Find places in Zimbabwe

Must-Haves

• National Gallery of Zimbabwe (Julius Nyerere Way)
  The country's main art gallery, with changing shows of Zimbabwean painting, textiles and sculpture.
• Chapungu Sculpture Park (Msasa)
  Gardens full of Shona stone sculpture where you can meet carvers and buy direct.
• National Heroes' Acre (Warren Park)
  A huge hillside monument to the liberation struggle that explains how the nation tells its story.

Fun for Everyone

• Reps Theatre (Avondale)
  A long running theatre that stages plays, musicals and comedy in an intimate setting.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mbare Musika (Mbare)
  The country's biggest market and bus hub, loud, colourful and best visited in daylight with a local.
• Avondale Flea Market (Avondale)
  A relaxed spot for crafts, fabrics, books and secondhand finds in the northern suburbs.

Fun for Everyone

• Sam Levy's Village (Borrowdale)
  An open air shopping village with cafés, a weekend market and an easy, family friendly feel.

Off the Beaten Path

• Doon Estate (Msasa)
  A cluster of craft, design and furniture shops in old industrial buildings, with a café.

Fun for Everyone

• Mukuvisi Woodlands (Hillside)
  Woodland trails close to the centre where you can walk among giraffe, zebra and antelope.
• Lake Chivero Recreational Park (Norton)
  A lake park west of the city with rhino, giraffe and San paintings at Bushman's Point.

Off the Beaten Path

• Domboshawa (Domboshawa)
  A granite dome north of Harare with rock paintings, caves and wide views at sunset.
• Ewanrigg Botanical Garden (Shamva Road)
  Gardens famous for aloes and cycads, at their most colourful in the dry winter months.
• Epworth Balancing Rocks (Epworth)
  Remarkable stacked granite boulders once shown on the country's banknotes.

Fun for Everyone

• Wild Is Life (Harare)
  A wildlife sanctuary that cares for orphaned elephants and other animals, visited by booking.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Gava's Restaurant (Mukuvisi Woodlands)
  Traditional Zimbabwean dishes such as sadza, road runner chicken and greens in a woodland setting.
• Garwe Restaurant (Eastlea)
  A popular spot for hearty local food and a buzzing, everyday Harare atmosphere.

Great for Date Night

• Amanzi Restaurant (Brooke Park, Highlands)
  Elegant dining in lush gardens, a favourite for special occasions.
• The Fishmonger (Borrowdale)
  Seafood and a lively terrace, popular for long lunches and evenings out.

Fun for Everyone

• Pariah State (Avondale)
  A lively bar with good food, live music and a young local crowd at weekends.

Must-Haves

• Meikles Hotel (City centre)
  A historic grand hotel facing Africa Unity Square, a Harare landmark since 1915.

Great for Date Night

• Amanzi Lodges (Highlands)
  Garden suites with a calm, boutique feel in a leafy northern suburb.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bronte Hotel (Avondale)
  A garden hotel close to the centre that is comfortable and good value.

Must-Haves

• Victoria Falls Rainforest (Victoria Falls National Park)
  The classic walk along the gorge, with views across the main falls from many points.

Fun for Everyone

• Zambezi National Park (Zambezi Drive)
  A riverside park just upstream of town with elephant, buffalo and sable.
• The Big Tree (Zambezi Drive)
  An enormous old baobab by the river, once a meeting place for early travellers.

Must-Haves

• Victoria Falls Bridge (Zambezi Gorge)
  The historic 1905 bridge with bungee, swing and bridge tours, and views of the falls.
• Batoka Gorge white water rafting (Zambezi River)
  Some of the world's wildest one day rafting, best in the low water months.

Off the Beaten Path

• Lunar rainbow viewing (Victoria Falls National Park)
  Special full moon openings of the rainforest when a moonbow forms in the spray.

Must-Haves

• The Boma Dinner and Drum Show (Victoria Falls Safari Lodge)
  A lively evening of local dishes, drumming and dancing that everyone enjoys.

Great for Date Night

• Stanley's Terrace (Victoria Falls Hotel)
  High tea or drinks on the lawn with the spray rising beyond the bridge.

Fun for Everyone

• Three Monkeys (Town centre)
  A relaxed restaurant with wood fired pizza and a fun, busy evening atmosphere.
• Zambezi House (Zambezi River)
  A riverside spot for drinks and food with sunset views over the water.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mama Africa Eating House (Town centre)
  Local dishes and live music in a friendly, informal setting.

Must-Haves

• Lookout Cafe (Batoka Gorge)
  Lunch on a deck right on the gorge edge with views of the bridge and the rafters below.

Must-Haves

• Elephant's Walk Shopping and Artist Village (Town centre)
  Galleries and craft shops selling quality carvings, textiles and jewellery.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Victoria Falls Craft Village (Town centre)
  Stalls of carvings and baskets where you can watch artisans at work and bargain kindly.

Off the Beaten Path

• Jafuta Heritage Centre (Elephant's Walk)
  A small museum on the cultures of the Tonga, Ndebele and other peoples of the region.

Must-Haves

• The Victoria Falls Hotel (Mallett Drive)
  The grand Edwardian hotel within earshot of the falls, worth a visit even for a drink.

Fun for Everyone

• Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (Squire Cummings Road)
  A thatched lodge overlooking a waterhole where animals come to drink.

Great for Date Night

• Ilala Lodge (Livingstone Way)
  A comfortable lodge a short walk from the falls entrance with a lovely garden.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Shoestrings Backpackers (Town centre)
  A sociable backpacker lodge with dorms, private rooms and a lively bar.

Must-Haves

• Hwange Main Camp (Hwange National Park)
  The park's main gateway, with self drive loops and a busy rest camp.
• Nyamandhlovu Pan (Hwange National Park)
  A raised platform over a busy waterhole, superb for elephants in the dry season.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sinamatella Camp (Hwange National Park)
  A hilltop camp with views across the plains in the wilder north of the park.

Fun for Everyone

• Masuma Dam (Hwange National Park)
  A picnic site and hide over water that draws hippo, elephant and lion.
• Mandavu Dam (Hwange National Park)
  A large dam with crocodiles, hippos and a lovely spot to watch the evening.

Must-Haves

• Painted Dog Conservation (Near Main Camp)
  A conservation centre explaining how rare painted dogs are being protected.

Must-Haves

• The Hide Safari Camp (Eastern Hwange)
  A long running tented camp with hides overlooking a waterhole.
• Davison's Camp (Linkwasha concession)
  A classic tented camp overlooking a waterhole with strong guiding.

Great for Date Night

• Linkwasha Camp (Linkwasha concession)
  A stylish camp on open plains in one of the park's richest wildlife areas.
• Somalisa Camp (Kennedy area)
  A small, elegant camp where elephants come to drink at the pool.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Hwange Safari Lodge (Near Main Camp)
  A large, easygoing lodge with a waterhole view, good value close to the park.

Must-Haves

• Natural History Museum (Centenary Park)
  One of Africa's finest museums of wildlife, geology and history.
• National Gallery Bulawayo (Main Street)
  Changing shows of local art in a fine old building in the city centre.
• Khami Ruins (Khami)
  A UNESCO listed stone city that followed Great Zimbabwe, rarely crowded.

Fun for Everyone

• Bulawayo Railway Museum (Raylton)
  Steam locomotives and carriages from the days of Rhodesia Railways.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mzilikazi Art and Craft Centre (Mzilikazi)
  A township art centre that has trained generations of Bulawayo potters and sculptors.

Fun for Everyone

• Centenary Park (City centre)
  A green park for an afternoon stroll beside the Natural History Museum.
• Maleme Dam (Matobo National Park)
  A peaceful dam with parks lodges, picnics and walks among the boulders.

Off the Beaten Path

• Hillside Dams (Hillside)
  A quiet conservancy with walking paths and birdlife on the edge of the city.

Must-Haves

• Matobo National Park (Matobo Hills)
  A UNESCO landscape of balancing boulders, rock art and rhino.
• World's View (Matobo National Park)
  A granite dome with sweeping views over the hills, best at sunset.

Fun for Everyone

• Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage (Esigodini Road)
  A sanctuary caring for injured and orphaned animals, a hit with children.

Must-Haves

• Rhino tracking in Whovi Wild Area (Matobo National Park)
  Approach white and black rhino on foot with expert guides.

Fun for Everyone

• Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (Bulawayo Showgrounds)
  The country's big annual trade fair, a lively few days in the city.

Great for Date Night

• Camp Amalinda (Matobo Hills)
  Rooms built into the granite with a relaxed, romantic feel.

Must-Haves

• Big Cave Camp (Matobo Hills)
  Chalets on a granite outcrop with superb views and rhino walks.

Fun for Everyone

• Matobo Hills Lodge (Matobo Hills)
  Thatched chalets among the boulders near the park entrance.

Low Cost and Authentic

• The Bulawayo Club (City centre)
  A historic club with rooms full of old world character.

Must-Haves

• Great Zimbabwe National Monument (Great Zimbabwe)
  The largest ancient stone city in sub-Saharan Africa and a UNESCO site.
• Great Enclosure (Great Zimbabwe)
  Massive curved walls and the mysterious Conical Tower in the valley.

Fun for Everyone

• Great Zimbabwe Site Museum (Great Zimbabwe)
  Home of the original soapstone Zimbabwe Birds found at the site.

Off the Beaten Path

• Italian Chapel of St Francis (Masvingo)
  A chapel decorated by Italian prisoners of war in the 1940s.

Must-Haves

• Hill Complex (Great Zimbabwe)
  A climb through boulders to the ancient royal enclosure and views over the valley.

Fun for Everyone

• Lake Mutirikwi Recreational Park (Lake Mutirikwi)
  A lakeside park with white rhino, giraffe and lovely sunsets.

Must-Haves

• Great Zimbabwe Hotel (Great Zimbabwe)
  A hotel within walking distance of the ruins, ideal for early visits.

Great for Date Night

• Norma Jeane's Lakeview Resort (Lake Mutirikwi)
  Cottages on a hill above the lake with views and a quiet garden.

Off the Beaten Path

• The Lodge at the Ancient City (Great Zimbabwe)
  Thatched chalets among granite boulders close to the ruins.

Must-Haves

• Nyanga National Park (Nyanga)
  Rolling hills, pine forests, trout dams and waterfalls in cool mountain air.
• Mount Nyangani (Nyanga National Park)
  Zimbabwe's highest peak, a rewarding climb on a clear morning with a guide.
• Mutarazi Falls (Mutarazi Falls National Park)
  One of Africa's highest waterfalls, plunging off the escarpment.

Off the Beaten Path

• Pungwe Falls (Nyanga National Park)
  A quiet viewpoint over the Pungwe River plunging into a forested gorge.
• Honde Valley viewpoint (Honde Valley)
  Views over tea estates and the hills of Mozambique.

Fun for Everyone

• Mutarazi Falls Skywalk (Mutarazi Falls National Park)
  A glass bottomed walkway and zip line above the drop.
• Trout fishing at Nyanga (Nyanga National Park)
  Fly fishing on cold mountain dams, with permits from the park office.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ziwa National Monument (Nyanga)
  Ancient terraces, pit structures and stone ruins with a small museum.
• Nyangwe Fort (Nyanga National Park)
  Stone enclosures on a hilltop that recall the region's ancient farmers.

Fun for Everyone

• Mutare Museum (Mutare)
  Antique transport, local history and natural history in a calm museum.

Must-Haves

• Troutbeck Resort (Nyanga)
  A classic highland hotel with a lake, log fires and walks.

Great for Date Night

• Leopard Rock Hotel (Bvumba)
  A grand hotel with a golf course and views over the misty Bvumba.

Must-Haves

• Tony's Coffee Shop (Bvumba)
  A famous highland café known for indulgent cakes and hot chocolate.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Sakubva Market (Mutare)
  A busy everyday market for fresh produce and local life.