The name Zimbabwe was derived from the stone structures of Great Zimbabwe or Dzimbahwe(Pictured above ), inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1986.Great Zimbabwe was built by Shona (Bantu) people between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries. Zimbabwe is in the southern part of Africa, Zimbabwe is surrounded by Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, and Mozambique . The majority of the landscape consists of plateaus, developing into mountains towards the east. Eight birds carved in soapstone have been found during excavations in the ruins of Great Zimbabwe.During the fourteenth and fifteen centuries Great Zimbawbe controlled much of the ivory and gold trade in the region.Stone structures were built in other areas of Zimbabwe such as Khami and Nalatale.
Artifacts from Europe and China have been found at Khami. Khami, like Great Zimbabwe, became a World Heritage site in 1986.The ancient kingdom of Mapungubwe spanned the borders of present-day South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Mapungubwe, added to the World Heritage List in 2003, was the largest kingdom in the sub-continent before it was abandoned in the fourteenth century.Portuguese traders visited Zimbabwe in the sixteenth century and were the first Europeans to make contact with the region.
In 1888 the British South African Company gained mineral rights for the area. In November 1855 Dr David Livingstone, the Scottish explorer and missionary, saw the Victoria Falls for the first time. Livingstone named the Falls after the British queen, Victoria.The local name for the Victoria Falls is Mosi-oa-Tunya, the smoke that thunders.
The Victoria Falls became a World Heritage site in 1986.Mana Pools National Park on the banks of the Zambezi is the habitat of a large number of wild animals including the Nile crocodile.At the end of the 1950s the Zambezi was dammed at Kariba to provide hydroelectric power to Zimbabwe and Zambia.Lake Kariba on the River Zambezi is one of the world’s largest manmade lakes.
The Gold Mining Museum, in KweKwe in the Central Region of Zimbabwe, provides information about Zimbabwe’s gold mining industry.Between 1953 and 1963 Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Nyasaland (Malawi) were members of the Federation of Central Africa.African nationalist organizations that campaigned for democracy were banned in Rhodesia (ANC – banned 1959, ZAPU – banned 1962, ZANU – banned 1964).
On 18 April 1980 Zimbabwe became an independent state.After independence Zimbabwe kept ties with Britain through the Commonwealth. Zimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth in 2003.
Climate
The seasons are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere, with midsummer at Christmas and winter lasting from May to August. In winter the days are generally dry and sunny with cold frosty nights in the highveld. In summer temperatures average 15-22 degrees, October being the hottest month. In low-lying areas it is much warmer all year than in Harare and other highveld centres.
Travel Documents
Passport (valid for six months)
Return ticket (or enough money to buy one)
Driving license (essential for car rental)
Currency
Zimbabwe’s unit of currency is the dollar, worth 100 cents. You can import or export a maximum of ZWD 5000.00.But currently the Zimbabwe dollars were suspended and US$ are used and other major currency like South African rand and Botswana pula.You may bring in any amount of foreign currency in bank notes and travellers cheques. Visitors no longer need to declare the amount on entry to Zimbabwe. Hotel accommodation must be paid in foreign currency.
Airport Tax
For regional and international flights, visitors are required to pay an airport departure tax of USD 20.00. You can buy the necessary revenue stamp at a commercial bank before hand or buy it at the airport (US dollars or pound sterling only). This also includes children above 2. Please note that at the airport, one may not be able to use USD 50 0r USD 100 notes to purchase the revenue stamp.
Health
General standards of hygiene in Zimbabwe are high. Tap water in all tourist areas is perfectly safe to drink and swimming pools are supplied from purified central sources. However, you do need protection against tetanus and malaria.
It is advisable to start taking malaria prevention tablets a week before your holiday and to continue for four weeks afterwards. If you run short during your stay, tablets are available at any chemist. You are advised not to swim in dams and rivers, particularly in low-lying areas as the water may be infected with bilharzia.
Yellow Fever and Cholera
There is no requirement for travellers arriving in Zimbabwe to posses a vaccination certificate against Cholera. Yellow Fever Vaccination is only required for visitors coming from infected areas as designated by the World Health Organisation.
What to Pack?
Pack a hat for the sun, necessary all year round, and rainwear for the wet season. For dawn and night game drives in winter, you will need a sweater or a warm coat. It is advisable to wear neutral colours on safari. Also pack sun screen, insect repellent, sunglasses, binoculars and a good telephoto lens for your camera. Smart casual wear is expected in hotels and restaurants in the evening.
Visa Charges
Single Entry USD 30 per visa
Double Entry USD 45 per visa
Multiple Entry USD 55 per visa (for 6 months, as many times)
Best time to visit Victoria Falls
The Falls are their entire most spectacular between April and July at high water peak. The flow is at its lowest between October generally September to November.
