Adventure World

Zimbabwe & Zambia

Top Highlights – Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe offers the romance and majesty of the Victoria Falls; the arid but game-rich Hwange National Park; Lake Kariba with its fishing and game viewing lodges; and the beauty of the Eastern Highlands.

Victoria Falls: Victoria Falls links the countries of Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana. The famous Victoria Falls Hotel was established in 1904 and traditional high tea is served every afternoon on the Terrace, which has spectacular views of the gorge and bridge.

Every minute half a million cubic metres of fresh water cascades 300ft into a giant boiling pot of spray and rainbows. The thunder can be heard 3 miles away and the spray is visible for 30 miles, hence the name ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ - the smoke that thunders.

A range of activities are available: helicopter flights over the falls, Sundowner Cruise, Guided Falls Tour, and an evening Boma dinner experience.

Hwange National Park: Covering nearly 15,000 sq km it sustains a greater variety and density of wildlife than any other conservation area in the world. Only two hours by road from Victoria Falls.

Lake Kariba: A great inland sea created by damming the Zambezi River. The lake and its shoreline is a well-developed playground for game fishing, yachting and canoeing while observing the wildlife on its shores. The neighbouring areas of Matusadona and Mana Pools also offer outstanding game viewing and bird watching.

Fact Sheet – Zimbabwe

• Country Dialling Code: + 623
• When to Go: The best time for game viewing is May to August, which is cool and dry. September to October are also great game viewing months but tend to be hotter. The rest of the year is the wet summer months of November to April, not much game to view as they don’t have to concentrate around the waterholes, but a great time for bird watching.
• Capital: Harare
• Official Language: English (official), Shona, Sindebele, and numerous tribal dialects.
• Electricity: Zimbabwe uses 220 volts AC (50 Hz)
• Currency: Zimbabwe Dollar
• Credit Cards & ATM’s: Visa accepted mainly in the tourist areas. ATM’s can be found in main cities.
• Tipping: In Zimbabwe tips of approx 10% are expected by taxi drivers and in tourist-class hotels and restaurants. However, some establishments automatically add a 10% service charge to the bill which replaces the gratuity.
• Bargaining: Is part and parcel of buying arts and crafts.
• Email & Internet Access: Harare and Victoria Falls only.
• Gateway Airports: Victoria Falls, Harare, Bulawayo and Kariba.
• Border Crossings: Most border crossings are open from 6am to 6pm with the exception of Victoria Falls to 10pm.

Top Highlights – Zambia

As yet untouched by commercialism, Zambia has some of the best game viewing and bird viewing experiences in Africa. You will feel like a true adventurer as you discover real ‘plains game’ in a landscape that has been untouched since David Livingstone travelled through. You will find birds and animals so rarely in contact with humans that they are unafraid and will approach you, as only seen in the likes of the Galapagos Islands.

Livingstone & Victoria Falls: Named after the famous Victorian missionary explorer, Dr David Livingstone, the town was established in 1905.This quiet bustling town is a little neglected but still retains a special charm.

The proximity to the Zambezi River and the spectacular Victoria Falls led it to become a base for travellers from all over the world wanting to explore this Seventh Wonder of the World.

Livingstone is 11 kms from Victoria Falls, and just beyond the entrance to the Falls is the Zambian border post. From here you can walk across the Friendship Bridge overlooking the Falls to the Zimbabwean border post and Victoria Falls town on the Zimbabwean side. A taxi costs approx US$3 between Livingstone and Victoria Falls.

Both the Zimbabwe and Zambia sides of the Falls have National Parks where you can view wildlife.

South Luangwa National Park: The Park covers an area of 9050 sq km and is regarded as the home of ‘walking safaris’.

The vegetation ranges from dense woodland to open grassy plains and many oxbow lagoons that act as natural waterholes. Home to a great number of buffalo, giraffe, zebra, impala and kudu which roam the plains; waterbuck, reedbuck and hippo haunt the riverside stretches. Carnivores are represented by, among others, lion, leopard, spotted hyena, wild dog and a number of nocturnal predators. The Park boasts an impressive 455 bird species including raptors and large waterbirds.

Best time to visit is Apr/May & Oct/Nov when the weather is dry and animals gather near waterholes which offer better wildlife viewing. Experts have dubbed South Luangwa as one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world. The concentration of game around the Luangwa River and lagoons are among the most intense in Africa.

Lower Zambezi National Park: This is Zambia’s newest Park and as such is still relatively undeveloped, but its beauty lies in its absolute wilderness state.

The diversity of animals is not as wide as the other big parks, but the opportunities to get close to game wandering in and out of the Zambezi channels are spectacular. The Park lies opposite the famous Mana Pools Reserve in Zimbabwe, so the whole area on both sides of the river is a massive wildlife sanctuary. Enormous herds of elephant, some up to 100 strong, are often seen at the river’s edge.

More Highlights

Lusaka, the capital is a city whose bustling chaos has a certain charm that is just Zambia. The city lies at the junction of the main highways to the north, east, south and west. Most travellers just pass through or spend only one night.

Lochinavar National Park is situated on the southern edge of the Kafue Flats, a wide floodplain of the Kafue River. The varying vegetation makes it an interesting park to visit with floodplains, woodlands and termite mounds. It is particularly well known for the large herds of Kafue lechwe, unique to the Kafue flats.

Kafue National Park is the largest park in Zambia and one of the largest in the world. It is a very remote area and can only be reached by air or 4WD.

Fact Sheet – Zambia

• Country Dialling Code: + 260
• When to Go: The best time for game viewing is May to August, which is cool and dry. September to October are also great game viewing months but tend to be hotter. The rest of the year is the wet summer months of November to April, not much game to view as they don’t have to concentrate around the waterholes, but a great time for bird watching.
• Capital: Lusaka (Zambia)
• Official Language: English. Most speak an ethnic language.
• Electricity: 220v, 50 cycle AC
• Currency: Zambian kwacha
• Credit Cards & ATM’s: Visa accepted mainly in the tourist areas. ATM’s can be found in main cities.
• Tipping: In Zambia tipping is discouraged, as services fees are charged on bills.
• Bargaining: Is part and parcel of buying arts and crafts.
• Email & Internet Access: Lusaka, Livingstone only.
• Gateway Airports: Lusaka and Livingstone (Victoria Falls).
• Air: Regional flights serve Livingstone Airport (near Victoria Falls) and Mfuwe (South Luangwa National Park).
• Border Crossings: Most border crossings are open from 6am to 6pm with the exception of Victoria Falls to 10pm.