Things to do in Zimbabwe

Meet Hwange’s white rhinos

Imagine coming face-to-face with several tons of nearly two-metre-tall rhino bulls – it certainly gets your heart racing…

By Mark Butcher

Managing Director of Imvelo Safari Lodges

The white rhinos of Hwange National Park

Thuza and Kusasa rhinos at Imvelo, Zimbabwe

We’re thrilled to have finally reintroduced white rhinos back into Hwange National Park after nearly 20 years. Back in the 80s, they were part of the scenery here, but sadly we lost them all to poachers. Thanks to our Community Rhino Conservation Initiative (CRCI) we’ve now been able to bring two male rhinos, Thuza and Kusasa, to the park. They’ve become quite the celebrities! It’s amazing that visitors can now spot the entire Big Five in Hwange.

As part of your stay at Bomani, you’ll get to join our rhino experience, which starts at the sanctuary headquarters. Here, you’ll meet our special rhino guards, the Cobras, who’ve been recruited from local villages and trained to protect the animals 24/7 and alleviate human-wildlife conflicts. They’ll give you a short talk about the project. Each Cobra has a story to tell; some were even former poachers who’ve now dedicated their lives to saving rhinos.

Next, you’ll take a short walk to find Thuza and Kusasa, who live on former cattle grazing land that belongs to villages in the Tsholotsho area. The beauty of the CRCI is that we’re working with the community to create sustainable conservation; funds raised by the visits go directly towards projects such as school improvements, boreholes and healthcare, meaning that villagers have an incentive to cherish wildlife.

Approaching rhinos in their natural environment is an absolute privilege. Imagine coming face-to-face with several tons of nearly two-metre-tall rhino bulls – it certainly gets your heart racing! You’ll come away humbled and inspired by this remarkable conservation story. This is just the beginning of the tale; we hope to open a string of sanctuaries and someday safely reintroduce white rhinos into the wider national park.

Available in these itineraries…

Itinerary

Essential Zimbabwe
by Adele Jones

Length8 Days

Price range£4,275 - £4,875pp
Itinerary

Family Victoria Falls and Safari Adventure
by Helen Austin

Length8 Days

Price range£4,075 - £4,850pp

Alfred & Mark Butcher

Mark Butcher is an eco-tourism professional with a passion for linking local communities directly to wildlife conservation. In the 80s, he was a ranger for the Zimbabwe Department of National Parks and Wildlife and later, the Provincial Wildlife Officer in the Matabeleland North Province adjacent to Hwange National Park. Mark is now the Managing Director of Imvelo Safari Lodges, a selection of properties that directly benefit disenfranchised communities around Hwange.

Plan your holiday withAlfred&

Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like Adele, who's travelled extensively in Zimbabwe. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it alone. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember – the ranger who can show you the best game viewing and fishing spots on the Zambezi, the guide who’ll introduce you to ‘moonbows’ at Victoria Falls and the locals who’ll share their dinner with you.

Adele Jones

Africa Travel Expert for Alfred&

Adele has been travelling for 21 years, with plenty of time in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. As a keen wildlife enthusiast she is fascinated by seeing wild animals in their natural environment, as well as understanding how landscape and topography drive their behavioural patterns. Her experience in Africa got off to a memorable start, with a sighting of a wild dog pack within 10-minutes of landing on her first ever safari trip!
Cloud Magondo

Professional Guide at Nyamatusi Camp

Cloud joined African Bush Camps after five years of experience working as a professional river guide. He has also recently achieved his Professional Guide licence, a highly regarded achievement within the safari industry. His passions are canoeing, star gazing, animal behaviour and birds while also recognising the importance of the smaller things like insects and flora. As a guide who canoes the Zambezi, he has plenty of respect for the resident hippo and crocodiles.
Mark Butcher

Managing Director of Imvelo Safari Lodges

Mark Butcher is an eco-tourism professional with a passion for linking local communities directly to wildlife conservation. In the 80s, he was a ranger for the Zimbabwe Department of National Parks and Wildlife and later, the Provincial Wildlife Officer in the Matabeleland North Province adjacent to Hwange National Park. Mark is now the Managing Director of Imvelo Safari Lodges, a selection of properties that directly benefit disenfranchised communities around Hwange.
Tich Tandi

Sales and marketing manager at Wild Horizons, Alfred&’s partner in Zimbabwe

During more than three decades in the hospitality industry, Tich Tandi has been everything from a waiter to a tours coordinator in a five-star hotel. Originally from Rusape in the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe, he now works for Wild Horizons in Victoria Falls as part of the sales and marketing team, a role he thoroughly enjoys.
Jane Msamba

Deputy General Manager, Ilala Lodge Hotel

Born in Zimbabwe, Jane began working with Ilala Lodge Hotel as a senior cashier in 1995. She has worked her way through the ranks from Junior Tours Consultant to Tours Manager and this year took up the role of Deputy General Manager of the hotel. Happily married with three children, Jane has recently become a proud grandmother. She lives in Victoria Falls with her husband and the couple is passionate about wildlife.
Francis Nyabadza

Guide at Wild Horizons, Alfred&’s partner in Zimbabwe

Francis Nyabadza grew up hearing the roar of the Victoria Falls, and familiarity has done nothing to diminish his sense of awe every time he takes guests to experience this natural wonder for themselves – something he’s been doing for Wild Horizons since 1997. When not at the Falls, his favourite place to take visitors is the village that hosts the company’s Meet the People cultural activity.