NightingTales: Zimbabwe - Land of Lifers

I often get asked “Do you have a favourite country in Africa?”, and for years the answer changed regularly, usually due to the most recent trip I went on… South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Botswana. However, in more recent memory, more often than not I would reply “Zimbabwe”, and my trip back to the country in April 2026 has cemented this.

It’s sometimes hard to pin down why I love Zimbabwe so much, the country has a sort of quiet magnetism which I have always found irresistible. It doesn’t have the traditional luxury of South Africa, the premier status of Botswana or the timeless landscapes of Kenya, but there is an unpretentious charm and allure to Zimbabwe which keeps me going back time and time again. I think because it’s often seen as an underdog in some safari circles and is overlooked, adds to this charm. So suffice to say, I was unbelievably excited to return to Zimbabwe and show off its undeniable charisma to my partner, Immy.

On this trip, I book-ended the safari with stays in Victoria Falls, using this as our hub which worked perfectly. At the beginning of the trip, we stayed at the charming Samanzi, the newest property in the Shongwe portfolio in a lovely residential area of Victoria Falls Town. Samanzi is really unique and, dare I say it, a “quirky” lodge - it is a collection of spacious cabanas set around 8 swimming pools, some of which are almost like lazy rivers, and it has a really serene and relaxed feel to it. I loved our stay here and it was the perfect place to explore all of the amazing activities and things to see around this really unique part of the country.

Samanzi's main pool and swim up bar - perfect for relaxing in after a hot day's exploring Vic Falls

Victoria Falls is so much more than just a waterfall, it is a vibrant, buzzy and diverse place with so much to see and do. Be it exploring one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World on foot or by helicopter, sunset cruises on one of Africa’s greatest rivers, having a drink in a local pub or wonderful restaurant surrounded by vibrant culture, embarking on a game drive in the nearby national park, or braving ziplining through canyons and white water rafting… There really is something for everyone!

I have visited the actual waterfalls themselves numerous times now, but each time I am over-awed by the sheer scale and power of them, and I can never get tired of that sight (or the birdwatching in the surrounding rainforest). In 2026 the Zambezi and Victoria Falls experienced its highest water levels for decades, meaning spray as high as the clouds and rainbows floating over the gorge - it was truly spectacular. 

The experience this time was made all the more special by an important question I asked Immy, and a positive response to said question!

After a couple of days here, we headed down to Hwange National Park to the south of Victoria Falls - just a short 45 minute light aircraft flight. Hwange is a really unique safari area. It is a truly vast and remote wilderness at almost 15,000 square kilometres it is roughly the size of Belgium. Most of the park is completely uninhabited, with the “interior” having virtually no lodges or safari camps. This makes for a real sense of space and place, which I don’t think that many places in Africa offer to the same degree anymore. The park is known primarily for its elephants, having roughly 45,000 of these incredible creatures roaming the forests and vleis. I adore the wildlife experience in Hwange, you have to “work for it” a bit more, but it makes the sightings all the more special and we had great encounters with plenty of lions, cheetah, leopards, jackals, the rare Roan antelope, hyenas and plenty of other amazing species… and of course elephants.

I had the pleasure of re-connecting with a good friend of mine, Mark “Butch” Butcher, in southern Hwange and staying with his Imvelo Safaris’ camps for our first few days. Imvelo is undoubtedly one of my favourite portfolios across all of Africa. Their camps blend authenticity with comfort perfectly, and offer a genuine, warm hospitality throughout. Furthermore, their guides are some of the best I have come across, who really go the extra mile to create heightened, real experiences and life-long memories for their guests.

Reconnecting with an old friend and a legend of the bush - Butch

Immy on her first walking safari learning about track and sign

One of the reasons for heading to see Butch was to stay at his brand new Tum Tum Treehouse Lodge, in a far flung part of the National Park on the southern border. I was nothing short of blown away with what Imvelo had created there. Simple luxury defines the expertly crafted treehouses in a centuries old stand of Camelthorn Trees, overlooking a number of water points at the edge of the forest which brings in dozens if not hundreds of elephants daily.

The elevated vantage point of the treehouses surround you with the canopy, again giving an amazing sense of place. This camp is the perfect place to take your safari slower, embark on some bush walks, and relax in the pool as elephants walk by, unperturbed, just metres away.

The elevated treehouses at Tum Tum Camp have the most amazing decks surrounded by the canopy

We then returned to an old favourite of mine - Bomani Camp, another one of Imvelo’s masterpieces. Bomani sits at the edge of the game rich Ngamo Plains on a private concession, and is widely seen as having some of the best game viewing in all of Hwange. The camp again has a warmness and authenticity to it which I absolutely adore. For me, this is “proper” safari.

One thing which Imvelo does better than almost anyone in the entire safari world is its genuine and heartfelt commitment to community and conservation. Everything is done from a perspective of positive impact to people and wildlife alike. Be it their clean water, school meals or innovative health care initiatives for the communities of southern Hwange… or the fact they have successfully re-introduced white rhino to the park after a 20 year absence, Imvelo’s impact cannot be overstated. They are an inspiration to everyone in the safari and wider tourism industry and we at Nightingale will do everything in our power to support them.

On foot with the relocated Rhinos and Imvelo's Anti Poaching unit - a truly special experience

After a magical stay with Imvelo, we headed to a more central part of the park to a camp I have long wanted to visit - Verney’s Camp. Run by the amazing Machaba Safaris, who we work a lot with across Botswana and Zimbabwe, Verneys is an exquisite luxury tented camp in a beautifully quiet part of Hwange. The vast tents overlook a really productive waterhole and open vlei area in front of the camp. On both nights we stayed there, we had elephants rumbling just metres from our bed, back lit by the moon light shining through the shade netting… words fail to describe how special this was. Verneys is again a great example of Zimbabwe’s understated and unpretentious luxury and experience, and I would recommend this camp to almost any safari enthusiast.

After a week on safari, we headed back up to Victoria Falls to finish off our trip. This time, instead of staying in town and focusing on activities, we went to the banks of the river in the Zambezi National Park for a more relaxing unwind and decompression at the end of the trip. We had the pleasure of staying at the stunning Victoria Falls River Lodge’s newest property - Malachite Luxury Tented Suites - an absolutely gorgeous collection of riverside rooms with unending views over the Mighty Zambezi. The service, dining, and rooms here were exquisite, and it’s an amazing destination to finish off a busy safari with some well deserved R&R.

Sunrise on the Zambezi

A favourite quote of mine reads “You go to Africa for the animals. You come back for the people” - this sums up Zimbabwe perfectly. The people are some of the warmest, most generous and engaging I have experienced anywhere in the world. They help to build an experience for travellers which transcends a normal holiday and are a testament to the greatness of this criminally underrated country. I will continue to travel to Zimbabwe with absolute eagerness and excitement for many years to come.

Cheers and until next time, Zimbabwe!