Romantic Trips for Couples in Zimbabwe

Couples visiting Zimbabwe tend to choose between three moods: a river evening, a night in the bush and a few days on a lake. Each one is built around a boat, a lodge or a long dinner.

A river evening at Victoria Falls

Start with a sunset cruise on the Zambezi above the falls. The river levy is about US$12 per person on top of the operator’s price, and the cruise operators vary in style and cost. Afterwards, try one of these:

  • Dinner at The Boma: The Boma, Place of Eating, is part of Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. It serves dinner only, from about 19:00, so reserve a table in advance.
  • Tea in a colonial hotel: Stanley’s Terrace at the Victoria Falls Hotel, which opened in 1904, serves afternoon tea from about 15:00 to 17:30. Non-guests are welcome.
  • A short flight: A 12 to 13 minute helicopter flight over the falls and gorge costs about US$150 to 190 through resellers, with a park levy of about US$18 on top.

For somewhere to stay, Victoria Falls River Lodge has treehouse suites on Kandahar Island that you reach by boat. Matetsi Victoria Falls is a private reserve about 40 km above the falls with 18 suites. The Elephant Camp is built above a wildlife sanctuary. Ask each lodge about its current amenities and age rules.

A night in the bush

Hwange National Park suits two people who want a quiet night under stars. Little Makalolo, run by Wilderness, offers a star bed, and other Hwange camps run private game drives. August to November is the best game-viewing window, and heat can pass 40 C in October.

A few days on Lake Kariba

A crewed houseboat charter from Kariba town gives you a floating base with a captain, cook and deckhand. Expect large price differences between boats and ask for written quotes. Bumi Hills Safari Lodge, on the lake shore near Matusadona, offers game drives, boat cruises and catch-and-release tigerfish fishing. Keep out of the water, because crocodiles and hippos live in the lake and bilharzia is a risk.

Good to know

  • Lodges quote in US dollars, and small undamaged notes help with extras.
  • Malaria is present in the Zambezi Valley and around Victoria Falls, Hwange and Kariba, so ask a doctor about protection.
  • Do not walk around Victoria Falls town after dark.
  • Choose lodges that offer wild game drives, and skip elephant rides or predator cub encounters.

Read more: Multi-day trips and Family activities .

Plan with the UK government advice . Compare lodges on Booking.com .