Zimbabwe — where the falls roar and the wilderness whispers

The dry season, from June to October, is generally the best time for safari. Vegetation is thinner, wildlife gathers around water sources and game viewing is especially rewarding in Hwange and Mana Pools. For Victoria Falls, water levels are usually at their most dramatic from around March to May, although heavy spray can sometimes limit visibility. June and July offer a particularly good balance between strong water flow at the Falls and excellent safari conditions.

We recommend around 8–11 nights for a well-rounded journey. A typical itinerary might include 2–3 nights at Victoria Falls, 3–4 nights in Hwange and 2–3 nights in Mana Pools. Victoria Falls deserves at least two full days if you want time for the viewpoints as well as experiences such as a helicopter flight, sunset cruise or other activities. For Hwange and Mana Pools, at least three nights in each area allows you to experience the safari at a more relaxed pace.

Victoria Falls — known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, “The Smoke that Thunders” — form one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls.
The Zambezi River plunges across a broad basalt edge into a narrow gorge more than 100 metres below, creating an extraordinary combination of sound, spray and scale. During high-water periods, the mist supports a distinctive rainforest ecosystem along the edge of the gorge.
Victoria Falls are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Southern Africa’s defining natural landmarks.

Both sides offer different and complementary perspectives. The Zimbabwean side generally provides the most extensive views of the Falls, with a longer series of viewpoints overlooking much of the curtain of water.
The Zambian side offers a closer and, in places, more intimate perspective, particularly around the eastern section of the Falls. Water levels also affect the experience considerably, especially during the drier months.
For many of our journeys, we base clients on the Zimbabwean side and, when time allows, include a visit to Zambia as well.

Mana Pools offers one of Africa’s most immersive wilderness experiences. The combination of walking safaris, canoeing on the Zambezi and exceptional wildlife encounters on the floodplains creates a very different rhythm from a traditional vehicle-based safari.
The park is particularly famous for its elephants, some of which are known to stand on their hind legs to reach the pods of albida trees. Its open landscapes, mature woodland and strong tradition of walking safari also make Mana Pools especially rewarding for wildlife photography.

Absolutely. Zimbabwe combines extremely well with both.
Victoria Falls is close to Kasane and Chobe in Botswana, making it easy to continue into the Okavango Delta. A journey combining Victoria Falls, Hwange and Botswana offers three very different landscapes and safari experiences in one itinerary. South Africa is also straightforward to add, with air connections linking Victoria Falls with Johannesburg and onward connections to Cape Town and the Greater Kruger region. At Siente África, we coordinate the full itinerary and all the logistics between destinations.

Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Many travellers can obtain a visa on arrival in Zimbabwe, while others may need to arrange one in advance. The KAZA UniVisa may also be available for eligible travellers visiting both Zimbabwe and Zambia, making it particularly useful for journeys that include both sides of Victoria Falls. Availability, eligibility and fees can change, so entry requirements should always be checked for the specific passport before travel.
At Siente Africa, we confirm the latest visa and entry requirements for every traveller as part of the planning process.