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The magic of this magnificent 2200 sq km (849 sq mi) national park stems from its remoteness and pervading sense of the wild and natural. The word 'mana' means four in the Shona language, and refers to the four pools here that are popular with crocs and hippos. Book a tented camp through a travel agent or a self-catering lodge through the National Parks.
The central difference everywhere in Mana is that nowhere is fenced in, so there can be elephants strolling by while you have your breakfast. This is what sets Mana Pools apart from just about any other safari park in the world and makes it a truly magical experience. You're also allowed to walk around without a guide, as you can see for miles around.
(NE of Kariba)
tel info 263 612 532
car
| full | US Dollar 15.00 |
Scenic and secluded, beautiful Nyanga National Park is 100km (60mi) north of the Bvumba, the central mountains of the Eastern Highlands. Some parts may remind you of Scotland while others are reminiscent of Arizona. Nyanga has Africa's second highest waterfall and breathtaking views over the lush Honde Valley, into Mozambique.
Nyanga National Park has its headquarters at Nyanga (Rhodes) Dam. Most people come here to hike on Mt Nyangani, Zimbabwe's highest peak: we're not talking Kilimanjaro - it takes one and a half to three hours to reach the summit from the car park east of Nyanga Dam. For something more substantial, a three- to four-day walk continues from Mt Nyangani past Pungwe Drift and into Honde Valley.
There are a number of interesting sights near the park headquarters, including some old ruins, and the Rhodes Museum. Nyangombe Falls lies 5km (3.1mi) west of Nyangombe camping ground and 2km (1.2mi) from Udu Dam. At the southern end of the park the spectacular Mtarazi Falls and smaller Muchururu Falls plummet down a sheer cliff face into the Honde Valley.
| full | US Dollar 10.00 |
Great Zimbabwe, the greatest medieval city in sub-Saharan Africa, provides evidence that ancient Africa reached a level of civilisation not suspected by early scholars. Today all that remains are old stone ruins and winding corridors. The ancient stone structures are the largest in Africa south of the Egyptian pyramids.
The structure best identified with the site is the elliptical Great Enclosure. Nearly 100m (330ft) across and 255m (840ft) in circumference, it's the largest ancient structure in sub-Saharan Africa. The mortarless walls rise 11m (36ft) and, are 5m (16ft) thick in places. The most accepted theory is that it was used as a royal compound.
The greatest source of speculation is the 10m (33ft) Conical Tower, a solid and apparently ceremonial structure that probably has phallic significance.
tel info 039 62080
bus from Mucheke Musika (in Masvingo). Get off at the Great Zimbabwe turn-off, then walk 2km
taxi from Masvingo
| full | US Dollar 20.00 |
Harare, with a population of over 1.6 million, is the heart of the nation in nearly every respect. It has a distinctly European flavour, and it continues to be Zimbabwe's showpiece city and centre of commerce, with high-rise buildings, jostling traffic and all their attendant bustle.
For the final word on African art and material culture, explore the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. Harare Gardens, the city's largest park, has music at the bandstand on weekends, and an island-like stand of rainforest that contains a miniature model of Victoria Falls and the Zambezi Gorges.
Much of Harare's activity focuses on Mbare musika, 5km (3mi) south of the centre, Zimbabwe's largest market and busiest bus terminal. The Kopje, a granite hill rising above the southwest corner of central Harare, is a great place to go for views of the city.
Unfortunately, violent crime is fairly common in Harare and visitors should never walk alone in the city and should keep off the streets altogether at night unless using an official taxi.
You need not be a woman who runs with the wolves to sense that the Matobo Hills are one of the world's power places. Dotted around the park are a wealth of ancient San paintings and old grain bins, where warriors once stored their provisions.
Some hidden niches still shelter clay ovens that were used as iron smelters to make spears used against the colonial hordes. Some peaks, such as Shumba, Shaba and Shumba Sham, are considered sacred and locals believe that even to point at them will bring misfortune.
Hidden in a rock cleft is the Ndebele's sacred rain shrine, where people still pray to Mwali and petition for rain. During the drought of the early 1990s, even government officials came here to pull some strings.
With the history comes a superb array of wildlife. You may see the African hawk eagle or the rare Cape eagle owl. Matobo is also home to the world's greatest concentration of black eagles. The Whovi Game Park portion of Matobo is best known for its zealously guarded population of both black and white rhino, but its inhabitants also include antelope, zebra and giraffe.
