Matabeleland North
Matabeleland North has a wide range of interesting places to see as well as opportunities to marvel and to relax. Victoria Falls is certainly a must-see for first-time visitors; then there is Hwange National Park with its rich wildlife. The western end of Lake Kariba also lies in this province. Here, you have the option of crossing the lake to Kariba by ferry or cruise boat, or of just relaxing by the water and doing some fishing.
What to see
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Zambezi National Park
The over 50,000 hectare Zambezi National Park offers visitors fantastic landscapes and a fascinating array of wildlife only 10 km outside of Victoria Falls Town.
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Victoria Falls
Water is life and is thus always fascinating, especially when it fills all our senses in such unimaginable quantities and with such force as at the Victoria Falls.
When you step out of the rainforest at one of the lookout points and stand still for a while, you will be mesmerized by the tumbling, plunging veils of water that form new patterns and shades of colour as you watch. The thunder of The Falls at high water is so loud that other sounds become inaudible and you are protected from the noise, the bustle and the constant demands of everyday life. At low water you feel the spray on your skin as fine, cooling mist or when the river carries a lot of water, it feels like the rain during a violent thunderstorm that soaks everything in a split second. You can smell the freshness of the water as well as the wet, earthy scent of the rainforest. Even if every facet and every new sight tempts you to photograph it stop for a few minutes and simply do nothing but enjoy the amazing sensations. This wonder of the world is always worth it. -
Kazuma Pan National Park
This park is situated in the northwestern corner of Zimbabwe between Kazungula (the border to Botswana), Hwange National Park and Victoria Falls. 31300 hectares of open grassland and natural pans mixed with small forests of Mopane are protected here. A series of natural depressions provide the animals with water, there are artificial boreholes that supplement the water supply in the dry season. There is also a small river that flows throughout the year. Herds of animals pass back and forth between Zimbabwe and Botswana, particularly at the height of the dry season between September and November.
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Hwange National Park
One of the best-known protected areas in Zimbabwe is Hwange National Park. This park is also the largest in the country and the easiest to reach, both from Victoria Falls and from Bulawayo. This does not mean that the park is swarming with tourists and that its wilderness has been tamed. Far from it. There are both public and private tourist facilities, but they account for only a very small part of this massive park. The roads are in moderate to poor condition and there are few routes compared with the vastness of the park.
For true nature lovers and for those who want to spend a few days deep in the wilderness, Hwange National Park is the ideal place to go. A tented camp under the African stars with only with wild animals and a few rangers as neighbours gives you the peace and quiet that you need to rebuild your energy for a busy year ahead. Walking in the wilderness in search of animals, birds, tracks, interesting trees provides an intense experience of nature and its wonders. -
Lake Kariba
In 1958, this huge dam was completed, retaining the waters of the Zambezi River at a length of 220 km and a width of up to 40 km.
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Chizarira National Park
With its approximately 2000 square kilometres, Chizarira is one of Zimbabwe's larger national parks.
