Travel to Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a land-locked country blessed with fertile soils, mineral wealth and wonderful scenery. Destinations like Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park and Mana Pools are world-renowned and the country is blessed with diverse habitats, from the granite hills of the Matopos to the majestic mountains, lush forests and beautiful rivers of the Eastern Highlands. As such, there is much to attract the traveler, from wildlife viewing and adrenalin adventures to delving into the history of the Zimbabwean people going back thousands of years.
It is in the more unspoilt and peaceful northern parks that we concentrate our safari operations. The Zambezi has an exceptional variety of spectacular scenery as well as one of the world’s natural wonders: the Victoria Falls. The National Parks along the Zambezi are legendary; our concession lies in Mana Pools, located on the floodplains of Africa’s Great Rift Valley and offering superb wildlife viewing.
Along the Botswana border the easternmost tongues of the Kalahari sands creep into the country and mix with the teak forests of the interior, so that desert-adapted animals share the same habitat with woodland species. Hwange National Park is home to some of southern Africa’s last great elephant, buffalo and sable herds; Wilderness’ Makalolo concession within Hwange is a truly wild area where animals have no restrictions and can migrate back and forth. This area also offers Zimbabwe’s best summer game viewing.
Overview
Zimbabwe is a land-locked country blessed with fertile soils, mineral wealth and wonderful scenery. Destinations like Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park and Mana Pools are world-renowned and the country is blessed with diverse habitats, from the granite hills of the Matopos to the majestic mountains, lush forests and beautiful rivers of the Eastern Highlands. As such, there is much to attract the traveler, from wildlife viewing and adrenalin adventures to delving into the history of the Zimbabwean people going back thousands of years.
People
Primarily of the Bantu group of south and central Africa, the black Zimbabweans are divided into two major language groups, which are subdivided into several ethnic groups. The Mashona (Shona speakers), who constitute about 75% of the population, have lived in the area the longest and are the majority language group. The Matabele (Sindebele speakers), representing about 20% of the population and centered in the southwest around Bulawayo, arrived within the last 150 years. An offshoot of the South African Zulu group, they maintained control over the Mashona until the white occupation of Rhodesia in 1890.
More than half of white Zimbabweans, primarily of English origin, arrived in Zimbabwe after World War II. Afrikaners from South Africa and other European minorities, including Portuguese from Mozambique, also are present. Until the mid-1970s, there were about 1,000 white immigrants per year, but from 1976 to 1985 a steady emigration resulted in a loss of more than 150,000, leaving about 100,000 in 1992. Renewed white emigration in the late 1990s and early 2000s reduced the white population to less than 50,000. English, the official language, is spoken by the white population and understood, if not always used, by more than half of the black population.
Language
English is the official language. Other widely spoken languages are Shona and Sindebele, which also have various dialects and other minority languages.
History
There have been many civilizations in Zimbabwe as is shown by the ancient stone structures at Khami, Great Zimbabwe and Dhlo-Dhlo. The Mwene Mutapa (or Monomatapas) were the first major civilization to become established. By the mid 1440’s, King Mutota’s empire included almost all of the Rhodesian plateau and extensive parts of what is now Mozambique. The regular inhabitants of the empire’s trading towns were the Arab and Swahili merchants with whom trade was conducted. In the early 16th century the Portuguese arrived and destroyed this trade and began a series of wars which left the empire so weakened that it entered the 17th century in serious decline. Several Shona states came together to form the Rozwi empire which covered more than half of present day Zimbabwe. By 1690 the Portuguese had been forced off the plateau and much of the land formerly under Mwene Mutapa was controlled by the Rozwi.
As a result of the mid-19th century turmoil in Transvaal and Natal, the Rozwi Empire came to an end. A treaty was signed with the British South Africa Company in 1888 allowing them to mine gold in the kingdom, now under Ndebele rule. The increasing influx of settlers as a result of this treaty led to war with the Ndebele in 1893. The Ndebele were defeated and European immigration began in earnest. There was a clear portrayal of the conflict between black and white after the referendum of 1922 in which the Whites chose to become a self-governing colony rather than become part of the Union of South Africa. This effectively excluded most blacks from the vote, despite the colony’s theoretically non-racial constitution. In 1930 a land act was passed which excluded Africans from ownership of the best farming land further enhancing white supremacy. The labor law, carried in 1934, prohibited the Africans from entering skilled trades and professions. As a consequence of these actions, Africans were forced to work for subsistence wages on white farms, mines and factories.
By 1953, the mining and industrial concerns were in favor of a more racially mixed middle class as a balance to the radical elements in the labor force. The formation of a number of political parties along with sporadic acts of sabotage came as a result of African impatience with the prospects of constitutional change. At the forefront of this move was the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), mostly Ndebele, led by Joshua Nkomo. It was shortly joined by the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), mostly Shona, a break-away group under Ndabaningi Sithole. After the collapse of the federation in 1963, both ZAPU and ZANU were banned and the majority of their leaders imprisoned. At the same time, as a response to Britain’s refusal to grant independence to Southern Rhodesia, Ian Smith the prime minister, called for a unilateral declaration of independence (UDI). In the May 1965 elections, Smith’s party picked up every one of the 50 government seats, in December, UDI was declared.
Britain declared Smith’s action illegal and imposed economic sanctions. In 1968 the UN voted to make the sanctions mandatory but they were largely ineffective. The measures taken by the British government to force Smith to revoke UDI and accept Black majority rule were useless, as the economic sanctions imposed actually saw Rhodesia’s economy grow. Both ZAPU and ZANU began campaigns of guerrilla warfare around 1966, and guerrilla raids led to an escalation in white emigration from Rhodesia.
In 1980 Mugabe’s ZANU party won the election although the whites retained most of the guarantees that Smith wanted. There followed a continuing bitter rivalry between ZAPU and ZANU. Guerilla activity started again. Nkomo (ZAPU) left for England and did not return until Mugabe guaranteed his safety. Soon talks led to the uniting of the two rival parties. In 1988 the law guaranteeing whites 20 seats in parliament was rescinded. In 1990/1991 it was declared that half of the land belonging to white farmers would be allocated to blacks.
Travel Guide
Currency
The currency in Zimbabwe is the Zimbabwean Dollar (Z$). For shopping or paying for activities, “cash is still definitely king” (US Dollars especially) and so you are encouraged to bring as much US$ cash as possible for your stay in order to get the best prices (small denominations only as $100 bills are not accepted). Please note that anything bought from registered dealers in local Zimbabwean cash is subject to 15% VAT (which is not refundable on departure).
Weather
Generally, the days are bright and sunny and the nights clear and cool. November to April are the summer months (which is also the rainy season) while winter is from May to August (which usually bring dry weather). September and October are very hot and very dry.
Health Requirements
Travelers to Zimbabwe who are coming from infected countries require a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Malaria precautions are recommended
Visa Requirements
A passport, visa, return ticket, and adequate funds are required to enter Zimbabwe. U.S. citizens traveling to Zimbabwe for tourism, business, or transit can obtain a visa at the airports and border ports-of-entry, or in advance. Americans entering Zimbabwe for tourism can expect to pay $30 for a single-entry, 30-day duration of stay visa upon entering the country.
Credit Cards
Most hotels/lodges, restaurants, travel agencies and the bigger shops will take credit cards
Money
.
Electrical Appliances
Electrical current in Zimbabwe is 220 volts, 50Hz. Three round pin and three rectangular blade plugs are common
Water
Bottled water is recommended.
Map
A: Akagera National Park
B: Alexandria
C: Amboseli National Park
D: Arusha
E: Aswan
F: Bazaruto Island
G: Benguerra Island
H: Botswana
I: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
J: Cairo
K: Cape Town
L: Cape Winelands
M: Central Kalahari Region
N: Chobe National Park
O: Denis Island
P: Desroches Island
Q: Drakensburg
R: Dubai
S: Dubai Beaches
T: Dubai City Center
U: Dubai Desert
V: Dubai Marina
W: Durban
X: Eastern Cape
Y: Eastern Cape Safaris
Z: Egypt
AA: Ethiopia
AB: Etosha National Park
AC: Franschhoek
AD: Garden Route
AE: Ghana
AF: Greater Kruger National Park
AG: Greater Winelands
AH: Hermanus
AI: Hwange National Park
AJ: Johannesburg
AK: Jordan
AL: Kafue National Park
AM: Kampala
AN: Kariba
AO: Kenya
AP: Kigali
AQ: Knysna
AR: Kruger National Park
AS: Kwazulu Natal
AT: La Digue
AU: Lake Manyara NP
AV: Lake Nakuru
AW: Lewa Wildlife Conservation
AX: Linyanti/Savuti Region
AY: Livingstone
AZ: Lower Zambezi National Park
BA: Luxor
BB: Madagascar
BC: Madikwe Game Reserve
BD: Mahé
BE: Mana Pools National Park
BF: Masai Mara
BG: Mauritius
BH: Mombasa
BI: Morocco
BJ: Mozambique
BK: Nairobi
BL: Namibia
BM: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
BN: North Island
BO: Nyungwe Forest National Park
BP: Okavango and Moremi GR
BQ: Oman
BR: Oudtshoorn
BS: Plettenberg Bay
BT: Port Elizabeth
BU: Praslin
BV: Qatar
BW: Queen Elizabeth National Park
BX: Quirimbas Archipelago
BY: Rwanda
BZ: Sabi Sands
CA: Samburu National Park
CB: Selous Game Reserve
CC: Serengeti National Park
CD: Seychelles
CE: Sharm El Sheik
CF: Sheik Zayed Road
CG: Silhouette Island
CH: Skeleton Coast National Park
CI: Sossusvlei
CJ: South Africa
CK: South Luangwa
CL: Stellenbosch
CM: Swakopmund & Walvis Bay
CN: Tanzania
CO: Tarangire National Park
CP: Timbavati Region
CQ: Uganda
CR: Umhlanga
CS: Victoria Falls
CT: Vilanculos
CU: Volcanoes National Park
CV: Windhoek
Destinations
Explore the rest of our Zimbabwe destinations:
- Akagera National Park
- Alexandria
- Amboseli National Park
- Arusha
- Aswan
- Bazaruto Island
- Benguerra Island
- Botswana
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Cairo
- Cape Town
- Cape Winelands
- Central Kalahari Region
- Chobe National Park
- Denis Island
- Desroches Island
- Drakensburg
- Dubai
- Dubai Beaches
- Dubai City Center
- Dubai Desert
- Dubai Marina
- Durban
- Eastern Cape
- Eastern Cape Safaris
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Etosha National Park
- Franschhoek
- Garden Route
- Ghana
- Greater Kruger National Park
- Greater Winelands
- Hermanus
- Hwange National Park
- Johannesburg
- Jordan
- Kafue National Park
- Kampala
- Kariba
- Kenya
- Kigali
- Knysna
- Kruger National Park
- Kwazulu Natal
- La Digue
- Lake Manyara NP
- Lake Nakuru
- Lewa Wildlife Conservation
- Linyanti/Savuti Region
- Livingstone
- Lower Zambezi National Park
- Luxor
- Madagascar
- Madikwe Game Reserve
- Mahé
- Mana Pools National Park
- Masai Mara
- Mauritius
- Mombasa
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Nairobi
- Namibia
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- North Island
- Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Okavango and Moremi GR
- Oman
- Oudtshoorn
- Plettenberg Bay
- Port Elizabeth
- Praslin
- Qatar
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Quirimbas Archipelago
- Rwanda
- Sabi Sands
- Samburu National Park
- Selous Game Reserve
- Serengeti National Park
- Seychelles
- Sharm El Sheik
- Sheik Zayed Road
- Silhouette Island
- Skeleton Coast National Park
- Sossusvlei
- South Africa
- South Luangwa
- Stellenbosch
- Swakopmund & Walvis Bay
- Tanzania
- Tarangire National Park
- Timbavati Region
- Uganda
- Umhlanga
- Victoria Falls
- Vilanculos
- Volcanoes National Park
- Windhoek
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Hotels/Lodges
Makalolo Plains Camp
Makalolo Plains looks out on a panorama of wildlife, from thousands…
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The Hide Safari Camp
Situated on the Eastern Boundary of the famous Hwange National Park,…
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Victoria Falls Hotel
The Victoria Falls Hotel, popularly known as “the grand old lady of…
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Vacation Packages
Botswana and…
12 Days, 11 Nights
From $9452 per person based on double occupancy*
Johannesburg . Victoria Falls…
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Essential Southern…
10 Days, 9 Nights
From $4599 per person based on double occupancy*
Victoria Falls . Cape Town .…
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Falls &…
6 Days, 5 Nights
From $2499 per person based on double occupancy*
Victoria Falls . Hwange…
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Majestic Victoria…
3 Days, 2 Nights
From $799 per person based on double occupancy*
Victoria Falls
Locally guided…
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Southern Africa…
11 Days, 10 Nights
From $9689 per person twin share
Victoria Falls . Cape Town .…
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Tented Safari &…
7 Days, 6 Nights
From $3267 per person based on double occupancy*
Hwange National Park,…
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Vic Falls &…
9 Days, 8 Nights
From $7651 /person based on double occupancy*
Victoria Falls, Livingstone .…
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Victoria Falls…
9 Days, 8 Nights
From $3299 per person based on double occupancy*
Victoria Falls . Hwange…
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Victoria Falls…
4 Days, 3 Nights
From $1239 per person based on double occupancy*
Victoria Falls
Locally guided…
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