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Zimbabwe

Come see Victoria Falls and then go on safari

Zimbabwe safari guide

Companies: 287 operators
Tour packages: 123 tours
Parks: 7 parks
Currency exchange
Currency: US Dollar (USD)
Capital: Harare
Population: 12 million
Total area:390,580 km² (150,804 miles²)
Languages: English
Airports: Harare (HRE), Victoria Falls (VFA), Bulawayo (BUQ)

Recommended vaccinations


MMR

Voltage and plug type

Type D (220V)

Type G (220V)


About Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa that lies just to the west of Mozambique and to the north of Botswana and South Africa. Like its neighbor to the west, Zambia, most of Zimbabwe’s elevation is above 1000m or 3000ft. It also has two distinct seasons: a rainy season from late October through March. Zimbabwe falls in the tropic zone and much of its land is savannah plains, although it does have some more humid and mountainous regions in the east where tropical forests can be found. Unfortunately, large amounts of deforestation have occurred, which has led to a dramatic decrease in the amount of trees and forests.

Zimbabwe declared its independence from Great Britain in 1980 and has been battling with political and economic issues since. The quality of living has dropped in the past decades, with the average life expectancy at birth for males dropping nearly 50% to 42 years of age (Wikipedia credit) and infant mortality rate rising. It is also estimated that roughly 1 in 4 people in Zimbabwe has been infected with the HIV virus. The difficulties have also impacted the wildlife of Zimbabwe, and in 2007, it was estimated that roughly 60% of its wildlife has been killed off due to poaching and deforestation.

Despite the sharp decline in wildlife, Zimbabwe still has a wide range of wildlife, and all of the big five can be found here. The big five are: buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino.

Zimbabwe is bordered by two large rivers, which makes it an excellent location for game viewing. The Limpopo River forms the southern border between Zimbabwe and South Africa and is home to many large game animals including many species of antelope. The Zambezi River runs along the northwest corner of Zimbabwe and forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Zimbabwe River is also the location of the world’s largest waterfall – Victoria Falls – which can be viewed from either the Zambia or Zimbabwe side. Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park is the largest game reserve in the country and is within driving distance of Victoria Falls. There is a large population of wild dogs here and one is able to see some of the bigger cats including lions, leopards and cheetahs.

Zimbabwe’s political and economic difficulties have resulted in a decline in tourism over the past decades, however a handful of conservations the are making an effort to preserve and protect its national parks. Zimbabwe’s lodging and safari offerings are of a high standard and safari-goers who are seeking less-crowded parks may be happier here. 

Situated in the northwestern area of Zimbabwe, Chizarira National Park is one of the most isolated national parks. Its location atop the great Zambezi Escarpment provides stellar views of the Zambezi Valley … read more

Established in 1975, Gonarezhou National Park is situated in the south eastern part of Zimbabwe and is the second-largest game reserve in Zimbabwe, after Hwange National Park. The park is roughly 5,000 km&su… read more

Hwange National Park is located in the northwestern corner of Zimbabwe, on the border of Botswana. It was originally established as a game reserve in 1928 and was named after a local Nhanzwa chief, Hwange Ro… read more

Mana Pools National Park is in the northernmost area of Zimbabwe and shares a footprint with Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park and is bound on the east by the Mozambique border. The word mana means … read more

Matobo National Park, also known as Matobo or Matopos Hills National Park, is a place of divine beauty and is the soul of Zimbabwe. It lies 35 kilometers (21 miles) south of the country’s second larges… read more

Victoria Falls National Park is located in Zimbabwe on the Zambian border. It is a highly-visited park due to its proximity to Victoria Falls, which attracts an estimated half- million visitors each year. &n… read more

The park is in the northwestern-most corner of Zimbabwe, near the borders of Botswana, Namibia and Zambia. It is a seven-hour drive from the large cities of Lusaka, Zambia, and and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Howeve… read more

Flying to Zimbabwe

Getting to Harare, Zimbabwe from North or South America and Europe will require at least one stop. There does not appear to be a direct flight from any of the major cities. The same holds true for countries like Turkey and United Arab Emirates, which normally have direct flights. That said, many of the international flights to Harare require a change in South Africa, and then it’s only a short flight to the final destination. Once you are in Africa, it is fairly easy to fly to Harare from most neighboring countries, although most require a change in South Africa.

Driving to Zimbabwe

If you are already in Africa and don’t wish to spend the additional money on a flight, you’ve many options for taking charter buses around. A few of the companies that offer luxury coach services include the following:

· City Link coaches

· Intercape

· Pathfinders

If you’re keen on driving yourself, Lusaka is roughly a seven-hour drive, not counting the border-crossing. 

The following airlines travel to Zimbabwe


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Botswana's national carrier. Air Botswana, Botswana's national carrier is the flagship and pride of Botswana. Today, Air Botswana enjoys a wide and acclaimed reputation quite disproportionate to its modest size as a model, quality airline. Currently, Air Botswana operates and maintains a fleet of BAE 146 as well as ATR42-500 and ATR72-500 advanced turbo propeller aircrafts which operate daily domestic and regional scheduled flights. Visit website

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The French flag carrier. Air France, stylized as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France,. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance. As of 2013 Air France serves 36 destinations in France and operates worldwide scheduled passenger and cargo services to 168 destinations in 93 countries (including Overseas departments and territories of France. Visit website

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Air India is the flag carrier airline of India owned by Air India Limited, a Government of India enterprise. 31 international and 59 domestic destinations over 4 continents. Visit website

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National airline of Namibia. Air Namibia (Pty) Limited is a proprietary limited company incorporated in accordance with the Company’s Act. Air Namibia is the national airline of the Republic of Namibia, with the Government of Namibia as its sole Shareholder. The company’s business operations primarily involve provision of air transport services for passengers and cargo. Through its subsidiary company, Air Namibia Ground Handling (Pty) Limited, it provides ground handling services for passengers and aircraft at Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport. The airline is positioned as a niche carrier serving domestic points within Namibia, the immediate regional markets of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Angola, Zambia and Botswana. The airline also serves the entire European network through Frankfurt. Visit website

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Air Zimbabwe is the national Airline for Zimbabwe whose main purpose is to provide Air travel solutions for the Zimbabwean community, the African continent and the world at large. The airline which is wholly owned by the Government of Zimbabwe was founded in 1967 and has been in existence over the years up to present time. Its roots can be traced back to 1946 when it was known as Central Africa Airways and operated as a joint airline for Nyasaland, Southern Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia. The tripartite operations continued till 1967 when the joint operations ceased leading to the formation of Air Rhodesia. The airline operated as Air Rhodesia till 1980 when the nation attained its independence and the airline adopted the name Air Zimbabwe. The Airline operated as Air Zimbabwe Corporation until 1997 when Air Zimbabwe Pvt Ltd was created in terms of the Air Zimbabwe Corporation Repeal Act No.4 of 1998.The airline is therefore registered as Air Zimbabwe Pvt Ltd REG NO.10852/97 and conducts its business as such. The airline has been a member of the International Air Transport Association [IATA] and is also a serving member of the African Airlines Association [AFRAA]. Visit website

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Airlink is a privately-owned, BBBEE Level 4 business and regional airline serving a comprehensive network of smaller destinations throughout Southern Africa. We are now operating independently under our own unique 4Z flight code offering more freedom, more choices and more travel opportunities. Visit website

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At Classic Jet Charters We own our aircraft and are an FAA certified aircraft charter operator. We also have one of the largest selections of local private jets and charter aircraft from the most valued private jet carriers with the most FAA operators nationwide. Classic Jet Charters strives to provide multiple private aircraft options for each of your charter flights with the highest levels of safety, convenience and competitive pricing. At the local level and nationwide Classic Jet Charters guarantees charter aircraft availability at a great price. Because we own our aircraft and have a network of preferred aircraft charter vendors nationwide we are available to quote any flight at the lowest price. Visit website

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Domestic services in South Africa. An aviation company founded in 1946, Comair Limited is managed and owned by South Africans through its listing on the JSE. For close to 70 years, Comair has provided consistent value, reliability and professionalism. British Airways and kulula.com now carry an average of 4.8 million passengers per annum locally and regionally. Our reputation of quality and passion for service will ensure Comair continues to play a major role in the South African aviation and travel industry. Visit website

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Condor Flugdienst Gmb is a German leisure airline based in Frankfurt. In 1955, Condor, the leisure airline of Thomas Cook AG, is founded on December 21 as “Deutsche Flugdienst GmbH” by four partners, Norddeutscher Lloyd (27.75%), Hamburg-Amerika-Linie (27.75%), Deutsche Lufthansa (26%) and Deutsche Bundesbahn (18.5%). The home airport is Frankfurt am Main. The fleet comprises three British-made, twin-engined Vickers Viking prop jobs, each with 36 seats. Since October 1, 2013, all the companies in the Thomas Cook Group have come together under a single symbol: the Sunny Heart. So the Sunny Heart appears on the tails of the aircraft of Thomas Cook Group Airlines to express their common identity. From October 2013 to summer 2014, the entire Condor longhaul fleet will gradually be fitted with a new cabin, with in-seat entertainment in all classes, and fully-automatic, comfortable reclining seats in the new Condor Business Class. Visit website

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Major American airline, with its headquarters Atlanta, Georgia. What started as a humble, little aerial crop dusting operation called Huff Daland Dusters in 1924 has now grown into one of the world’s largest global airlines, helping more than 160 million travelers get to the places they want to go to each year. Delta flies to more than 350 destinations on 6 continents, serving more than 160 million passengers each year. It's an important job, that's why we have 70,000 dedicated employees who are up to the task every day, on every flight. Visit website

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Based in Kampala, operates scheduled and charter services across eastern and central Africa. Eagle Air is a Private Ltd Company specialising in the provision of Charter and Schedule Air services both within Uganda and around the East & Central Africa Region. Eagle Air was incorporated as an air operator in June 1994. Visit website

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One of two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates along with Etihad Airways and is based in Dubai. A fast-growing international airline with one of the youngest fleets in the sky and more than 400 awards for excellence worldwide. Today, Emirates airline connects over 145 cities to Dubai and to each other, facilitating trade and tourism flows across six continents; while dnata provides ground handling, catering, cargo and travel services not only in Dubai, but across 90 cities, in 38 countries on five continents. Visit website

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Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the flag carrier of Ethiopia. During the past seventy plus years, Ethiopian has become one of the continent's leading carriers, unrivalled in Africa for efficiency and operational success, turning profits for almost all the years of its existence. Operating at the forefront of technology, the airline has also become one of Ethiopia's major industries and a veritable institution in Africa. It commands a lion's share of the pan African network including the daily and double daily east-west flight across the continent. Ethiopian currently serves 100 international and 21 domestic destinations operating the newest and youngest fleet. Visit website

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The second largest airline of the United Arab Emirates. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has in just ten years established itself as the world’s leading airline. “Etihad” is the Arabic word for “union”. Etihad Airways was established by Royal (Amiri) Decree in July 2003. It commenced operations in November 2003 and has developed into one of the fastest growing airlines in the history of commercial aviation. Visit website

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Budget flights within East Africa. Established in 2012, fastjet has flown over 1,000,000 passengers with almost 40% being first time flyers benefitting from fares as low as $20. Of the 300,000 social media followers fastjet has over 100 customers who have flown as frequently as 50 times! Low-cost is quite simply the avoidance of costly frills, offering customers the lowest possible fares in addition to pay-as-you travel extras. Visit website

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Air shuttle and charter services throughout Africa, former name - Pelican Air Services. Federal Airlines (Pty) Ltd. Trading as Federal Air, is the preferred aviation partner for the top safari destinations in Southern Africa, and the market leader in Aviation Shuttle and Charter Services. Taking guests to the most beautiful and remote parts of Africa is our specialty and a market segment which Federal Air innovated in the late 1990s. We partner with world leaders in luxury safari experiences, and are committed to raising the bar in aviation to play our part in delivering a unique and seamless travel experience unparalleled anywhere in the world. Visit website

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The flag carrier airline of the Netherlands. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded on 7 October, 1919 to serve the Netherlands and its colonies. KLM is today the oldest airline still operating under its original name. KLM has been part of the AIR FRANCE KLM group since the merger in 2004. KLM is the core of the KLM Group, which further includes the wholly-owned subsidiaries KLM Cityhopper, transavia.com and Martinair. Visit website

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Kavango Air was established in 2005 by Mark Smith who has been operating aircraft in northern Botswana since 1990. Kavango Air strives to keep safety its first priority, punctuality it’s second and also keeping the flight enjoyable at the same time. Based in Maun (Botswana) on the edge of the Okavango Delta, it is ideally positioned for quick scenic flights over the delta, as well as camp transfers to the numerous lodges and camps in the delta and surrounding areas. Kavango Air does air charters to almost anywhere in Southern Africa, and also does medical evacuations. The crew receives extensive training in bush flying techniques, and the pilots have to adhere to the high safety standards instilled by the company. Visit website

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The flag carrier of Kenya. Kenya Airways was established in February 1977 following the breakup of the East African Community and subsequent disbanding of the jointly-owned East African Airways. KQ now flies to over 60 destinations around the world with over 40 being in Africa. The network expands to many more destinations with partnerships from Codeshare partners. Our Vision is to consistently be a Safe & Profitable Airline that Guarantees World Class Service. Visit website

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Low-cost services in South Africa and to neighbouring countries. kulula.com is a fun loving and professional airline based in South Africa. Passengers can be assured that every safety precaution is taken before every flight. Passengers can book cheap flights to domestic destinations and more. We also offer affordable hotel accommodation and car hire, making travelling in South Africa easier than it’s ever been. Visit website

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Malawi Airlines Limited is the national flag carrier of Malawi. It is a registered partnership company with shareholding between Malawi Government (51%) and Ethiopian Airlines (49%). Malawi Airlines operates B737-700 and Q400 Aircrafts with direct flights to regional cities of Johannesburg, Lusaka, Harare and Dar es Salaam, besides domestic flights between Lilongwe and Blantyre. The Airline offers warm and friendly services to make customers feel at home. In addition to promoting the image of Malawi, through its activities, the airline is playing a vital role in the economic growth by facilitating access for tourism, investment, enhancing trade and generates and save hard currency for the country. With its excellent on-time performance, baggage handling services and in-flight services, Malawi Airlines provides value for money services to all destinations it operates. Visit website

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Moremi Air Services (Pty) Ltd, is an air charter company based from Maun in Botswana. The company has been operating since 1997 and has been under new management from June 2003. With have a fleet of 8 different aircraft suited to regional and international flying – both single and twin-engine, as well as turbine aircraft. We operate from Botswana and into Zambia, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Visit website

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Domestic operations in South Africa. Since its inception in 1946, National Airways Corporation (NAC) has spread its wings to become the largest general aviation company in Africa and one of the largest of it's kind in the world. The company’s headquarters are located at Lanseria Airport in Johannesburg and we operate a local network of offices in Cape Town, Durban, Grand Central Airport, Wonderboom Airport and Rand Airport. NAC’s international businesses include Awesome Flight Logistics in Perth, Australia and Specialised Aircraft Services in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Visit website

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RwandAir is the flag carrier airline of Rwanda. We serve most East African Community capital cities as well as Johannesburg and Dubai with daily flights. Recently, we introduced Flights to Lagos in Nigeria, Accra in Ghana, Juba in South Sudan and intend to expand to Doula in Cameroon. Our Current destinations include Nairobi, Entebbe, Mombasa, Bujumbura, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Johannesburg, Brazzaville, Dubai, Lagos, Accra and Juba. We have codeshare agreements with SN Brussels on the Kigali-Brussels Sector and Ethiopian Airlines on the Kigali-Addis Ababa Sector. Visit website

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Regional services in South Africa. Choose Airlink to connect you to 35 destinations in 9 African countries. With more than 21 years of of customer focused experience along with the widest network and choice of flights, you get where you want to be, when you want to be there. Visit website

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Domestic airlines in South Africa. SA Express is a domestic and regional, passenger and cargo carrier established on 24 April 1994. SA Express has since become one of the fastest growing regional airlines in Africa. As a regional airline with route networks covering major local and regional cities, SA Express plays a significant role in the country’s hospitality, travel and tourism industry and is vital contributor to the country’s socio-economic development. The airline’s head office is based at Airways Park in Johannesburg. SA Express has a growing fleet of aircraft and implements self-technical maintenance for all its fleet types at OR Tambo International Airport. An integrated, sustainable regional airline connecting secondary and main airports. Visit website

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National airline of South Africa. At South African Airways we are the proud national airline of South Africa. We offer great value flights to and from South Africa as well as within our beautiful country. We are committed to the highest standards in everything we do and aim to deliver a world-class experience on every flight. Plan and book your flights with us and experience why we are one of the leading airlines in Africa. Visit website

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The state-owned flag carrier of Angola. TAAG Angola Airlines was founded in 1938 and is based in Angola’s capital city: Luanda. For over 70 years TAAG has served Angola by operating flights both domestically and internationally and by serving its passengers with a top quality level of service. TAAG is dedicated to expanding its services and improving the customer experience: the airline is acquiring state-of-the-art aircraft, improving its booking system, and instituting a customer loyalty program. TAAG is proud of its past and looks forward to continuing to serve Angola and achieve Excellence in all areas of the Company. Visit website

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The national flag carrier airline of Turkey. Turkish Airlines, one of the most preferred leading European air carrier with global network coverage thanks to its strict compliance with flight safety, reliability, product line, service quality and competitiveness while maintaining its identity as the flag carrier of Turkey. Visit website

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Wilderness Air is proud to be the air partner of Wilderness Safaris, a responsible ecotourism and conservation company with private access to the finest wilderness and wildlife areas of southern Africa. Wilderness Air began operating in 1991, with one aircraft based in Botswana servicing two camps in the Okavango Delta. Today, Wilderness Air is also based in Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, operating over 35 aircraft and employing over 50 pilots. Throughout its time, it has maintained its excellent reputation for safety and guest service. We operate a varied fleet of light aircraft, chosen for their ability to transport visitors comfortably to remote wilderness destinations with dirt airstrips. Each aircraft type has been selected based on its ability to transport different numbers of passengers, over different ranges. Our fleet operates on a daily circuit within the regions. Wilderness Air is privileged to fly into some of the most pristine wilderness areas in the world. We believe that flying is an integral part of each guest's travel experience and that our pilots' passion and professionalism can make a genuine contribution to journeys that change lives. Visit website

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Zimbabwe map