Victoria Falls
The Victoria Falls are situated on the Zambezi River, which flows between Zimbabwe and Zambia, The force of the water sends a spray up into the air that can be seen from a 30 km (19 mile) distance. Due to its formation, excellent viewing of the fall is possible from many angles, making it great for photographic opportunities.
Victoria Falls is one of the world’s most beautiful and romantic destinations. Designated a protected World Heritage Site, it is one of the few waterfalls in the world where one can witness up close the spectacular sight of over 550 million liters (145 million gallons) of water barreling down a 2.5 km (1.5 mile) wide precipice
The largest National Park in Zimbabwe
Hwange National Park is one of Africa’s finest havens for wildlife and is home to vast herds of elephant, buffalo, and zebra and has a very large concentration of giraffe. It is also home to many predators and endangered species plus very large and varied bird life.
Zimbabwe’s specially protected animals are to be found in Hwange and it is the only protected area where germsbok and
The park is situated on the main road between Bulawayo and the world famous Victoria Falls.
Hwange National Park covers just over 14 600 square kilometers. The Park carries 105 mammal species, including 19 large herbivores and eight large carnivores. Elephant make up the largest proportion of the biomass. All brown hyena occur in reasonable numbers. The population of wild dog to be found in Hwange is thought to be of one of the largest surviving groups in Africa today.
The landscape includes desert sand to sparse woodland as well as grasslands and granite outcrops. Due to the lack of water, man-made waterholes were introduced to sustain the animals through the dry season. The park has an interesting variety of landscapes with one part running alongside the North-eastern end of the Kalahari Desert. The south is sandy with extensive forests and open grassland. A feature of the area is ancient fossil dunes – ancient sand dunes held together by vegetation. Walking, driving and horseback safaris are a popular way of seeing the wildlife. Accommodation is provided at a number of game Lodges. To travel through Hwange National Park today is to see what much of the interior of Africa might have been like more than 150 years ago.
About Matopos National Park
This attraction is well known by its rock outcrop, rhinos and world’s view and also spectacular accommodation facilities traditionally designed. It was Mzilikazi who christened the balancing rocks of the Matobo National Park, Sindebele – “The Bald Heads”. This levitating landscape has been inhabited for forty thousand years, by man and beast, as the many ancient San paintings here will attest. This has long been rhino territory and remains so today in the game park. It is also sacred ground and amongst the cracks and crevices of the Matobo Hills is the Ndebele rain shrine to Mwari, the god of their ancestors. The British imperialist Cecil Rhodes (after whom Rhodesia was named) is buried here at his own request, but there has been some controversy over whether he will stay. The spiritual struggle between the resting place of Rhodes and the rights of the Mwari is a political tug of war. Should it be the park, or the people, who have been squeezed out by farmlands and nature reserve? At present, the park survives, guarding its rhino from poachers and its rock art from the rain. The people survive outside its boundaries but do come in to cut thatch.
The Great Zimbabwe Ruins:
The Great Zimbabwe Ruins (sometimes just called Great Zimbabwe) are sub-Saharan Africa’s most important and largest stone ruins. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1986, the large towers and structures were built out of millions of stones balanced perfectly on top of one another without the aid of mortar. Great Zimbabwe gave modern Zimbabwe its name as well as its national emblem — an eagle carved stylishly out of soapstone which was found at the ruins. The Rise of Great Zimbabwe: The Great Zimbabwe society is believed to have become increasingly influential during the 11th Century. The Swahili, the Portuguese and Arabs who were sailing down the Mozambique coast began trading porcelain, cloth and glass with the Great Zimbabwe people in return for gold and ivory. As the Great Zimbabwe people flourished, they built an empire whose huge stone buildings which eventually spread over 200 square miles (500 km2). It is thought that as many as 18,000 people lived here during its heyday.
The Fall of Great Zimbabwe: By the 15th Century, Great Zimbabwe was in decline due to over population, disease and political discord. By the time the Portuguese arrived in search of rumoured cities built of gold, Great Zimbabwe had already fallen into ruin.
Recent History of Great Zimbabwe:
During colonial times when white supremacy was in vogue, many believed that Great Zimbabwe couldn’t possibly have been built by black Africans. Theories were bandied around; some believed that Great Zimbabwe was built by Phoenicians or Arabs. Others believed white-settlers must have built the structures. It wasn’t until 1929 that archaeologist Gertrude Caton-Thompson categorically proved that Great Zimbabwe was built by black-Africans.Nowadays, various tribes in the region claim that Great Zimbabwe was built by their ancestors. Archaeologists generally agree that the Lemba tribe is most likely responsible.
About Inyanga
What to see and do in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe. For some of the best trout fishing in Africa you should visit the Gairesi Valley. The national parks and private dams provide good fishing for brown and rainbow trout, making the Nyanga area one of the best districts for trout fishing in Africa Three major rivers – The Save, Runde and Mwenezi – cut their courses through Gonarezhou national park, forming pools and natural oases from which hundreds of species of birds, wildlife and fish gather to feed and drink
Mana Pools
Situated in the extreme north of Zimbabwe, Mana Pools is part of the 10,500 square kilometre Parks and Wildlife Estate that runs along the Zambezi River from the Kariba Dam in the west to the Mozambique border in the east. At Mana Pools the Zambezi river has left behind the remains of old channels, forming small seasonal pools scattered over 2000 square kilometers This large area is without physical boundaries and the wildlife is free to move throughout the area – even northwards across the Zambezi River into Zambia, where there are also large wilderness areas set aside for wildlife conservation
Something Unforgettable –
Walk Unaccompanied by Guides Or Guided.
On the old river terraces, tourists can walk unaccompanied by guides in the open woodland because visibility is good and there is little danger of unexpectantly coming across dangerous animals. This privilege of walking alone in an area with dangerous wildlife is unique in Zimbabwe and what makes Mana Pools the magical place it is. The mix of morning walks, canoeing and game drives gives great variety and interest – it’s a good combination
* Huge numbers of antelope including kudu, eland, waterbuck and sable along with their predators: lion, cheetah and wild dog.
« 450 species of birds to be seen in summer and in winter birding reverts to excellent
* The frequent mists of winter mornings in June and July along the Zambezi River can be a photographer’s delight
* Excellent canoeing and river fishing. For an experience of Africa bereft of the excesses of twentieth century it is hard to beat a canoeing safari along the Zambezi past Mana Pools National Park