Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe, home of the famed Victoria Falls (and a lot more!), is a landlocked country, and although within the tropics, it enjoys a temperate climate, largely due to its general altitude, as there is an extensive central plateau, which acts as a watershed between the Limpopo and Zambezi River systems. Zimbabwe shares borders with Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia and South Africa, and also touches Namibia’s Caprivi Strip (renamed the Zambezi Region).
In overall size, at some 390,580 square kilometres, is slightly larger than Japan, or the US state of Montana. The country’s highest point is Mount Nyangani at 2 582 metres above sea level.
It is the lower-lying parts of the country that are perhaps the most diverse and beautiful – for example the Zambezi River valley, and flood-plains; Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe’s largest reserve); then there are the Matobo Hills, and the Eastern Highlands on the border with Mozambique.
The country enjoys a dry season, from May to September, when the country has a minimal rainfall. The rainy season is typified by heavy rainfall from November to March, with the entire country being influenced by the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone during January.
Formerly the British Crown colony of Southern Rhodesia, Zimbabwe's can trace its earliest inhabitants to the 5th century. During the 10th century, the plateau became the hub for the Shona states; whilst trade with Arab merchants developed, as they had an interest in gold and ivory. This trade and development led to the foundation of the Kingdom of Mapungubwe, which came of age in the 11th century. Later came the famed Great Zimbabwe and the Rozwi empires. Zimbabwe takes its name from the Great Zimbabwe ruins, once the hub of an extensive empire, and second only to the Great Pyramids in size, in terms of man-made structures in Africa.
In overall size, at some 390,580 square kilometres, is slightly larger than Japan, or the US state of Montana. The country’s highest point is Mount Nyangani at 2 582 metres above sea level.
It is the lower-lying parts of the country that are perhaps the most diverse and beautiful – for example the Zambezi River valley, and flood-plains; Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe’s largest reserve); then there are the Matobo Hills, and the Eastern Highlands on the border with Mozambique.
The country enjoys a dry season, from May to September, when the country has a minimal rainfall. The rainy season is typified by heavy rainfall from November to March, with the entire country being influenced by the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone during January.
Formerly the British Crown colony of Southern Rhodesia, Zimbabwe's can trace its earliest inhabitants to the 5th century. During the 10th century, the plateau became the hub for the Shona states; whilst trade with Arab merchants developed, as they had an interest in gold and ivory. This trade and development led to the foundation of the Kingdom of Mapungubwe, which came of age in the 11th century. Later came the famed Great Zimbabwe and the Rozwi empires. Zimbabwe takes its name from the Great Zimbabwe ruins, once the hub of an extensive empire, and second only to the Great Pyramids in size, in terms of man-made structures in Africa.
