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Zimbabwe is one of my favorite safari destinations in Africa! This beautiful country is home to Victoria Falls and some of the best wildlife viewing in the region. So to help you plan an epic trip, here are my Zimbabwe travel tips!
The Ultimate Zimbabwe Travel Guide
To plan the rest of your safari, browse my guides on choosing a safari destination, the best months for an African safari, what to budget for a safari, and things to consider when selecting a safari lodge.
Ready for an adventure? Here are my Zimbabwe travel tips!
Visas
Citizens of the EU, U.S., Canada, Australia, and Great Britain need a valid passport and a return ticket to enter Zimbabwe. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from your entry date and have at least two completely blank pages.
You will need to buy a visa when you arrive in the country by air or land. If you’re going to visit the Zambia side of Victoria Falls and cross back into Zimbabwe, you want to get the KAZA UniVisa visa, which allows you to cross both borders and move between both sides of the falls. This visa will save you money, and you won’t have to wait in line to cross over to the other side of the Falls.
Visiting Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls is the top destination in Zimbabwe, and for good reasons! This natural wonder exceeded even my wildest expectations!
The Ultimate Victoria Falls Travel Guide
The quickest and most common way to the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls is to fly from Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB), to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (VFA). The flight takes about two hours, and you’ll land as close to the Falls as possible.
I cannot overstate how wet you’ll get at Victoria Falls, so don’t bring anything with you that can’t get wet!
You need to see Victoria Falls from the land, air, and water. Plan on spending most of a day walking the trail along the Falls. This path takes you along the entire length of the Falls on the Zimbabwe and Zambia sides, including the Victoria Falls Bridge, where you can bungee jump or do a canyon swing.
Most people take a helicopter tour over Victoria Falls, which leaves from the Zimbabwe and Zambia sides of the Falls.
I opted for an open-air microlight flight that allows you to fly lower over the Falls. These only leave from the Zambia side of Victoria Falls. I felt very safe during my entire tour, but a microlight flight is not for the faint of heart!
On the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls, you can go whitewater rafting below the Falls. You can also hang off the edge of the Falls at the breathtaking Devils Pool.
All safari lodges near Victoria Falls offer river safaris. Not only will this let you see some incredible wildlife, but you’ll also be able to see the spray from Victoria Falls during your ride!
Venturing Beyond Victoria Falls
While Victoria Falls (and the surrounding Zambezi National Park) is a must-visit destination, I recommend exploring more of the country.
You can take a short bush flight to Lake Kariba/Matusadona National Park, the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve, Hwange National Park, or Mana Pools National Park.
Because most travelers only visit Victoria Falls, these other safari regions are blissfully uncrowded!
Where To Stay
Zimbabwe has every type of lodging, from treehouses to glamping tents to luxury bungalows. So I’ve rounded up the best safari lodges in Zimbabwe.
While budget and location are important, there are more things you need to consider when selecting a safari camp. So read through my step-by-step guide to finding the perfect safari lodge for your trip.
Unlike hotels where you come and go, a safari lodge will be where you spend most of your time at each stop. Your accommodations will set the tone for your entire trip, so before you commit, do your due diligence!
When To Visit
June – September are the driest months of the year and the peak travel season because wildlife is easy to find around water holes. These months have the highest prices and crowds, so book your lodge and tours as far in advance as possible. Daytime temperatures average in the 60s and 70s (remember, it’s winter here), and nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing, so bring layers.
May, June, and October are the shoulder months. The rains will have stopped (or won’t have started yet), the landscape will be lush, and wildlife will be easily visible at waterholes (though not as high a concentration as in July – September). Travel costs will be less during these months, and the safari lodges and destinations won’t be overrun with tourists. Daytime temperatures range from the 60s to 80s, while nighttime temperatures can come close to freezing, so bring layers for the mornings and evenings.
November-March are the rainy and off-season months. It will be wet and humid, and wildlife will be hard to find because they won’t need to gather at watering holes. You can score some great accommodation deals during these months, though, and it can feel like you have the entire country to yourself.
April – July are the best months to visit Victoria Falls because the water level will be at its highest.
What To Pack
Less is more when you’re packing for a safari, so be selective and strategic. But also remember that when you’re on safari, you can’t just go to a shopping center if you forget something. Some safari lodges have stores, but they will be for souvenirs, not travel items you might have forgotten.
Pro Tips: Choose comfort above all else! If you are taking a bush flight, there will be strict limitations on the size and type of bag you can bring, so double-check these requirements. Stick with neutral colors and avoid dark colors because they’ll attract flies and make you very visible to wildlife. If you’re on a walking or riding safari, avoid white clothes because they’ll get VERY dirty VERY quickly and make you stand out for wildlife.
Here’s my safari packing list:
1-2 Sun hats. Make sure they have a neck strap to keep them from blowing away and that they’re not a heavy material that will make you sweat.
Light scarf to protect your neck from the sun, cover your face when it’s dusty, and cushion your neck from a camera strap.
Binoculars. Most lodges won’t have enough extras for every guest.
Socks & Underwear. Bring more than you think you’ll need. You get dirty and sweaty on safari, so you’ll want to constantly change your socks and undies to feel fresh and clean. Many safari lodges have laundry services, but they usually won’t wash underwear for cultural reasons.
Sports Bras. Bring the most supportive sports bras you own. Game drives are VERY bumpy, so you want to bring bras that will give you the comfort and support you’ll need.
You’ll want layers in the mornings and evenings that you can take off when it gets warmer in the afternoons.
Comfy Pants – a pair of leggings or sweatpants.
Dinner Dress & Cardigan.
Romper, Midi, or Tunic Dress. These are great for looking nicer in the evenings or layering with a cargo jacket and boots for a game drive.
Swimsuit and Kimono or Cover-Up.
Boots. You will wear boots 95% of the time on your safari, and you don’t want to use up luggage space with more than one pair. So bring your comfiest most broken-in pair of boots, and wear them on the plane to save packing space. If you buy new boots for your safari, get them at least a couple of months before your trip to have plenty of time to break them in.
Portable Charger & Spare Batters. You don’t want your phone, GoPro, or Camera to die on you when you’re out looking for wildlife.
Backpack if you’re going on a walking or riding safari.
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This article about Zimbabwe travel tips is not a sponsored post, and the thoughts and opinions expressed in this post about Zimbabwe travel tips are entirely my own. Some of the links in this post about Zimbabwe travel tips are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission from this article about Zimbabwe travel tips.
