Zimbabwe is home to Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the stone enclosures of Great Zimbabwe -- remnants of a past empire -- and herds of elephant and other game roaming vast stretches of wilderness. Notwithstanding political turmoil in the country, Zimbabwe remains one of the top tourist attractions in Africa.
Zimbabwe is the landlocked heart of central southern Africa. It lies between the Zambezi River to the North and the Limpopo River to the south, sharing borders with Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana and Zambia.
Weather in Zimbabwe: The country lies entirely in the tropics but the climate is surprisingly temperate. At an average of 900 meters above sea level, the country enjoys warm, dry, sunny days and cool clear nights from May to October. Most of Zimbabwe is rolling plateau with a low ridge bisecting the country, running northeast to southwest.
Various European and African airlines service the international airport in Harare, and direct international flights are available to and from Victoria Falls. Domestic air carriers serve major cities and towns in Zimbabwe; a good rail network connects Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare and Victoria Falls. Although express and local buses are the most popular forms of transportation, they are not recommended for travelers. Taxi services operate in the bigger cities. The road network, with vehicles driven on the left, is efficient connecting all major urban areas and many rural areas. Sporadic, sometimes nationwide, fuel shortages occur.
Travelers from countries with stronger currencies consider Zimbabwe an inexpensive destination. The Zimbabwe dollar is the official currency. Credit cards are widely accepted, and traveler's checks and foreign currency can be exchanged without difficulty.
The communications infrastructure in Zimbabwe is efficient compared to African standards. Most services (local and long-distance telephone services, Internet cafes, faxes and pay phones) can be found in the major urban areas, with service efficiency and availability decreasing in the rural areas.
Culture in Zimbabwe varies between the urban areas that are influenced by Western cultures and the rural areas dominated by traditional African cultures. Music is important in the Zimbabwean society. English is the official language of this ex-British colony. Traditional languages are spoken as well, with Shona and Ndebele the main dialects.
With tourism one of the major foreign currency-earning industries in Zimbabwe, you will find amenities on most levels. The industry caters to everyone from the discerning luxury traveler to the backpacker. Unfortunately the many tourists provide targets for criminals.
Carjacking, street crime, rape and credit card fraud are on the rise due to the increasing rates of unemployment and deteriorating economic conditions. The most significant danger facing travelers to Zimbabwe are events related to the political turmoil. The occupying of white-owned commercial farms, extortion of private companies, and political or labor demonstrations are all now near-daily occurrences in Zimbabwe.
For a free map of Zimbabwe and more detailed information, be sure to click on the Destination Brief above.
Please note: the situation in Zimbabwe can be dynamic and volatile. You are encouraged to purchase an Intelligence Brief ($7.50) or Destination Tracker ($25) for complete, up-to-the-minute information on the Country, Security and Health, Local Travel Alerts, Entry/exit requirements, Transportation, Communications/Technology, Legal and Financial situation, Environmental concerns and Language in Zimbabwe.