Nostalgia crept in for many as we watched copious expressions by content creators, spotlighting some of our nation’s top destinations across their social media feeds.
The recent recognition by Forbes Magazine, naming our country the top destination to visit in 2025 according to a list collated by global travel experts, was more than just a headline.
Zimbabwe’s tourism sector has always offered an array of leisure, lifestyle and cultural moments for those who dare explore.
As a destination marketer and avid traveller across Africa’s vast landscapes, reading through the comments of proud Zimbabweans the world over, somewhat felt like a long-overdue validation by us, for us, of the passion, resilience, and incomparable beauty that defines our tourism and hospitality landscape.
This international spotlight serves as a spectacular declaration of what those of us who live and breathe the spirit of this land have always known: Zimbabwe offers an experience that is authentic, profound, and utterly unforgettable. But do we Zimbabweans truly believe this?
Are we in tune with the narrative that our nation’s tourism is undergoing a powerful renaissance, shifting from quiet potential to bold, global prominence, or are we rather fixated on the day to day challenges we face, which many would agree, inadvertently put one’s desire or ability to travel on the back burner.
Make no mistake: we are witnessing industry stakeholders—from the luxury safari camps in Hwange, Victoria Falls through to Gonarezhou, to the boutique havens in the Eastern Highlands and the Matopos Hills—dedicating their lives to crafting experiences that seamlessly blend world-class service with a distinctly Zimbabwean soul.
This resurgence is not a fleeting trend; it is the culmination of decades of commitment by the people who form the backbone of this industry, and a rallying fight back from the ashes that the global pandemic left behind five years ago.
- Public relations ethical practice a necessity for practitioners
- This one’s for the locals: Special Zimbo Rate
- The heart of the matter: The world’s greatest destination is our own backyard
Keep Reading
As someone who has chronicled the essence of luxury and purposeful travel through the pages of Travel Essence Magazine, this national awakening has been a deeply personal journey. It is a privilege to stand at this confluence of global recognition and local pride, a moment that reinforces the need for our continued, deeper exploration.
This season has also been the genesis of our most recent, significant endeavour—a cinematic project born from the desire to take our exploration from our pages to a vibrant, living partnership that witnesses a visual docuseries that promotes industry heroes while spotlighting the unique destinations that form the provinces within our borders.
Why this sustained focus on our own country, at a time when the world is beating a path to our door?
Because I am of the view that the greatest challenge we face today is not attracting international visitors, but inspiring a renewed desire in our own audiences to discover the rewards of travel through the lenses of our nation’s unique tourism selling points.
We must be the first to document the richness in Zimbabwe's people, places, and impact stories that visitors from far and wide travel to explore. We have to be the primary custodians of our own narrative.
And so as our filming crew took to the road over the past few months, our journey across the country was guided by four immutable pillars, each aimed at strengthening the fabric of our national identity and industry.
Firstly, we must draw awareness to the diversity of Zimbabwe's tourism destinations, moving beyond the well-trodden paths to unpack the cultural history and heritage elements that form the very foundation of our national identity.
This for example, includes immersing ourselves in the dry-stone majesty of the Great Zimbabwe National Monument, where the sheer scale of the Conical Tower and the Great Enclosure silently testify to the sophistication of a powerful, pre-colonial empire.
Our exploration extends to the raw, untamed wilderness of Mana Pools National Park, where the Zambezi’s floodplains create a unique environment perfect for low-key walking safaris among the wildlife.
These are the nuances that give our destinations a timeless depth that no modern luxury can replicate.
Secondly, the true magic of Zimbabwean hospitality lies in the hands that shape it.
Therefore, we must connect audiences to the industry stakeholders that dedicate their lives to create extraordinary experiences that welcome local, regional, and international guests.
These are the entrepreneurs, the passionate guides and conservationists, and the hoteliers whose commitment elevates a simple stay into a profound, unforgettable memory.
Their passion is the intangible luxury that money can’t buy.
And finally, the soon to launch Travel Essence with Yvonne Show, in proud partnership with Heart and Soul TV, is a platform unapologetically created to present a compelling stage for tourism industry and ancillary service providers to promote their products and services to broader audiences and markets.
As the international spotlight shines, we must equip our local businesses with the visibility they deserve to grow and thrive.
A rallying call to our own: Travel as an act of patriotism
The time for waiting is over. The international travel experts have given us their vote of confidence; now, it is time for us to give our own.
The notion that travel is reserved only for foreign wallets is an outdated myth that must be dismantled. While international visitors are crucial, we—as Zimbabweans—have a moral and cultural imperative to embark on a journey of internal discovery. And it doesn’t have to cost that much.
There is a distinctive privilege in arriving at an exquisite tented camp or boutique lodge or guest house, and knowing that these world-class facilities are owned, operated, and sustained by the very people who share your citizenship.
Imagine standing on the precipice and witnessing the 'Smoke that Thunders,' Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls), where the Zambezi crashes over a kilometre-wide cliff face, drenching visitors in its equatorial spray.
Or perhaps tracking the elusive painted dogs on a profound walking safari through the riverine forests of Mana Pools, feeling the ancient presence of the Zambezi, or driving through the cool, mist-shrouded peaks of the Eastern Highlands, where the Mutarazi Falls plunges hundreds of metres into the Honde Valley.
These are not merely scenic backdrops; they are pieces of the collective Zimbabwean soul, and to visit them is an act of patriotism.
It is to invest directly in the livelihoods of the dedicated staff who have made hospitality their life’s calling. It is to reaffirm our belief in the unparalleled beauty and potential of our home.
The world’s top travel experts are telling us where to go. They are telling us: go home.
The rediscovery of our nation’s magnificence is the most rewarding journey any of us can undertake.
The world is looking to Zimbabwe for its next great adventure. Let us be the first to embrace the rewards of our own exceptionalism.
We continue this journey—from the sweeping savannahs of Hwange to the powerful monuments of our history—not just to document, but to inspire.
Zimbabwe’s travel and discovery must be a priority on everyone's wishlist because, in finding the beauty of our nation, we ultimately find a profound piece of ourselves.
The adventure is waiting. It begins now, in our own backyard.
- *Yvonne C Mtengwa is the founder/editor-in-chief of the award-winning Travel Essence Magazine, a communications strategist by profession, with an avid passion for discovering Africa and the Middle East’s iconic landscapes through her travels. Connect with and follow her travel, tourism, and lifestyle experiences on: IG @Quintessentially_yvonne.
- Journey with her across Zimbabwe on the upcoming Travel Essence with Yvonne Show, airing on Youtube, in proud partnership with Heart and Soul TV.
