Afrika safaris

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe, situated between the mighty Zambezi and Limpopo rivers, is best known for the magnificent spectacle of the Victoria Falls; “The Smoke that Thunders.

Zimbabwe takes its name from the spectacular stone structures of the Great Zimbabwe ruins, a World Heritage Site with mysterious origins. The country is home to four other World Heritage Sites, including the rugged granite cliffs of the Matobo Hills, the spectacular Mana Pools nature reserve and the magnificent Victoria Falls.

The vast waters of Lake Kariba, the world’s largest man-made reservoir, are home to the ferocious tiger fish, famous among avid fishermen, while herds of wildlife migrate along its shores.

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On safari in Zimbabwe

From the mighty Victoria Falls to World Heritage-listed game parks, safaris in Zimbabwe not only promise great things, they deliver. With the finest game drives, nature walks and fantastic canoe or boat safaris, a safari in Zimbabwe offers the best experiences in Africa.

It is the country’s magnificent wildlife, extraordinary level of guides and diverse national parks why thousands of safari enthusiasts flock here every year.

Nature reserves in Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls

The Victoria Falls are spectacular. This awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the Zambezi River forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Kololo tribe who lived in the area in the 1800s described the falls as “Mosi-oa-Tunya” – “The smoke that thunders. But we also know it as ‘the largest curtain of falling water in the world.’

The haze emanating from ‘Vic Falls’ can be seen from miles away.  In the rainy season, more than five hundred million cubic meters of water pour over the rim every minute. This occurs across a width of nearly two kilometers, in a gorge more than a hundred meters below.

Mana pools

The Mana Pools National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is known for its abundant wildlife, both by the river and in the floodplain. You can keep your camera focused on zebras, impalas and antelopes with distinctive baobab trees in the background. At sunrise, you can see impressive populations of elephants, hippos, Nile crocodiles and even lions.

Hwange National Park

The most famous and visited park is Hwange, which spans 14,600 square kilometers. It is a haven for more than 100 mammal species and over 400 bird species. The best place in Zimbabwe to spot the “Big Five. The area around Nyamandhlovu Pan (literally ‘Meat of the Elephant’) is known for its impressive population of elephants. Hwange is usually combined with the Victoria Falls.

Climate Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has a rainy season with relatively high temperatures from October to March. The dry seasons have low temperatures from June to August. After the dry and cold season, the country’s average temperature fluctuates between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. During the same period, the average monthly rainfall varies quite a bit; from 2 mm to 160 mm. Zimbabwe’s climate is pleasant all year round. The differences between seasons are quite small. The rainy season is accompanied by hefty tropical downpours and sometimes impressive thunderstorms. However, the days can be sunny and the skies clear.

Map Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls

The Victoria Falls are a spectacular spectacle of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the Zambezi River, which forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Hwange National Park

Hwange National Park is the largest and most popular park in Zimbabwe. It offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, and most of the major safari animals can be seen there, including the "Big Five. Hwange is best known for the impressive concentration of elephants drawn to the park's waterholes during the dry season.

Gonarezhou National Park

The enormous diversity of flora and fauna is extraordinary, yet Gonarezhou National Park is best known for its Chilojo Cliffs; beautiful red sandstone cliffs formed by erosion over centuries that overlook a vast valley and the Runde River.

Mutirikwi National Park & Great Zimbabwe Hill

One of the most attractive parks in the country, with the main attraction being the thriving population of white rhinos. The absence of predators and elephants creates an environment of undisturbed trees and a thriving wildlife population. The best way to view the wildlife is on horseback.

The hill complex, formerly called the Acropolis, was probably the spiritual and religious center of the city. It sits on a steep hill rising 80 meters above the ground.

Matusadona National Park

The park contains a unique collection of habitats that provide a refuge for several mammal species. The park once had the highest lion density in Africa and was a stronghold for both the African elephant and black rhino.

Mana Pools National Park

This beautiful park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is known for its abundant wildlife, both by the river and in the floodplains. If you experience a sunrise, you will be flabbergasted!

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    Reviews

    After a personal and enthusiastic visit by Oscar at our home, he quickly mapped out a wonderful trip, completely based on our wishes. Just before we left, we received the navigation and a detailed itinerary. Even though we were looking forward to this immensely, we never imagined that the trip through this beautiful country would be so special! During this trip, we did the Garden Route by rental car from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, and then from Johannesburg via the Panorama Route (a private reserve), the Kruger National Park and Swaziland, to the coast. Except for the flights, Oscar arranged everything for us down to the last detail. He allowed us to be able to see and experience the different facets of South Africa in one trip. The views of oceans, mountains and reserves from the accommodations or in the areas were often too beautiful and special to explain in words. The long car rides (which were necessary to cover the enormously long distances in South Africa) were not a problem at all due to the carefully selected itineraries. To sum up: a very nice trip that we owe to Oscar’s dedication, experience, enthusiasm and network.

     

    Worth mentioning: We had only booked a rental car in advance from the third day. But because the weather in Cape Town was quite bad we wanted the car a day earlier. Oscar was able to arrange this for us within a few hours, and without any problem the car was at our accommodation the next day. Then when we couldn’t get the navigation to work, Oscar again helped us arrive at our destination before dark.

     

    Linda & Jeroen, journey to Botswana

    From day one to day fourteen everything was arranged perfectly, every detail and every mile according to the booklets. Fantastic nature and views, campsite’s and lodges very well organized and perfectly matched! The self-drive concept is recommended to everyone, exciting but also very relaxing, because you become one with everything you encounter. Oscar thank you so much for this wonderful trip and we will definitely use your services again soon!

    Paul Nanne, journey to Namibia

    In December we took a trip through South Africa put together by Oscar, which was organized to perfection. From Johannesburg we traveled via the “Drakenberg Route” to the “Greater Kruger”, where an unforgettable safari awaited us. Oscar had booked a beautiful lodge for us, where we were completely pampered. A great experience, where we were amazed every day by the impressive nature. Seeing the Big Five, accompanied by amazing rangers and people at the park, was an experience beyond all our expectations. The Ngala reserve booked by Oscar did everything they could to make the most of our trip, from breakfast in the jungle to searching for leopards at night, amazing!After the safari we flew back to Johannesburg and then on to Port-Elizabeth. Here we started the flower route with Jeffreys Bay as our first destination. A beautiful surf spot, where Africa Safaris had booked a cozy family hotel for us. After several more wonderful nights in Swellendam, and Hermanus we traveled further to the wine region of Stellenbosch / Franschhoek. Again a fantastic place, with wonderful wineries, super food, and a wonderful hotel. Finally, we concluded our trip in Cape Town, where again we were pleasantly surprised with the accommodation booked for us and were able to fully enjoy this living metropolis. With the help of Oscar we were able to have a trip to remember. Through an orientation meeting, Oscar was able to completely tailor the trip to our needs, all hotels, and accommodations were fantastic. Totally organized, in the most beautiful places and completely carefree.Thanks again for this great experience!

    Jan Zomerdijk, journey to South-Africa

    Our trip through Namibia in January 2017.What a beautiful country! Nature is overwhelmingly beautiful with intense colors and breathtaking views. The trip was perfectly put together by Oscar Haartman and extensively documented. Adventurous and unforgettable! We drove about 3000 km with 2 cars incl. tent on the roof. The alternation of campsites and lodges was absolutely fine. The beautifully located campsites also made camping an experience! Kalahari desert, Sossusvlei, few days coast and Etosha game reserve, how much we enjoyed! Thank you Oscar for your great service and guidance, you gave us a great trip!

    Frans & Miriam