Zimbabwe: Africa’s Best-Kept Secret in Luxury Safari Travel
As a Travel Counsellor who specialises in bespoke safaris and once-in-a-lifetime journeys, I’ve been fortunate to explore this remarkable destination first-hand. And I can tell you with confidence; Zimbabwe is far more than most imagine.
The Reality Behind the Myths Even among seasoned travellers, Zimbabwe is often misunderstood. I’ve heard it all, from questions about safety to assumptions that Victoria Falls is the beginning and end of the story. Yet each misconception dissolves the moment you set foot here. Zimbabwe is one of the safest and most welcoming countries in Southern Africa; its people are its greatest treasure. Whether you’re walking with rhinos in Matobo Hills, watching elephants at sunset in Hwange, or drifting along the Zambezi in perfect stillness, you feel a rare sense of connection, to place, to people, and to yourself.
My Own Journey: Tsowa Island and Matetsi When Tsowa Safari Island first opened, I was among its first guests. Hidden on a private island within Zambezi National Park, Tsowa offered something extraordinary, barefoot luxury in one of the most pristine river settings imaginable. Days began with soft mist rising off the water and ended with lantern-lit dinners under a sky dense with stars. There’s an intimacy to Tsowa that’s hard to find elsewhere, the feeling that you’re part of something quietly magnificent. Afterwards, I spent several nights at neighbouring Matetsi River Lodge, a property that redefines modern African elegance. Its architecture and service blend naturally with the landscape, and its team has mastered that understated sense of excellence UHNW travellers seek, the kind that feels effortless. During that trip, I had the pleasure of meeting Amanda Byrom, who was visiting at the same time. It was one of those serendipitous moments that remind you luxury travel isn’t only about where you are — it’s about the people and experiences that connect in unexpected ways.
Beyond Victoria Falls: The Soul of Zimbabwe Of course, Victoria Falls is a spectacle; a natural wonder that deserves its fame. But the real Zimbabwe lies beyond... The Matobo Hills, where ancient granite formations hide centuries-old rock art, are a sanctuary of stillness and spirituality. Hwange National Park, home to one of Africa’s largest elephant populations, delivers some of the continent’s most exclusive wildlife encounters; without the crowds! And further south, the Amalinda Lodge offers a different rhythm entirely: a place where conservation, culture, and community merge seamlessly.
These are the spaces I love to weave into my itineraries; where wilderness feels cinematic, but the experience remains deeply personal.
Luxury, Redefined True luxury in Zimbabwe isn’t about opulence for its own sake. It’s about seclusion, substance, and soul. Private dinners beside the Zambezi. A personal guide whose knowledge transforms a walk into a masterclass in ecology. The stillness of dawn when you realise you’ve seen no other vehicle all day. For my clients, I curate every detail; from exclusive-use villas and privately guided safaris to helicopter transfers that reveal the country’s vast, shifting beauty from above. The result is a journey that feels effortless, intimate, and entirely yours.
Why Zimbabwe, Why Now Zimbabwe is in its renaissance. Conservation-led lodges are flourishing; communities are thriving through tourism; and new direct flight connections make remote regions easier to reach than ever before. Yet it still feels like Africa’s best-kept secret; an unpolished gem that has chosen authenticity over artifice. For the UHNW traveller, this is what makes Zimbabwe irresistible: it’s still real. The wilderness hasn’t been tamed; it’s simply been refined.
Your Invitation If you’ve already done the Masai Mara, the Okavango, or Kruger, and you’re seeking a safari that surprises... Zimbabwe awaits. From the thundering majesty of the Falls to the gentle flow of the Zambezi, from world-class lodges to ancient landscapes, this is Africa in perfect harmony.
I design journeys that go beyond expectation; immersive, luxurious, sustainable, and deeply human.
Let’s craft your Zimbabwe story.
📞 01254 970 102 | ✉️ dan.hyams@mytc.com 🌍 travelcounsellors.co.uk/dan.hyams