Zimbabwe Travel Destination: Mutare
Mutare is an ideal base for excursions to Nyanga National Park (British magnate Cecil Rhodes’ former estate), 50 mi/80 km north of Mutare, where you’ll find some of Zimbabwe’s most breathtaking scenery. Mutare beautiful region’s major town and can be reached only by road or rail. You’ll need your own transportation (hire it in Mutare) to drive the scenic roads in the area. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are preferable because the most beautiful views are from dirt roads. Mt. Nyanga (at 8,500 ft/2,590 m, the nation’s highest) is there, as are several waterfalls (Pungwe and Mtarazi are our favorites). Activities include visiting dams and angling for trout. The Rhodes Museum has exhibits on anthropology. Also within a short drive of Mutare are the Vumba Mountains (about 20 mi/32 km south of Mutare), which you can drive through, stopping occasionally at special lookout points. If time permits, have tea and stroll through the beautifully landscaped Vumba Botanical Gardens, home to orchids and other native plants in an English-garden setting. Hikers and climbers, in particular, are drawn to the Chimanimani Mountains, about 90 mi/145 km south of Mutare. Near the town of Chimanimani is an ancient trail that leads into the mountains (the hut at the top is open to climbers). Beautiful valleys, pools, waterfalls, an eland sanctuary and hot springs are a few of the pleasures of the Chimanimani area.
Related Travel Information
Zimbabwe Travel Destination: Chinhoyi
The main draw of Chinhoyi is just outside the town. Called the Chinhoyi Caves, the attraction was formed aeons ago when an immense sinkhole appeared at the base of the ridge. A sloping cave leads to an underground lake of sparkling blue water, 165 ft/50 m beneath the Earth's surface. When sunlight pours in from a gap in the top, the view is sublime. 75 mi/120 km northwest of Harare.
Zimbabwe Travel Destination: Kwe Kwe (Que Que)
A small town in central Zimbabwe, Kwe Kwe is best known for its nearby privately owned wildlife reserves and proximity to other sights (see also Gweru Midlands). Cabergeigh Estates, the best of the bunch, includes of a picturesque game lodge set amid 20,000 acres/8,100 hectares of mopane trees and water holes. Open-top all-terrain vehicles make it easy to spot large herds of elephants, wildebeests and impala, while sable, giraffes, eland, nyala, waterbucks, zebras and crocodiles are also common. Licensed hunting is possible in the park. 110 mi/180 km southwest of Harare.
Zimbabwe Travel Destination: Binga
Binga is a small and pleasant town on the shore of Lake Kariba. This place is favored by the locals as a low-key vacation resort: This place is excellent for fishing lovers. Isolated house boats decorate the water, a sign of growing tourism in the region. Although reasonably developed, it retains its bush character: A notice in the local police station keeps track of the number of deaths in the area attributed to wild animals. 200 mi/320 km west of Harare.
Zimbabwe Travel Destination: Gweru (Gwelo)
This town is situated in the middle of the county. The town of Gweru is mostly used as a base for visiting nearby national parks and ruins. While Great Zimbabwe has the most extensive ruins in the country, they are not the only ones: There are more than 200 such sites, and a few are near Gweru. The Dhlo ruins (small ruins with chevron and herringbone designs) are 45 mi/70 km away, and the Nalatale stone ruins, another small but interesting site, are 40 mi/65 km away. Sebakwe National Park (noted for fishing, birding and beautiful
Zimbabwe Travel Destination: Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second-largest city in Zimbabwe. The country was originally known as "Rhodesia", named after Cecil John Rhodes who made a lasting impact on the country's history. One of Rhodes' favourite places was the Matobo Hills south of Bulawayo. He was so moved by the fascinating rock formations and the wild spirit of this area that he chose to be buried at the highest point of the hills which he named "World's View". His burial site is visited by thousands of tourists to Zimbabwe.
Set in cattle and mining country, Although it has more than
