10 things to consider when planning a holiday to Zimbabwe
Are you planning a dream holiday to Zimbabwe? Do you want to hear the ‘thunder’ of Victoria Falls for yourself, or see elephants up close? Maybe you want to return to the haunts of your childhood home? Perhaps you’ve heard about the beauty of Zimbabwe from a friend, and want to experience it for yourself?
Read this article to get advice from Caroline Perkins, a Zimbabwe travel specialist and owner of Lucky Bean Travel.
Affiliate statement: This post is proudly sponsored by Lucky Bean Travel. We only partner with reputable brands that bring value to you.
Planning a trip is exciting, but it can be daunting, especially if you’re going to an unfamiliar place. It can be difficult to know where to start. Well, grab a notebook and a pen, because Caroline will guide you through the 10 things you need to consider when planning your holiday to Zimbabwe.
1. What is your primary goal for the holiday?
Before delving into the nitty-gritty details, think about your overall aim for the holiday. This will shape all the other choices you make when planning your holiday to Zimbabwe.
Do you want to have a family reunion, filled with quality time? This might mean it’d be better to stick to one or two locations. Do you want to have a once-in-a-lifetime trip, checking off numerous parks and cities from your bucket list? This might suggest a longer-length holiday is needed to check off all those spots. Is your primary goal to have an adventure packed experience in Victoria Falls like white water rafting, bungee jumping, flying fox or a unique safari experience, taking in the wildlife with a little adventure too? Your optimal time of year for rafting on the Zambezi River is between August and December (the rafting season is determined by the annual water levels of the Zambezi river).
Have you been dreaming of seeing Victoria Falls at its peak water flow? March, April and May will be your prime time to visit. Don’t lose sight of your dream when you get to the more practical details later.
2. What are your preferences, hobbies and special interests?
Holidays should be as unique as each individual. If you enjoy birdwatching, photography, or writing, there are many ways to incorporate your passions into your holiday. A number of tours in Zimbabwe focus on a specific hobby, such as painting in the wild, or bird watching with specialised guides in camps and lodges.
If there’s a particular African animal that you’ve always wanted to see, this will affect which national parks you choose to visit. Matobo National Park is a prime place to spot rhino, for example. If you’re not a thrill-seeker, when it comes to activities in Victoria Falls, you’d probably choose an elegant sundowner cruise or a tram ride over the Victoria Falls bridge rather than a heart-pumping gorge swing. You might have particular health needs or pet hates … make a note of all these things. Your personal preferences will help you choose the accommodation, transport, locations, and activities that suit you best.
3. What’s your budget?
International flights, internal transport, accommodation, activities, visas, parks fees, meals, insurance, and souvenirs… these all add up. Have a rough idea of your maximum budget for everything.
What level of comfort would you need? Some people prefer a rustic, back-to-basics experience to feel closer to nature, while others want certain facilities, such as air-conditioned rooms, in order to enjoy their holiday.
Likewise, jot down the aspects of your holiday that are a priority for your spending? Some people would choose to pay for twice-daily game drives in a mid-range lodge, while others prefer to do one game drive a day and allocate more budget to a pricier hotel.
4. How much time will you have?
This is a biggie. If your holiday is limited to a specific number of days, this will have a bearing on how much you can do. To give an idea of the size of Zimbabwe, it would take at least 13 hours to drive from Victoria Falls, in the West, to Mutare, in the East. Also think about whether you’d be happy rushing from place to place, or if ‘slow travel’ is a better option. It would be unrealistic to visit Mana Pools, Kariba, Gonarezhou and Victoria Falls in the space of 7 days, for example.
Your holiday may also be restricted by the time of year you’re able to travel. In general, Zimbabwe is a year-round destination, but game viewing is optimal in the months of July to early November. We’d also advise that December and January might be too rainy for visitors to enjoy the country at its best. However, Green Season (March–May) is the season of rebirth; the country is green and lush; wild flowers are blooming; migrant birds are here; wild life babies are everywhere. This is a good time to combine bush with history, and the weather is gorgeous.
5. What locations do you want to visit?
You might want to see the world-famous Victoria Falls and do a bungee jump from the bridge. Or you might have grown up in the town of Kadoma and want to visit your old haunts. Perhaps you’ve heard about the elephants in Mana Pools National Park that can stand on their hind legs to feed. Write a list of your ‘must-see’ places, and perhaps check out a map to consider how many of them are feasible to visit in one trip. It’s usually best to spend at least 2-3 days in each location. Driving times between locations can be anywhere from 2 to 7 hours, and although you can fly, this would be the pricier option.
6. What type of accommodation would you prefer?
The choice of accommodation can be dizzying, particularly in the town of Victoria Falls. From luxury lodges to basic campsites, chain hotels to boutique guesthouses, consider what type of accommodation is right for you.
The Lucky Bean Travel website has a directory of recommended accommodations to suite various budgets and locations.
When researching accommodation, check out the location, number of rooms, amenities, reviews and activities included. Some lodges include game drives and all meals in their packages, while others cater for more independent travellers.
7. Who are you travelling with?
If you’re travelling with older relatives, this might mean that camping is off the cards. If you’re with young children, some lodges in national parks don’t accept children under 12 years of age. Children aged 12 years and over are charged as adults, so this is important to know for budgeting purposes.
8. What’s your international transport route into Zimbabwe?
You might need to fly into Zimbabwe via another country, such as South Africa or Kenya. Air routes and layovers will affect which airline you choose, or which city in Zimbabwe you fly into. For example, Harare is the country’s flight hub, so you might choose to fly into there rather than Victoria Falls, and add another stop to your Zimbabwe itinerary.
9. What’s your internal transport route within Zimbabwe?
Whilst some roads in Zimbabwe are reasonably good, we at Lucky Bean Travel strongly suggest a chauffeur drive which we can organise (this is for routes between Harare, Great Zimbabwe, Matopos, etc).
For your safari experience, we will incorporate road transfers from the airport to your hotel or camp, such as Victoria Falls to Hwange. For destinations such as Mana Pools, Gonarezhou and Matusadona, flight by light aircraft is best.
10. Consider other practicalities such as currency and visas
US Dollars are primarily used in Zimbabwe. Cash can be drawn from the ATM machines in major cities only. However change is a problem so do ensure you have US$ in small denominations. This would be for things like tips, drinks, curios, etc . It’s better to pay for as much as possible from outside the country, which is why pre-booking your whole trip with a company like Lucky Bean Travel is a good idea.
Most visitors get a visa on arrival at the airport in Zimbabwe. Plus, it’s essential to get travel insurance, health insurance, malaria prophylaxis, and carry your full supply of prescription medicine with you.
Jot down any other thoughts you have – questions about local customs, safety, tipping, any anything else you’re unsure about. These are the next steps for research and decision-making.
Hopefully this is a good springboard to help you start building your own Zimbabwe holiday itinerary. Feeling overwhelmed? That’s where a travel specialist could help. They can provide expert guidance, tailor your trip to your specific interests and budget, and provide a stress-free planning experience. By working with a travel specialist, you can relax and focus on the exciting anticipation of your upcoming adventure.
Caroline can save you hours of research and the rigmaroles of making separate bookings. She’s familiar with the lodges, transport, activities and more. Her extensive knowledge about Zimbabwe means that she can give you expert advice about national parks, airlines, fees, and health. Plus, she lives in Victoria Falls itself, meaning that she’s on the ground should anything go wrong.
Believe it or not, she can also save you money, with access to special rates and discounts that the general public doesn’t have. You also save a lot on international bank charges by paying one business for your whole holiday! Many people assume that they pay more using a travel specialist – this is simply not the case.
Contact Lucky Bean Travel
Lucky Bean Travel is an owner-run travel specialist agency, based in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Caroline has vast experience in Zimbabwe travel, and her priority is ensuring you have the best holiday possible, no matter your budget.
Click here to discuss your dream Zimbabwe holiday with Caroline today.
Alternatively, just email her at [email protected].
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