- Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe chose Zimbabwe as his birthday destination, arriving in Victoria Falls ahead of his celebrations
- Ratcliffe played a round of golf at Elephant Hills Golf Course on his birthday, where he encountered impala, warthogs and bushbuck on the course
- The INEOS founder is spending eight days in Zimbabwe, with visits to Hwange National Park and Mana Pools National Park on his itinerary
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe turned 74 in Zimbabwe, trading boardrooms and football clubs for wildlife, golf and the Zambezi River.
Source: Getty Images
The Manchester United co-owner touched down in Victoria Falls on Saturday, a day before his birthday, and marked the occasion with a round of golf at Elephant Hills Golf Course on Sunday.
Ratcliffe is the founder of chemicals giant INEOS and one of the most recognisable figures in European football. For this particular milestone, however, it was Zimbabwe's natural landscape that had his full attention.
What Ratcliffe said about Zimbabwe
Speaking after his round of golf, Ratcliffe was openly enthusiastic about the destination, crediting the scenery, the people and even the weather for making the occasion memorable.
"It is my birthday today, and we have chosen Zimbabwe for my birthday, and it's been a glorious golf course, the people have been lovely, the weather's fantastic," he said, according to The Herald.
He also described sharing the fairways with wildlife, spotting impala, warthogs and bushbuck during his game. When asked to rate the country's hospitality, he gave it a perfect score of 10 out of 10, singling out the warmth of local people and the quality of the coffee.
Watch the clip below on a post on X.
From Victoria Falls to Hwange and Mana Pools
The billionaire's eight-day trip extends well beyond the golf course. His itinerary takes in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe's largest protected wilderness area, which covers roughly 14,650 square kilometres and is home to elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo and a wide variety of bird species, according to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.
Ratcliffe will also visit Mana Pools, a remote destination along the Zambezi River celebrated for its riverine landscape and exceptional wildlife sightings. Both parks form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognised for their ecological significance. Victoria Falls, where his trip began, holds the same UNESCO designation and remains one of Africa's most iconic natural landmarks.
This is not Ratcliffe's first time in Zimbabwe. He recalled canoeing on a stretch of the Zambezi River roughly a decade ago, describing it as a thrilling experience. His return suggests a genuine connection to the country rather than a one-off visit.
Zimbabwe's tourism sector received a high-profile boost from his praise, with Ratcliffe describing the country as a magnificent destination that combines outdoor adventure with extraordinary wildlife encounters.
Source: Briefly News