Overview–zimbabwe

Matusadona National Park

Matusadona National Park, on the remote Lake Kariba shore, offers good wildlife viewing in a magnificent wilderness setting. Four of the Big Five are present (black rhinos became extinct within the park in 2016). Elephants and buffalo are abundant on the lake, and hippos wallow in the shallows. Spending time on a Kariba houseboat allows you to view wildlife from the water.

Best Time to Visit

The best wildlife viewing in Matusadona National Park takes place from May to October, during the Dry season. Animals are easier to observe at this time because the bush thins out and wildlife gathers around Lake Kariba.

April to October –Dry Season – Winter

Wildlife is easier to observe because animals come down to drink at the lake
It rains very little and there is a lot of sunshine
The risk of malaria is reduced since there are fewer mosquitoes
It is cooler (except for in October)
There is a lot of dust and it can be very dry
Morning game drives get cold so bring warm clothing

November to March –Wet Season – Summer

The scenery is crisp and green
Baby animals can be seen
Migratory birds have arrived, so birding is at its best
Access roads become difficult to navigate and rivers might flood
Wildlife viewing is not as good as it is in the Dry season
It is hot and humid
Some accommodations close in the Wet season

Scenery

Matusadona reaches from the southern shore of Lake Kariba up to the rugged Zambezi Escarpment. The Sanyati River in the east is well known for its breathtaking gorge, which is most beautiful in the rainy season when small waterfalls run down the steep, rocky sides. Sunsets over Kariba (the world’s largest artificial lake), with ghostly mopane tree trunks poking out of the water and distant mountains in the background, are spectacular.

Activities

The main activities offered by lodges in Matusadona are game drives and guided walks. These usually focus on the open grassland of the Kariba floodplain, which has the best general wildlife viewing. Although you generally see more wildlife on drives, walks offer a more immersive bush experience. Boat trips, which provide a good chance of getting close to hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds, are particularly enjoyable at sunset.

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sept

Oct

Jan

Feb

Mar

Dec

April

Nov

Rates

From: $204 to $1,223 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: May to October (Best wildlife viewing)

High Season

From: August to September (The park is never crowded)

Size

From: 1,407km² / 543mi²

Wildlife & Animals

Matusadona National Park offers excellent wildlife viewing of most big safari animals, including four of the Big Five, with black rhino (locally extinct since 2016) being the exception. The lakeshore is excellent for hippos, crocodiles, and large herds of elephants and buffalo. Kudu, impala, and waterbuck are some of the common antelope. Lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas are present in good numbers.

Wildlife Highlights

Wildlife viewing is best on the Lake Kariba floodplain, where large herds of elephants and buffalo can be seen alongside impala, waterbuck, greater kudu, and warthog. This open grassland is also a favored hunting ground for the park’s resident lion pride. Eland, roan, and sable antelope inhabit the inaccessible miombo woodland but may sometimes be spotted toward the end of the Dry season when they come to the lakeshore to drink.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

The dry months from May to October are the best time for wildlife viewing in the park. Wildlife is easier to spot then because vegetation is thinner and animals gather on the floodplains of Lake Kariba. From December to March, during the peak of the Wet season, flooding rivers are a problem and wildlife tends to scatter throughout the park.

General Wheather

Matusadona National Park has a warm to hot climate. September to April is hot, while May to August is cooler. Sunshine often follows the afternoon rains that take place during the Wet season (November to March). During the Dry season (April to October) bright, sunlit skies are normal. Winter and summer are at opposite times of those seasons in Europe, Asia, and North America and correspond to the Dry and Wet seasons.

Dry Season –April to October – Winter

April – It is cooling down now, especially at night. Rains gradually taper off.
May, June, July & August – Dryness is typical of these winter months. Daytime temperatures hover around 26°C/79°F, but nights and early mornings are cooler at about 12°C/54°F. Early morning game drives in open vehicles are cold, so bring enough warm clothing.
September & October – These months are mostly dry until the first isolated showers arrive, usually by late October. It gets very hot during the day with average temperatures of 33°C/91°F in October. Scorching peaks of over 40°C/104°F are common.

Wet Season –November to March – Summer

November – The rains increase, although it might not happen daily. The high temperatures (32°C/90°F on average) and increased humidity can be oppressive.
December, January & February – Rain usually comes in the form of afternoon storms. These are the wettest months. Daytime temperatures average 31°C/88°F, while night and early morning average 17°C/63°F.
March – The rains lessen with the ending of the Wet season. Temperatures average between 31°C/88°F and 16°C/61°F between the day and night.

Prons

Good wildlife viewing
Great animal diversity, including four of the Big Five (no rhino)
Excellent birding destination
Walking safaris are available
Wildlife numbers are increasing rapidly under new management
Lots of accommodation options, including Kariba houseboats

Cons

Hot and humid from November to March, with many mosquitoes
Not easy to get to by road, and 4WD vehicle is essential

How To Get There

Matusadona National Park stands on the shore of Lake Kariba, 470km/292 mi northwest of Harare. The road into the park is very rough and needs a 4WD vehicle, whether you are coming from Victoria Falls or Hwange in the west, or Kariba or Harare in the east. In the Wet season, from November to March, the road tends to be unnavigable, and it might still be difficult over April to May in years of heavy rainfall.

No scheduled flights service Matusadona, but chartered planes can be arranged to airstrips in or bordering the park (for instance Bumi Hills or Kishinga). Alternatively, scheduled Fastjet flights service Kariba town, from where you can boat the remaining 18km/11 mi to the park. There’s also a surfaced 355km/221 mi road between Harare and Kariba town. Allow at least 6 hours* for this drive.

Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) is the main point of entry into Zimbabwe. Alternatively, you can fly to Harare’s Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (HRE) and fly or drive from there. Your pick-up from the airport will be arranged by your local tour operator as part of your safari package.

*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA), and what tickets would cost.