What are the Top National Parks in Zimbabwe?

Q: What are the Top National Parks in Zimbabwe?

You’ll find more than Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe—its national parks support huge elephant and leopard populations plus dramatic and unpopulated landscapes. One of the world’s least-touristed safari destinations just happens to be one of the best. A safari in Zimbabwe will have you riding an open-air rail car, going on walking excursions, and viewing incredible wildlife—all without the crowds. The country is known for its dramatic landscapes, like the Zambezi River Valley and Victoria Falls, and its one-of-a-kind wildlife events, including the Great Elephant Migration that takes place along the corridor that links Botswana's Chobe National Park with Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park. And Zimbabwean guides have a reputation as being among the best—and most passionate—in the business. With eight adventures that feature Zimbabwe, WT has unique insight into this spectacular destination and actively partners with local communities.

A herd of elephants stands and grazes near the edge of a river with dense trees in the background at sunset, capturing the breathtaking beauty found in the best parks Zimbabwe has to offer.

BROWSE ZIMBABWE SAFARIS

ZIMBABWE

The Top National Parks in Zimbabwe

The Ultimate Guide to Zimbabwe’s Best National Parks for Safari

One of the world’s least-touristed safari destinations just happens to be one of the best. A safari in Zimbabwe will have you riding an open-air rail car, going on walking excursions, and viewing incredible wildlife—all without the crowds. The country is known for its dramatic landscapes, like the Zambezi River Valley and Victoria Falls, and its one-of-a-kind wildlife events, including the Great Elephant Migration that takes place along the corridor that links Botswana’s Chobe National Park with Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park. And Zimbabwean guides have a reputation as being among the best—and most passionate—in the business. With eight adventures that feature Zimbabwe, WT has unique insight into this spectacular destination and actively partners with local communities.

best parks in ZIMBABWE

Hwange National Park

Hwange is Zimbabwe’s largest game reserve, known for its vast elephant herds and impressive diversity of wildlife. Its mixture of grasslands and woodlands supports populations of some of the most formidable predators, including lions, leopards, and cheetahs.

When to Go

July to October

Reasons to Visit Hwange National Park

Witness one of Earth’s greatest conservation stories. In 2007, Hwange’s last wild rhino was killed by foreign poachers—but in recent years, the Community Rhino Conservation has safely and sustainably re-introduced them to this part of Zimbabwe. Rhino viewing fees go directly back into the local community, and the area now has a handful of rhino—and hopefully more in the future.
See the Great Elephant Migration. There’s no greater—or more surreal—spectacle than witnessing tens of thousands of elephants roam the remote and lesser-trafficked game lands that link Botswana’s renowned Chobe National Park with Zimbabwe’s famed Hwange National Park. Beyond the migration, the elephant stronghold of Hwange (around 50,000 elephants live there) offers year-round opportunities to spot massive families, so there are no bad months to visit Zimbabwe.
Uncover diverse predator-prey ecosystems. More than 100 species of mammals are found in Hwange National Park, including some of the continent’s top predators, making for African safari experiences filled with dramatic interactions between predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, and African wild dogs, and prey like zebras, giraffes, and various antelope species. Bordering the Kalahari desert, Hwange has a semi-arid climate that causes stark seasonal shifts in wildlife behavior between the wet and dry seasons.

Which Trip Should I Book?

Wild Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe: Green Season Safari | Great Elephant Migration Safari | South Africa, Victoria Falls & Hwange Private Safari

Aerial view of a wide waterfall with mist rising, a visible rainbow, lush green forest along the edge, and river water above the falls—one of the best parks Zimbabwe has to offer.

best parks in ZIMBABWE

Victoria Falls National Park

One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world, Victoria Falls spans the Zambezi River between Zimbabwe and Zambia. At this dramatic, iconic landmark, water falls around 350 feet—making Victoria Falls twice as tall as Niagara Falls. It’s one of the most popular things to do in Zimbabwe, and for good reason.

When to Go

June to October, August to September

Reasons to Visit Victoria Falls National Park

See the world’s largest waterfall. Victoria Falls’ size is difficult to overstate—the falls are over a mile long, and unlike some waterfalls that are a series of cataracts or rapids, the water falls straight down 350 feet. This produces the largest sheet of falling water in the world. Mist from the falls rises hundreds of meters into the air, and is visible for many miles around. The falls are known locally as “Mosi-oa-Tunya,” or the “Smoke that Thunders.”
Take a sunset cruise. One of the most popular activities in Victoria Falls, a river cruise will have you experiencing the falls from different angles. Sunset cruises are a popular choice, when the Zambezi and the sky glow peach and pink, while some cruises might let you spot elephants, hippos, and crocodiles.
Chase adventure with a helicopter ride & more. Book a helicopter ride for a spectacular once-in-a-lifetime view of the falls. You’ll have a bird’s-eye view of the world’s largest waterfall by height and width, soaring high above the thundering mist. Want a bigger adrenaline fix? Bungee jump or swing from a bridge against the backdrop of the falls, or go white water rafting in the rapids below the falls.

Which Trip Should I Book?

Four hippos are partially submerged in a river at sunset, with one hippo in the foreground opening its mouth wide—an unforgettable scene typical of the best parks Zimbabwe has to offer. Trees and the sun are visible in the background.

best parks in ZIMBABWE

Zambezi National Park

Located near world-famous Victoria Falls, Zambezi National Park offers river-based wildlife viewing, including boat safaris and fishing, as well as excellent opportunities to spot large game like elephants, lions, and leopards. The park is also home to some 400 bird species, including the lanner falcon and African skimmer.

When to Go

June to October

Reasons to Visit Zambezi National Park

Get up close to Victoria Falls. Experience the majesty of one of the world’s natural wonders, Victoria Falls. Walk along trails beneath the roaring thunder, take a helicopter trip over the falls, and go bungee jumping in its mist—all available on WT adventures.
Enjoy a boat safari along Zambezi River. On WT journeys, explore the Zambezi River shoreline and nearby islands by canoe before enjoying sundowners by boat. You’ll be amazed that just 30 miles away, the tranquil river features the roaring Victoria Falls.

Which Trip Should I Book?

best parks in ZIMBABWE

Matobo National Park

Known for Matobo Hills, a range of distinctive granite formations that were home to Zimbabwe’s earliest inhabitants 200,000 years ago, Matobo is Zimbabwe’s oldest national park. Also at Matobo you’ll find the grave of colonist Cecil Rhodes, along with wildlife like leopards, rhinos, black eagles, and antelope.

When to Go

May to October

Reasons to Visit Matobo National Park

Explore UNESCO-designated Matobo Hills. These striking rock formations created over 2 billion years and set among wooded valleys have been inhabited by humans starting at least 500,000 years ago. They contain a rich collection of rock paintings, the oldest of which is around 13,000 years old, that help shed light on Stone Age human life.
Visit Cecil Rhodes’ grave. British colonist Cecil Rhodes (d. 1902) founded the African territory of Rhodesia, now Zambia and Zimbabwe, and is buried at the summit of Malindidzimu (“Hill of the Ancestral Spirits” in Kalanga) in Matobo National Park. Buried alongside a few other white settlers, his grave is controversially located on a sacred Indigenous spot.
See a high concentration of leopards. Matobo has the world’s highest density of leopards, due to the abundance of hyrax, which leopards love to eat. The park also has the highest concentration of black eagles in the world, along with fauna like black and white rhinos, antelope, hyenas, hippos, zebras, and giraffes.

Learn More

Talk to an Expert

Our Africa Specialists know every detail about our Zimbabwe trips. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!

Choose a Trip