Zimbabwe Named Top of the World’s Best Countries to Visit in 2025, According to Forbes Travel Guide - Or Has It?

Minister for Tourism Appears to Accept Prestigious Accolade After Ministry's Own Social Media Page Spins Story with No Substance

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs, 13th October 2025

For the last few days the Zimbabwean Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry has been promoting a social media post claiming that Zimbabwe was 'recently named by travel experts as the world’s best country to visit in 2025.'

The post, shared on the Ministry's Facebook page three times since 10th October, simply features a photograph of the Victoria Falls with the text 'Forbes - Zimbabwe named the world's best country to visit in 2025, according to travel experts,' without giving any further details or linking to any specific article.

The claim appears after growing negative online and media coverage over increasing tourism development pressures at the Victoria Falls and which threaten the UNESCO World Heritage Site status of the Zimbabwean side of the Falls (Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs, 27th September 2025).

A quick internet search reveals that the national press and tourism industry have reacted with similar claims, with The Herald of 13th October reporting "Zimbabwe has been named the 2025 world best country to visit by Forbes magazine, a renowned global publication" and quoting Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi. 

"We are overjoyed by the acknowledgement from Forbes and global travel experts. As you know, its prestigious when you get such recognition from Forbes and it is confirmation that Zimbabwe is a safe, peaceful, war-free tourist destination," (The Herald, 13th October 2025)

Several online regional tourism news websites and many local tour operators have also picked up on the story and repeated the claims in the belief that Zimbabwe has been recognised by Forbes in their prestigious annual list of top global travel destinations to visit.

But has Zimbabwe really received this grand accolade? The original article on the Forbes.com website, titled 'The World’s Best Countries To Visit In 2025, According To Travel Experts' was posted on 5th August 2025, and is not in fact an award from the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide, or even the opinion of independent 'Travel Experts,' but is instead an advertorial feature written by a freelance travel writer and solely based on the online search results from one online travel booking website, kayak.co.uk.

In listing Zimbabwe top of this list, the feature detailed simply "Zimbabwe cities like Bulawayo have seen more than 80% increase in flight searches on Kayak, while Harare has increased by 56% for summer this year."

So despite the grand headlines and Ministerial self-congratulations, Zimbabwe has not been voted top of any global travel destination list by Forbes. Forbes Travel Guide published its prestigious list of top destinations to visit for 2025 in January (Forbes Travel Guide Top 12 Destinations for 2025). Zimbabwe did not make the list. The Minister for Tourism appears therefore to be the victim of her own Ministry's over active spinning of stories on social media, and that rather than drawing attention away from controversial developments at Victoria Falls, their mistake will in fact help put them in the global spotlight. How embarrassing.

Read about the growing tourism development pressures facing the Victoria Falls and which threaten the UNESCO World Heritage Site listing - Keep Victoria Falls Wild.

Furore over Victoria Falls housing stands recall

 The Victoria Falls City Council has come under fire from residents after indicating that it will repossess housing stands from beneficiaries in the BE100 area who fail to pay for them in full by month end amid allegations of corruption.

The Victoria Falls Consortium, a residents association, alleged that the council has already identified new potential beneficiaries and is compelling them to pay a “facilitation fee” to increase their chances of acquiring the stands.

These claims were made in a recent communication sent by the Victoria Falls Consortium to residents in the resort city.

“The Victoria Falls Consortium is reliably informed that the mayor of Victoria Falls, Prince Thuso Moyo, and other senior council officers have embarked on an unprocedural repossession of stands from the BE100 beneficiaries,” the consortium alleged.

“Effectively, they are allegedly taking bribes from individuals who have never been on the waiting list or have been vetted by the vetting committee.

“The information on our desk indicates that the mayor and senior council officers have already engaged new potential beneficiaries, causing them to pay a facilitation fee to increase their chances of benefiting after the October 31, 2025 deadline.”

The consortium noted that while repossession of stands was a standard council procedure for those who fail to pay, it was inappropriate and unprocedural to execute this process ahead of the deadline.

“We strongly believe that the council cannot proceed with repossessions without the following: a publicised council resolution on how the process is to be applied; a process that meets all legal frameworks; and unbiased allocations to new beneficiaries,” the consortium said.

“There should be proof of waiting lists for all new beneficiaries to curb corrupt tendencies where individuals qualify because of bribes.

“The new beneficiaries should be vetted by the same vetting committee before they qualify.

“Thus far, we gather that none of the above tenets have been considered, which is a serious cause for concern.

“Residents should take note of the betrayal by their elected leaders and council management.”

The consortium added: “Furthermore, we advise all BE100 beneficiaries to go to the council immediately and inquire about the status of their stands to ascertain what records are in their files.

“This will avoid last-minute surprises regarding this potential corruption underway,” the communication advised.”

Victoria Falls mayor Moyo dismissed the claims as “mere bar talk”  when contacted for comment.

He said, at a policy level, the council passed a resolution that stands of those who have not paid will be repossessed after October 31.

“What I know is that council passed a resolution to repossess the stands of those who would not have paid by October 31,” Moyo said.

“I also know that in the consortium, two of the leaders have stands and they have not paid in full, so this is an individual person’s issue, and residents must ignore them.”

Moyo said he was being name-dropped to soil his image.

“This is not a mayor’s thing, but a decision made by the council; the mayor does not take people’s stands,” he said.

“At a policy level, I can say stands will be taken after October 31, and I urge those who have not paid to pay so that they do not lose them.

“I also encourage the consortium leaders to lead by example by paying before the stands are taken from them.”

Source: Furore over Victoria Falls housing stands recall (12/10/2025)

READ MORE:

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (11th June 2022) Stands corruption storm in Victoria Falls 

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (15th June 2024) Pushback as Victoria Falls council boss clings to power.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (4th December 2024) Multi-million-dollar scandal rocks Victoria Falls council.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (5th December 2024) Corruption and abuse of office - Victoria Falls Town Clerk and 2024 CEO of the year suspended.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (8th December 2024) Government reverses 'unprocedural suspension' of Victoria Falls Town Clerk Ronnie Dube.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (10th July 2025) Victoria Falls Residents Consortium slams opposition-led council over alleged corruption, poor service delivery 

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (6th March 2025) Minister defends Vic Falls Town Clerk, accuses residents’ groups of politics.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (23rd August 2025) Vic Falls residents push for clarity in Town Clerk corruption probe.

Livingstone woman dies after confronting elephant

A 45-YEAR-OLD woman of Livingstone has died after succumbing to injuries she sustained when she confronted elephants that were passing near her compound while she was drinking beer with friends. In a statement, Southern Province Police Commanding Officer Auxensio Daka said while her friends ran to safety, the deceased, identified as Loveness Moono, attempted to chase the elephants away. “On September 27, 2025, at around 03:45 hours, Linda Police Station received a report of an elephant attack from Ms Blessings Kawana, aged 36, of Linda Compound, Livingstone. She reported that her aunt, Ms Loveness Moono, aged 45, of the same area, had been attacked by an elephant and sustained multiple injuries.

Source: Drunk L/Stone woman dies after confronting elephant (28th September 2025)

Read More:

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (28th September 2025) Livingstone woman dies after confronting elephant.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (26th September 2025) Elephants Claim 7 Lives in Livingstone Since January 2025.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (15th September 2025) Elephant kills 16-yr-old Livingstone boy.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (13th August 2025) Zambian Ministry Of Tourism Holds Human-Wildlife Conflict Stakeholders Meeting.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (25th July 2025) Ministry warns residents from provoking elephants.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (28th June 2025) Elephant kills wildlife accountant in Livingstone-Zambia.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (3rd April 2025) Roaming elephants a giant headache for Zambia.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (2nd April 2025) Over 100 elephants have migrated into Livingstone, DNPW warns.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (1st April 2025). Elephants and Hippos Threaten Lives of Livingstone Residents.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (22nd June 2024) Elephant kills American tourist in Zambia.

Conservation Campaigners Consider Call to Boycott Zim Side of Victoria Falls

(Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, 27th Sept 2025, updated 8th October 2025) 

Conservation campaign group, Keep Victoria Falls Wild, has announced it is considering launching a call for an international tourism boycott of the Zimbabwean side of the Victoria Falls in response to increasing tourism development pressures which continue to threaten the future viability of the UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) which it shares with its northern neighbour, Zambia.

In a social media post on their Facebook page, posted to coincide with World Tourism Day, 27th September 2025, the group highlighted the controversial Baines Restaurant development, located a short distance above the Falls and constructed within the WHS 'Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone' (HSEZ) which prevents all new tourism development.

"A legal challenge against the development, launched in mid-2022 when construction first started at the site, has still yet to be heard by the courts, resulting in a second legal case, raised at the beginning of this year in an attempt to conclude this matter. Despite all the evidence, and negative publicity, the restaurant still remains open, with the owners of the operation, Scanner Investments (trading as Victoria Falls Investments) still claiming it is located in a permitted development zone and even attempting to sue a local resident for over US$2 million in damages in an attempt to silence the truth. All this after the new National Park Management Plan, published in 2024, presented a map which confirmed the site is located in the HESZ 'no new development zone.' It speaks volumes, not only of the state of Zimbabwe's legal system, but also indicates significant political support and influence over this development."

In response to the US$2 million libel claim Keep Victoria Falls Wild published a special report which categorically showed the development is, and always has been, located within the UNESCO WHS HESZ (KVFW, June 2025). 

The Baines Restaurant, Victoria Falls, constructed

within the World Heritage Site 'no new development zone'

The National Park Management Plan map is also definitive in showing the location as within the WHS HESZ (Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, 2024).

Map showing the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site Management Zones 

(adapted from ZPWMA, 2024, click for larger view)

Questioning why, therefore, the restaurant remains open, the statement continued with a call for the tourism sector itself to stand up against illegitimate developments, or face the consequences of further negative publicity as well as a de-valued tourism product as new developments degrade and fragment the local environment of the Falls.

"The development is a stain on Victoria Falls' tourism industry and will continue to create negative media coverage until it is closed, the structures removed, and the site returned to nature. Perhaps it's time we called for an international boycott - not just of this restaurant, but of all tourism to the Zimbabwean side of the Falls, where a wave of tourism development proposals threaten conservation areas within the WHS and surrounding area which have been designated as 'permanently restricted' against all new development since the 1970s - including the riverside 'tree lodge' development which is being proposed by House of Chinhara Hospitality Investments Ltd and which is apparently to be managed by the InterContinental Hotel Group - or so they think. It's time that Zimbabwe's tourism sector sorted its act out and stood up against these illegitimate developments, which not only threaten the natural environment of the Falls, and future of the World Heritage Site, but will also diminish the tourism value of the Falls and limit the future viability of the tourism sector."

The riverside 'tree lodge' development was initially described as a '24 bed semi-permanent tented tree lodge' when first disclosed to the public in 2020. The proposal has subsequently grown into a 57-room 5-star luxury lodge, to be developed by House of Chinhara Hospitality Ltd and managed under InterContinental Hotel Group's exclusive Six Senses brand.

The list of recent tourism developments within this section of the Victoria Falls National Park and WHS HESZ also includes the 'Rock Pool,' a riverside bar developed and managed by the Park Authority, and the launch of tours to Cataract Island by Zambezi Crescent, operators of the Victoria Falls River Lodge, with the recent development of a jetty site a short distance upstream of the Falls to facilitate tours.

In addition Victoria Falls City Council have announced the development of the upstream Victoria Falls Resort, sale of Stand 1815 for a tourism hotel development (on the north-western edge of the Elephant Hills Golf Course) and revealed plans for the development of two more areas of virgin bush for a tourism development, one on the south-eastern side of the Golf Course and Zambezi Drive/Big Tree area and the other on the road loop down to the Falls rainforest, all located on the boundaries of the WHS and within the surrounding 500m 'Buffer Zone' which is supposed to limit development. These latter areas, identified in the 2024 Victoria Falls City Council Master Plan, were previously identified as being 'restricted permanently' from all new development, with the exception of infrastructure essential to its management, under the 1975 town development plan (known as the Outline Plan, and identified as Areas 7 & 14 under the 2001 Combination Plan).

Developments threatening the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site

(click for larger view)

Despite all these ongoing and planned developments, Zimbabwean Authorities chose not to disclose any new developments to UNESCO in the recent 2024 State of Conservation report for the site, thus failing in their obligation to inform the World Heritage Committee of all new developments affecting the WHS (State Parties, 2024). A new report is due to be submitted at the end of the year in advance of the next conference of the World Heritage Committee in mid-2026.

The Victoria Falls was designated as a World Heritage Site in December 1989, following the joint submission of the site by Zambia and Zimbabwe, known as the ‘State Parties,’ to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for consideration on the exclusive global list. The World Heritage List is managed under the World Heritage Convention (1972), of which both countries are signatories. As parties to the convention, the two countries are pledged to keep the Victoria Falls/Mosi-oa-Tunya World Heritage Site (VFWHS) ‘intact for future generations.’

A call for an international tourism boycott of the Zimbabwean side of the Falls, even if targeted against certain operations and operators, could have significant impacts on the country's tourism industry which relies heavily on international visitors to the Falls. Zimbabwe's volatile tourism sector has historically been highly vulnerable to negative international perceptions and is still to recover to pre-pandemic levels, despite government ambitions for a US$5 billion annual tourism economy by 2025. The country recorded 1,613,901 national tourism arrivals in 2024, significantly short of the pre-pandemic high of 2,579,974 arrivals recorded in 2019. Meanwhile Zambia recorded a record 2,199,820 foreign arrivals over 2024.

Zimbabwe’s tourism sector was reported to have generated US$1.18 billion to the national economy in 2024, against US$1.16 billion in 2023 and pre-pandemic highs of US$1.24 billion in 2019 (Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, 2025).

Read more on the Keep Victoria Falls Wild website.

Further Information

Keep Victoria Falls Wild (June 2025) Special Report on the Riverine Fringe. (download)

State Parties (2024) State of Conservation Report. Victoria Falls/Mosi-oa-Tunya World Heritage Site.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (2024) Zambezi/Victoria Falls National Park General Management Plan (2024-2034). April 2024.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (2025) Tourism Trends and Statistics 2024.

Elephants Claim 7 Lives in Livingstone Since January 2025

 At least seven people have been killed by Elephants in Livingstone, Southern province, from January to September this year.

Tourism Minister, Rodney Sikumba says the government is working towards ensuring that no deaths are recorded as a result of elephant attacks. Speaking during a town hall meeting to discuss human animal conflict, Mr. Sikumba said the government is taking proactive measures.

Mr. Sikumba, who earlier inspected the fence being put around the Mosi Tunya National Park, has called for the reinforcement of the wire to make it strong.

Source: Elephants Claim 7 Lives in Livingstone Since January 2025 (ZNBC Today, 25th September 2025) 

Read More:

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (28th September 2025) Livingstone woman dies after confronting elephant.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (26th September 2025) Elephants Claim 7 Lives in Livingstone Since January 2025.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (15th September 2025) Elephant kills 16-yr-old Livingstone boy.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (13th August 2025) Zambian Ministry Of Tourism Holds Human-Wildlife Conflict Stakeholders Meeting.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (25th July 2025) Ministry warns residents from provoking elephants.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (28th June 2025) Elephant kills wildlife accountant in Livingstone-Zambia.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (3rd April 2025) Roaming elephants a giant headache for Zambia.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (2nd April 2025) Over 100 elephants have migrated into Livingstone, DNPW warns.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (1st April 2025). Elephants and Hippos Threaten Lives of Livingstone Residents.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (22nd June 2024) Elephant kills American tourist in Zambia.

Elephant kills 16-yr-old Livingstone boy

A 16-YEAR-OLD boy of Livingstone has been trampled to death by an elephant after it got agitated and charged at the deceased who was pursuing the animals with others. Southern Province Police Commanding Officer Auxensio Daka confirmed the human/animal conflict incident and named the deceased as Onismon Njamba Junior. “On September 12, 2025, at around 07:30 hours, Dambwa Central Police Post under Livingstone Central Police Station received a report of a fatal elephant attack from Mr Onismon Njamba, aged 40, of Dambwa Site and Service Extension, Livingstone. He reported that his son, Onismon Njamba Junior, aged 16, had been attacked and killed by an elephant near Toyota Zambia Limited in Dambwa Central Township, Livingstone District. 

Source: Elephant kills 16-yr-old Livingstone boy (14/09/2025)

Read More:

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (28th September 2025) Livingstone woman dies after confronting elephant.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (26th September 2025) Elephants Claim 7 Lives in Livingstone Since January 2025.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (15th September 2025) Elephant kills 16-yr-old Livingstone boy.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (13th August 2025) Zambian Ministry Of Tourism Holds Human-Wildlife Conflict Stakeholders Meeting.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (25th July 2025) Ministry warns residents from provoking elephants.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (28th June 2025) Elephant kills wildlife accountant in Livingstone-Zambia.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (3rd April 2025) Roaming elephants a giant headache for Zambia.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (2nd April 2025) Over 100 elephants have migrated into Livingstone, DNPW warns.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (1st April 2025). Elephants and Hippos Threaten Lives of Livingstone Residents.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (22nd June 2024) Elephant kills American tourist in Zambia.

Victoria Falls courts investors to expand hotel room capacity

 THE City of Victoria Falls is actively courting international investment to address a critical shortage of 2 200 hotel beds and develop world-class infrastructure, as a strategic move set to harness the growing tourism and Mice (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector.

The drive is led by the increasing domestic and international arrivals, which underscores a unified vision to transform the resort city into a premier global destination rivaling the likes of Cape Town.

The campaign gained significant momentum recently when the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi, together with the Mayor of Victoria Falls, Councillor Prince Thuso Moyo, and Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube, hosted a high-level delegation from Qatar.

The engagement, held in the city, was a direct pitch for substantial foreign direct investment in the hospitality and ancillary sectors.

Victoria Falls Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube said the city has vast investment opportunities and immense potential.
“Victoria Falls is a destination of choice both from the Government’s perspective and from the city council’s perspective,” he said.

“We have become so busy in terms of Mice, we are very busy in that field, almost every week there is a big event taking place and our challenges have obviously been the accessibility of our destination,” said Mr Dube.

He said there were opportunities for enhanced air connectivity.
“The city is running short of airlines coming through, so I think Your Excellency, with your influence, we can have Qatar Airways flying directly to Victoria Falls so that we can cut our tourists from the Middle East,” said Mr Dube.

Beyond aviation, he outlined critical infrastructure gaps and investment-ready opportunities.
“We also have challenges that relate to aging infrastructure and basic care infrastructure. So, that infrastructure deals with water and sanitation,” he said.

Crucially, Mr Dube confirmed the availability of land for development and highlighted the growing niche of sports tourism.
“There is land available for investment that we can discuss. There are more other opportunities particularly in sports tourism. There is already a cricket stadium that is currently under construction on the outskirts of our city,” he said.

“So, there is a very big opportunity in investing in sports tourism as well. Obviously, in terms of our statistics, Victoria Falls is running short of 2 200 beds for our tourists.”

Minister concurred and provided a comprehensive national context, positioning Victoria Falls as the catalyst for a wider tourism renaissance across Zimbabwe.

She affirmed the Government’s commitment to offering land for development.
“We are here to discuss with you. Victoria Falls is our capital for tourism. We have first, land in Victoria Falls that we can offer to you and that we can offer to your country or your Government to develop tourism infrastructure in our country,” said Minister Rwodzi.

She further addressed the limitations, linking the destination directly to short visitor stays.
“We are lagging behind, particularly in Victoria Falls, but it is all because our infrastructure is not enough. On average, guests are spending two nights. Why? Because activities to do in Victoria Falls are limited,” she said.

A key pillar of the strategy is the development of a purpose-built conference centre to capitalise on the successful Mice track record.

Minister Rwodzi cited a recent event that exposed the infrastructure deficit: “An example is Ramsar that we have just hosted last month, which had 3 000 internationals that came into the country.

But the facility or the infrastructure that we hosted the event was not appropriate for the event.
“So, we are looking into the construction of a conference centre that can have a capacity to accommodate 10 000 people in the town.”

Minister Rwodzi revealed that her ministry holds 260 hectares of prime, serviced land, specifically earmarked for a multi-faceted tourism development.

“In there, a number of facilities can be constructed. There is a financial corridor to be put in that land. There is also a commercial corridor to be put in that land. Accommodation across the board. Chalets, lodges. Hotels,” she said.

While Victoria Falls is the immediate focus, Minister Rwodzi extended the invitation to explore Zimbabwe’s diverse tourism portfolio, from the Eastern Highlands and the Great Zimbabwe Monument to Lake Kariba and Mana Pools, emphasising that investment in infrastructure is the key to unlocking these destinations.

The concerted push by the Government and the Victoria Falls City Council signals a decisive shift from talking about potential to actively creating an enabling environment for large-scale investment.

With a documented gap of 2 200 beds and a compelling vision for integrated tourism development, the world’s adventure capital is rolling out the red carpet, offering global investors a chance to build the future of African tourism.

Source: Victoria Falls courts investors to expand hotel room capacity (29/08/2025)