Major Safari Regions
Curated Lodges
Peak Season
Price Range (per person)
Zimbabwe delivers Botswana-grade wildlife at a fraction of the price — and has done for years while most UK travellers looked elsewhere. The politics made headlines; the safari never stopped. Hwange holds an estimated 40,000–45,000 elephants, with dry-season waterhole concentrations that rival anywhere in Africa. Mana Pools, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Zambezi, offers walking and canoe safaris at their rawest. I’ve canoed past hippos at dawn, watched wild dog hunt across Hwange’s Ngamo Plains, and tracked rhino on foot through the granite kopjes of Matobo Hills.Across five safari regions, Zimbabwe combines elephant mega-herds, Zambezi floodplain, Victoria Falls and serious conservation value. For travellers priced out of Botswana, it rewards the second look.
May to October is the dry season and the strongest window for game viewing. Hwange’s waterhole concentrations build through the season, peaking in September and October. Mana Pools opens in April and peaks in September–October before closing in November.
September and October are extremely hot — daytime temperatures regularly exceed 40°C in the Zambezi Valley. The wildlife trade-off is worth it: animal concentrations along the river are at their densest. Early-morning and late-afternoon activities work around the heat.
Victoria Falls is at peak flow from February to May. A combined Hwange–Falls trip works in June or July, when the falls are still impressive and the parks are fully open.
For UK families: July–August school holidays align with peak dry season. October half-term catches exceptional late-season Hwange and Mana Pools. Easter falls in the transition and is reliable for Hwange and Victoria Falls but not Mana Pools.
Walking safaris operate across all regions. Mana Pools is one of the few national parks in Africa where unguided walking is permitted — though a professional guide is strongly recommended. Minimum walking age is typically 12–16. Canoe safaris run on the Zambezi through Mana Pools, with multi-day paddle-and-camp itineraries available.
Game drives in open 4x4s are the core format in Hwange. Night drives are permitted on private concessions. Rhino tracking on foot operates in the Matobo Hills. Boat cruises run on the Zambezi and Lake Kariba. At Victoria Falls: helicopter flights, white-water rafting, bungee jumping, and zip-lining.
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A Safari Circle Zimbabwe itinerary typically costs £7,000–£14,000 per person for 7–12 nights. That includes accommodation on a fully inclusive basis, internal flights or road transfers, park fees, and guided activities.
Zimbabwe is consistently more affordable than Botswana for comparable wildlife quality. Hwange’s camps range from £400–£900 per person per night. Mana Pools commands a premium for its exclusivity and seasonal access. Singita Pamushana sits at the ultra-luxury tier at £1,500+ per person per night].
Not included: international flights (London–Harare or Victoria Falls via one connection, approximately £450–£750 economy return), travel insurance, Zimbabwe eVisa or KAZA UniVisa (USD $50–55), and gratuities.
Returning safari travellers: If you’ve done Botswana at premium prices, Zimbabwe’s Hwange and Mana Pools deliver comparable wildlife in smaller, less-trafficked parks — with stronger value per night. Mana Pools’ walking and canoe safaris offer a depth that game-drive-only circuits cannot.
Honeymoon couples: Mana Pools camps with six to twelve tents, canoe safaris at dawn, and star beds on the Zambezi floodplain. Zimbabwe offers romance built on wilderness intimacy, not hotel infrastructure. Combine with Victoria Falls for contrast.
Families with teenagers: Hwange’s waterhole viewing keeps all ages engaged. Rhino tracking in Matobo gives 12–17 year-olds a physical challenge with purpose. Victoria Falls activities — rafting, bungee, zip-lining — round out the range.
Milestone celebrations: Singita Pamushana’s five-bedroom villa accommodates groups of 10 in total exclusivity. A 50th birthday on a 130,000-acre private reserve with thriving rhino, Big Five, and a photography hide is a proposition few destinations can match.
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10-night Zimbabwe highlights: Victoria Falls → Hwange → Mana Pools
Matetsi Victoria Falls — Victoria Falls visit, sunset Zambezi cruise, game drives on the private concession.
Wilderness Linkwasha, Hwange — Big Five game drives, Ngamo Plains predator viewing, waterhole hides, night drives.
Wilderness Ruckomechi, Mana Pools — walking safaris, canoe excursions, wild dog tracking, Zambezi River sundowners.
Yes. UK citizens require a visa. A single-entry eVisa costs approximately USD $55 (including service charge). Apply online via the Zimbabwe eVisa portal. It is no longer possible to obtain a visa from the Zimbabwean Embassy in London. The KAZA UniVisa (USD $50) covers both Zimbabwe and Zambia with unlimited crossings for 30 days. Your passport must be valid for at least six months with at least three blank pages.
Zimbabwe’s safari regions have strong safety records. The UK FCDO does not advise against travel to any wildlife area. International operators — Wilderness, African Bush Camps, Singita — maintain rigorous safety standards. Standard urban precautions apply in Harare and Bulawayo. Safari Circle monitors FCDO advisories continuously.
Yes. Malaria risk is present in all safari areas, especially during and after the rainy season (November–May). Prophylaxis is recommended for all travellers. A yellow fever certificate is required only if arriving from a country classified as at risk. It is not required for UK travellers on standard routes via Johannesburg. Consult a travel health clinic at least 6–8 weeks before departure.
Yes — and these are natural combinations. Victoria Falls sits at the Zimbabwe–Zambia border. Chobe National Park in Botswana is a two-hour drive from Victoria Falls. The KAZA UniVisa simplifies cross-border travel. A Hwange–Victoria Falls–Chobe circuit is one of Southern Africa’s classic multi-country itineraries.
Seven nights covers Hwange and Victoria Falls comfortably. Ten to twelve nights allows Hwange, Mana Pools, and Victoria Falls — the full circuit. Adding Matobo or Malilangwe extends to 14 nights and delivers a comprehensive view of Zimbabwe’s range.
Some of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays booked with Safari Circle are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. If you don’t receive an ATOL certificate, the booking will not be ATOL protected. In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) would ensure that you’re not stranded abroad. They will also arrange to refund any funds you have already paid us towards your booking. You can verify our ATOL status on the Civil Aviation Authority website. Please note, we operate as independent partners to Major Travel (ATOL 2933)
ABTA act as a trade association (both commercial & regulatory) for travel agents and tour operators in the UK. As independent partners to Major Travel, all of our bookings at Safari Circle that contain hotels, tours or car hire but do not include international flights are protected under Major Travel’s ABTA Bond. In the unlikely event of an unresolved dispute between you as a passenger and us/Major Travel, you can use the ABTA arbitration service as an alternative to legal action. You can verify our ABTA number (Y6455, P7169) on the ABTA website.
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