Zimbabwe

an undiscovered paradise

Zimbabwe is a country that has been spared from mass tourism mostly due to an uncertain political situation within the last decades. Nevertheless, Zimbabwe is a very attractive, beautiful, pleasant destination, which has a lot to offer and which makes travelling to Africa so amazing.

First of all, there are the well-known Victoria Falls, which are the largest falls in the world (more impressive than the Niagara Falls).

Also particularly attractive is the Hwange National Park, the largest national park in Zimbabwe, home to elephants, kudus, antelopes, zebras, lions as well as cheetahs, buffalos and giraffes.

An African national park of a different kind is Nyanga National Park on the border with Mozambique. Green rolling hills, a plateau up to 2,600 meters high, many waterfalls

(e.g. Mtarazi Falls, 761 m) and the silence make Nyanga National Park one of the most relaxing areas in the whole country. But Zimbabwe offers also a rich prehistorical, historical and cultural heritage.

The following pictures and notes are from a trip in2011.

Sunset in Hwange National Park in the western part of Zimbabwe

Journey through Zimbabwe from Harae to Nyanga National Park

On the way from Harare to Mutare, located in the eastern highlands on the border with Mozambique, you can enjoy a unique landscape. Zimbabwe used to be considered the "bread basket of Africa". Here you can enjoy the rugged mountains with granite rocks and the lush green forests. During the drive and hikes in this area you can enjoy great views, mountain with granit rocks and balancing, waterfalls and rivers where you can swim.

Along the roads you will find Shona settlements with traditionally built houses and its friendly inhabitants.

Nyanga National Park is very different from all other African National Parks but the healthy climate due to its altitude, with cold nights and dry days makes it a pleasant and relaxing change from everyday life.

The road form Harare to Mutare. Despite the desolate situation in Zimbabwe many main roads are surprisingly in a good condition.

Boabab tree along the road, close to the town of Victoria Falls

Granit Rocks and balancing Stones on the way between Harare and Mutare

Traditional House with some ethnographic painting.

Prehistorical wall buildings in Nyanga National Park

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Hwange National Park

Hwange National Park (formerly Wankie Game Reserve) is the largest natural reserve in Zimbabwe. It is located in the Northwestern part of Zimbabwe one hour south of Victoria Falls. The elephants of Hwange are world famous and the Park’s elephant population is one of the largest in the world. But Hwange National Park has a widely diversified wildlife with many species of mammals, birds and other animals. It is a National Park and not a Game Drive which makes it more attractif and you are off the crowds of safari tourists.

In Hwange you will have close eye-to-eyer encounters to the beautiful elephants

Close Encounter with an Elephant during a Night Safari watching you attentively

to see a Cheetah is still a rare opportunity as Hwange National Park is not a game park

Lioness walking across the path in the early morning light

Portrait of a lioness hiding in hugh grass in golden early morning light (Panthera leo)

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Victoria Falls

In Lozi (a language spoken in that area of Zambia/Zimbabwe) the name for the Victoria Falls is "Mosi-oa-Tunya", which means literally "The Smoke That Thunders" and describes very well the clouds of spray which rise up to 300 m and can be seen from a distance of 30 km. The Zambezi River plunges into a 110 m deep gorge at a width of 1.7 km which makes it the largest falls in the world. A particularly beautiful spectacle happens when the sun hits the fine drops of water and a huge rainbow is created in this way.

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