Kruger Park and Zimbabwe

Johannesburg

Johannesburg (also known as Joburg or Jozi) is the largest city in South Africa and the provincial capital of Gauteng. It is the hub of South Africa's commercial, financial, industrial, and mining undertakings. It has not traditionally been known as a tourist destination, but the city is a major transit point and therefore the perfect place to start or end your tour. There are several museums such as the Aparteid Museum and huge shopping malls where you can spend the first day(s).


Kruger National Park

The world famous Kruger Park is situated in the very north of South Africa, next to the border to Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It is one of the largest game parks in Africa and home to the so called big five: elephant, rhino, leopard, lion and buffalo. But you can also spot many other animals like hyenas, chetaahs, antelopes, zebras and giraffes.

Unfortunately also in Kruger Park poaching related to rhino horn escalated in the last years. The poachers believe that the horns possess healing properties. In order to stop poaching park staff has started to dehorning rhinos. They hope that this will save the rhino specie from becoming extinct, because poachers will then have no reason to kill the rhinos.


Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe is a ruined city near the town of Masvingo. It was the capital of the former kingdom of Zimbabwe. Construction on the monument began in the 11th century and continued until the 15th century. The local name was "Dzimba Dza Mabwe" roughly "houses of stones". Before independency Zimbabwe's name was Rhodesia and it was renamed after the ruins when the country got independent in 1980. Also the bird that is now on Zimbabwe's national flag was found as soapstone carvings at Great Zimbabwe.

The pictures on the right were taken at Khami Ruins close to Bulwayo. Great Zimbabwe ruins are much more magnificent.

 


Matobo National Park

Matobo National Park is situated close to Bulawayo, the second largest city in Zimbabwe, in the magnificent Matobo Hills, a range of domes, spires and balancing rock formations which have been hewn out of the solid granite plateau through many, many years of erosion. The Matobo Hills were designated UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. On the pictures you can see some examples of the fantastic balancing rocks.

There is also a game park where you can spot for example rhinos. Besides game drives there are lots of other options for activities like horse riding, bird watching or hiking.


Hwange National Park

With an area of about 15,000 km² Hwange National Park is the largest nature reserve in Zimbabwe. The park hosts more than 100 mammal species and is also a perfect place for bird watching. The park is home to one of the largest wild dog populations in Africa.

There are quite a few camps in the park to stay over night. The Main Camp is situated at the main entrance to the park. Around it are numerous pans and pumped waterholes where you can spot animals. At night you can hear lots of different and amazing sounds of the bush, like lions roaring; beautiful but a bit scary sometimes.


Victoria Falls

or Mosi-oa-Tunya ("The smoke that thunders") are one of the biggest waterfalls in the world. The falls and the Zambezi river mark the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The amount of water varies depending on the season with its peak usually in April.

There are lots of activities that you can do in Victoria Falls, e.g. helicopter flights or white water rafting.