With over 400 pages of objective travel information, the new Zimbabwe Self-Drive Guide more than delivers on its promise. It’s equal parts inspiring travel book and invaluable source of reference. What went into producing it? Learn more about our approach to ground-truthing information, discoveries from the field and the features that set this guide apart.

In this age of online research, why produce a hard copy guide to overlanding in Zimbabwe? Well, a search will quickly reveal that online sources for practical advice on the country are few and far between. They also tend to be focused on a few iconic destinations or lodges that cater to fly-in visitors. What makes the Tracks4Africa Zimbabwe Self-Drive Guide different is that it covers the whole country and has been written with overlanders in mind. For the intrepid traveller who wants to get off the beaten track, this is the book that makes it possible.

Johann Groenewald, who heads up Tracks4Africa, answers questions about what went into the guide’s making.

What did the research for the Zimbabwe Self-Drive Guide involve?

As a starting point, we had our database of roads and points of interest (POIs) built up over 25 years. So we didn’t have to start completely from scratch. In 2023, we carried out three different research trips, each lasting 4–8 weeks, to verify roads, gather information and unearth hidden gems. At the same time, our office-based researchers contacted accommodation establishments to confirm details and offerings. On the road we concentrated more on protected areas, major attractions, road conditions and the services available in towns. The research trips were a way to get the lay of the land for self-drive visitors.

What’s more, we could count on a lot of people in Zimbabwe to give us an insider’s view. They contributed essential information like local do’s and don’ts of driving, modes of communication and what to do about health and hygiene. In fact, the section on medical emergencies was written by the only private Zimbabwean company with air ambulances that service remote areas. That sort of first-hand information is essential. Then there were also various people from the tourism side – tour guides and local experts – who shared their perspectives.

What is the Tracks4Africa approach to research trips?

We travel as any overlander would. We may be in a bit more of a hurry because we have a certain distance to cover. But we make a point of being tourists in the time we have available. We try to get a general feel for what it’s like overlanding in the country. Are people friendly? Are they helpful? What response is there at border posts? How do the police behave towards overlanders? These kinds of things you only pick up by spending time in the country. 

Each of us also takes a slightly different approach. Ian-Ray Nel, who’s a mapping expert, spent a lot of time on the little tracks in places like Mana Pools. With his trip, he was ensuring that all the lesser-known tracks are properly configured in our database. My focus was more on photography – you need a lot of pictures for a book like this. And then Lizette Swart, who is our content person, focused more on attractions and discovering the secret finds. She’s very good at sniffing that sort of information out!

Were there any discoveries that stood out from your trip?

I’ve always known the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe to be a special place. But it had been more than 20 years since my last visit and it was great to rediscover the area. It’s a very beautiful, scenic part of the country; that whole stretch along the Mozambican border doesn’t feature much on tourist itineraries. I got to know a different Zimbabwe: more laid back, with very few travellers.

One of the smaller parks that I like to go to is Chizarira and what surprised me is how much it has improved since my last visit six years ago. It is one of those parks where you wouldn’t have found lions in the past. But this time, when I camped there, I heard their calls at night. The next morning when I went for a drive I came across a male and a female – a special sighting.

Gonarezhou is another park that is worth visiting again and again. Obviously, it’s well known, but it rewards a repeat visit. From an infrastructure and game management point of view, it’s such a well-run park. On the other hand, you might want to think twice about Mana Pools, the crown jewel of Zimbabwe. It’s become extremely expensive. 

The new book features several transit routes, an innovation first introduced in the Zambia Self-Drive Guide. What led to that?

In a country like Namibia, the journey is the destination. All the roads are scenic, all the roads are good. Whereas in Zambia, and to a large extent Zimbabwe as well, there are only so many roads leading across the country. There are too many trucks for the road infrastructure, so there’s congestion and the roads deteriorate. As an overlander, you may well have to drive one of these transit routes to reach your destination. So it’s important to know what to expect. 

The transit routes in the Zambia book were very well received, so with the new Zimbabwe guide, we went to quite some effort. The routes are well described, with distances and travel times as well as suggested stops. Where possible, we include a more adventurous alternative. For example, if you drive from Harare to Mana Pools, the typical route is to take the tar road north to Chirundu. But on our research trips, all three of us opted for an alternative route northeast of Harare. It’s less used, there are no trucks and you eventually drive on gravel roads to enter Mana Pools from the east. 

Aside from the transit routes, there are also several touring routes. We went to a lot of trouble with the route suggestions. You can do a grand tour around the country’s main attractions or choose individual routes. Or you can stitch them all together for an extended tour of Zimbabwe. The feedback on the touring routes in the Zambia Self-Drive Guide was very good, so we can’t wait to share our route suggestions for Zimbabwe. 

What makes the new Zimbabwe Self-drive Guide a must for overlanders?

Zimbabwe is not as mature a destination as Namibia or Botswana. Those countries have a well-established support structure for travellers. Something like vehicle recovery is readily available, you can ask at any lodge. Whereas in Zimbabwe, it’s not the same – the services that overlanders need don’t exist everywhere. In terms of being prepared for all eventualities, this book will definitely assist you. 

We cover all the destinations in the country and clearly describe the facilities and services you can find in those places. So you know where you can restock with food or which town to go to if you’ve got vehicle problems. We take a factual approach, with icons showing what you can find at a campsite or lodge.

There’s a full Atlas section in the back, which is useful for trip planning. In the front of the book there’s a very good general section to help you prepare. You’ll find aspects such as health and safety, vehicle preparation and driving tips. It’s a very holistic approach to self-drive travel in a country that is considered a third-world destination. With this guide, you have all the necessary information available offline in one volume that you can take with you. 

What can overlanders expect from Zimbabwe?

Zimbabweans are considered some of the friendliest people on the continent. Lizette travelled the country as a woman on her own and never had any issues. Under the new president, officials like police are more welcoming. Previously, they had a reputation for harassing overlanders and finding reasons to fine them. This has changed dramatically, so from a self-drive perspective, it’s once again a good country to visit. 

Fuel is available everywhere in Zimbabwe and you can get away with credit cards and a bit of cash. In terms of food, you want to do a bit more planning. You can buy a limited supply of fresh vegetables along the road while small shops stock basics like rice and tinned food. But even something as simple as cheese you might not find in small places. For quality, fresh ingredients, it’s best to stock up in Harare and Bulawayo. 

Is now a good time to get the guide and embark on a trip?

We’ve picked up that more and more overlanders are considering Zimbabwe. For people who live in Gauteng, it’s not far: within a day you can be at some of the country’s famed parks. So if you want to see Zimbabwe before the rest of the world rediscovers it, now’s the time.

We’re proud of the work that’s gone into the Zimbabwe Self-Drive Guide. It’s a fresh account of what’s available in the country, covering logistics on the ground and the roads you have to drive. This guide is an actual traveller’s account of what overlanders could expect and we’re excited to share it with others.

 

Buy the new Zimbabwe Self-Drive Guide.