What to see?
The "Big Five" is a legacy of trophy hunting. It brings together the most respected and prized animals of the past: the lion, the leopard (very discreet), the buffalo, the elephant and the rhinoceros (the white and the black, which have become rare). If these animals remain the great figures to be admired in the savannah, they can constitute a danger for the imprudent person who would try to approach them without precautions. This is also true for the hippopotamus, which causes many deaths in Africa each year. The safari enthusiast will also seek to observe other large mammals: the graceful giraffe, the fast cheetah, the wild dog, the hyena, the zebra, and a multitude of antelopes, among which, the most emblematic remain the Cape eland, the great kudu, the harnessed guib, the roan antelope, the black hippotrague, the impala, the crescent cobe, the wildebeest, the hartebeest, the damalisque or the oryx. We should also mention the presence of medium-sized mammals: serval, caracal, jackal, civet, genet, mongoose, aardvark, pangolin, baboon, vervet, warthog, porcupine and other duikers. Mammals are not the only stars of the safari, we must also count reptiles (crocodiles, monitors, chameleons, lizards, turtles and even snakes) and birds (herons, egrets, storks, small waders, ostriches, bustards, hornbills, eagles, vultures and other diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey, geese and ducks, bee-eaters, rollers, kingfishers and hunters, woodpeckers and a multitude of passerines..). The visitor to Zimbabwean parks can also be interested in amphibians, invertebrates, trees and other flowers of the savannah. Each of the country's protected areas has its own specific fauna and flora. If the parks of the Eastern Higlands are less prized for the large fauna, they conceal, on the other hand, particular species (diademed cercopithecus, birds and endemic plants). The fauna and flora are not the only attractions of the safari. There are also magnificent landscapes: Lake Kariba in Matusadona, the banks of the Zambezi River in Mana Pools, waterholes, plains and hills in Hwange, cliffs and deep gorges in Chizarira and Gonarezhou, rocky chaos in Matopos, mountains in Chimanimani and Nyanga... A park such as Matopos is also to be discovered for its historical attractions (San rock paintings, Rhodes tomb).
How to get there ? Where to stay ? When to go there ?
Zimbabwe's parks can be visited in a variety of ways: on your own, through a local agency or from your home country (using a tour operator). Doing it on your own involves different levels of autonomy. You can arrive with your own vehicle and camping gear and pitch a tent in the public campsites in the parks. These have sanitary blocks and each site is usually equipped with a barbecue. It will then be possible to visit the park with your vehicle and/or to participate in the tourist activities offered by the park itself(game drive, game walk...). Zimparks also offers lodging(lodges, chalets, canvas camps), which means you don't have to bring your own equipment. However, you will have to prepare your own meals. To be sure of availability, it is advisable to book in advance, especially since some of these sites are used by private companies for their own tourists. It is also possible to stay in private lodges and tented camps. The level of comfort and services offered varies significantly. So do the prices! Generally, these lodges and camps offer their own activities and guides. Meals and drinks are provided by the lodge. Sometimes they can also transport you to the park. This is the case of some camps in Matusadona, which are difficult to reach by land, but offer to pick you up in Kariba town by boat. It is also possible to reach some parks by air and to be picked up by private camps and lodges. The camps are made up of large tents, with private furniture and bathrooms. They can be very comfortable. Lodges are made up of permanent structures, usually very well integrated into their surroundings. Basically, lodges and private camps offer full board and two activities per day (e.g. a game drive in the morning and a game drive in the afternoon). It is, so to speak, possible to visit the Zimbabwean parks all year round. However, the dry season (May to October) should be preferred for reasons of practicability and visibility of wildlife. The latter will be easier to observe at the end of the dry season, since the animals will tend to concentrate around the watering holes and the vegetation will be less dense than in the rainy season. The months with the most water are December, January and February. A park such as Mana Pools may become inaccessible and some lodges and camps may close. However, the rainy season can offer beautiful colors and is a good time for birding, as in addition to resident species, many migratory species can be seen.
Game drive, game walk, horseback safari, canoeing..
The visit to the parks can be done in different ways, depending on the opportunities and regulations (which should be read) of each of them. Most of them are visited by car. This is called game driving (from game and drive ). The national parks are open to traffic from sunrise to sunset. The best times for wildlife are the early and late hours of the day, so the morning game drive begins at dawn and theafternoon game drive ends before dusk. In some places you can get out of the vehicle to see the wildlife around the water holes (from a platform or hide). In some cases, you can go on a night game drive. The use of a powerful headlamp that can be directed on both sides of the vehicle allows to observe nocturnal animals or more active at night. This is an opportunity to see large and small predators. The game walk or walking safari is an approach that requires a little more effort and does not allow you to approach the wildlife as closely as in a vehicle, but it allows you to be interested in more things (footprints, insects, plants ...), while experiencing another thrill ... These walks are usually accompanied by a trained and armed guide. The big fauna remains dangerous and you must scrupulously respect his instructions. It is possible to go on a game walk in parks such as Mana Pools, Hwange, Chizarira... In Matopos, rhino walks (white rhinos) are even organized. Canoe safaris are very popular in Zimbabwe, mainly on the Zambezi River. They are particularly famous at Mana Pools. Here again, visitors must be accompanied by a professional guide. Hippos, crocodiles and elephants are dangers not to be underestimated. In some parks, such as Matusadona (along Lake Kariba), it is possible to explore the shores from a motorboat. In addition to the large mammals on the shore or in the water, this can be an opportunity to admire the aquatic birdlife. The horseback safari is another "ecological" approach. The horse allows you to cover greater distances than on a walking safari. It also allows you to get closer to the wildlife, as the animals assimilate the shape of the rider to that of his mount. Horseback safaris are available in Hwange, Zambezi and Matopos.
What to take in your suitcase?
Regarding the clothes to wear on safari, it is advisable to avoid bright colors (especially red) and white which attract the eye of the animals. It is also best to avoid blue and black which can attract tsetse flies. Beige or khaki is best, but avoid wearing camouflage clothing, which is not always well regarded by the authorities. In the middle of the southern winter (May-June-July), temperatures can be cool and it is a good idea to bring a "little wool". Similarly, at dawn or during night safaris, a fleece jacket or windbreaker can be useful, especially since safari vehicles are wide open. In all cases, playing with "layers" can be relevant. Long-sleeved pants and shirts can also be useful to protect you not only from the sun, but also from mosquitoes. Note that skirts and dresses are not the most practical for boarding and exiting safari vehicles. Ladies, you would be better off in pants. A multi-pocket vest is very practical for naturalists and photographers, who will be able to slip in an identification guide, notebook and pencil, small photographic accessories... A head covering is also judicious to protect oneself in the hot hours. Shoes like "pataugas" will be particularly useful for walking in the bush. Sandals should be kept for the camp. Sunscreen lotion will be useful, as well as mosquito repellent, but all this depends on the season and the parks visited. Bring a small flashlight or headlamp, a small backpack and possibly a wildlife identification guide. A pair of compact binoculars is very useful. In terms of photographic equipment, it is wise to bring a sufficient zoom lens (at least 200 mm).
Budget
Visiting Zimbabwe's parks requires a significant budget for a foreign tourist. Entrance fees to the parks vary from site to site. It is necessary to count between 10 and 30 USD per day and per person. In addition, there is a daily vehicle tax. The price of public accommodation (Zimparks) also varies depending on the park and the accommodation. Overnight camping fees range from $10 to $25 per person, two-person cabins from $50 to $90, and four-person cabins from $90 to $120. Private camps and lodges include not only accommodation and food (full board), but also activities. Depending on the service and the level of comfort, you can expect to pay between 300 and 600 USD per person per day (or even more...). Prices may also vary depending on the tourist season.
