Many visitors to southern Africa make the long journey with only a few things in mind: ride in a safari vehicle, see the Big Five; take amazing photos, and perhaps enjoy a sundowner or two. But there is so much more to experience, and even more to come away with, than an album of giraffe and elephant photos. Southern Africa has so much to offer – you just have to know where to look.

Anne Bendt of Orono, Minnesota recently returned from a safari in Zimbabwe where she experienced much of what the country has to offer. We were fortunate to be able to talk with Bendt upon her return. Her reflection on the time she spent in Zimbabwe is a testament to the incredible pull this beautiful country has on the hearts of its visitors:

“My recent trip to Zimbabwe has energized me beyond belief with love of the people and the best wildlife viewing…ever! I’m already looking forward to the day when I can return. I went to see the Big Five, but also saw and learned so much more. From our guide stopping our vehicle so we could watch a Yellow Orb spider spinning it’s golden web, to witnessing new-born mongoose curiously investigate our presence. Large or small, every encounter was meaningful and created memories that will last forever.”

Modern day Garden of Eden

Hwange National Park is located on the easternmost edge of the Kalahari Desert in what is called a “convergence zone” between the Kalahari to the west and moist woodlands to the east. This zone is one of the most species-diverse areas in the world, where more than 100 mammal and 420 bird species can be seen.

Bendt describes the park as a “modern day Garden of Eden” because of its natural beauty and the abundance of wildlife. Recalling a time when her guide, Charles, stopped during a game drive and turned off the vehicle, she said “he looked back and said, ‘If you sit quietly, the bush will come alive around you’.” As they sat in silence looking out at a plain filled with giraffe, zebra, impala, wildebeest and jackals, the bush indeed came alive. The sights and sounds of nature grew as time passed and their presence as visitors melted away. Eventually, an eagle aggressively swooped down to the ground in front of their vehicle, before springing back up and away with a snake held firmly in its talons.

Experiences like these may not be surprising to those who know that Hwange is best known for excellent game viewing year-round. With always-full waterholes scattered throughout the park, it’s common to see enormous elephant herds or, as Bendt witnessed, a pride of 20 lions cautiously approach for a sip. The concession is also well known for being one of the few remaining places to see the endangered white rhino, and for having what is thought to be the largest population of the endangered African wild dog.

An Adventurer’s Playground

The mighty Zambezi touches six African countries before emptying into the Indian Ocean. It’s most notable feature is the stunning Victoria Falls or Mosi-o-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders), one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, which runs along Zimbabwe’s border and separates the country from neighboring Zambia. Often considered a “must see” destination for travelers to southern Africa, Victoria Falls is visible from both countries; however, Zimbabwe offers a view of about 2/3 of the falls compared to 1/3 from the Zambian side.

Both the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls offer a plethora of activities for adventure enthusiasts. Bungee jumping off the Victoria Falls Bridge, peeking over the edge of the falls from Devil’s Pool, white water rafting, and micro flights over the falls are adventure activities available in Zimbabwe. Oh, and forget the sharks of South Africa. Cage diving with crocs in the Zambezi is Africa’s next big thing.

The adventure continues further downstream in Mana Pools National Park. The natural beauty of Mana Pools can best be compared to that of the Boundary Waters that separate Minnesota from neighboring Ontario. It is here that adventurers are able to enjoy hiking and canoeing safaris where, under the leadership of expert guides, up close views of elephants and hippos are regular experiences.

World Class Accommodations

The town of Victoria Falls itself is a tourist hub with colonial hotels showcasing spectacular views of the falls. One of our favorites is the Edwardian-style Victoria Falls Hotel. Built in 1904, the five-star Victoria Falls Hotel combines the charm of the old with the convenience of the new. Plus, Victoria Falls is only a ten-minute walk from the property via a private path. Safari camps, including Ruckomechi, Little Makalolo, Makalolo Plains and Singita Pamushana are all favorites of Travel Beyond due to their high level of service, expert guides, and abundant year-round animal viewing.

Expert Guides

The Zimbabwean guide school is considered the most difficult and comprehensive in all of Africa. Many prospects fail to pass the stringent training requirements, which ensure graduates truly are the best-of-the-best. Guides in Zimbabwe are professionals in their craft and take great pride in educating their guests. Bendt describes her guide Charles as “phenomenal” and said, “Along with his incredible depth of knowledge, he demonstrated an innate love of nature. His excitement was infectious.”

Zimbabwe – In the News

Zimbabwe’s political situation has spent plenty of time in the media spotlight over the last few years. The good news is the country is now operating under a coalition government and the US State Department has lifted their Travel Warning. What most travelers don’t realize is that behind the headlines is one of southern Africa’s most beautiful countries. Zimbabweans have not lost their sense of humor or their resolve, and visitors will see a very different country than what is often portrayed; one offering gracious hosts, abundant and diverse wildlife, some of the best walking and canoeing safaris in Africa, and opportunities to learn from the highest trained safari guides in the industry.

To see video and photography from Bendt’s trip, visit our previous blog post. To start planning a trip to Zimbabwe, contact us.

The video below was taken on a 3-day safari in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe in February 2011. The footage documents some of the amazing wildlife sightings from a trip of a lifetime.

Photos of Zimbabwe

The slideshow below features additional images not shown in our article in the April issue of Tonka Times Magazine. The article spotlights Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls, luxury safari lodges in Hwange National Park, canoeing adventures in Mana Pools National Park and much more.

We had a great evening catching up with clients, making new friends and hearing about all your travel dreams and past adventures. It’s safe to say that everybody went home with at least one new idea for future travel!

There are few activities in life as civilized as the Sundowner. It represents the still extant link between the modern world and the wild—an activity that provides us with an understanding of who we are and a reflection upon how far we have (and in many ways have not) come as humans.

Only a fermented beverage could offer such promise.

I came to this realization during a six-week trip through Botswana and Zimbabwe in 2006—a glorious voyage it was. Each morning we would wake with the sun, consume a quick coffee and biscuit, then head out to view the animals coming in from the night. After several hours of wandering around, we’d head back to camp, as it becomes too damn hot for both humans and animals, whose preferred midday activity is to loll about instead of partake in fascinating behavior (running, jumping, roaring, eating, etc.).

So, around noon, we would all just nap it out. Then, we’d be roused for tea at 3.

Now, I profess I’m an American. But afternoon tea is an exceptional concept. It’s enough caffeine to wake the mind (but not too quickly), and there’s a little sweet and a little savory to get the blood sugar back up. Piled upon a restful nap, nothing could be better.

But wait, there is something: the Sundowner!

While the mind and body are finding their bearings as you sup from blue China and look over the bush, you are faced with perhaps the most challenging question of the day: “What, sir, would you like to drink at sunset this evening?”

What, indeed!

Do I have a glass of red? Perhaps a gin and tonic? Maybe tonight it would be best to take two fingers of single malt with half an ice cube?

This decision is important because your fate is at stake—your happiness several hours from when you place a bet on your first cocktail of the evening. (For those of us over 30, we know the importance of having a drinking game-plan. This isn’t college after all; it’s the African bush!)

So, carefully you decide.

Here’s how it plays out. At teatime, you inform the guide of your preferential potable, and this individual logs it along with the others’ choices. You then forget about it, hop in the vehicles, and head out for some sightseeing late into the afternoon. About sunset, the guide finds a good watering hole, and pulls over where there’s a fine vantage, and you disembark.

Maybe it’s all the Hemingway lodged into the back of the American mind, but the soul resonates with the sight of a field table covered with a proper linen cloth, topped with decanters and silvers jars, standing against the African countryside—which, mind you, is filling quickly with a random assortment of animals coming in from the heat of the day to take a drink before nightfall.

And then the entire situation crystallizes, suddenly.

Nighttime for animals of the bush is when everything comes to life. It is a wild time. The darkness is fraught with danger and excitement. This is when it all happens—eat or be eaten, fight or flight. But before all the creatures plunge into inky darkness, they mingle and drink. They gear up for what’s ahead.

You too are there for the same. And you see it, so similar to life at home. The predators and the prey, drinking side-by-side at the watering hole before the craziness of the night begins. We could be at any bar or lounge in the world and see the same sight. How far we have not come in behavior. But how far we have come in appreciation!

As the sun goes down, there is little left but to take in the beauty of the scene and allow a sense of wonder about life wash over us—as the spirits in our glass give us lift, heightening our senses while simultaneously putting us at ease. And this is needed in the African bush, where we willfully place ourselves back the food chain, and we acknowledge that the only thing separating us from the animals is a little bit of electricity.