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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ZIMBABWE? Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa between the Zambezi River in the north and the Limpopo River in the south. The country's neighbours are Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique and South Africa. Situated a few degrees north of the Tropic of Capricorn, Zimbabwe lies between latitudes 16 degrees south and 22 degrees south. The country is parallel with the northern regions of Australia and the countries of central South America. Zimbabwe is three times the size of England - an area of about 390 245 square kilometres. The country has a comparatively small population of around 10 million people. What's Special About Zimbabwe? It's Still Wild Relatively undeveloped with a low population density, Zimbabwe has vast tracts of wild, unspoilt countryside where the hand of man has been either absent or gentle on the country's natural resources. This is a country where man and nature have generally lived in harmony - a balance seldom seen elsewhere in the world. In most parts of the country the wilderness is often only an hour away and the country's premier wild destinations are never more than a day's drive overland. In other African countries wildlife may be as plentiful, but the territory in which it is found is not always as accessible as it is in Zimbabwe. This country's magnificent landscapes, abundant wildlife and prolific bird life are easily reached and highly visible. Having only been discovered by explorers from the northern hemisphere in the 19th century, much of Zimbabwe remains as it has been for centuries. This is where a multitude of indigenous animals and birds thrive, perfectly adapted to the unchanged, unspoilt, pristine environment. Zimbabwe is home to a great number of large mammals - elephant, rhino, buffalo, giraffe, eland, sable and roan antelope, kudu, impala, waterbuck, wildebeest, reedbuck, tsessebe, nyala (the list continues), smaller antelope such as impala, bushbuck, duiker, klipspringer, steenbok as well as the large carnivores - lion, cheetah, leopard and hyaena, and the smaller meat-eaters such as the jackal. The bird list for Zimbabwe is astonishing - too long to even begin to mention. And there is a great variety of reptiles and insects. Trees For Africa! There are few places in Zimbabwe where grasses or shrubs dominate the earth. This is a country for tree lovers. Indigenous trees of Zimbabwe fill volumes and volumes of books and journals on African trees. Five World Heritage Sites
Comfort and Affordability For the tourist, Zimbabwe offers the widest choice of accommodation in Africa - luxurious, leading hotels of the world, stylish lodges with all creature comforts, self-catering lodges and cottages, rustic campsites, and everything in between Impressive Geography Zimbabwe does not have an ocean lapping a shoreline, but it has everything else, plus one of the largest manmade lakes in the world - its own inland sea, Lake Kariba. This is a country with diverse landscapes and a variety of scenery. Most of the country is at an altitude of 1 000 to 2 000 metres above sea level with a central watershed of high ground bisecting the country diagonally from the north east to the south west. Then there is the very different, lower lying middleveld and the low-level lowveld with their own geographic characteristics. Zimbabwe has the best climate in the world A country of great physical contrast, Zimbabwe's topography is responsible for major variations not only in scenery, but in temperature and rainfall. Most human activity takes place on the highveld or watershed stretching across much of the central region. It is here, where the altitude reduces sub-tropical and tropical heat in summer and increases summer rainfall, creating a mild climate. Summer temperatures on the highveld are usually below 32 degrees Celsius. A landlocked position also lowers humidity to comfortable levels. Sunshine can be expected most days in summer as well as winter while the nights are usually cool and starlit. June and July can be exceptionally cold at night but the sunny winter days are similar to the most delightful English spring. Rainfall is highest in the Eastern Highlands (more than 1 000 mm per annum in some parts), 750 mm to 1 000 mm on the highveld and middleveld and lowest in the lowveld towards the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers where less than 400 mm is often the norm. A Rich Tapestry of History Zimbabwe's past weaves a fascinating pattern of human intrigue. This is a country that has an enduring legacy of cultures and civilisations. Images and engravings painted onto or chipped into the surface of granite cliffs and caves illustrate the life of The Stone Age San people - small groups of nomadic folk who hunted and gathered as they wandered across the huge central plateau or highveld. Then there are the artefacts and relics of the Bantu people - migrants who grew crops and reared cattle. And, even before the birth of Christ, cultures and civilisations emerged, prospered and vanished as their ancient stone ruins will testify. These powerful dynasties - ancestors of the present day Shona people - occupied much of the land in Southern and central Africa, from Botswana in the west to the Mozambique coast in the east. Early in the 19th century the Shona people were locked in confrontation with the Zulu, the forefathers of today's Ndebele communities who marched northwards from the south east coast of South Africa to invade the land of the Shona. Much later, the early European explorers, fascinated by this parcel of Africa, arrived. Among the first explorers was a passionate Scottish missionary who spread the Christian message wherever he went - and, in the process almost tumbled into the massive chasm of the most spectacular waterfall on earth - named by him as Victoria Falls. This extraordinary man was David Livingstone. Unlike this altruistic gentleman who put the needs of his fellow man before his own, there were other European men who's lust for power, glory, riches and imperial grandeur brought them to this land rich in gold, silver and other valuable minerals. This inevitably brought them into face-to-face confrontation with the Ndebele and the Shona - residents who claimed precedence over these later invading Europeans. The man at the vanguard of an ambitious plan to colonise Africa from Cape Town to Cairo was Cecil John Rhodes. Known as 'the father of the British Empire', Rhodes successfully took possession of this land and its rich mining deposits, and effectively brought everything that Great Britain could offer to this promising frontier of Africa. Evidence of the country's colonial past is everywhere in Zimbabwe - at the site of Rhodes' grave in the Matobo Hills and, more obviously in the colonial architecture and tree-lined avenues of the country's towns and cities. Zimbabwe has an intriguing, true story to tell of men and women who differed so much in culture, tradition, customs, religion and ambitions. And the evidence is obvious everywhere in this great land. Zimbabweans must rate amongst the most approachable and congenial people in the world. In good times and bad they are always friendly. On an isolated, dusty, rural track you can expect a vigorous wave from most folk. And on a busy urban pavement you will experience smiles from most passers-by. Unpretentious, down-to-earth and humble by nature - that describes your average Zimbabwean, whatever his or her age. If you're ever in trouble or distress there is always someone close by to give you a helping hand, some moral support or to point you in the right direction. If you speak English there is always someone to chat to you or to share a joke with you. In addition to their Shona and Ndebele mother tongues, most people in Zimbabwe speak good English. It is the country's main official language and the medium of teaching in schools, colleges and universities. A Well-Developed Infrastructure For those who have travelled in many other parts of Africa Zimbabwe brings surprise, comfort and relief. Whilst offering the best that nature can provide, Zimbabwe also has a solid manmade infrastructure to support the eco-tourism and tourism industries. With jet travel having made Zimbabwe accessible to the world at large, there are international airports in Harare, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls and Buffalo Range. To support this, the country has a developed network of good roads to most tourist destinations. Energy and telecommunications are also generally well-developed, efficient and effective throughout the country. First World Rescue and Health Services Many parts of Zimbabwe are remote and wild. But, there is a range of options for travellers who may find themselves lost, injured or ill. There are emergency road and air services which function efficiently in promptly responding to your need and, if necessary, transporting you to a hospital either within the country or outside Zimbabwe.
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For a small country Zimbabwe has a remarkable number of World Heritage Sites. Zimbabwe has five World Heritage Sites - Victoria Falls, Mana Pools, Great Zimbabwe, Matobo Hills and Khame Ruins. 