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FULL NAME: Republic of Zimbabwe
(formerly Rhodesia)
CAPITAL: Harare
INDEPENDENCE: 18 April 1980
PRESIDENT: Robert Mugabe
TIME: GMT+2 hours
POPULATION: 11,163,160 (estimated July 1999)
AREA: 945 090 km² land
CURRENCY: Zimbabwe Dollar (Z$)
Perhaps most famous for the Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
is also known as one of Africa's most sought after safari
destinations. Blessed with a good tourism infrastructure
and many natural treasures: the spectacular Victoria
Falls, the mighty Zambezi River, the mysterious Zimbabwe
Ruins, the wilderness shores of Lake Kariba and Hwange
National Park, one of the great game parks of Africa.
With its sheer variety of attractions it is the perfect
introduction to Africa.
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country lying entirely between
the tropics. The country is largely plateau, giving
rise to many rivers which feed into two of Africa's
greatest river systems: the Zambezi in the north-west
and the Limpopo in the south-east.
Eastern Highlands
There are streams, waterfalls, lakes, forests, hiking
trails, golf courses and many other mountain activities
to be enjoyed in this region. The crisp mountain air
and the lush scenery make this a favourite tourist destination.
The region includes Nyanga National Park, with its spectacular
World's View; 30 hectares of indigenous and exotic plants,
which make up the Vumba Botanical Gardens, and the rugged
Chimanimani Mountains, reaching over 2 400m, pose a
real challenge to climbers.
Great Zimbabwe
The famous ruined city of great Zimbabwe lies about
30km from Masvingo and is the country's premier national
monument. Judging from the ancient iron tools, ceramics,
pottery, gold and carvings discovered in the ruins,
it is believed to date from the 12th to 16th century.
The complex covers about 720 hectares with its huge
granite walls, conical towers and fortresses. Tourist
facilities are excellent and there are daily guided
tours, a souvenir shop and a museum containing the archaeological
artefacts recovered from the ruins.
Matobo Hills NP
The Matobo Hills National Park near Bulawayo is another
of Zimbabwe's major tourist attractions. Covering an
area of 2 000km², it contains fantastic rock formations,
fine San (Bushman) paintings at Nswatugi Cave and a
game park with 20 varieties of game including white
rhino and the world's largest concentration of black
eagles. Picnic spots abound in the park and on the hill
Malindidzimu "the legendary place of benevolent spirits",
lies the tomb of Cecil John Rhodes.
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Main Attractions
The treasures of Zimbabwe are rich and varied, ranging
from her great wildlife sanctuaries, mighty rivers and
natural wonders, to her ancient art heritage left behind
by iron and stone age man.
Victoria
Falls
There are few appropriate superlatives that have not
already been applied to this magnificent natural wonder
of the world - in many ways it defies description. The
Victoria Falls is the largest, probably the most beautiful
and certainly the most majestic waterfall in the world.
A trip to Southern Africa would be incomplete without
visiting this memorable sight. Visitors to Victoria
Falls can also enjoy sundowner cruises on the Zambezi,
fishing, walking amongst the game, take horse back trails,
dare to go white water rafting on the rapids below the
Falls, and, for the really brave, bungee jump 111m off
the Victoria Falls Bridge!
Lake
Kariba
It took four years of incredible engineering to block
the mouth of a narrow gorge in order to flood the Gwembe
Trough and form the great Lake Kariba - a place of outstanding
beauty and tranquillity. A golden Kariba sunset, savoured
over a cool sundowner against the backdrop of mountains
and clear African skies is one of the true pleasures
to be had here. At any time of the year, the lake and
the Matusadona Game Reserve, which lies on its southern
shore, offers the visitor relaxation, sport, entertainment,
adventure and big game.
Mana
Pools
Situated in the middle of the Zambezi Valley lies the
Mana Pools National Park, a scenically stunning area
with an abundance of wildlife. Canoeing on the Zambezi
and guided walks on the flood plain are the most popular
activities together with mobile tented camps strtegically
sited on the banks of the Zambezi river.
Hwange
NP
Hwange is the largest and probably the most popular
national park in the country. With a land area of more
than 14 000km², the park boasts over a hundred species
of animal and over 400 species of bird. Hwange is also
one of the few great elephant sanctuaries left in Africa.
Book
your safari to Zimbabwe now!
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National Parks
- Link to National
Parks: Zimbabwe
Accommodation Options
- Link to Zimbabwe:
Places to Stay
Climate
SUMMER: October to April.
WINTER: May to September.
Summer days are hot and generally sunny in the morning with
possible afternoon thunderstorms.
Daytime temperatures can rise to 30ºC (86ºF) and night temperatures
drop to around 14ºC (57ºF) to 16ºC (61ºF). The temperatures
given are those for the main centres but it is considerably
warmer all year round in the low-lying areas such as Kariba,
Victoria Falls, and the Zambezi Valley.
The rainy season runs from November to March, although the
Eastern Highlands are damp for most of the year.
Winter days are dry, sunny and cool to warm while evening
temperatures drop sharply.
Daytime temperatures generally reach 20ºC(68ºF) and can
drop to as low as 5ºC(41ºF) at night. Please note: cold spells
can occur (although this is the exception rather than the
rule) so it is recommended to bring appropriate clothing,
just in case!
When to go
Zimbabwe is an all year round destination. However there are
certain seasons for special interest groups to take note of:
· For high adventure enthusiasts, white water rafting is most
exciting when the Zambezi waters are low, generally from August
to December.
· Best botanical months to visit the famous Vumba Botanical
Gardens are December to May when the vegetation is lush and
green, and also when most plants are in flower.
Zimbabwe's popularity as a destination is gaining in leaps
and bounds to the extent that seasonal differences are not
as marked as in previous years. Traditionally, however, peak
season is from July to October and middle season is from May
to June. Note that availability is at a premium during these
seasons, so you will need to book in advance.
Health
Issues
There are no compulsory inoculation requirements for Zimbabwe.
Malaria prophylactics are adviseable if visiting the low-lying
areas of Victoria Falls, Lake Kariba, Mana Pools and the lowveld
region in nthe south of the country.
Entry
Requirements
All visitors are required to carry a passport that is valid
for six months beyond the intended length of stay. There should
be sufficient blank pages for entry stamps upon arrival.
Nationals of the following countries do not require a visa
for their visit to Zimbabwe: Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Botswana,
Canada, Fiji, Ghana, Granada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya,
Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius,
Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Western Samoa, Singapore, Solomon
Islands, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines,
Swaziland, Sweden, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu,
Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia.
Nationals of the following countries will be issued a visa
on payment at port of entry: · Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Cook Islands, Denmark, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland,
Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea,
Poland, Seychelles, South Africa (no charge), Spain, State
of Palestine, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, USA and the
United Kingdom*.
For all other countries, visas should be obtained from your
nearest Zimbabwean consulate. This costs US$30 for a single
entry visa (valid for six months) and US$45 for a double entry
visa (valid for three months). Requirements for obtaining
a visa are: a valid passport and one application form This
is a guide only - please check with your nearest Zimbabwe
Consulate for up-to-date information.
* In a recent move all British passport holders are now subject
to an entry/transit visa of US$55 per person - this also applies
to guests who don't enter the country but remain in the aircraft
or transit lounge!
Communications
The international dialling code for calling Zimbabwe is +263.
A direct international dialling service is available from
all major hotels. Both local and long distance calls are metered
on a time basis and charged by the minute. Remember that hotels
levy a substantial surcharge on all calls. Lodges in the more
remote areas of Zimbabwe communicate via two-way radio.
Electricity
Electricity is supplied at 220/240 volts AC. Outlets are
of the three-pin, 13 amp type. Lodges in the more remote areas
of Zimbabwe use generator power for lighting and refrigeration.
Concerns
The country remains 'politically challenged' and in dire
economic distress. Fortunately for the tourism sector, there
has been no direct impact or interference in the major tourist
destinations around the country (other than the lack of visitors!).
This is still a fabulous country to visit, with excellent
safari camps and lodges and some of the regions finest game
viewing and scenic destinations. But it must be said that
despite the apparent calm, the political situation within
the country is still precarious and human rights abuses are
still rife. Hunger and starvation threaten and the economic
situation worsens steadily.
Other
Considerations
Guiding
Another feature of the country is its extremely stringent
licensing requirements for its safari guides - considered
amongst the best in Africa.
Credit Cards
All major credit cards are accepted at hotels, shops and restaurants.
However, please note that certain lodges and restaurants do
not accept payment by Diners or American Express.
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