Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

29 November 2025

3-minute read

Zimbabwe, a neighbouring country to South Africa and about a third of its size, has been rated the world’s number one destination for 2025 by Forbes Magazine.

Citizen of Zimbabwe and lifelong student of deen, Ayesha Essat, says that Zimbabwe is known for its stunning natural beauty and diverse landscapes. The Victoria Falls, a natural wonder set in a rainforest, is known as one of the “most spectacular falls in the world.” It spans over 1.5kilometres with two-thirds on the Zimbabwean side and the other one-third falling on the Zambian side. Referred to as Mosi-oa-Tunya or The Smoke that Thunders, this “curtain of water that falls into the gorge below” has its source in the DRC and flows from the mighty Zambezi River. Muallimah Ayesha advises wearing a raincoat if you don’t want to get wet when using the viewing decks at this amazing spectacle of nature.

Other unmissable attractions include the area where the Zambezi River opens up into the Kariba Dam, with many resorts alongside it, where you could hire a ferry or take a reasonably priced sunset cruise. Chinhoyi Caves found on the road from Kariba to Harare is a blue echo cave with underground tunnels and a pool of water at its entrance. The spectacular Nyanga mountain range, although not as spectacular as the Drakensberg, is worth a visit, and Vumba boasts the Mtarazi Falls, the highest waterfall in the world. Muallimah Ayesha warns against climbing these mountains as many people have not returned alive from a trek up them.

The Khami Ruins, the ancient stone city in Great Zimbabwe near Masvingo, is a site where one will be awestruck by the construction by past civilizations of towers and buildings without any binding mixtures like cement. Artefacts from the first signs of Islam brought to Zimbabwe by the Arabs are also visible here. Nearby is an area that shows signs of practical Islam from centuries ago. In Bulawayo, a region that abounds with game parks, the Matopo Hills south of the city showcase the greatest granite outcrop in the world, formed from prolonged erosion of an exposed granite batholith.

The best time of year to visit Zimbabwe in terms of weather is from February to April after the summer rains, when the falls are at their fullest. June, July and August are cold, dry months, but this period is ideal for game viewing. Depending on which parts of the country you would like to visit, accommodation varies from lodges and self-catering stays to 5-star hotels. If you are hiring a car or choosing to drive up from South Africa, the roads are quite good but be mindful of wildlife that roam freely about and are often found walking on or alongside roads between cities and towns.

Zimbabwean cuisine is quite diverse. Halal food is not as readily available for Muslim travellers as it is in South Africa, but Muallimah Ayesha says that there are a few people who provide food in the different areas, especially within the bigger cities and around the tourist areas.

Zimbabwe is a place you don’t want to miss when making your travel plans. It offers a diverse mix of world-class attractions, ranging from the thunderous Victoria Falls and vast wildlife-rich national parks like Hwange and Mana Pools to the ancient stone ruins of Great Zimbabwe.

Listen to the full interview with Ml Muhammad Kara, Ml Ibrahim Daya and Muallimah Ayesha here.