Zimbabwe Activities by Theme

Zimbabwe’s activities fit into four themes: adrenaline, wildlife, heritage and life on the water. Pick one or two themes per trip, because the country is bigger than many visitors expect.

Adrenaline

Victoria Falls is the centre of Zimbabwe’s thrill-seeking scene.

  • Bungee: Shearwater runs the 111 m jump off Victoria Falls Bridge, with about 4 seconds of freefall. Sellers quote anywhere from roughly US$130 to 200.
  • Rafting: Choose low water, about August to late December, for the full run through the gorge. High-water trips run roughly January to March and May to July, and the river shuts around March to June. Riders must be 15 or older and ready for a steep hike out.
  • Zip-lines: Wild Horizons has a canopy tour of 9 slides across the gorge that lasts 2 to 2.5 hours.
  • Helicopter: A 12 to 13 minute flight costs about US$150 to 190 through resellers, with a US$18 park levy on top.

Wildlife

Zimbabwe’s wildlife is best seen with a licensed guide in a vehicle, on foot or from a boat.

  • Hwange: Open-vehicle drives are the standard, and August to November is prime time.
  • Zambezi National Park: Close to Victoria Falls, with international day entry of about US$17.
  • Mana Pools: A walking permit is required, and a guide is recommended. The park needs a 4x4 or a light aircraft.
  • Responsible choices: Pick wild game drives instead of elephant rides or lion walks.

Heritage

  • Great Zimbabwe: A mortarless granite city about 27 km south-east of Masvingo.
  • Matobo Hills: San rock paintings, balancing granite and World’s View.
  • Khami Ruins: Terraced dry-stone walls about 22 km west of Bulawayo.
  • Harare: The National Gallery of Zimbabwe and Chapungu Sculpture Park focus on Shona stone sculpture.

Life on the water

  • Lake Kariba: Crewed houseboats leave from Kariba town, and Bumi Hills Safari Lodge arranges tigerfish fishing on a catch-and-release basis.
  • Zambezi cruises: A river levy of about US$12 applies at Victoria Falls.
  • Devil’s Pool: This pool sits on Livingstone Island in Zambia and is usually open from about mid-August to mid-January.

The lakes, rivers and dams hold crocodiles and hippos and still water can carry bilharzia, so swim only in treated lodge pools or operator-run pools.

Costs and paperwork

Operators price in US dollars, and ZimParks fees depend on where you live. Take small, clean notes. Most travellers can get a visa on arrival, and the KAZA UniVisa at US$50 covers Zimbabwe and Zambia for 30 days if your nationality qualifies.

Read more: Day trips in Zimbabwe and a 4 day itinerary .

Visa and safety details are on the UK government pages . Find bookable tours on Viator .