North Matabeleland: Nature, Culture and Kariba

North Matabeleland offers a range of travel experiences: birdwatching and safaris in Hwange, the remote landscapes of Chizarira, and fishing, boating and culture on Lake Kariba. If you’re looking for a holiday rental, you can start by considering which experiences you want to shape your trip. Each place offers a different focus and can help you choose the region that’s right for you.

Hwange for birdwatching and safaris

The Hwange National Park is known for birdwatching. November to April is considered the best time, when migratory birds return from Europe and North Africa. This period gives you a seasonal reference point for planning if birdlife is to be the focus of your trip. Walking safaris and game drives are also available in the park. During the dry season, elephants are drawn to the waterholes, where they gather in impressive numbers. This gives you two different seasonal factors to compare when planning your trip: November to April for birdwatching, and the dry season for seeing elephants at the waterholes.

Chizarira’s remote landscapes

The remote Chizarira National Park covers 2,000 square kilometres. Its landscape includes gorges, plateaus and floodplains. This makes Chizarira a different focus from Hwange’s safari offerings and seasonal wildlife viewing: here, the emphasis is on a landscape with distinctly varied features. When looking for a holiday rental, this difference can help you decide which region you’d like to focus on. Consider whether safaris and wildlife viewing or Chizarira’s landscapes should define the character of your trip.

Binga on Lake Kariba: fishing, boats and culture

Binga lies at the western end of the southern shore of Lake Kariba and is a centre for fishing, boating and culture. This offers a different focus from the national parks: here, the lake and the themes associated with Binga shape the trip. Binga Cultural Village and the Batonga Museum give visitors the opportunity to learn more about the culture. If you’d rather choose a destination based on the lake, fishing and cultural experiences than on safaris, these highlights provide a clear point of reference.

More activities at Victoria Falls

Bungee jumping and abseiling are available at Victoria Falls. If either activity is important to your plans, check its availability before your visit.

Historical perspectives in the broader destination of Zimbabwe

The broader destination of Zimbabwe offers further historical points of interest. The ruins of Great Zimbabwe bear witness to the Shona civilisation that flourished from the 11th to the 15th century. Zimbabwe Birds carved from soapstone, found in the ruins, indicate that the site was used as a place of worship from ancient times to the present day. Khami was the capital of the Torwa dynasty, which emerged from the collapse of the Kingdom of Great Zimbabwe between 1450 and 1650. Khami has the longest decorated wall in the entire subregion.

Discover more destinations: Manicaland, Mashonaland West.

Back to the main travel overview: Zimbabwe.