Sights to See in Zimbabwe by Region

Zimbabwe’s sights fall into four regions. Pick the regions that suit your route and allow plenty of travel time between them.

North-west: the falls

Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya) is a UNESCO World Heritage site on the Zambezi, on the border with Zambia. Entry to the rainforest on the Zimbabwe side is about US$58 for international visitors per entry, and the ticket cannot be reused for a second visit. Allow a few hours. Water levels peak between about March and June, when the spray can hide the view, and levels are lower and the cliffs more visible later in the year. Stay behind barriers, because some viewpoints have low or no railings.

South-west: Bulawayo and its hills

Matobo Hills is a granite landscape about 30 to 35 km south of Bulawayo. Nswatugi Cave holds San rock paintings of giraffe, eland and geometric designs. World’s View is about 13 km beyond the park gate, and the final walk to Cecil Rhodes’s grave is about 300 m uphill. Khami Ruins, about 22 km west of Bulawayo, is the other UNESCO site here, inscribed in 1986. Its dry-stone terraces were built by a former kingdom, and the setting is quiet.

South-east: Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe, near Masvingo, was inscribed by UNESCO in 1986. The site sits about 27 km south-east of the town. Shona ancestors built its granite walls without mortar 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. The Hill Complex requires a climb over steep, uneven granite. Carved soapstone Zimbabwe Birds were found on the site. The drive is 3 to 4 hours from Harare and 4 to 5 hours from Bulawayo.

North-east: Harare and around

  • National Gallery of Zimbabwe: A Shona sculpture garden sits within its grounds.
  • Chapungu Sculpture Park: Stone sculptures by Zimbabwean artists in the suburb of Msasa.
  • Domboshava: Granite hill with San paintings in a cave near the top, about 27 to 32 km north of the city.
  • Chinhoyi Caves: The cobalt-blue Sleeping Pool is for viewing only, as swimming and diving are not allowed.

Practical notes

Fees for NMMZ monuments and ZimParks sites differ by visitor residency and change often, so confirm the figure at the gate. Opening hours at city museums and galleries vary, so call ahead. Taking photos of police, soldiers or protests is against the law.

Read more: Activities in Zimbabwe and Multi-day trips .

Official heritage information is at UNESCO and NMMZ . Compare guided visits on GetYourGuide .