Zimbabwe with Children
Zimbabwe suits families who build the trip around short, easy outings and treat the long road journeys as part of the plan. Malaria is present in the Zambezi Valley, Victoria Falls, Hwange and Kariba areas, so talk to a doctor about protection for every child before you travel.
Victoria Falls
The rainforest footpaths in Victoria Falls National Park are the easiest outing. Entry is about US$58 for international adults per entry, children under 12 pay half price and children under 6 are free. Paths are wet in the spray, so bring rain jackets and shoes with grip, and keep small children away from viewpoints with low or no barriers.
Zambezi National Park, near town, offers game drives, and children under 12 pay half price on the park levy. The Wild Horizons canopy tour has 9 zip-lines and slides across the gorge, but sources differ on minimum ages, so ask the operator about your child’s age before you book. Devil’s Pool is on the Zambian side, children under 10 cannot join and children under 12 cannot swim in the pools. Rafting has a minimum age of 15.
Wildlife outings
Hwange National Park has family-friendly lodges, so ask each lodge about age limits for game drives and walks. Game viewing is best from August to November. Painted Dog Conservation at Dete is free and donation-based, takes up to about 2 hours and is outside the park. Matobo rhino tracking is a long early walk over uneven granite, so it suits older children who can walk for hours.
City and cultural stops
- Bulawayo Railway Museum: Steam and other locomotives to look at. Hours and fees vary between sources, so call or check at the gate.
- Chapungu Sculpture Park, Harare: Stone sculptures by Zimbabwean artists set in open grounds, easy for children to wander.
- Lake Chivero Recreational Park: Picnics, birdwatching and boating about 30 to 40 km west of Harare. Keep everyone out of the water.
- Great Zimbabwe: Children enjoy the stone walls, but the Hill Complex means steep climbs on uneven granite and stone steps, so it suits school-age children better than toddlers.
Practical tips
Tap water is not safe to drink, so use bottled or filtered water. Prices are quoted in US dollars, and small undamaged notes make life easier. Plan no more than one long drive in a day, and avoid night driving outside towns. Do not walk around Victoria Falls town after dark, because elephants and buffalo graze in the streets.
Read more: Group activities and Day trips .
Check entry rules at ZimParks and the UK government advice . Browse family tours on GetYourGuide .