset cruise and, if you wish, a helicopter flight.
Days 3 to 6
Hwange
Fly into Hwange for three nights at a camp such as Linkwasha or Davison’s Camp. Game drives, waterhole hides and guided walks.
Days 6 to 10
Mana Pools
Fly north to the Zambezi for four nights at a camp such as Ruckomechi or Chikwenya. Walking, canoeing and elephants among the albida trees.
Day 10
Homeward
Fly by light aircraft to Harare or Victoria Falls to connect with your flights home.
Good to know
Zimbabwe Safari FAQs
Do I need a visa for Zimbabwe?
At the time of writing, US, Canadian, UK and most EU passport holders can get a visa on arrival, and so can UAE, Kuwaiti and Bahraini passport holders. Saudi, Qatari and Omani passport holders need to apply online before travelling at evisa.gov.zw. Many nationalities, including US, Canadian, UK and UAE passport holders, can also buy the KAZA UniVisa, which covers Zimbabwe and Zambia and day trips into Botswana through Kazungula.
What counts is the passport you travel on, not where you live. Rules and fees change, so please check the current requirements before you travel.
When is the best time for a Zimbabwe safari?
May to October is the dry season and the best time for game viewing and walking, with September and October at their peak. The Falls are fullest from about March to May.
Is Zimbabwe safe for a safari?
Zimbabwe’s safari areas welcome many international visitors each year. On a Nova journey you are met on arrival, guided throughout and flown or driven between camps. We follow current government travel advice, such as that from the US State Department, the UK Foreign Office and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and plan routes accordingly.
Do I need malaria tablets or vaccinations?
Zimbabwe’s safari areas, including Victoria Falls, are in malaria zones, so speak to a doctor or travel clinic about prevention before you travel. Also check the yellow fever certificate rules for your route.
How much does a luxury Zimbabwe safari cost?
It depends mainly on the season, the camps, and how many light aircraft flights you take between parks. Private concessions and the peak dry months cost more; the green season usually costs less. Tell us your budget and we will show you the best way to use it.
Is Zimbabwe good for a family safari?
Yes, with the right choices. Victoria Falls and Hwange suit families well, and some camps have family rooms. Walking and canoeing usually have minimum ages, often around 12 or older, so we choose camps and activities to suit your children.
Combine Zimbabwe with
More of Southern Africa
Greater Kruger
South Africa
Private reserves and Cape Town, via Johannesburg.
Start planning
Let’s Design Your Zimbabwe Safari
Tell us when you would like to travel, who is coming and what you hope to see, and we will design a Zimbabwe safari around you. Our team works across Dubai, the United States and South Africa, planning journeys for travellers from around the world.
Prefer email? info@novasafaris.com