A FAM trip with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and why I believe Zimbabwe deserves a much bigger place on the Indian traveller's map
Air Zimbabwe - first flight from Harare to Masvingo
I recently had the opportunity to travel to Zimbabwe on a familiarisation trip organised and hosted by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) around the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo.
As a travel professional, I have always believed that the best way to understand a destination and eventually sell it with confidence, is to experience it yourself.
And Zimbabwe surprised me.
Most Indian travellers who hear "Zimbabwe" immediately think of Victoria Falls. And after seeing it myself, I completely understand why, but what I came back with was a much bigger picture.
Zimbabwe is so much more than Victoria Falls.
From the wilderness of Gonarezhou and the history of Great Zimbabwe to the magnificence of Victoria Falls, wildlife experiences, adventure, culture and the possibility of combining the destination with Zambia and Botswana, I found Zimbabwe to be a destination with enormous potential for the Indian market.
Harare
We arrived in Harare and spent our first night there before beginning our journey into the country.
Harare was essentially our starting point for the trip before we headed deeper into Zimbabwe.
All of us on Board!
One of the things I came away thinking about was how much potential there is to create more specialised itineraries for Indian travellers rather than simply offering Zimbabwe as a standalone destination.
For example, for cricket lovers, there is an opportunity to look at adding cricket-related experiences in Harare. With Zimbabwe also developing its cricket infrastructure in Victoria Falls around the upcoming T20 plans, I think cricket + wildlife + Victoria Falls could become a very interesting proposition for the Indian market.
Chiredzi and Gonarezhou National Park
From Harare, we took an Air Zimbabwe flight to Masvingo, and from there we drove for approximately two-and-a-half to three hours towards Chiredzi, in the southeastern part of Zimbabwe.
Chiredzi brought us into the Lowveld and closer to one of Zimbabwe's most fascinating wilderness areas Gonarezhou National Park. Gonarezhou means "Place of Elephants", and the landscape itself is spectacular.
Gonarezhou National Park - Afternoon Game Drive
One of the things that immediately stood out to me was the sheer number of baobab trees across the park. They add so much character to the landscape and, combined with the open wilderness and rugged terrain, make Gonarezhou incredibly beautiful even before you start spotting wildlife.
We entered the national park in the afternoon and spent several hours exploring.
Chilojo Cliffs in the backdrop!
We saw a couple of elephants and plenty of zebras, and on our way back, as it was getting darker, we were lucky enough to spot a lioness. It was quite dark by then, so the sighting was brief, but it was still a lovely moment. One of the biggest highlights was Chilojo Cliffs.
The view of the cliffs over the surrounding wilderness is beautiful, and it is one of those places where you simply stop and take in the landscape.
I also loved learning that there are opportunities to camp inside Gonarezhou National Park, closer to the Chilojo Cliffs. For travellers who enjoy being immersed in nature and want something beyond the conventional safari lodge experience, this could be a fantastic addition.
Gonarezhou is not necessarily about ticking off a list of animals. It is about the wilderness, the landscapes, the baobabs, the remoteness and the feeling of being somewhere genuinely untouched. And for the right traveller, that is exactly its appeal.
There is also a Singita property in Gonarezhou, for the Luxury travellers.
Masvingo and Sanganai Expo
From Chiredzi, we headed back towards Masvingo, where we visited the Great Zimbabwe National Monument.
Great Zimbabwe Monument
This was an important reminder that Zimbabwe isn't only a wildlife destination.
Great Zimbabwe offers a completely different side of the country. It’s ancient history, culture and heritage. Walking through the stone ruins and learning about the civilisation that once flourished here gives you another perspective of Zimbabwe.
Our main reason for being in Masvingo, however, was the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo.
We attended the three days of the Expo, meeting tourism suppliers, hotels, DMCs, tourism boards and other industry professionals. There were networking opportunities, business meetings, a welcome dinner and a farewell evening with cocktails.
For me, Sanganai was particularly valuable because it gave us an opportunity to understand Zimbabwe not just as tourists, but as travel professionals what the country offers, who the suppliers are, what products are available and, importantly, how we can package Zimbabwe for the Indian traveller.
Masvingo itself was more of a stopover and business destination for us, and we did not have a great deal of additional sightseeing time there beyond Great Zimbabwe.
But the Expo gave us a much broader understanding of what is possible across the country.
Victoria Falls
And then came Victoria Falls. Without a doubt, this was the highlight of my trip. There are places that look beautiful in photographs. And then there are places where photographs simply don't do justice to what you are seeing.
Victoria Falls is one of them. The sheer force, scale and sound of the Falls are difficult to understand until you are standing there. We visited the Victoria Falls Rainforest, where you can experience the Falls from multiple viewpoints. Every angle gives you a slightly different perspective, and the sound and spray make the experience incredibly powerful.
I have travelled to many places, but there was something very different about the force of Victoria Falls.
It is magnificent.
Seeing Victoria Falls From the Air
One of my absolute favourite experiences was the helicopter flight over Victoria Falls. There are different flight options, including shorter and longer flights, and I would absolutely recommend doing it.
From the ground, you appreciate the Falls. From the air, you understand them. The helicopter gave us a completely different perspective of the Falls and the surrounding landscape, and we were lucky enough to see multiple rainbows.
For me, the helicopter ride was worth every penny. It gave me a sense of the sheer scale of Victoria Falls that I simply could not get from the ground.
The Zambezi River
We also did a boat cruise on the Zambezi River, and this was another lovely experience.
We were fortunate enough to see elephants, hippos and crocodiles along the river, which made the cruise feel like much more than simply a scenic boat ride. The combination of the river, wildlife and the landscape around Victoria Falls makes this a very easy experience to include in an itinerary.
Hotels and Site Inspections
We also carried out a large number of hotel and lodge site inspections in Victoria Falls, which was particularly useful from a travel professional's perspective.
I stayed at Waterfalls Lodge by Wild Horizons for one of the nights and also at Cresta Sprayview.
One of the properties we visited was the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, where we also experienced the Vulture Culture Experience. And this was fascinating. Watching so many vultures gather and feed was magnificent. It is one of those experiences that you might not necessarily think of when planning a Victoria Falls itinerary, but once you see it, you understand its appeal.
I also really liked the positioning of the Victoria Falls Safari Collection properties. The different lodges and accommodation options are very well placed, and many of the rooms have beautiful views over the surrounding landscape and waterhole.
For someone planning a stay in Victoria Falls, there is a good range of accommodation to work with, from more accessible options to premium properties.
Overall, I found the hotel product across Zimbabwe to be quite decent. During my trip, I experienced a range of properties, with much of my stay around the three-star/mid-range category, while Victoria Falls clearly has some of the strongest premium hotel and lodge options in the country.
Lion and Cheetah Experience
Another experience that really stayed with me was the Lion and Cheetah Experience.
Being able to get so close to these magnificent animals was surreal. The animals are cared for by experienced rangers, and some have been rescued from difficult circumstances, including poaching situations. The experience is carefully managed, and being able to observe the lions and cheetahs at such close quarters was something I will remember for a long time.
For me, this was another example of how Victoria Falls can offer much more than just the waterfall itself.
Adventure in Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls is also a fantastic destination for adventure lovers. There are activities such as ziplining, bungee jumping, jet boating and helicopter flights, along with various river and adventure experiences.
Picture courtesy Parth
So whether someone is a wildlife lover, an adrenaline seeker, a honeymooner, a family or simply someone who wants to see one of the world's great natural spectacles, Victoria Falls has something to offer.
The Boma Dinner & Drum Show
We also experienced The Boma Dinner & Drum Show. I have to say, putting the food aside, the overall experience was fabulous. The atmosphere, the traditional performances and, particularly, the interactive drumming made the evening incredibly lively.
And yes the "bongos" I was trying to remember are actually djembe drums. Guests are given drums and encouraged to participate in the interactive drumming session, learning rhythms and becoming part of the performance.
The entire experience was energetic, colourful and very African, and from a tourism perspective, I think it is a lovely evening experience to add to a Victoria Falls itinerary.
Simunye – Spirit of Africa
We also attended Simunye – Spirit of Africa, a live theatre experience in Victoria Falls. It is a professionally produced theatrical performance combining music, dance, puppetry and visual storytelling, presented in an open-air theatre.
The production was very nicely done and worked particularly well as a live experience. My only regret was that, by the time we got there, we were absolutely exhausted after a very long day!
I kept thinking how much more I would have enjoyed it if we had gone when we were fresher. So if I were recommending it to a client, I would definitely include it — but I would try to plan it on an evening when the traveller isn't already exhausted from a full day of activities.
Zimbabwe + Zambia + Botswana
This is where I see an enormous opportunity for the Indian market. Victoria Falls makes it incredibly easy to create a multi-country Southern Africa holiday.
Zambia
The Zambian side of Victoria Falls gives travellers a different perspective of the Falls. And for someone interested in the famous Devil's Pool, that experience is accessed from the Zambian side.
Zambia can therefore work as either a day trip or an overnight stay in Livingstone, depending on the traveller's time and interests.
Botswana
And then there is Chobe National Park in Botswana. Chobe is particularly well known for its elephants and wildlife, and what I love about the destination is that even on a day trip, travellers can experience two different types of safari — a boat safari and a traditional game drive.
For someone with more time, I would personally recommend giving Botswana at least one night, allowing the traveller to experience Chobe without rushing through it.
For a comprehensive Zimbabwe–Zambia–Botswana holiday, I would look at around seven nights.
For travellers with less time, a five-night combination can also be created.
There isn't a single visa covering all three countries, so visa planning needs to be factored into the itinerary.
Zimbabwe + South Africa
Zimbabwe can also be very easily combined with South Africa. For travellers doing a safari in the Kruger region, there is no reason to necessarily route all the way back through Johannesburg before continuing to Victoria Falls.
A direct connection from the Kruger area to Victoria Falls can create a very attractive combination of: South Africa safari + Victoria Falls.
For Indian travellers who want a classic African holiday, this is another combination I would seriously consider.
There Is Still So Much More of Zimbabwe to Explore
One of my biggest takeaways from the trip was actually how much of Zimbabwe I still haven't seen.
For wildlife lovers, there is Hwange National Park. For travellers who love landscapes and offbeat destinations, the Eastern highlands of Zimbabwe offer a completely different experience, with Mozambique also accessible from that region.
And for Indian travellers, I think there is a huge opportunity to build more destination-specific itineraries around cricket, wildlife, culture and adventure.
Zimbabwe has the ingredients. I think the next step is simply packaging them in a way that makes sense for the Indian traveller.
My Takeaway
I went to Zimbabwe primarily for the Sanganai Expo and as a travel professional looking to understand the destination better.
I came back convinced that Zimbabwe deserves a much bigger place on the Indian traveller's map.
Victoria Falls alone is reason enough to visit, but when you combine it with Gonarezhou National Park & Chilojo Cliffs Chiredzi, Great Zimbabwe Masvingo, Lake Kyle Masvingo, Hwange National Park, Victoria Falls for me, the opportunity lies in moving away from selling Zimbabwe as just a waterfall destination.
Instead, we should be selling it as a African experience, one that can be tailored to the traveller.
A five-night escape.
A seven-night multi-country adventure.
A safari and Victoria Falls combination.
A honeymoon.
A family holiday.
A cricket and wildlife trip.
A luxury African experience.
There are so many possibilities.
And that is probably what I loved most about this trip.
Zimbabwe isn't a destination that I came back from feeling I had "finished".
I came back feeling that I had only just started discovering it.
And I am genuinely looking forward to taking that experience back to my clients and promoting Zimbabwe as a destination from India.
Sometimes, the best way to sell a destination is to stop selling it for a moment — and simply experience it.
Zimbabwe gave me plenty to experience.