Okay, so I’ve been dreaming about a trip to Zimbabwe for ages, and I finally decided to just go for it! The planning part was a bit of a scramble, honestly. First thing I did was hit up Google, just searching for “zimbabwe holidays” to get a feel for what’s out there.
Digging into Options
I spent a good few hours just browsing through different websites, and jotting down notes. I started building a messy list of things.
- Victoria Falls – Obviously! Everyone says it’s a must-see.
- Hwange National Park – Supposedly amazing for wildlife.
- Great Zimbabwe Ruins – Seemed like a cool historical site.
- Mana Pools National Park – Got mentioned a lot for canoeing safaris.
I felt a bit overwhelmed at this stage to begin with, so I decided to figure out the best time to go. More Googling! Turns out, the dry season (April to October) is generally recommended for wildlife viewing, and the falls are still pretty impressive then too.
Making a Practical Plan
I blocked out two weeks in September. I also made the decision to book a flight, and also booked a basic hotel in Victoria Falls for the first few nights, figured I could sort out the rest later.
Then came the visa. Checked the Zimbabwean embassy website for my country and filled out the online application. It was pretty straightforward, just basic personal info and travel dates. Paid the fee online, and bam, visa approved a few days later! Super easy.
Next, I started researching tour companies. I knew I wanted to do some guided safaris, especially in Hwange. After reading tons of reviews, I picked one that seemed reputable and had good prices for a 3-day Hwange trip. Booked it! I got an email confirmation right away that make me feel like a real plan was in motion.
The Excitement Builds!
For Mana Pools, I decided to be a bit more adventurous and book directly with a local lodge that offered canoeing safaris. It involved a few emails back and forth, but they were super helpful and organized everything, including transfers from a nearby airstrip. The feeling of arranging that myself was really gratifying.
I spent the next few weeks finalizing smaller things: travel insurance, vaccinations (check with your doctor!), and packing. The whole process, from that first Google search to having everything booked, took me maybe a month of on-and-off work. But honestly, it was almost as fun as the trip itself! I learned so much about Zimbabwe in the process, and by the time I actually boarded the plane, I felt super prepared and beyond excited.
