Zimbabwe
Africa · Harare · ZW
Zimbabwe is the landlocked country of the south of Africa, a nation of the enormous plateau, the great river and the extraordinary riches of the wildlife and the ancient stone, set between the falls, the lakes and the great parks of the region. The Victoria Falls, the famous smoke that thunders, spans the river of the Zambezi on the north-west border with its mile-wide curtain of the water, and the parks of the country, from the Hwange with its great elephant herds to the wilderness of the lowveld, protect some of the finest game viewing of the continent. The ruins of the Great Zimbabwe, the enormous stone city of the ancestors, give the country its name and a deep, proud history, and the hills of the Matobo, the granite whale-backs of the south with their rock art, frame the ancient landscape of the nation. Friendly, beautiful and deeply historic, Zimbabwe is an extraordinary African journey.
Overview
Zimbabwe is a country in Africa. Its capital is Harare and the international dialling code is +263. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include English. Local currency is the Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL). We also list 1 city in Zimbabwe: Harare.
The Falls of the Victoria and the Spray of the Zambezi
The falls of the Victoria, the enormous curtain of the water that the river of the Zambezi drops into the gorge on the border with the neighbour, are one of the natural wonders of the world, a mile-wide wall of falling water the locals call the smoke that thunders, its spray rising hundreds of feet into the air. The spectacle, seen from the paths of the Zimbabwe side along the rim, changes with the seasons, the full flood of the wet months turning the whole wall to an infinity of falling water, and the rainbows that wheel in the spray are the classic images. The adventures of the area, the rafting of the gorge below the falls, the swings and the bridge experiences, give the whole a second, adrenaline face, and the nearby towns hold the base of the region.
The Ruins of the Great Zimbabwe and the Walls of the Stone
The ruins of the great city of the Zimbabwe, the enormous stone enclosure that gave the country its name, stand on the plains of the south-east of the nation as the greatest ancient monument of sub-Saharan Africa, a medieval city of the high walls, the conical towers and the granite blocks laid without the mortar. The enclosure of the great city, the elliptical citadel of the hill, the valley ruins and the enormous curving wall of the main enclosure, once held a capital of a powerful state of the trade routes, and the museum of the site tells the story of its kings, its gold trade and its decline. The ruins, set among the granite outcrops and the grass of the open plateau, are best explored with the dawn and a good guide, and the whole site carries the deep pride of the national history.
The Park of the Hwange and the Elephants of the Kalahari
The park of the Hwange, the enormous reserve of the west on the edge of the Kalahari sands, is the largest and the most famous of the parks of Zimbabwe, and its waterholes, its baobabs and its teak forests protect one of the greatest concentrations of the elephant in Africa. The herds of the park, the thousands of the great animals that gather in their increasing families at the waterholes of the dry season, are the emblem of the Hwange, and the sightings of the lions, the wild dogs, the buffalo and the sable of the region fill out the extraordinary game viewing. The camps of the park, from the simple to the luxurious, run the classic safaris of the country, both guided drives and the walking trails, and the park, between the falls and the town of the south, is the essential stop of the northern itinerary.
The Lake of the Kariba and the Houseboats of the River
The great lake of the Kariba, the enormous reservoir that the dam of the river of the Zambezi created on the border with the neighbour, is one of the largest artificial lakes in the world, and its flooded valley, with its drowned trees, its islands and its enormous population of the wildlife along its shores, is the country's water playground. The houseboats of the lake, the famous floating holidays of the region, cruise the water with their fishing, their game viewing and their sunsets over the enormous horizon, and the shores of the lake, from the national parks of the both sides to the camps of the hunting and the conservation areas, hold the elephants, the hippos and the crocodiles at the water. The lake is the great leisure and the great nature escape of the country, redolent, vast and calm.
The Matobo Hills and the Paintings of the Caves
The hills of the Matobo, the great granite whale-backs and the balancing boulders of the south of the country, are among the most striking geological landscapes of Africa and the sacred, painted world of the San people of the ancient past. The hills, with their caves, their rock overhangs and their extraordinary concentrations of the rock paintings, some of the finest of the continent, hold the traces of the artists and the shamans of the deep history, and the sacred balance of the region's hidden springs and its wildlife, including the rhinoceroses of the sanctuary, continues today. The grave of the founder of the nation lies in the hills, and the viewpoints of the granite domes give the enormous panoramas over the surrounding plain. It is a place of the silence, the beauty and the deep history.
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- Capital
- Harare
- Currency
- Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +263
- Internet TLD
- zw
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Zimbabwe.
Which nationalities can enter Zimbabwe?
Current visa status for tourism for the origins we cover, with links to the detailed requirements.
Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Zimbabwe?
For the origins we track, Zimbabwe requires a visa for tourism (Morocco: e-visa). Entry rules depend on your passport, so confirm the current requirements for your own nationality with our entry requirements tool.
What is the capital of Zimbabwe?
Harare is the capital of Zimbabwe, and the country sits in Africa.
What currency is used in Zimbabwe?
You pay with Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL) in Zimbabwe. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Zimbabwe?
The languages we list for Zimbabwe are English. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Zimbabwe?
The dialling code for Zimbabwe is +263 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which cities in Zimbabwe do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Zimbabwe: Harare (capital).