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Prowling lioness, Zimbabwe

Shona dancers near Great Zimbabwe

The 6 metre thick walls at Great Zimbabwe are awe-inspiring, 
and offer a welcome shelter from the sun

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 with other travellers about this country, email it to:

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Highlights

• Harare - the growing European styled capital and the first taste of Africa for many travellers. Zim's largest market is nearby at Mbare.

• 'Great Zimbabwe' - Largest Sub-Saharan ruins.

• Victoria Falls is a traveller's Mecca. This small town seems to exist purely for tourists and can be a welcome change from being on the road. The Falls are within easy walk of the centre and are home to the Zambezi bridge Bungy, white water rafting and body boarding, as well as the more sedate sunset drinking cruises along the upper Zambezi to experience the swimming elephants. Other activates include micro-lighting and helicopter trips over the falls.

• Lake Kariba. Beautifully relaxing area.

• Mana Pools - Many travellers can explore on foot in this wildlife park.

• Eastern Highlands offer great trekking.

• Matobo National Park is renowned as one of the best sites to view the black rhino. There are also numerous cave and rock paintings.

• Hwange Park offers great wildlife viewing  opportunities and is also relatively more accessible than most areas.

Main travellers routes

• A lot of travellers fly into Zimbabwe via international flights to Harare or the smaller Victoria Falls.
• Zimbabwe's road network is particularly good on the whole but unfortunately the transport is a little on the thin side. There are 2 types of bus - Express and Local (or 'African '), both are worth trying but reliability for the later does vary.
• Rail transport is very cheap and connects most destinations of interest to a budget traveller.
• Most travellers to Zimbabwe though get around with overland tour companies, often booked in advance. For many first time travellers or those on a tight time scale these are the perfect method of transport. (see Getting Around section for more details).

Capital

• Harare (NE).

• Other Main populated areas: Bulawayo (SW) and Mutare (E).

Languages

• English is the official language.

• The Most common used languages are the native Shona and Ndebele.

Currency   

• Zimbabwe dollar (Z$)

Visas

• Visa not required for UK Tourists for stays of up to 90 days.

Foreign Office Advice

• http://www.fco.gov.uk/travel/

Links

• GORP - Zimbabwe Travel Information