Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, "the smoke that thunders," Victoria Falls is one of the great natural wonders of the world. You can walk the rainforest paths as the spray drifts overhead, take to the skies on a helicopter flight for the full sweep of the gorge, or sip a sundowner on a Zambezi cruise as the light softens over the water. For the adventurous, white-water rafting and bridge swings add a jolt of adrenaline. However you choose to experience it, the sheer scale and power stays with you long after you return home.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site on the banks of the Zambezi, Mana Pools is one of the few places in Africa where you can explore on foot and by canoe. Drift silently past hippos and drinking elephants, or set out on a guided walk through cathedral-like forests of mahogany and fig. The intimacy here is unrivalled: approaching elephant, buffalo and big cats at ground level, with an expert guide reading every sign of the bush. It's a purist's safari, and a genuine highlight for travellers who think they've seen it all.

In Zimbabwe's far south-east, Gonarezhou, "the place of elephants," offers raw, untrammelled wilderness for the seasoned traveller. The dramatic red sandstone Chilojo Cliffs tower over the Runde River, ancient baobabs dot the plains, and large elephant herds roam freely. Few visitors make it this far, which is precisely the appeal. Here you'll find solitude, sweeping landscapes, and the satisfying sense of having reached one of the continent's last genuinely remote corners.

Dinner on a Zimbabwe safari is an occasion in itself. Picture three-course meals served beneath the stars or in an open-air boma, lanterns glowing and a central fire crackling as the bush settles around you. Expect generous, well-cooked dishes: grilled meats, slow-cooked stews, fresh vegetables and indulgent puddings, paired with good South African wines or an ice-cold gin and tonic. Hosts and guides often join the table, so it feels less like a restaurant and more like a relaxed dinner among friends.

Where itineraries include time near communities or more locally focused lodges, you can sample home-style Zimbabwean cooking. Dishes might include sadza (a maize staple), slow-cooked relishes, fresh river fish and locally raised game, often served with rich gravies and simple salads. Some camps offer occasional "local night" menus or community visits over lunch. It's a rewarding way to move beyond classic safari fare and connect more personally with Zimbabwe's culture and everyday flavours.

Situated on a plateau just 4km from the Victoria Falls the sunset-facing lodge boasts spectacular views of Zimbabwe wilderness. Each of the rooms faces outwards towards a central waterhole, providing a private vantage point for observing the elephants, buffalo, kudu, and other wildlife that gather to drink throughout the day. It’s a safari that unfolds before you, without you ever having to leave the comfort of the lodge.

Deteema Springs is a small, exclusive camp set in a remote corner of Hwange National Park, built around a waterhole that draws exceptional wildlife throughout the day. With only a handful of guests at any one time, every game drive and guided walk feels genuinely personal. Elephants, lions, wild dogs, and leopards all move through regularly, and the standard of guiding here is exceptional. It's the kind of place that rewards those who seek real wilderness over general spots.

This six-night journey takes you deep into the heart of Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park, one of Africa's great wildlife sanctuaries and a landscape of extraordinary scale and drama. You'll fly in and out of Victoria Falls Airport, but the journey proper begins the moment your light aircraft lifts off towards the wilderness. 

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