Explore the Great Zimbabwe ruins
A UNESCO World Heritage site and the stone-walled capital of a medieval African kingdom, the largest ancient structure in sub-Saharan Africa south of the Sahara.
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Southern Africa
Things to do in Zimbabwe
Half of the world's largest sheet of falling water, granite ruins that gave the country its name and remain Africa's greatest medieval mystery, and safari country that draws far fewer crowds than its southern neighbors.
Explore Zimbabwe on the map →Budget$
Best for8-10 days
CapitalHarare
VisaE-visa or visa on arrival available for most nationalities including US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders; the KAZA Univisa (around $50) covers both Zimbabwe and Zambia with unlimited crossings for 30 days.
CurrencyUS dollar (USD) widely used alongside the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG)
LanguagesEnglish, Shona, and Ndebele (among 16 official languages)
InternetGood in cities and tourist areas, more limited rurally
Typical lodging$20–$60/night
Driving sideLeft
Power & voltage230V / 50Hz (Type D/G plug)
Time zoneUTC+2
Emergency number995 (police) / 994 (ambulance)
Dialing code+263
★★★★★ Wildlife★★★★★ Adventure★★★★★ Photography
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Bottled water recommended outside major cities. 10% at restaurants; guides and drivers appreciate a daily tip.
Victoria Falls, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya ('the smoke that thunders'), is shared between Zimbabwe and Zambia and is considered the largest sheet of falling water on Earth by combined width and height, with the Zimbabwean side offering the most extensive and dramatic viewing points. Great Zimbabwe, the stone ruins that gave the modern country its name, was once the capital of a medieval kingdom whose scale so puzzled early European visitors that its African origins were wrongly disputed for over a century before archaeology settled the question.
When to go
Dry season (peak safari)May–October
The best window for wildlife viewing as animals cluster around water sources, with cooler temperatures early in the period and the falls' flow easing by late season.
Falls flood seasonFebruary–May
Victoria Falls reaches peak flow and maximum drama, though heavy mist can occasionally obscure full views.
Wet seasonNovember–March
Green landscapes and newborn wildlife, with lower prices and fewer crowds, though game viewing is more dispersed.
Falls low-water seasonSeptember–December
The falls' flow drops significantly, sometimes to a trickle on some sections, though this coincides with peak dry-season safari conditions.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
4Visit Cecil Rhodes' grave site in Matobo Hills
The colonial figure's burial site atop a granite hill he called 'World's View,' a historically significant and still-debated site within Matobo National Park.
Shop for Shona stone sculpture in Harare or Victoria Falls$58
Zimbabwe is internationally recognized for its Shona stone sculpture tradition, with galleries and roadside stalls selling work by respected local artists.
Visit the Nyaminyami statue and Kariba Dam wall
A dam holding back one of the world's largest reservoirs, tied to local legend of a river spirit said to oppose the dam's construction.
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Adventure & outdoors
3Bungee jump the Victoria Falls Bridge from the Zimbabwean side$58
A 111-metre jump from a historic bridge spanning the gorge between Zimbabwe and Zambia, one of the most famous bungee sites in the world.
White-water raft the Zambezi River gorge
Some of the most challenging commercially run whitewater rapids in the world, directly below Victoria Falls in a dramatic basalt gorge.
Fly over Victoria Falls on a microlight or helicopter tour$58
An aerial 'Flight of Angels' offering a full view of the falls' scale, a perspective impossible to fully appreciate from the ground.
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Nature & scenery
4View Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwean side$58
Considered the largest sheet of falling water on Earth by combined width and height, with the most extensive and dramatic viewpoints found on Zimbabwe's side.
Visit the Victoria Falls rainforest walking trails$58
A network of viewpoints within the permanent spray zone of the falls, where the mist sustains a genuine, small rainforest ecosystem.
Explore Chinhoyi Caves and their sapphire-blue pool
A limestone cave system north of Harare featuring a strikingly blue underground pool, tied to local legend and popular for diving.
Explore Nyanga National Park's highland scenery
Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands offer a cooler, greener mountain landscape with waterfalls and trout streams, distinct from the country's lowland safari areas.
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Wildlife
6
Safari in Hwange National Park
Zimbabwe's largest national park, home to one of Africa's largest elephant populations alongside lions, wild dogs, and dense general game.
Canoe safari on the Upper Zambezi River
A calmer stretch of the Zambezi above the falls, offering close encounters with hippos, elephants, and birdlife from the water.
Walk with elephants or take a walking safari in Mana Pools
A remote UNESCO-listed national park along the Zambezi, known for guided walking safaris among free-ranging elephants and predators.
Sunset cruise on the Zambezi River above the falls$58
A relaxed boat cruise with wildlife viewing and drinks, watching the sun set over the river just upstream from Victoria Falls.
Explore Matobo National Park's balancing rock formations
A UNESCO-listed landscape of ancient granite boulders and San rock art, also home to a healthy population of both black and white rhinos.
Visit Lake Kariba for a houseboat safari
One of the largest man-made lakes in the world, offering multi-day houseboat trips with elephant and hippo sightings along the shoreline.
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Food & drink
3
Eat sadza with relish, Zimbabwe's staple dish
A thick cornmeal porridge served with vegetables, beans, or meat stew, a genuine everyday staple central to daily Zimbabwean meals.
Try Zimbabwean mopane worms and traditional relishes
A protein-rich traditional food source, considered a genuine delicacy in much of the country rather than a novelty for visitors.
Try Zimbabwean chibuku and traditional beer culture
A traditional fermented sorghum beer, a genuine communal drink in rural Zimbabwean social life distinct from Western-style lager.
Common questions
▾Do I need a visa for Zimbabwe?
Most nationalities, including US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian citizens, can get an e-visa in advance or a visa on arrival; the KAZA Univisa (around $50) is a convenient option covering both Zimbabwe and Zambia with unlimited crossings for 30 days.
▾Zimbabwe or Zambia side of Victoria Falls, which is better?
The Zimbabwean side offers more extensive viewpoints and the most dramatic overall vantage of the falls; the Zambian side gets you closer to the edge and offers activities like Devil's Pool, many visitors cross between both using the KAZA Univisa.
▾When's the best time to see Victoria Falls at full flow?
February through May, when the falls reach peak volume; by September through December the flow can drop dramatically, sometimes to a trickle on some sections, though this overlaps with the best dry-season game viewing.
▾Is Zimbabwe safe for tourists?
The main tourist circuits, Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, and Great Zimbabwe, see regular safe tourism; as with the wider region, check current advisories and travel with reputable operators for safari logistics.
▾What currency should I bring to Zimbabwe?
The US dollar is widely used and generally the most practical currency to carry, alongside the local Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), given the country's history of currency instability.
▾How much does it cost to see Victoria Falls?
International day visitors pay around $58 at the main gate on the Zimbabwe side, with steeper VIP and moonlight-viewing tickets running $116 to $174. That's notably more than the roughly $20 charged on the Zambia side of the same falls: many visitors cross the border to see both angles, which means budgeting for both entry fees separately.
