Zimbabwe : 8 Not-To-Miss Places in Zimbabwe

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                The area that is present-day Zimbabwe, once known as the "Jewel of Africa", was once very rich and powerful! By richness, we mean vast deposits of mineral ores and a huge arsenal of ivory that was entirely controlled by this region. However, the European colonization followed by shaky freedom had left this amazing land quite uneventful. Years of guerrilla warfare and such have left Zimbabwe disturbed to the core. However, In recent years Zimbabwe has started to shine bright as a promising South African country. Situated towards the south-southeastern region of the African continent, it is a landlocked nation. However, this hasn't stopped Zimbabwe from getting a horde of natural bounty which is absolutely worth your time!
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                Zimbabwe has an impressive landscape. It is situated between the rivers Zambezi and Limpopo and has stunning landscapes and happening cities for you to explore. You would find teak forests, hills covered in cypress, deep caves, river systems that flow underground, and so many inselbergs scattered throughout the country! The jungles of Zimbabwe are open to a safari where you will get stunning opportunities to witness a plethora of wild animals firsthand. Some attractions such as Victoria Falls are on everybody's list of places to visit in Zimbabwe. The capita, Hare, is on its way to becoming quite a happening city. All of this makes Zimbabwe a great place to visit. If you happen to be planning a trip into the wilderness of Zimbabwe, here are some of the things you just have to try!

Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls

If there's one thing that everyone knows of when talking about Zimbabwe, it has to be Victoria Falls. It is a town towards the western side of Zimbabwe and shares borders with Livingstone, Zambia, and Botswana. However, evident from the name, you are expecting a waterfall, and oh, what a waterfall to behold! You might enter Zimbabwe directly through the Victoria Falls airport since there are regularly scheduled flights. The best way to get to Victoria Falls has to be on a train from Bulawayo. The trains are not very comfortable, however, the view that you will get throughout the journey is going to be on your mind for a long time.

On the Zimbabwean side, the waterfall lies inside the Victoria Falls National Park area. You would have to traverse through a forest park to get to the waterfall and throughout the way, you will find some spectacular vantage points. You could even get a birds' eye view of the entire falls through a helicopter ride, appropriately called "Flight of Angels". There are many water-based adventure activities organized in the falls for the adventurers amongst you to enjoy. For the most thrill-seeking audience, this area offers you to bungee jump into the falls from a great height- a most exhilarating experience!

Harare

Harare is the capital city of the Republic of Zimbabwe and is home to about 3 million residents. This also makes this the largest city and you have to be in Harare to feel the life of the nation. It is also set atop plateaus in the heart of Zimbabwe making it look quite the part of being a capital. Being the capital city, Harare accepts regular international flights from Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Luanda, and Cairo. This is indeed the best way to enter Zimbabwe. Though trains are difficult to get, you could still find a couple of trains that are heading towards Harare if you plan in advance. The roads are also good whether you are traveling by bus or car.

The city is marked by a sea of steel-laden skyscrapers that emerge near CBD which happens to be the economic center of the entire nation. You should also take a walk dozen First Street if you are looking for a way to mix with the crowd- here you will find the main traffic, restaurants, and shoppers throughout the day. There are a plethora of colonial buildings intricately constructed in the past which is sure to draw your attention. You should also visit the National Gallery or the Queen Victoria Museum if you want to taste a bit of Zimbabwean history. Once you are done with all of these things, simply taking a stroll through one of the many beautiful parks in Harare is going to leave you feeling relaxed and calm.

Bulawayo

Bulawayo is another metropolitan city in Zimbabwe that draws much attention, probably because of its New Orleans-like charm. It is the second-largest city in Zimbabwe and has quite a metropolitan vibe. Being a big and important city to the Zimbabweans, it is fairly easy to reach Bulawayo. There are regular trains scheduled from Victoria Falls that take a person about 14 hours to reach Bulawayo. You could also hire a minibus taxi from outside Victoria Falls to reach Bulawayo and it will take you around 7 hours to reach your destination. There is also an international airport in the city if you are thinking of traveling by air.

The busy city has hordes of buildings fashioned in the regal Victorian style to add to its wonder. This particular asset adds a Victorian charm to the city and aids in the process of making it even more beautiful. The roads and avenues are beautifully dotted with trees on the sides while the occasion Anglo-esque public buildings make it even prettier. The city also happens to be an economic hub for the nation and there are many industries within the city. There is also a grand set of railway lines crisscrossing through the city. Despite this, there is plenty of greenery to be found throughout this city, especially bougainvillea looking over from rooftops and palm trees on the streets. It is a great place to shop for souvenirs to take with you. It is also an excellent base to plan different safari expeditions to the south-western parks of Zimbabwe.  

Matobo National Park

The Matobo National Park is just south of Bulawayo and is thus very easy to reach. You would have to travel on the Robert Mugabe Way in the city center initially. This in turn opens up into the Matopos Road which takes you up to Matobo. Once on the road, it is about a 30 km drive from Bulawayo to Matobo.

Matobo National Park is legendary of its own accord and covers a cross-shaped area. The most impressive sight while you are exploring this national park has to be the many inselbergs. These singular granite rock formations spring every now and then and set up quite the scenic view against the backdrop of this wild area. You will also come across many hoodoo rock formations as you travel through the park. This is also a great park if you want to explore the history of South Africa. The park area has multiple records of the pre-historical times in South Africa preserved in the form of carvings in the stone at areas such as the Nswatugi Cave. If you travel to the Hove Wild Area you will get to see sable antelopes, wildebeests, packs of baboons, and even leopards.

Nyanga National Park

Nyanga National Park has an array of all the physical and natural features that you might think of as you are talking about Africa. This national park, situated on a highveld, is loaded with all forms of African wilderness that are sure to awe you. The only way that you could enter this park area and the nearby Nyange village is through the roads. Thus, you should either book a private car or a bus, if you are thinking of budget travel options if you want to explore this African beauty.

The Nyanga National Park could be regarded as the roof of the Zimbabwean nation being nestled on top of a highveld, about 1,800 meters above sea level. Most of the rock formations that you will see in this park area are dolomites. One of the fascinating details about the landscape is the suspended boulders in this region which would creek when a cold breeze blows. There are long grooves of cypresses as well as msasa trees to be found in this region. The entire setup as well as the set of exotic wildlife that you’d find in this region could very well give you an otherworldly experience. One of the most impressive creatures that you get to see here is the rare Old World Samango monkeys- their throats are white-rushed and this species is found exclusively in these parts of Africa and nowhere else. Lions and leopards are also very common in this region completing your grand African safari experience.

Hwange National Park

Do you remember the 14-hour long road between Victoria Falls and Bulawayo? Well, the Hwange National Park is situated on that road making it easily accessible as you are coming towards Bulawayo after visiting the natural wonder. The Hwange National Park is regarded as the biggest one in Zimbabwe and is one of the finest examples of African wildlife. There is a tremendous population of African elephants, culmination at over 40,000 individuals of this species making it one of the best places in the world to see this incredible animal in the world. You also get the terrific opportunity to see about 400 different bird species while you are in this region. Other notable games that you are likely to see as you are exploring the national park are hyenas, zebras, giraffes, and buffalos. The main predatory species to be found in this region are leopards and lions. There are many camping options available throughout the parking area, both public and private. This allows you wildlife encounters through the day and into the night. The rich diversity of this place is because of the impressive natural features such as teak forests, riverbanks, and hot springs, all grouped in one place.

Mutare

Mutare is the fourth largest city in the nation and has quite the picturesque geographic features to offer. The region is situated towards the northern side of the Bvumba hills along the foothills of the Eastern Highlands in Zimbabwe. The name Mutare means “metal” which is a throwback to the times when it served as a fort when gold deposits were excavated in the nearby Penhalogna Valley. You will get an overall relaxed, city-life experience in Mutare. While you are in this city you have to visit the Mutare Museum to get a glimpse into the ancient lives of the African people. A better place to witness how to live in prehistoric times was like has to be Murahwa Hill where you’ll find many paintings etched on rocks dating back to the Iron Age!

Masvingo

Masvingo is the fourth largest city in Zimbabwe and one of the most important cities in ancient times. The best way to enter Masvingo has to be through the roads. Buses are regularly scheduled from Harare and would take you about 5 hours to reach Masvingo. The city is situated at the outskirts of the Mutirikwi National Park and allows you plenty of opportunities for wildlife exploration. However, the most prominent attraction around the city has to be Great Zimbabwe. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the region in this nation where the nation draws its name from.

Great Zimbabwe is situated about 20 km away from the city and has to be explored by you. The region of Great Zimbabwe covers about 1,800 acres and is covered in ruins dating back to the time of Ancient Africans who used to dwell in this region exclusively. This ancient city was built around the 13tha and 14th centuries and was the capital of the extensive Munhumutapa Empire. You will find three distinct types of architectural features in this region- they are known as the Hill Complex, the Valley Complex, and the Great Enclosure. The interesting thing about these building structures is the way they were constructed- huge granite stones place one on top of the other without the use of any mortar or gypsum. Despite this, the buildings have survived through the vagaries of nature for more than seven centuries and still hold strong!