North Matabeleland showcases its diversity through a range of nature and cultural experiences. Seasonal wildlife viewing takes centre stage in Hwange National Park, while Chizarira offers a different landscape of gorges, plateaus and floodplains. Binga is a fishing, boating and cultural centre at the western end of the southern shore of Lake Kariba. Bungee jumping and abseiling are offered at Victoria Falls. These varied highlights provide different perspectives on the region.
Wildlife Viewing and Safaris in Hwange
Hwange National Park is known for birdwatching. The best time for it is considered to be November to April, when migratory birds return from Europe and North Africa. During the dry season, the park’s waterholes attract elephants, which gather there in impressive numbers. The seasonal distinction is useful for planning: birdwatching is associated with a particular range of months, while elephant concentrations are tied to the dry season.
Walking safaris and game drives are also offered in Hwange National Park. The two types of safari have different focuses: one centres on travelling on foot, while the other is a game drive. If you sort your interests, you can consider these options alongside seasonal wildlife viewing and decide which aspect of the park appeals to you most.
The Landscape of Chizarira
The remote Chizarira National Park covers 2,000 square kilometres. Its landscape includes gorges, plateaus and floodplains. The park’s size and these three landforms give its landscape a distinct focus alongside wildlife viewing in Hwange. If you are particularly interested in different types of landscape, Chizarira offers a clear contrast to safari experiences: here, the park’s vastness and striking landforms take centre stage.
Binga, Culture and Activities
Binga lies at the western end of the southern shore of Lake Kariba and is a fishing, boating and cultural centre. This combination offers a different focus from the national parks: fishing, boats and culture shape the character of the town. Binga Cultural Village and the Batonga Museum give visitors the opportunity to learn more about the culture.
Bungee jumping and abseiling are offered at Victoria Falls. This means that, alongside nature and culture, the region also offers these two activities. If bungee jumping or abseiling is a deciding factor in your plans, check availability in advance.
More Perspectives on Zimbabwe
Across the wider destination of Zimbabwe, historic sites tell different chapters of the past. The ruins of Great Zimbabwe bear witness to the Shona civilisation that flourished between the 11th and 15th centuries. The Zimbabwe Birds, carved from soapstone and found in the ruins, bear witness 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. The site has the longest decorated wall in the entire subregion.
The Mana Pools, Sapi and Chewore World Heritage area also offers a distinct perspective on Zimbabwe’s landscape. It is bounded to the north by the Zambezi and to the south by a steep escarpment that rises more than 1,000 metres above the valley floor. During the dry winter months, elephants, buffalo, zebras, waterbucks, other antelopes, lions and hyenas migrate into the area every year. More than 450 resident and migratory bird species have been recorded there.
Discover more destinations: Hwange, Manicaland, Mashonaland West.
Go to the overview of the wider destination: Zimbabwe.
