Zimbabwe national parks. Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe: description, photo, where is it on the map, how to get
Holidays in Zimbabwe cannot be called ordinary. With an almost complete lack of infrastructure, the country attracts fans of exoticism, thrills and wildlife, which are most fully preserved in national parks. We must pay tribute to the country's government, which did everything possible to preserve natural wealth Zimbabwe. As a result, tourists can not only see live rhinoceros, lion, giraffe, hippopotamus and other animals, but also have the opportunity to hunt. Zimbabwe is one of the few African countries where such "entertainment" is not prohibited. You cannot get here from Moscow directly. You will have to change trains in London, Frankfurt or Johannesburg, depending on which airline you choose to use. And from there you can fly to Harare - the capital of Zimbabwe. Get ready for a long flight - about 15 hours. You can also get from Johannesburg to Harare by car, but after such a flight you will hardly want to add another day to the time of the road - this is how much the bus travels from one capital to another.
And, since this is in the title, let's go to the north of the country, where not far from grandiose waterfall Victoria, the Matetsi reserve is spread over fifty hectares. Tourists here are provided with ample opportunities for pastime - from simple contemplation of luxurious vegetation and life in the natural environment of elephants, giraffes, lions and other inhabitants of the reserve to canoeing on the Zambezi. Hunting in the reserve is prohibited, but fishing is not prohibited. Here you can comfortably relax - the apartments for tourists meet the highest standards. And, being 40 kilometers from Victoria, it is simply impossible to resist a trip to the most majestic waterfall on the planet.
Even closer to Victoria is the Masuwe Nature Reserve. This is a private property, but guests are always welcome in the reserve. And, although the area of Masuwe is small - only about 4 square kilometers- Safari tours, allowing you to see exotic animals in the wild, are organized here daily. Of course, we are not talking about any kind of hunting. But daredevils can visit the lion farm, where they painstakingly restore the population of these magnificent predators. Guests of Masuwe are accommodated by the hosts in cozy houses with wooden (teak) furniture and all the amenities. Reading areas and a safari bar create an almost homely environment with a spicy exotic flavor.
National park Hwange
Previously, the territory of the park was in the possession of the royal family of Ndebele as a hunting ground, and on this moment one of the richest reserves in Africa. The total area of the park is 15,000 square kilometers. Hwange National Park is located in the western part of the country, about two hours' drive from the famous Victoria Falls. Hwange received the status of a national park in 1929, thanks to its wells, which are filled with groundwater.
The territory of the national park can rightfully be considered an untouched oasis of wildlife, where you can see wild animals coming to the watering hole in the bush. Here you can see elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, wild dogs, as well as zebras, antelopes, about three hundred species of birds and many other representatives of the African fauna.
Matobo National Park
First of all, the park is famous for the Matobo hills located in the park, the hills are considered a sacred place. Visiting the Matobo National Park, you will feel a surge of strength and energy, locals it is believed that it is the Matobo Hills that give such incredible strength. Around the park are the riches of ancient people, these are objects of art and preserved to our times bins for
the grains in which the warriors kept their provisions. Mountain peaks Shaba, Shumba and Shumba Sham are considered saints, and according to local beliefs, the one who climbs one of the peaks is doomed to misfortune. In the mountains you can find the lost holy rain chapel of Ndebele. Those who came to the chapel pray to the god Mvari and ask him for rain. And of course, the park is full of wild life. In Matobo National Park, you can see the African eagle orrare mountain eagle owl. The territory of the park is also considered 
home to a huge number of black eagles.
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Recreation park "Chinhoyi Caves"
It is located near the city of Chinhoyi, and is considered one of the most amazing and worthy places to visit in all of Zimbabwe, this park offers a variety of entertainment options for young tourists. But the caves themselves are located on the road to Lake Kariba, 130 kilometers north-west of the capital of Zimbabwe - Harare. There is also a huge natural mine, which reaches
30 meters in diameter, and 45 meters deep. There is a lake at the bottom of the mine and with a crystal clean water, and according to numerous divers, the depth of the lake reaches 100 meters.
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Eastern highlands of Zimbabwe
The eastern highlands of Zimbabwe are located on the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique, which is renowned for its unsurpassed natural beauty. The highlands have interesting and a nice place- a bowl of Mutare. Mutare is a natural depression surrounded by mountains, and this natural feature looks like a bowl. Be sure to visit the nearby Wumba area.Wumba is the place to see 
the oldest forests. These forests are home to subtropical plants, many flowers, and ferns. There is another place in the eastern highlands that is no less famous than the Wumba region, and the Mutara bowl, and that is Nyange. Nyange is a mountainous area, through which many mountain rivers and waterfalls flow.
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Zambezi national park
A few kilometers up the Zambezi River from Victoria Falls is the Zambezi National Park. In this park you will have the opportunity to see elephants, hippos, crocodiles, zebras, many exotic birds and animals, and most importantly, you can watch a herd of the rarest saber-horned antelopes.
Extreme and thrill-seekers will love the rafting experience
along the rugged Zambezi River and the world's highest bungee jumping (111 meters) from the bridge that separates the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Largest wildlife park in; one of the main attractions South Africa... In the old days, the territory of the park belonged to the royal family of Ndbele, but in the first half of the 20th century it was decided to open a reserve for the preservation of the continent's wildlife. Hwange Park is included in the version of our website.
Geographically, it is located near Victoria Falls, so many tourists combine the inspection of these two wonderful places in one trip. The closest airport to the falls is Victoria Falls, and the closest airport to the park is Hwange. Between them, pleasure planes of local air carriers fly daily, as well as trains circulate. The closest station to the reserve is Dete. The flight by plane will take about half an hour and the train journey will take about 2 hours.
In terms of animal population, Hwange is considered one of the richest parks in South Africa. It is home to over 400 species of birds and over 1000 species of animals. One of the largest populations of the African elephant and buffalo is located here. In addition, in Hwang you can see the oryx, hyena, saber antelope, lion, various giraffes, rhinos and other African animals. Well, for bird watchers this park is like a paradise with a huge variety of rare birds.
Not only the flora, but also the fauna of Hwange is unique. Every evening, animals gather around natural watering holes, where the most succulent grass grows. Vast meadows, acacia shrubs, thousands of flowers and trees decorate this park with their colors. Due to its proximity to the Kalahari Desert, the weather in the region is changeable with sharp drops in the evenings. Therefore, it is advisable to have warm clothes with you.
Attraction photo: Hwange National Park
Zimbabwe seems to be something distant and unattainable. At the same time, this is a place that has not yet been explored by a Slavic tourist. Europeans and Americans have been to Zimbabwe for a long time and realized that better place for safari just doesn't exist.
We invite you to discover the wonderful world of the National Safari Parks of this country and immerse yourself in the life of wild nature, which has preserved its traditions and follows natural instincts.
This park is the largest in the country and has a presidential status. The most important attraction of the park is Victoria Falls, this waterfall is also the main one business card country.
In the Hwange National Park, there are hunting estates of the first persons of the state. In fact, it is an untouched oasis of wildlife, where you can observe the life of leopards, elephants, lions, wild dogs, antelopes, zebras and more than 300 species of birds very close.
In the park there are special equipped sites, so that it would be convenient to observe the animal world. As for the safari, there are about 500 kilometers of road laid here, which allows you to see the animals without leaving the car. Among the plants and trees of the park, it is impossible not to notice the famous baobabs.
Safari parks and reserves Zimbabwe- these are places of amazing beauty that amaze the imagination. This is an ecological zone that has preserved wildlife almost in its original form.
Although for the majority of Russian tourists these lands seem as if they are from another world - they are not. This is our world, which is close enough, one has only to expand the boundaries a little and go on an unforgettable safari through the national parks of Zimbabwe.
Details
It is the largest National Park inZimbabwe, it occupies an area south of Victoria Falls with an area of 14,651 square kilometers, which is home to more than 100 species of animals and 400 species of birds! The park is perfectly adapted for observing its inhabitants; there are equipped observation decks, and a 500-kilometer road system allows you to see, without leaving your car, the main representatives of the fauna of this reserve. The park has the largest population of elephants and buffaloes in the country! A truly spectacular sight is the herd of 100 elephants strolling along the river. Herds of buffaloes and family clans of rhinoceroses, giraffes and zebras, sitatunga antelopes, canna, kudu antelopes, and kudu saber-horned antelopes, as well as lions and leopards look no less impressive. In addition, such rare animals as wild dog, beiza, or passan, and pangolin are found here. The fauna of the park is very diverse; about 260 species of trees and shrubs grow here, including the famous baobabs! The world of flowering plants is also unique, represented by a thousand varieties of flowers!
GONAREJO NATIONAL PARK:
It is the second largest nature reserve in Zimbabwe(area about 505,000 hectares), located in the southeast of Zimbabwe on the border with Mozambique.In addition to traditional African animals, Gonarejo is home to a very rare, Nyala antelope, which hardly appears in public, but you may be lucky!The park offers an excellent view of the Chiloho Rocks, which, because of their reddish-red sheer walls, similar to the walls of a fortress, seem to "guard" the Limpopo River, which flows further into Mozambique. Chimanimani National Park encompasses virtually the entire majestic Chimanimani mountain range that traverses the country in massive splendor with peaks reaching over 2,400 meters in height. This place will forever be remembered by the passionate cyclist and lover of rock climbing, since you can only get to the peaks either on foot or by mountain bike. Tourists are generally advised to bring food supplies with them. Also, do not forget that the mountains must be treated with respect and caution, as there are often fogs and strong winds. Camping sites can be found at the foot of the mountains, and camping is permitted throughout the park. If you need to spend the night in the mountains, you can get a job in the free mountain huts, open all year round.
VICTORIA FALLS NATIONAL PARK:
Reserve Victoria Falls was founded in 1939, and in 1952 received the status National Park... It covers an area of 59.3 thousand hectares, adjoining the town of the same name, which is located immediately behind the famous waterfall in Zimbabwe.There are many crevices on the territory of the Park, which in the early centuries were part of the waterfall.
MATOBO NATIONAL PARK:
The park is located near a beautiful old town Bulawayo, in an amazingly picturesque corner of the country on the territory of hills covered with bizarre granite ledges Matobo, or "bald hills". This region has long been sacred to the indigenous people and attracts the attention of historians, culturologists and ordinary tourists.
E As far back as 20 thousand years ago, the ancient tribes of the Bushmen lived here, leaving us an invaluable historical heritage in the form of rock paintings depicting animals and birds and scenes from life and ritual dances. They can be called a stone age chronicle, telling about how it looked like the world in those distant times!
The Park is inhabited by leopards, giraffes, zebras and such rare species of animals as sable antelope, black and white rhinoceros. And also the hills Matobo are famous for their large population of black eagles. It is impossible to observe the flight of these proud birds without true admiration!
