Middleham Falls, Morne Trois Pitons National Park

Advantages: Pristine scenery, stunningly clear air,
Disadvantages: None really

...dollars/pounds then take a helicopter or fixed wing ride up to the Tasman Glacier, get out and have a walk around or ski the magnificence, hire a guide for a more indepth look at the environment, dine at the Hermitage or Glencoe Lodge for morning or afternoon tea or an evening meal with fine New Zealand food and wine. Be sure to pick up some local souviners for an Aoraki Mount Cook National Park memory. I think the memories you take away in your camera and your head will far out shine the souviners - but buy some anyway. Finally, my favourite part of this stunning national park is the view up to Mount Sefton - it is more prominent than the view of Mount Cook when you are in the village area. You peer in wonder at an amazingly steep faced mountain; huge, white, icy cliffs hang precariously off the side. Sometimes you hear bits crushing... Read review

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Advantages: other world scenery, freedom to explore, excellent wildlife in compact area
Disadvantages: not too many places to stay - book early

...The Matbobo (or Matopos) Hills National Park is probably my favourite area of Zimbabwe. This area of the country has landscapes like nowhere else in the world, offers excellent wildlife viewing and yet it is possible to explore most areas in your own vehicle or on foot. The area is often overlooked with attention drawn to Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park. If you are visiting Zimbabwe then make sure to include Matobo on your itinerary. The land here is covered with an extraordinary collection of huge bare granite hills with gravity-defying boulders scattered all over the countryside creating a quite unique and distinctly mysterious landscape. The most spectacular areas are within the Matobo Hills National Park. The local Matabele people call it Malindidzimu (the place of ancestor spirits). The park is famous for its outstanding... Read review

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Advantages: Elephant herds at close range, variety of wildlife
Disadvantages: bleak landscape, limited chance to explore on your own

...Hwange National Park is a huge wildlife area in the North West corner of Zimbabwe - not far from Victoria Falls. You should pick your lodge carefully when visiting Hwange. It is better to be inside the park where game viewing is possible all the time. Good lodges inside the park include Makalolo Plains, Giraffe Springs, The Hide, Chokamella. These lodges have excellent guides who are licensed to walk in the park (they are armed). There are also good lodges outside - but you need to travel into the park and will miss such moments such as an elephant drinking from the lodge swimming pool in the evening. You can also do the park on a self drive basis (perhaps staying at Hwange Safari Lodge / Main Camp) - that's fine if you want to do your own thing (but you will never see as much wildlife if you don't go with a professional guide). Also... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful