Dear Jozef and Mariette,

We are very happy to share our travel experiences in Zimbabwe.

Pure Africa

It’s actually impossible to sum up the trip to Zimbabwe in a single word. Breathtaking, adventurous, extraordinary, fantastic, phenomenal, awesome, impressive, intense, unforgettable, overwhelming, beautiful, exciting, spectacular, unique, surprising, and wondrous. And we’re probably forgetting a few more. And to think that, to be honest, we had mixed feelings about Zimbabwe beforehand. Of course, we were looking forward to the trip, but at the same time, we weren’t exactly sure what to expect from the country. Would Zimbabwe move us as much as other African destinations we’d already visited? Would its authentic and less touristy character suit us? The answer to that became increasingly clear as the trip went on. Zimbabwe completely blew us away. The breathtaking nature, the enormous diversity of landscapes and wildlife, the peace and quiet, the adventure, and perhaps most of all, the friendliness and sincere gratitude of the people made a deep impression on us. We chose Untamed Travelling again because of our previous experience, their knowledge of Africa, and, above all, the personal touch. The communication beforehand was very pleasant, and they really took our wishes into consideration. For us, the focus had to be primarily on nature. Not a standard tour, but small-scale, adventurous, and as authentic as possible. And that’s exactly what we got. In fact, the trip we had envisioned turned out to be ten times better, more surprising, more authentic, and more adventurous in reality.

Diversity in Zimbabwe

What made this trip so special for us was its incredible diversity—not only in wildlife, but also in landscapes, activities, and accommodations. We started at the impressive Victoria Falls. Exploring the falls on foot, flying over them in a helicopter, and enjoying nature from the Zambezi River made for a wonderful start to our trip. After that, we left the more populated world further and further behind us. We flew from airstrip to airstrip in small planes and eventually made our way through Hwange National Park and Mana Pools to Gonarezhou. Each destination felt completely different. In Hwange, we stayed right in the middle of the bush. No frills, just a tent, an outdoor shower, a campfire, a starry sky, and the sounds of African nature all around us. Our travel specialist Mariëtte Boomsma-Hermans’ suggestion to choose a tented camp here instead of a lodge turned out to be spot on. Waking up in the bush in the morning, having breakfast by the fire, and then heading out—by jeep, but also on foot. We saw huge numbers of elephants, giraffes, zebras, and all kinds of antelopes. And, of course, the lions. Seeing two male lions up close and hearing them roar is something you won’t soon forget. It was precisely the simplicity of the camp that brought us closer to Africa. Sometimes, less luxury simply means a richer experience.

Mana Pools: yet another completely different landscape

Next came Mana Pools, where the landscape surprised us once again. After the drier Hwange, Mana Pools felt distinctly different: more open and greener, with taller trees and, of course, the mighty Zambezi as a backdrop. Here, too, we stayed right in the heart of nature. Mana River Camp is beautifully situated on the Zambezi, has only six tents, and has been deliberately kept simple and small-scale. Here, we experienced the bush in yet another way—not only from the jeep and on foot, but also by canoe on the Zambezi. Paddling quietly across the water, wildlife along the banks, lots of beautiful birds—and all the while realizing that this is a world away from a typical vacation day. That was exactly what we were looking for on this trip: not the same safari route every day, but experiencing Africa in a different way each time.

It was the people who made the difference

As impressive as the animals and landscapes were, the people we met along the way made just as big an impression on us. Not only our guides, but also the staff at the tented camps and lodges. Everywhere we went, we were welcomed with such kindness, interest, and hospitality. The guides were, without exception, friendly, knowledgeable, interested, and helpful. But what perhaps stands out most in our memory is the sincere gratitude we sensed from both the guides and the other staff members for the fact that we were visiting their country. Tinashe, our guide in Mana Pools, was the standout guide for us on this trip. He spoke excellent English, was engaging, had a great sense of humor, and knew an enormous amount about flora and fauna. He could tell stories with great enthusiasm, but also knew when to say nothing at all and let nature do the talking. In Gonarezhou, we had another guide, Alec, with a different specialty. Birdwatching was high on our wish list, and with him, we were in good hands. His ability to spot birds that we probably would never have seen on our own was impressive. That knowledge, enthusiasm, and—above all—the personal connection made the safaris so much more than just animal spotting for us.

And then Chilo came along...

As if the trip needed a grand finale, we ended up at Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge. What a place. The lodge is spectacularly situated above the Save River, on the edge of Gonarezhou National Park. From the lodge, you have an endless view of the river and the African wilderness. The location, the amazing service, and the view made Chilo Gorge an absolute highlight for us. In fact, we quickly agreed: we would have loved to stay here much longer. Breakfast with that view, the many hippos down in the river, crocodiles along the banks, elephants crossing the water, and birdsong everywhere from early in the morning. Sometimes you didn’t even need to go on a safari. You could just sit on your balcony, and Africa would come right to you.

From Chilo, we also made the long trip to the Chilojo Cliffs. Hours on African bush roads, but the drive there alone was a safari. Giraffes that almost seemed to be posing for us, and then suddenly something we’d barely dared to hope for: a leopard. And finally, those immense red-orange Chilojo Cliffs. First from the top and later from below. The kind of landscape where photos are beautiful, but can never quite capture how impressive it is when you’re standing right in the middle of it. Chilo Gorge was the icing on the cake for us.

More Than Just the Big Five

Of course, we went to Zimbabwe for the nature and wildlife. And we saw plenty of both. Lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, and jackals. But also the enormous variety of antelopes, such as impala, kudu, nyala, waterbuck, and even the much rarer roan. And then there were the birds. So many beautiful birds, often with the most stunning colors. But in the end, strangely enough, it’s not just those spectacular sightings that stick with you. It’s also looking out over the African bush in the morning with a cup of coffee. The silence during a walking safari. Just the sound of the paddles during a canoe trip on the Zambezi. A sundowner after a long day. The warmth and humor of the people. A small plane waiting for us somewhere in the middle of the bush on a dusty airstrip. And sometimes just sitting together, watching, and not having to do a thing.

What really stuck with us

When we look back on this trip, it’s not even a few specific moments that stand out. It’s mainly the big picture that made Zimbabwe so special to us. The immense diversity of landscapes and nature, the extraordinary locations, the silence, and the balance between being active and simply enjoying ourselves. One day on a jeep safari, the next day on foot, by bike, or canoeing down the Zambezi. Add to that the friendliness, knowledge, and genuine gratitude of the people we met along the way. And, of course, Chilo Gorge Lodge, whose unique location and outstanding service were an absolute highlight. It was precisely that combination of nature, adventure, tranquility, people, and special places that made this trip complete for us.

Would we recommend Zimbabwe and Untamed Travelling?

We don’t even have to think about it for a second anymore. Absolutely! Maybe that answer is so convincing precisely because we had mixed feelings about it ourselves at first. Zimbabwe wasn’t automatically put on a pedestal in our eyes. The country earned that all on its own. For anyone looking for that authentic African experience, we would wholeheartedly recommend Zimbabwe. The beautiful and varied natural landscape, the enormous diversity of wildlife, and the peace, space, and silence made a deep impression on us. But just as remarkable were the people. The guides and staff at the tented camps and lodges, with their friendliness, hospitality, knowledge, and sincere gratitude, completely blew us away.

And would we recommend Untamed Travelling? Absolutely. For us, Untamed’s strength lies in delivering truly customized trips. Not a standard tour, but a journey that reflected who we are and the way we wanted to experience Africa. The personal touch, the knowledge of Africa, and their willingness to work with us on our wishes resulted in a trip that was a perfect fit for us. The choice of the tented camp in Hwange is perhaps the best example of this. Looking back, there’s really nothing significant we’d want to change about the trip itself. And that probably says it all. We left for Zimbabwe with mixed feelings and came home with thousands of photos, lots of stories, and above all, a huge collection of memories. Memories that will likely continue for years to come, beginning with: “Do you remember, in Zimbabwe?”

Marcel & Yvonne