Landmarks and Heritage Sites in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s best-known sights are widely separated, so choose the ones nearest your route. Three of them, Victoria Falls, Matobo Hills and Mana Pools, sit on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, as do the two stone cities, Great Zimbabwe and Khami.
Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya)
The falls lie in the far north-west of the country, on the border with Zambia. The Zimbabwe-side rainforest in Victoria Falls National Park costs about US$58 per entry for international visitors, and the ticket is single entry. The spray soaks the footpaths, and some viewpoints have low or no barriers, so keep back from the edge. The river is fullest around March to June and lowest in the dry season, and the view changes noticeably between the two.
Great Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe, inscribed by UNESCO in 1986, stands about 27 km south-east of Masvingo. This mortarless granite city was built by the ancestors of the Shona people between about the 11th and 15th centuries. The Great Enclosure’s outer wall is about 250 m long and up to about 10 m high, and the Hill Complex rises above it on steep granite and stone steps. Carved soapstone Zimbabwe Birds were found here. Allow a morning, wear sturdy shoes and bring water. It is 3 to 4 hours from Harare and 4 to 5 hours from Bulawayo, so it is not a Victoria Falls day trip.
Matobo Hills
The granite hills near Bulawayo hold San rock paintings, including the giraffe, eland and geometric designs at Nswatugi Cave. World’s View, also called Malindidzimu, is about 13 km beyond the park gate, followed by a short walk of about 300 m uphill to Cecil Rhodes’s grave. The park gate is about 30 to 35 km south of Bulawayo.
Khami Ruins
About 22 km west of Bulawayo, Khami was inscribed in 1986. Its terraced dry-stone walls climb the hillside, and it makes a calm half-day stop.
Chinhoyi Caves
Near Chinhoyi, on the A1 north-west of Harare, the Sleeping Pool glows cobalt blue and is viewed from its edge. Swimming and diving are not allowed for visitors.
Harare galleries
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe has a Shona sculpture garden, and Chapungu Sculpture Park in Msasa shows stone sculptures by Zimbabwean artists. Opening hours and fees vary, so check before you go.
Tips
NMMZ and ZimParks fees differ by site and by visitor residency, so confirm the current tariff at the gate. Carry small US dollar notes,. Do not photograph police, soldiers or demonstrations, because it is illegal.
Read more: Attraction tours and Day trips .
Heritage details are at UNESCO World Heritage and NMMZ . Browse guided visits on GetYourGuide .