Matobo National Park

Zimbabwe

A Zimbabwe Safari shaped by ancient art, rugged beauty, and rare wildlife

A Zimbabwe safari through Matobo National Park offers more than wildlife sightings – it’s a journey through time. Spanning over 44,000 hectares, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Africa’s most captivating destinations, known for its ancient granite formations that rise in dramatic domes, spires, and balancing rocks. Sculpted by millions of years of erosion, the landscape feels almost prehistoric, as if you’ve stepped back into the Jurassic Period.

Matobo is the heart of a historical safari. The San people lived here more than 2,000 years ago, leaving behind some of Southern Africa’s best-preserved rock art. These remarkable paintings still adorn the cave walls, telling stories of early life on the continent and offering a window into Zimbabwe’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage.

Beyond its history, the national park is home to an Intensive Protection Zone where endangered Black and White Rhinos are carefully watched over. This makes Matobo one of the best places in Zimbabwe to encounter these iconic species on foot. It’s a humbling experience, and a true testament to the power of conservation.

This region is also home to giraffe, zebra, warthog, hyena, and leopard. Birder-lovers will be thrilled, too – Matobo National Park boasts one of the most diverse populations of raptors in the world, including the majestic Verreaux’s Eagle.

To walk through Matobo National Park is to walk through layers of time. This is a Zimbabwe safari that gives you a more profound understanding of the country’s history and spiritual significance.

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  • Emerald season
  • Diamond season
  • Amber season

January is the summertime, with warm daytime temperatures around 30°C. The afternoon summer rains bring a freshness to the season and landscapes, replenishing the plants, waterholes and rivers. Summertime in Matobo National Park brings dramatic late-afternoon thunderstorms, which are an exhilarating show of the power of Mother Nature.

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In February, the summertime climate of high temperatures (around 30°C during the day) and late afternoon thunderstorms, continue.

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March is the tail-end of the summer season.

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In April there are still warm days to enjoy as temperatures continue to hover around 29°C. The nights bring cooler weather, as the mercury drops to the mid-to-late teens.

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Daytime and evening temperatures have cooled slightly, with averages around 27°C and 10°C respectively. Most notable is the transition from the rainy summer season to the dry winter season. May marks the start of the winter season and sees far less rain than the previous months.

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Wildlife numbers are at their highest during the dry season – June to September – as they congregate around the water sources in the park.

Plan your Safari

Wildlife numbers are at their highest during the dry season – June to September – as they congregate around the water sources in the park.

Plan your Safari

Wildlife numbers are at their highest during the dry season – June to September – as they congregate around the water sources in the park.

Plan your Safari

September sees the beginning of the low water months in Matobo National Park.

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October sees temperatures reach their peak during the day, around 32°C. Tracking the rhinos of the Matobo National Park is an activity that one can experience year-round.

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November usually brings the start of the rainy season so you can expect some afternoon rain showers.

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December is usually the rainiest month of the year, seeing around 11 days of afternoon rains, which helps to reinvigorate the fauna and flora after months of dry weather.

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Our Experience in the Matobo Hills

Wildlife

Apart from the rhinoceros, you can expect to see zebra, giraffe, leopard, hyena, hippo, warthog, waterbuck, wildcat, common duiker, crocodiles, baboons, monkey in Motopos.

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