Discover Mashonaland West

When planning a trip to Mashonaland West, nature and culture are central considerations. One specific natural attraction is Mana Pools National Park; the province also hosts several named events.

Park destinations in Mashonaland West

Mana Pools National Park is a 219,600-hectare wildlife sanctuary and national park in the Hurungwe District of Mashonaland West Province. Recreational parks in Mashonaland West include Manyame, Mhondoro-Ngezi and Mazvikadei. This identifies different park categories: Mana Pools as a wildlife sanctuary and national park, and the other three destinations as recreational parks. This distinction can serve as an initial guide if you want to focus your search on the type of park you prefer.

Events and dates

Mashonaland West Province hosts the Nyaminyami Festival, the Lake Kariba Marathon, the Odsey Kadoma Festival and the Korekore Cultural Festival. The list includes both festivals and a marathon. If one of these events is the reason for your trip, check the specific event dates before booking. This will help you coordinate your travel dates with the occasion that matters to you.

Zimbabwe in a broader context

In the broader destination of Zimbabwe, the Mana Pools, Sapi and Chewore World Heritage Site offers a distinctive landscape. It is bounded to the north by the Zambezi River and to the south by an escarpment that rises more than 1,000 metres above the valley floor. Every year during the dry winter months, elephants, buffalo, zebras, waterbucks, other antelopes, lions and hyenas migrate into this area. More than 450 resident and migratory bird species have been recorded there. Zimbabwe’s natural attractions also include Mana Pools National Park, a habitat for numerous mammals, aquatic wildlife and more than 350 bird species. The figure of more than 450 resident and migratory bird species, however, refers to the Mana Pools, Sapi and Chewore World Heritage Site. The figures therefore relate to different areas: one refers to the national park, the other to the World Heritage Site.

Zimbabwe’s history also offers a distinct cultural connection. The ruins of Great Zimbabwe bear witness to the Shona civilisation that flourished between the 11th and 15th centuries. The Zimbabwe Birds carved from soapstone, found in the ruins, show that the site was used as a place of worship from antiquity to the present day. Khami was the capital of the Torwa dynasty, which emerged from the collapse of the Kingdom of Great Zimbabwe between 1450 and 1650. The site features the longest decorated wall in the entire subregion. Great Zimbabwe and Khami therefore highlight different aspects of history: one represents evidence of the Shona civilisation and religious use, while the other reflects dynastic history and a remarkable decorated wall.

Discover more destinations: Kariba, Manicaland, North Matabeleland.

Go to the main travel overview: Zimbabwe.