Zimbabwe

There are destinations that surprise. Zimbabwe is one of them. While other African countries have become crowded, Zimbabwe has kept a low profile that today translates into empty parks, abundant wildlife and an authenticity increasingly hard to find. Victoria Falls is undoubtedly the country's icon. But reducing Zimbabwe to the falls is like reducing Tanzania to the Serengeti. Mana Pools, a World Heritage Site, offers Africa's best walking safaris: walking among elephants without a vehicle, just meters away, is an experience that redefines the concept of safari. Hwange, with over 40,000 elephants, rivals Chobe in wildlife concentration. And Matobo Hills combines spectacular granite landscapes with the chance to track rhinos on foot. What distinguishes Zimbabwe is its guiding tradition. The best professionals in African safari trained here, with standards that other countries have tried to replicate without success. A safari in Zimbabwe is, above all, a profound learning experience about African nature.