Manicaland can be explored through several areas of discovery: the Mutare Museum showcases archaeology, ethnography, transport and natural history; the Chimanimani Mountains are associated with hiking, climbing, birdwatching and overnight stays in caves. This takes you from cultural themes to activities in a mountainous landscape. The region offers you a range of thematic perspectives.
Mutare: a museum with a broad range of themes
The Mutare Museum features exhibitions on archaeology, ethnography, transport and natural history. This diversity offers different perspectives: archaeology and ethnography focus on culture, while transport and natural history add further areas of interest. Transport is presented in particular detail in the permanent transport gallery. It features vintage cars, model ships, agricultural tractors, petrol pumps and wagons. The petrol pumps extend the gallery beyond vehicles and models to include another object related to transport, so it is not limited to a single type of vehicle.
Chimanimani: activities and waterfalls
The Chimanimani Mountains are associated with hiking, climbing, birdwatching and overnight stays in caves. This selection appeals to a range of interests: hiking and climbing involve physical activity, while birdwatching offers a more observational approach to nature; overnight stays in caves add a distinctive element. Waterfalls in Chimanimani’s protected areas include Bridal Veil Falls in the Eland Sanctuary, Muhohwa Falls, Digby Falls and Ragon Falls. Bundi Falls plunges from the massif towards the Haroni River.
In Mutare, the museum’s collections range from archaeology to natural history; in the Chimanimani Mountains, active and observational interests meet a landscape featuring named waterfalls.
Zimbabwe in the wider travel picture
In the wider destination of Zimbabwe, wildlife in Chimanimani National Park is not particularly diverse; species found there include eland, bushbuck and blue duiker. The ruins of Great Zimbabwe bear witness to the Shona civilisation that flourished between the 11th and 15th centuries. Zimbabwe Birds carved from soapstone, found in the ruins, testify to the site’s use as a place of worship from antiquity 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 also has the longest decorated wall in the entire subregion. Comparing the two sites takes you from Great Zimbabwe’s Shona civilisation and use as a place of worship to Khami and the history of the later dynasty.
The Mana Pools, Sapi and Chewore World Heritage Site is bounded to the north by the Zambezi and to the south by a steep escarpment rising more than 1,000 metres above the valley floor. More than 450 resident and migratory bird species have been recorded in this area. Every year during the dry winter months, elephants, buffalo, zebras, waterbuck, other antelopes, lions and hyenas migrate into the area. The distinction in timing is important: the bird count includes recorded resident and migratory species, while the annual wildlife migration takes place during the dry winter months.
The national tourism authority describes Hwange National Park as Zimbabwe’s largest and most popular national park.
Discover more destinations: Mutare, Mashonaland West, North Matabeleland
For the main travel overview: Zimbabwe.
