A Zimbabwean tourism company is offering fans the chance to recreate the route from Amazon Prime’s “The Grand Tour” across Zimbabwe, for a hefty price tag of around $21,000 (£16,500) per person.
The offer comes after the show’s “last ever Grand Tour adventure”, featuring Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond, showcased Zimbabwe’s diverse landscapes to a global audience.
Mavros Safaris, which was the official logistics partner for the episode, is now marketing a 20-week journey that promises to “traverse rugged terrain, encounter abundant wildlife, and be captivated by tales shared around the campfire.”
The tour includes:
- Teams of up to four drivers
- Two professional guides in off-road vehicles
- Luxury accommodations ranging from remote glamping sites to opulent safari lodges
- Emergency medical evacuation services
The Grand Tour episode has provided rare positive publicity for Zimbabwe, a country more often in the news for political issues and economic challenges.
The show highlighted Zimbabwe’s contrasts, from the beautiful Honde Valley with its tea and coffee plantations to challenging road conditions elsewhere in the country.
Jeremy Clarkson praised Zimbabwe’s beauty but noted issues with infrastructure, posting: “We absolutely adored everything about your country. Apart from the potholes, maybe.”
Zimbabwe’s tourism sector contributed 4.25% to the country’s GDP in 2022, with over a million tourists visiting that year. The majority of visitors came from other African countries, particularly South Africa.
Peter Vowles, the UK’s ambassador to Zimbabwe, said on social media that everyone was impressed by the “incredible footage of this wonderful country.”
As Zimbabwe seeks to boost its tourism industry, the Grand Tour-inspired luxury tour represents a new approach to attracting high-end travellers. However, it also highlights the need for infrastructure improvements to support broader tourism growth.
