Victoria Falls Surges Big, Triggering 438% Safari Investment Boom in Zimbabwe’s Tourism Revival

Written By: Abhirup Gan

Abhirup Gan

I'm Abhirup Gan, a Mass Communication graduate and digital marketing professional. Driven by a passion for storytelling, I create insightful, research-led content that explores tourism trends, destination stories, and hospitality developments with depth and clarity. Through my writing, I hope to inspire readers to discover not only where to travel, but the stories, cultures, and experiences that make every journey meaningful.

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September 2, 2026 12:51 GMT+5:30

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Zimbabwe’s tourism destination of Zimbabwe is establishing its credentials as a tourist destination of choice in Africa, following its performance in the current quarter, where the country earned $251 million from the industry, an increase of 14% compared to last year. The high popularity of the Victoria Falls, the safari tourism in Hwange National Park, and increased investments of 438% into the hospitality sector have all boosted the country’s tourism infrastructure.

Victoria Falls Remains Zimbabwe’s Tourism Anchor

Victoria Falls continues to serve as one of Zimbabwe’s most important international tourism gateways. The destination combines one of Africa’s most recognised natural attractions with a growing range of accommodation, guided activities, adventure experiences and wildlife-based excursions.

The waterfall and surrounding Zambezi landscape provide the foundation for a broad visitor experience. Travellers can incorporate sightseeing around Victoria Falls into itineraries that include river activities, wildlife encounters, adventure tourism and luxury accommodation.

The destination also functions as a starting point for wider journeys through western Zimbabwe. Visitors can extend their stays towards Hwange National Park, creating a tourism circuit that combines one of the continent’s major natural landmarks with a major wildlife destination.

The strength of demand for Victoria Falls is therefore supporting tourism beyond the immediate waterfall area.

Hwange Extends the Safari Experience

Hwange National Park is becoming an increasingly important extension for visitors travelling through the Victoria Falls tourism corridor.

Zimbabwe’s largest national park provides an extensive wildlife environment and supports game-viewing experiences across diverse habitats. Luxury safari properties and guided excursions allow visitors to combine Victoria Falls with wildlife-focused stays.

The combination of waterfall tourism and safari travel creates a multi-destination itinerary within western Zimbabwe. Travellers can spend time around Victoria Falls before continuing to Hwange for game drives and wildlife experiences.

This model can increase the duration of international visits and distribute tourism spending across accommodation, guides, transport, restaurants and other visitor services.

For safari travellers, Hwange also provides a different experience from the attraction-led tourism surrounding Victoria Falls. The park places wildlife viewing at the centre of the itinerary, creating complementary travel products within the same region.

Hospitality Investment Accelerates

Hospitality investment is expanding rapidly alongside visitor demand. Zimbabwe has recorded a 438% increase in hospitality investments, strengthening the accommodation and tourism-services base required to serve international travellers.

Investment in hotels, lodges and safari properties can increase room capacity while improving the range of accommodation available to different visitor segments.

For Victoria Falls, additional hospitality capacity supports the destination’s role as an international tourism hub. For Hwange and other wildlife areas, investment can provide more options for travellers seeking safari-focused accommodation.

The increase in investment also has implications for multi-destination tourism. More accommodation options can make it easier for visitors to extend their stays and combine different regions within a single holiday.

The development of hospitality infrastructure is consequently closely linked to the country’s wider tourism growth.

Quarterly Receipts Rise to $251 Million

Zimbabwe’s tourism sector generated $251 million in quarterly receipts, representing a 14% year-on-year increase.

The rise reflects stronger tourism activity across the country’s major visitor markets and highlights the contribution of international travel to the wider economy.

Victoria Falls and Hwange are particularly important to Zimbabwe’s leisure tourism proposition, but the country’s travel network also includes cultural, historical, nature and adventure destinations.

Higher tourism receipts can support a broad range of businesses connected with visitor activity. Hotels, lodges, tour operators, restaurants, transport providers, guides and attractions all participate in the tourism supply chain.

The increase also provides a stronger commercial environment for continued investment in visitor infrastructure.

Eco-Adventure Tourism Expands

Zimbabwe’s combination of wildlife, landscapes and outdoor attractions supports its development as an eco-adventure destination.

Victoria Falls provides a natural focus for adventure activities, while Hwange adds wildlife-based travel. Together, they allow international visitors to combine nature, adventure and safari experiences within one journey.

The wider Zambezi region also contributes opportunities for river-based tourism and outdoor recreation. These experiences can complement luxury accommodation and guided wildlife activities.

The growing focus on eco-adventure tourism gives Zimbabwe opportunities to serve different visitor preferences while maintaining strong connections with its natural assets.

International Trade and Investment Outreach

Tourism growth is also being supported by increased international trade and investment outreach.

High-level engagement with international markets can create opportunities for additional investment in accommodation, tourism infrastructure, transport and visitor services. It can also strengthen commercial connections between Zimbabwe’s tourism businesses and overseas travel markets.

International outreach is particularly relevant as Zimbabwe seeks to expand tourism capacity alongside rising demand. New investment can help develop additional destinations and tourism products while strengthening established gateways such as Victoria Falls.

The combination of visitor growth and investment therefore provides a foundation for further expansion of the country’s tourism network.

Zimbabwe Builds a Stronger Tourism Circuit

Tourism performance in the country has been increasingly oriented towards developing a linked tourism route between Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park. Tourism revenue amounting to $251 million on a quarterly basis, combined with a 14% increase in growth, is indicative of increased tourist spending. The 438% increase in hospitality investment is helping to improve the infrastructure for tourists. For tourists, the two trends are creating an opportunity to develop a long itinerary that involves tourism involving waterfalls, wildlife, luxury safari accommodation, among other outdoor activities. Victoria Falls offers the major international tourism attraction in the country, while Hwange develops the tour into Zimbabwe’s important wildlife destination. Tourism development in the country is thus shifting from individual tourism attractions to overall destination development. With the country increasingly investing in hospitality infrastructure and engaging in international trade, tourism in the country will further enhance its reputation as an important African eco-adventure and safari destination.