Zimbabwe
is a landlocked country in Southern Africa which is sandwiched between South
Africa to the south and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the west and
Mozambique to the east. The total area is only 390,580 sq km. On the northern
border lies the mighty Zambezi river which gives rise to three amazing tourist
attractions; Victoria Falls, Lake Kariba and the lower Zambezi river all of which
are filled with natural scenic view and wildlife, making Zimbabwe one of the top
safari and wildlife destinations in Africa.
By around AD300, Bantu-speaking iron-age farmers had
spread into southern Africa and settled in the Zimbabwe region. In later
centuries, they were joined by people from the north, such as the Karanga and Rozwi.
These and other groups formed the early Shona kingdoms. From the 11th–15th century, the
Shona people thrived in a prosperous society, worshiping a supreme deity
called Mwari. A huge city
formed at the centre of the Shona Empire now known as Great Zimbabwe and its
ruins.
Zimbabwe derives its name from historical stone structures called "Great Zimbabwe" (houses of stone), the largest in Africa after the pyramids of Egypt. The stone sculptures were built in stages between 800 and 1500 A.D. They are the remaining evidence of a past imperial capital of imposing architecture whose wall, made up of millions of hand cut brick sized blocks of granite fitted together without mortar or cement, still stand, about 11 metres high and six metres thick in places. The Great Enclosure is about 250 metres in circumference. Great Zimbabwe became a citadel, a regional Mecca. Thus as Europe was emerging from the Dark Ages, two centuries before the Norman conquest of England, Great Zimbabwe National Monument and Africans were founding a great civilization, which lasted for six hundred years.
Smaller stone structures were found at Khami,
Dhlodhlo and 250 other sites in present day Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana
and Mozambique. Despite difficulties of communication those days, African
people developed powerful state formations, extensive administrations and
sophisticated socio-economic networks. Historical evidence shows that the
people had skills in agriculture, animal husbandry and metal smelting (iron,
copper and gold). However the Bantu people did not develop a form of writing,
hence little is known of their history before the Great Zimbabwe era. Rather
more is known of the period after contact with the Portuguese in the 16th
Century that is the Munhumutapa, Torwa and Rozvi empires.
In the
18th century, the Ndebele people fled north escaping the Zulu and settled in
the Bulawayo area of Zimbabwe. By the mid 18th century, the British were taking
an interest in the region. Initially, only a few missionaries, traders and
explorers, such as David Livingstone, went north of the Limpopo. But with
reports of gold in the region, prospectors flooded in.
In 1891, the British annexed all land north of the Transvaal, between Portuguese-controlled Mozambique and German South-West Africa. Any opposition from local peoples, such as the Ndebele, was suppressed. Administered by Cecil Rhodes’ British South Africa (BSA) Company, the region was named Rhodesia (after Cecil Rhodes) in 1894. BSA administration ended in 1922, leaving a white ruling class in control.
European penetration into Zimbabwe began through Christian missionaries who befriended King Mzilikazi in 1858. They were followed by fortune hunters, soldiers, and land grabbing settlers. Cecil John Rhodes and his British South African Company bought the Rudd Concession from King Lobengula ostensibly for mining purposes, but he brought an army and settled at present day Harare in 1890. Thereafter, Rhodes declared war on Lobengula and overthrew him and named the country Rhodesia.
In 1953,
Britain created a Central African Federation made up of Southern Rhodesia
(Zimbabwe), Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Nyasaland (Malawi). This broke up
when Zambia and Malawi gained independence a decade later. In 1965, the white
minority-rule government of the Rhodesian Front, under Ian Smith, broke away
from Britain. Stripping black people of rights, this government sparked
international outrage and economic sanctions were introduced.
Black
Zimbabweans had been fighting for their rights for many decades. Opposition
parties formed, such as the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU) under Joshua
Nkomo. In 1963, this party split and the more radical wing formed the Zimbabwe
African National Union (ZANU). Guerrilla warfare broke out, turning into civil
war in the 1970s.
Civil war
was crippling the country. Britain helped negotiate a ceasefire and a new
constitution in 1979. Elections were held the following year. The Republic of
Zimbabwe became independent in April 1980 and Robert Mugabe became Prime
Minister and Canaan Banana became the ceremonial President.
Although
the political situation in Zimbabwe is regularly featured negatively on the
international media,It is perfectly safe for
tourists to come and visit Zimbabwe.
International
tourists US$ 30
Regional tourists US$ 20
Zimbabwean tourists $7
Regional tourists US$ 20
Zimbabwean tourists $7
Zimbabwe has 16 view points of the Victoria Falls and Zambia has only a
small section, the eastern cataract. The view from the Victoria Falls
from Zambia is not as good as the Zimbabwe side.In the
dry season from September through to December the Zambian portion of the
Victoria Falls dries up almost completely.Therefore the best option would be to go to the Zimbabwean side.Zambian
government levies and taxes are high and therefore the cost of accommodation
and activities in Zambia is considerably higher than in Zimbabwe.
In
Zimbabwe, accommodation is either priced in US Dollars or South African
Rand.The top hotels are now accepting Visa Credit Cards, but many of the
smaller hotels still do not and will only accept cash. If you arrive at a hotel
without a reservation, you are likely to pay more. So it’s advisable pay for
your accommodation before departure with your hotel.
Yes,
Standard Chartered, Barclays Bank and several of the other banks now have ATM
cash withdrawal facilities accepting Visa and Master Cards and dispensing US$
cash. The limit is the same as anywhere in the world. Charges are $1.25 per
transaction plus the charge from your local bank which can be 2 to 3 %.
Yes.
Malaria does occur in Zimbabwe and travelers would be advised to take an
appropriate prophylactic. Please ask your travel agent or family doctor for advice
before you travel to Zimbabwe.
There is
a wide range of hotels and lodges, bed and breakfast, self catering
and camping to choose from. Whatever your budget is, there will certainly
be something to suit you..
Zimbabwe
is accessible by Air and Road. Even Victoria Falls has its own airport 22 kilometers
from the town centre. Transfers and taxis from the airport are readily
available.
Kenya Airways
TAAG
Angola Airlines
If you
are staying for less than six months, you can enter Zimbabwe with a minimum of
formalities. Most passports holders are issued with a single or double entry
visa at the port of entry. Some passports are exempt. Multiple entry visas must
be applied for at the embassy prior to travel.
On 1 December 2014, a new joint Zimbabwe/Zambia UNIVISA system was introduced. This means that you can now enter both countries using this dual visa, which is valid for 30 days. All 40 category B passport holders who currently require visas for both countries are eligible to apply. The new visa is issued at the Livingstone, Lusaka and Harare International airports and at the border posts of Victoria Falls and Kazungula.
On 1 December 2014, a new joint Zimbabwe/Zambia UNIVISA system was introduced. This means that you can now enter both countries using this dual visa, which is valid for 30 days. All 40 category B passport holders who currently require visas for both countries are eligible to apply. The new visa is issued at the Livingstone, Lusaka and Harare International airports and at the border posts of Victoria Falls and Kazungula.
In
Zimbabwe it is hot most of the year round although in the winter months of
June, July and August evening temperatures can drop to only few degrees
Celsius. Summer is from September through to April and can get exceedingly
hot with temperatures reaching 40 degrees. The Victoria Falls are at their
fullest flow rate around March, April, May and at their lowest in late October
early November. At peak flow rate there is so much spray it is sometimes
difficult to see the falls, but you can obviously see them. So there is a
different experience all year round.
It is advisable for all tourists to purchase
the necessary medical cover when travelling to Zimbabwe, However
there is top private clinic in Victoria Falls which is manned by
qualified and experienced staff.T.H.B Private Hospital was built and equipped specifically
for tourists. It has state of the art equipment of international standard and
experienced practitioners. It offers Accident & Emergencies; Maternity;
Admissions and dental.They also
have a Medical Air Rescue Service (MARS) base in Victoria Falls in the event
that an emergency evacuation is required.