The Journal
Why Zimbabwe — and Not Kenya, Botswana, or Tanzania
If you have done one African safari, this is the case for the second. By Josh Elliott, fifth-generation Zimbabwean.
Most travellers who reach Zimbabwe have already been to Kenya, Botswana, or Tanzania. They came back changed and want the second trip. The question I get asked most: why come here next? Three answers, in the order I rank them.
Density of wonders, in a smaller country
Zimbabwe is roughly the size of California. Inside it: three UNESCO World Heritage Sites — Great Zimbabwe, Khami Ruins, and Matobo Hills. The largest waterfall on Earth at Victoria Falls. The largest concentrated elephant population in southern Africa at Hwange. Africa’s most extraordinary river wilderness at Mana Pools. The largest man-made lake in the world at Lake Kariba.
What you do in two weeks in Zimbabwe is what would take three weeks in Tanzania and a lot of internal flights. The country was designed, by accident of geography, to be done well in a fortnight.
A guiding tradition that punches above the country’s weight
The Zimbabwe professional guides’ licence is widely held to be the hardest in Africa. The country produces guides who can do walking safaris in big-game country. My father, Alan Elliott, founded Touch the Wild and the Presidential Elephants programme. The men he trained still run the lodges and lead the walks. When you book Zim Travellers, you book into that lineage.
A country travellers don’t arrive at by accident
Zimbabwe is rarely your first safari. It is what travellers do after Kenya, Botswana, or Tanzania — once they want depth more than breadth, fewer people in the photographs, and the time to walk rather than only drive. The lodges are quieter. The vehicles are fewer. The guides have time.
Where to start
If you have a fortnight: the UNESCO Heritage Circuit — a single-route circuit linking Great Zimbabwe, Khami Ruins, and Matobo Hills.
If you have ten days and want the wildlife pillar: Wings Over Zimbabwe — fly between Hwange, Mana Pools, and Victoria Falls; no internal road days.
If you have less time, write me — I’ll shape something for what you have. Plan your journey.
— Josh
