This incredible 42 day circuit of Zimbabwe starts and ends in Johannesburg. We head into Zimbabwe from the south and travel in a clockwise direction.
From our recent experience, on this route most of the national parks (other than at Victoria Falls and Hwange) do not have much tourism at present. We had the campsites, tracks and roads almost exclusively to ourselves. We are not sure how long this will last. The word is getting out about the beauty and wildness that is Zimbabwe.
We avoid main roads as much as possible, sticking to minor roads, less travelled back roads and 4x4 tracks.
Highlights include:
Great Zimbabwe – UNESCO world heritage archaeological site
Matopos / Matobo National Park – home to the resting place of Rhodes and we will do some Rhino tracking on foot here
Hwange National Park the country’s biggest and most biodiverse protected area
Kazuma National Park a hidden gem tucked away in the northwest of the country
Victoria Falls
The hidden gorges of Chizarira National Park
Matusadona National Park on the shores of Lake Kariba
Vehicle ferry crossing of Lake Kariba
Two nights relaxing and fishing on our exclusive houseboat on Lake Kariba
Mana Pools National Park camping on the banks of the Zambezi River
Hidden dinosaur footprints in Chewore Safari Area
Ancient rock art at Kopje Tops and near Harare
The remote Eastern Highlands including a stay at the historic Leopard Rocks Hotel which has hosted royalty in the past like Queen Elizabeth, the Queen mother and Princess Diana
Gonarezhou National Park “the home of elephants” with its impressive pink sandstone cliffs and thousands of elephants
see more at www.selfdriveadventures.com