Trip to Africa...Welcome To Zimbabwe

ZIMBABWE

Victoria Falls

Natural beauty and rich culture is what defines Zimbabwe the most. The Republic of Zimbabwe is situated in Southern Africa and is entirely landlocked. Bordered by Mozambique, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. It is a stunning home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World : the majestic Victoria Falls. The country combines a wealth of breathtaking landscapes, remnants of ancient civilizations and extraordinary wildlife.

History :

Members of the Shona Tribe

Great Zimbabwe, was the central power of one of the greatest civilizations in Africa between 1100-15000 AD, the Kingdom of Zimbabwe. The Shona, the largest ethnic group in Zimbabwe, built the capital of the empire on a mountain with local granite. This great city was a main regional trading center. European and Arab travellers sent marvelling reports home about the impressiveness of this capital and its amazing stone walls. Unfortunately, people moved away for greener pastures, and left few inhabitants to pay taxes to the king, who lost influence by growing poorer. The empire died in 1430.

The Shona oral traditions tell the story of a warrior prince named "Mutota", who sent in the early 15th century his servants to find new sources of salt in the north. The prince was successful at finding what he was looking for near Shona subdivision, Tavara. Mutota conquered the place which leaded to the rise of the Mutapa Empire. The important characteristic of the Mutapa empire way of life was the close connection between religion and politics.

Zambezi River

In the 16th century, Portuguese forces had moved in from southern Africa and rached the Mutapa state. They worked on converting the royal family to Christianity and were successful, because the vast empire wanted Portuguese help to hold on to power in the midst of conspiracies, civil wars and succession disputes. The Portuguese took this opportunity to advance their imperial interests. But the anti-Portuguese campaigns of the 1680s and 1690s, Portugal mercantilism never again made any serious attempts to establish control over Zimbabwe.

Great Zimbabwe Ruins

In 1888, Zimbabwe was proclaimed a British sphere of influence after that Cecil Rhodes (a British politician businessman, mining magnate) obtained a concession for mineral rights from local chiefs. During 60 years, laws were passed guaranteeing rights to whites stripping them from locals, which ignited conflicts between whites and blacks.

In 1965, Ian Smith, the prime minister of Rhodesia (name that was given to Zimbabwe) made an Unilateral Declaration of Independence. The conditions of the people did not improve however.

Rhodesia gained independence after 90 years as a British colony, taking the new name "Zimbabwe" in April 18 1980.

Great Zimbabwe Ruins

People :

The major ethnic groups in Zimbabwe are the Shona (the founders of Great Zimbabwe, about 82% of the population) and have lived in the area the longest, and the Ndebele an offshoot of the Zulu people (about 14%) centered in the southwest, who arrived in within 150 years. They both are Bantu-speaking groups. Other cultural groups are : Shangaan, Tonga and Venda.

Harare, Capital of Zimbabwe

Those ethnic groups, although multiple, share a number of principal beliefs. With festival marking respect towards ancestors, death anniversaries, and offers and prayers made for help from the spirit of the world, the spirit plays heavily in native Zimbabwean culture.

Zimbabwe has 16 official languages that acceptable in education, government...but english, Shona and Ndebele are the most widely spoken in the country.

An Elephant in Hwange Park Blowing Dust

Religions :

More than 75% of the country's population is Christian. But the Zimbabweans can not be regarded as dogmatic Christians, as they retain more than a little faith in tribal and traditional beliefs system which are primarily focused on ancesto worship. The Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England have the largest domination in the country.

The remaine 20 to 25% are offshoot Christian sects, animists and Muslims.

Baboons in a Tree in Hwange National Park

Climate :

The climate in Zimbabwe is one of the most appealing on Africa. It is largely tropical but temperate by altitude and the inland position of the country, with two seasons. A rainy season from October to March and the winter months that are usually dry.

Geography :

Zimbabwe is made up of a series of mountains and plateaus and is mostly savanna. The High Veld ridge occupies around a quarter of the country, forming a watershed between the river systems Limpopo and Zambezi. The highest peak of this central plateau (Mount Nyangani, 2592 metres) rises up along the border with Mozambique. Southern Zimbabwe contains a lowveld of savanna, all the way down to the Limpopo River on the South African border.

Eastern Highlands

Vast parts of Zimbabwe were once covered by forests with the largest concentration of the species in the world and an affluent wildlife. But deforestation and poaching significantly reduced them. However, around 10% of the country is set aside as natural habitats and national parks.

The largest national parks in Zimbabwe are : Chizarira, Chimanimani, Kazuma Pan, Matobo, Nyanga and Hwange, and are home to the African "Big Five" (lions, elephants, leopards, buffalos and rhinos). The chances of seeing the Big Five in one day, are delightfully high here.

Elephants in a River

Zimbabwe has an exceptional variety of spectacular scenery as well as one of the world's natural wonders : the Victoria Falls. The people are tirelessly amiable and kind, eager to reassure the tourists that their country is a valuable destination in the African adventure that is not to be missed.

Zimbabwe in a proverb : " If you can walk you can dance. If you can talk you can sing. " 

Zimbabwe Flag