Zimbabwe

It is recommended that visitors to the country travel only with organised tour operators to well-established destinations. There has been an increase in violent crime at political destinations but main tourist areas remain largely unaffected. High-density suburbs have been the target of particularly fierce political clashes and should therefore be avoided. Visitors to Zimbabwe should exercise caution at all times and remain aware of recent developments in the country.

Zimbabwe is bordered by Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa and Botswana. The central zone of hills gives rise to many rivers, which drain into the manmade Lake Kariba to the northwest, the marshes of Botswana to the west or into the Zambezi River to the northeast. The Victoria Falls are a principal attraction. Formerly Salisbury, the capital, Harare, is Zimbabwe’s commercial and industrial centre and also the usual starting point for any visit. It is a clean and sophisticated city, characterised by flowering trees, colourful parks and contemporary architecture. Zimbabwe’s second city, Bulawayo, is a major commercial, industrial and tourist centre. The city is home to the National Museum and headquarters of the National Railways of Zimbabwe. From the forested mountains of the Eastern highlands to the sun-washed grasslands of Hwange National Park, from the hot Mopani Forest to the shores of Lake Kariba, more than 11 per cent of Zimbabwe’s land – 44,688 sq km (17,254 sq miles) – has been set aside as parks and wildlife estates. Traditional dishes include sadza (a stiff maize meal) eaten with meat and/or gravy and a relish. Nightlife is rather limited outside the cities, with the emphasis on eating and discos.