Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe - Harare, Bulawayo, The Eastern Highlands, Hwange Nati

Harare Jacarandas

The capital Harare, was known as Salisbury in colonial times, and today it is a colourful metropolis with parks and gardens, wide boulevards, and modern and colonial architecture. Harare, the name adopted after independence, refers to an ancient chief famous for never sleeping, or at least for being constantly alert. Should time permit consider a visit to The National Art Gallery for its collection of modern art as well as traditional masks and carvings; Queen Victoria Museum offers a preview of Zimbabwean wildlife; Ewanrigg Botanical Gardens, 40 km (24 miles) northeast of Harare, has beautiful landscaped gardens as well as unspoiled bush or bird-spotters would enjoy the Larvon Bird Gardens. For shopping there are plenty of galleries and the Mbare Markets is fun for a wander. Between April to October the Tobacco Auction floors are an rather unusual and interesting place to visit.

Bulawayo

Zimbabwes second city, Bulawayo, was the capital of the powerful Ndebele king Lobengula. Today it is an easy-going city of beautiful parks and gardens. A tall white clock tower marks the City Hall, in the very centre of town where you will find the tourist information office an art gallery and a market dealing in handicrafts and flowers. On the edge of the central district in Centenary Park is the modern Museum of Natural History, a good place for a briefing on the countrys wildlife. Bulawayos Railway Museum displays some grand old steam locomotives, along with a perfectly restored passenger carriage dated 1904, a museum on wheels.

The Eastern Highlands

When the highveld terrain is too warm most of the country, head for the Eastern Highlands and some mountain air. Splendid waterfalls, pine forests and Zimbabwes highest mountain, Inyangani, rising to 2,592 m (8,500 ft), contribute to the feeling of refreshment. There are plenty of mountain trails for hiking, trout streams to fish and golf courses to play. The capital of the Eastern Highlands is Mutare (formerly Umtali), a provincial town of less than 100,000 residents. Surrounded by mountains, the town has broad streets lined with flowering trees and a local museum dealing with the areas prehistory and history.

Hwange National Park

In the northwest corner of Zimbabwe, the countrys biggest game reserve, Hwange National Park, extends over 14,650 sq km (5,600 sq miles) of Kalahari sand country which supports grassland plains, scrub and forested areas. Hwange has no permanent streams but there are plenty of waterholes and the Park is home to more than 100 animal species and over 400 bird species have been recorded. The star attraction is the elephant - huge herds are spotted wherever theres a waterhole. Regularly seen species include giraffe, zebra, buffalo, and antelope of all kinds. Lion, rhino and hippo all reside in the park though they can be elusive.

Mana Pools National Park

Situated on the southern side of the Zambezi River, downstream from Lake Kariba, during the dry season the park has one of the highest concentrations of wildlife on the continent. The park is uniquely characterised by fertile river floodplains reaching from the slow moving river inland for several kilometres. Small ponds, pools and lagoons have been formed as the river has changed course, drifting slowly to the north over centuries. Huge mahogany and acacia trees near the river give way to dense mopane woodland to the south. The park is home to good numbers of elephant, big herds of buffalo and commonly seen species also include kudu, zebra, eland, impala, lion and crocodile. In the river large pods of hippo and crocodiles are seen and naturally a variety of both woodland and water birds call Mana Pools home.

Victoria Falls

The Victoria Falls or Mosi oa Tunya - "the Smoke that Thunders", are truly a magnificent sight. Here the Zambezi pours 545 million litres (120million gallons) of water per minute into a narrow chasm more than 100m (330 ft) deep. The mist and the spray may reach 500m (over 1500ft) into the sky and may be seen up to 30 kms away. David Livingstone is reputably the first European to see the Victoria Falls and in 1855 he wrote "On sights as beautiful as this, Angels in their flight must have gazed " .

Today you too can experience the Falls in the way that Angels do - with a scenic helicopter, light aircraft or micro- light flight over the Falls. Once your appetite for adventure has been whetted you have a great selection to choose from - sun downer cruises on the gentle river bends above the Falls, white water rafting or boogie boarding the rapids, bungee jumping, Spencers Creek crocodile farm for a wildlife experience you may not have anticipated and game viewing in the nearby Zambezi National Park. The village is also a great place to shop, eat out and wander.

The Great Zimbabwe Ruins

Zimbabwe means "House of Stone" and the country was named for these ancient stone ruins. Great Zimbabwe was an African city-state that thrived in the Middle Ages, then withered late in the 15th century. In its heyday the city had a population of 10,000 and was built here because the climate was ideal for agriculture and the nearby hills supplied the rocks for the construction work. Literally millions of trimmed granite rocks were used to form the complex and as mortar was unknown, gravity held up the dry-stone walls.

The Matopos National Park & The Matobo Hills

The Matobo Hills, near Bulawayo play a part in the countrys rich history, it is mystical place with a somewhat eerie atmosphere. The Matopos is a wilderness land of massive rock outcrops, wonderful birds and wildlife, particularly leopard. The area is known for its vibrant Bushman rock paintings, which have survived for thousands of years, and as the burial place of ancient tribal kings. The terrain is so evocative that the imperialist Cecil Rhodes asked to be buried here at a place named "Worlds View". The rock formations, the result of thousands of millions of years of erosion, alternate with refreshing green valleys which are well populated with giraffe, rhino, zebra, wildebeest, and a variety of monkeys. Bird-watchers will enjoy seeing a high number of birds of prey including a large number of black eagles.

Lake KaribaLake Kariba & The Matusdona National Park

Until recently Lake Kariba formed the largest man-made lake in the world, covering an area of 5100 square kms (1970 sq miles). The lake was formed when the mighty Zambezi River was dammed in the 1950s and in the years that followed the lake has created a unique ecosystem producing one of Zimbabwes prime wilderness areas. The Matusadona National Park, on the southern shore is home to elephant, lion, kudu, impala and buffalo - all especially visible along the shoreline in the dry season (May to October). With the majestic Matusadona Mountains rising up behind and the lake frontage with its ghostly dead tree forms and beautiful sunsets, this is a particularly beautiful National Park. The combination of water born game viewing, guided walks, fishing and relaxing in waterside surroundings make it a destination that contrasts nicely with many other National Parks.

Accommodation in and around Zimbabwe