Zimbabwe

Scenically stunning, with vast number of wild animals, Zimbabwe whispers of adventure. Tantalizingly, a safari here means the potential to encounter wildlife from a vehicle, motorboat, on foot, and canoe. In fact, it’s the best country in Africa for canoe safaris. Many of the country’s safari camps cater for a limited number of guests. This ensures personalized service, comfortable accommodations and superb guiding. After all, the professional guiding standards in Zimbabwe are considered the finest on the entire continent. All of Africa’s big-game species are here, along with a staggering number of more than 660 bird species.

Hwange National Park is most famous for its massive elephant population and its numerous large water pans that attract a wide variety of wildlife. Mana Pools on the Zambezi River is probably Africa’s premier park for both walking and canoe safaris. Excitingly, it’s superb for seeing African wild dog (painted wolf) and elephants standing on their hind legs. Teeming with wildlife, Malilangwe is an exclusive “Big 5 private” reserve that boasts one of the highest concentrations of black rhino in Africa.

“Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in flight”. That’s what David Livingstone wrote in his journal upon seeing Victoria Falls for the first time, one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. The hundreds of precariously balanced kopjes (rocky outcrops) are Matobo Hills National Park’s claim to fame. It also has an impressive concentration of San (bushmen) rock art and offers numerous opportunities for “volontourism”.