Zimbabwe Fam Trips for Travel Agents and Hosts

Which places in Zimbabwe should travel professionals know?

Key parks, reserves, cities and coastlines in Zimbabwe, with when to go and how guests usually get there. Each links to Google Maps.

Waterfall

Victoria Falls (Zimbabwean side)

Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwean side of the falls is viewed from a path through the rainforest in Victoria Falls National Park, facing the Main Falls and Devil's Cataract; the falls are a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared with Zambia. The town of Victoria Falls is a base for Hwange and for day trips to Chobe.

Best months: February to June for the most water
Getting there: Victoria Falls Airport (VFA)

Open in Google Maps ↗

Photo: Stiac H, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

National park

Hwange National Park

Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's largest national park, on the edge of the Kalahari sands, known for its large elephant population. Waterholes are pumped in the dry season, which concentrates game around them.

Best months: July to October
Getting there: By road from Victoria Falls, or light aircraft

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Photo: Jürgen Kehrberger, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

National park

Mana Pools National Park

Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe

A park on the Zambezi floodplain, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where large numbers of elephant and buffalo gather in the dry months. It is known for walking safaris and canoeing, with the Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia on the opposite bank.

Best months: June to October
Getting there: Light aircraft, or 4x4 by road from Harare

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Photo: Babakathy, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lake

Lake Kariba

Mashonaland West (shared with Zambia), Zimbabwe

A reservoir on the Zambezi created by the Kariba Dam and shared with Zambia. On the Zimbabwe shore, houseboats and lodges give access to Matusadona National Park and to fishing and boat-based game viewing.

Getting there: By road from Harare, or light aircraft to Kariba

Open in Google Maps ↗

Photo by Omoniyi David on Unsplash

National park

Matobo National Park

Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe

Granite hills and balancing boulders about 35 km south of Bulawayo, within the Matobo Hills UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hills hold one of the highest concentrations of rock art in southern Africa.

Getting there: By road from Bulawayo

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Photo: Digr, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Heritage site

Great Zimbabwe

Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe

The stone ruins of a city built between about 1100 and 1450 AD, a UNESCO World Heritage Site around 30 km from Masvingo. The Great Enclosure, the Hill Ruins and the Valley Ruins can be visited with a guide.

Getting there: By road from Masvingo or Harare

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Photo: Janice Bell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

City

Harare

Harare Province, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's capital and main international gateway, at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport. It is the usual starting point for road and air transfers to Mana Pools, Lake Kariba and Great Zimbabwe.

Getting there: Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (HRE)

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Photo: Itaisibanda, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How should a Zimbabwe fam itinerary be planned?

Compare a Victoria Falls and Hwange programme with a more focused Mana Pools stay. Ask the ground handler to propose connections that suit the available days and current transfer options.

Confirm access and camp operating dates before fixing the programme. Specify whether each activity is an inspection, a game drive or a separately arranged guided experience.

What should agents confirm with the host?

Ask for a written itinerary and inclusions list before accepting. A hosted stay does not automatically include transport or every experience.

Accommodation, meals and the activities included at each stop.
International and domestic travel, transfers, fees and any permits.
Personal costs, cancellation terms and the expected follow-up after the trip.
Current entry requirements for your passport, travel advice and suitable insurance for the planned activities.

When is the best time to visit Zimbabwe?

The dry season from May to October is the best time for game viewing in Zimbabwe, when wildlife gathers at rivers and waterholes; Victoria Falls carries the most water after the rains, from about February to June.

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General pattern only; it varies by region and from year to year.

Zimbabwe seasons, general pattern
Months	Season	What agents see
May to August	Cool dry season	Clear, dry days and cold nights, with ground frost possible in June and July; game starts to concentrate at water
September to October	Hot dry season	The hottest months before the rains; water is scarce and game viewing at rivers and pans is at its most concentrated
November to March	Rainy season	Most of the year's rain, often in afternoon storms, with a dry spell common around late December and early January; green landscapes and migrant birds
April	Post-rainy season	Rain eases and the landscape stays green; Victoria Falls is near its highest flow

What do travellers to Zimbabwe need to know?

Capital: Harare
Currency: Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) and US dollar ZWG, USD
Official languages: Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shangani, Shona, Sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa
Time zone: Central Africa Time UTC+2
Dialling code: +263
Driving: On the left

Plugs and power

Plug types D, G. Mains supply 220 V, 50 Hz. Bring a plug adapter for these types; check whether devices also need a voltage converter.

International gateways

HRE Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Harare
VFA Victoria Falls Airport, Victoria Falls
BUQ Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport, Bulawayo

Entry

Most visitors need a visa for Zimbabwe, available on arrival or in advance through the government's e-visa platform. The KAZA UNIVISA, issued by Zimbabwe and Zambia, covers both countries and day trips into Botswana through Kazungula, for eligible nationalities. Check the current requirements for your passport before travelling.

Health

There is no yellow fever risk in Zimbabwe, but a vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from, or transiting through, countries with yellow fever risk. Official sources describe malaria risk throughout the year in the Zambezi valley and seasonally in other low-lying areas, with very low risk in Harare and Bulawayo; check with a travel health professional before travel.

Checked 19 October 2026 against the sources below. Rules change: confirm entry and health requirements before travel.

Questions travel agents and hosts ask

Are Zimbabwe fam trips always free?

No. The invitation determines which costs are hosted and which are paid by the agent. Confirm flights, transfers, permits, activities and personal expenses before accepting.

Where can travel agents find Zimbabwe fam trips?

Hosts list fam trips on RepBud, where travel agents can join RepBuddies free. Availability varies by destination and market; a country guide is not a promise of a current departure.

When is the best time to visit Zimbabwe?

The dry season from May to October is the best time for game viewing in Zimbabwe, when wildlife gathers at rivers and waterholes; Victoria Falls carries the most water after the rains, from about February to June.

What plugs are used in Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe uses type D and G plugs. The mains supply is 220 V, 50 Hz.

What currency is used in Zimbabwe, and what time zone is it in?

Zimbabwe uses the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) and US dollar (ZWG, USD) and is on Central Africa Time, UTC+2.

Explore the destination

Destination references for this guide. Confirm current arrangements with your host.

Zimbabwe fam trips for travel agents and hosts