Why Zimbabwe for a Honeymoon
The falls are reason enough. From the Zimbabwean side, the walking trail through the rainforest faces the main cataract directly. The views at high water are hard to take in. Couples combine them with sunset cruises, helicopter flights and dinner at historic hotels.
The safari is the quieter strength. Zimbabwe's guiding exams are famously demanding. Many guides here lead walks among elephants and lions with calm confidence. Hwange is easy to reach from the falls. Mana Pools offers a wilder, quieter experience.
The rest of the country adds texture. Great Zimbabwe, a medieval stone city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Matobo Hills offer granite domes, ancient rock art and rhino tracking on foot. Lake Kariba has houseboats and fishing.
Fewer tourists means fewer vehicles at sightings and a sincere welcome at the lodges.
Best Time to Visit
The dry season, roughly May to October, is the best time for safari. Days are clear. Animals gather near the remaining water. June to August is cool, with crisp mornings and nights that can drop near freezing in Hwange. September and October get very hot but deliver the strongest game viewing.
Victoria Falls has its own calendar. Water levels peak around March to May, when the spray is so heavy it can block the view and soak you completely. From about June to August the falls are full but visible. By October and November the flow drops sharply, though the Zimbabwean side keeps water when parts of the Zambian side run dry.
The rains fall from November to March. Some camps close, roads turn muddy and malaria risk rises. Green-season rates and newborn animals reward those who come.
Malaria is present at the falls and in the parks all year, so see a travel clinic about prevention before you go. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices for Zimbabwe.
Where to Go
Victoria Falls town is the gateway and our first destination guide for Zimbabwe. It sits beside the falls, with hotels ranging from the grand Edwardian Victoria Falls Hotel to riverside lodges upstream.
Hwange National Park is the second. Its southeastern concessions are known for vast herds of elephants and buffalo at pumped waterholes and top-quality tented camps. Main Camp, on the park's northern edge, is two to three hours by road from the falls; most couples fly to the southeastern camps by light aircraft.
Mana Pools, on the Zambezi in the far north, is famous for walking safaris on open floodplain, where bull elephants rear up on their hind legs to reach acacia pods. It pairs naturally with Zambia's Lower Zambezi across the river.
Lake Kariba offers houseboats and sunsets over drowned forests. The Matobo Hills, near Bulawayo, combine rhino tracking with granite landscapes. Great Zimbabwe, in the south, is the country's most important archaeological site.
Sample 10-Day Itinerary
Days 1 and 2: Fly via Johannesburg to Victoria Falls. Settle into a lodge, then take a sunset cruise on the upper Zambezi.
Day 3: Walk the rainforest trail at the falls in the morning. Take a helicopter flight over the gorges, then have high tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel.
Days 4 to 7: Transfer to Hwange by road or light aircraft. Spend four nights at a tented camp, splitting days between game drives, walks and afternoons in a hide at a waterhole.
Days 8 to 10: Fly to Mana Pools or Lake Kariba for three nights of walking, canoeing or a houseboat cruise. Return to Victoria Falls or Harare for your flight home.
Alternatively, cross the border for a day trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana from Victoria Falls. Many operators include it.
Budget and Costs
Prices below are approximate. Zimbabwe tends to cost less than Botswana for comparable safari experiences.
In Victoria Falls, midrange hotels run roughly $150 to $350 a night. Upscale riverside lodges and the historic hotels cost more, often $400 to $900 for two.
Safari camps in Hwange and Mana Pools typically charge all-inclusive rates from about $400 to $1,200 per person per night in high season, covering meals, drinks, activities and park fees.
Light-aircraft transfers add several hundred dollars per person. Activities at the falls, such as helicopter flights, rafting or a bungee jump, each add $100 to $200 or more.
Always carry cash in small US bills for tips and purchases. Many businesses cannot make change. Card machines often fail. Lodges usually accept cards.
Getting There and Around
No airline flies nonstop between the US and Zimbabwe. The simplest route is a nonstop to Johannesburg from hubs such as Atlanta or Newark, then a connection to Victoria Falls on an airline like Airlink or South African Airways. Ethiopian Airlines serves Victoria Falls via Addis Ababa. Kenya Airways connects through Nairobi. Harare also has international flights.
From the falls, light aircraft fly to Hwange, Mana Pools and Lake Kariba. Road transfers to Hwange's Main Camp take two to three hours.
Crossing into Zambia is easy on the Victoria Falls Bridge. Chobe National Park in Botswana is about an hour's drive from the falls via Kazungula.
Self-driving is possible, but fuel availability, police roadblocks and road conditions make it challenging. Most couples rely on transfers and guides.
Culture and Etiquette
Zimbabweans are known for their courtesy and good English. Greetings matter. Shake hands and ask how someone is before getting to business. A soft handshake or a gentle clap is common, especially with elders.
Shorts and safari clothing are fine at lodges and in the parks. In towns and villages, both of you will feel more comfortable with shoulders and knees covered. Public kissing draws stares outside tourist spots.
Avoid discussing politics with people you do not know. Do not photograph police, soldiers, government buildings or the presidential motorcade.
Tipping is welcome. Leave a gratuity for guides and camp staff at the end of each stay, often in the communal tip box. Tip waiters around 10 percent. Bring small US bills for the purpose.
Quick tips
- Bring plenty of small US bills; change is scarce and card machines often fail outside hotels.
- Never photograph police, soldiers or government buildings; it can lead to arrest.
- Keep politics out of conversations with strangers, especially around elections.
