Acacia Africa

Zimbabwe

Taking the name from the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, a fortified stone city situated in the south of the country, President Robert Mugabe changed the country's name from Rhodesia when, in 1980, the country moved to black majority rule. The capital city, Harare, is one of the major tourist 'gateways' into Africa and tourism is of increasing importance to the economy which otherwise relies on farming and mining for export earnings. Having suffered greatly during the droughts of the early 1990's, Zimbabwe is still finding its way out of the economic doldrums with high unemployment and the question of land ownership still one of high emotional charge.

Victoria Falls
‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ - the ‘smoke that thunders’ is the local name for Victoria Falls. This is one of Africa’s most enduring sights – one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World and a World Heritage Site. The river is 1,708 metres wide at the top of the ‘Falls and drops between 90 and 107 metres into the Batoka Gorge with an average of 550,000 cubic metres of water plunging over the edge every minute. In the high water season spray can be seen from 20-30 kilometres away. The Batoka Gorge also forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Scottish missionary Dr David Livingstone first came here in 1855 and reported ‘Scenes so lovely, they must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight’.Today, visitors come here not only to look at the waterfalls but also to try some of the numerous activities available in the area – eg white water rafting, river boarding, jet boating, bungi jumping, microlighting, helicopter flights, river cruises and elephant back safaris.

Hwange National Park
Situated between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, this is Zimbabwe’s largest and most accessible National Park, covering 14,600 square kilometres. It was named after Chief Hwange who was ousted by the invading Ndebele tribe. Today the park is known for its abundance of elephant but also offers over 100 other mammal species, including 19 large herbivores and eight large carnivores. Discover the ‘Big 5’ and more by walking, driving or on horse-back.

Bulawayo
Zimbabwe’s second city (after Harare), population approx 1.5 million (2009). Known as the ‘City of Kings’ Bulawayo was founded circa 1840 by the Ndebele King Mzilikazi after the tribe broke away from Shaka’s Zulu nation and fled north. During the 1893 Matabele Wars, the then King Lobengula was forced to abandon his burning capital which was occupied by the colonialists of the British South Africa Company. Cecil John Rhodes ordered that a new settlement be built on the ruins of Lobengula’s Royal Town (today the site of State House). Due to its tepid climate and geographical location, Bulawayo has continued to be an important business centre.

Great Zimbabwe
‘Great Zimbabwe was once the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe. Construction began here in the 11th century AD and continued to until the 14th century. The city spans an area of 722 Ha and at its peak could have housed more than 10,000 people. Great Zimbabwe acted as a royal palace for the Zimbabwean monarch and would have been used as the seat of political power. One of its most prominent features are the massive stone walls, some of which are over 5 metres high and constructed without the use of mortar.

Eventually, the city was abandoned and fell into ruin. It was first seen by Europeans in the early 16th century. Investigations on the site began in the 19th century, when the monument caused controversy amongst the archaeological world with political pressure placed upon archaeologists by the then white supremacist government of Rhodesia to deny it could ever have been built by native Zimbabweans. Great Zimbabwe has since been adopted as a national monument by the Zimbabwean government, with the modern state named after it. The word ‘Great’ distinguishes the site from the 200 other small ruins, also known as ‘zimbabwe’s’, spread across southern Africa. Great Zimbabwe is the largest of such sites


When to Travel
Zimbabwe, like its neighbours Zambia and Botswana has a very similar climate with the rainy season running from November through to mid April. The cooler winter months are drier.
The flow of water over the Victoria Falls peaks in March at the end of the rainy season. At this time of year, you really know why the local name is ‘Mosi oa Tunya’ or ‘The Smoke that Thunders’!

Getting there and away
Victoria Falls and is served with daily flights to Johannesburg on both South African Airways http://www.flysaa.com and British Airways http://www.ba.com

Tours that visit Zimbabwe:

• from US$ 2575 + local payments + supplements

  Southern Explorer (Zimbabwe) 2013 Starts. Ends. Duration. Visits. Southern Explorer (Zimbabwe) 2013 Trip Notes Nairobi, Kenya Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 32 days (Tour code : 13SEZ32) Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe From East Africa to southern Africa this tour offers world renowned game parks, shimmering beaches. Tropical Zanzibar, impressive Victoria Falls, and friendly Malawi. Visit Zimbabwe with Hwange and Matopos national parks and the impressive Great Zimbabwe ruins. With a range of packed activities along the way, this is a great adventure with rewarding wildlife encounters!

• from US$ 1095 + local payments + supplements

  Chobe and Victoria Falls 2013 Starts. Ends. Duration. Visits. Chobe and Victoria Falls 2013 Trip Notes Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Victoria Falls, Zambia 5 days (Tour code : 13CV5) Botswana, Zimbabwe A fantastic sunset cruise down the Zambezi, watching hippos wallowing in the water, followed with a safari in Chobe national park, renowned for its elephant population.

• from US$ 845 + local payments + supplements

  Best of Botswana 2013 Starts. Ends. Duration. Visits. Best of Botswana 2013 Trip Notes Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 7 days (Tour code : 13BOB7) Botswana, Zimbabwe Discover the best of Botswana in this seven day adventure packed tour. See the great herds of elephant along the Chobe river in the Chobe National Park, as well as visit the lagoons and islands of the Okavango Delta.

• from US$ 1015 + local payments + supplements

  Rediscover Zimbabwe (Accommodated) 2013 Starts. Ends. Duration. Visits. Rediscover Zimbabwe (Accommodated) 2013 Trip Notes Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 7 days (Tour code : 13RZ7A) Zimbabwe Visit a wild dog conservation project. Game viewing in a game concession area adjacent to Zimbabwe's famous Hwange National Park. Game drive and walk with the Rhino's at Matopos National Park. Wander around the Great Zimbabwe National Monument. View and walk with the lions at Antelope private game reserve.

• from US$ 825 + local payments + supplements

  Rediscover Zimbabwe 2013 Starts. Ends. Duration. Visits. Rediscover Zimbabwe 2013 Trip Notes Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 7 days (Tour code : 13RZ7) Zimbabwe This exciting Zimbabwean tour provides the opportunity to encounter wild dogs, walk with lions and rhinos, and visit the great Zimbabwe National Monument.

• from US$ 1795 + local payments + supplements

  Discover Botswana & Zimbabwe 2013 Starts. Ends. Duration. Visits. Discover Botswana & Zimbabwe 2013 Trip Notes Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 14 days (Tour code : 13DBZ14) Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe Tour Zimbabwe and Botswana, visiting the great Zimbabwean ruins, and the renowned national parks of both Zimbabwe and Botswana.

• from US$ 1365 + local payments + supplements

  Victoria Falls and Gameparks Starts. Ends. Duration. Visits. Victoria Falls and Gameparks Trip Notes Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 5 days (Tour code : 13VFG5) Zimbabwe Exciting game drives in an concession area adjacent to Hwange National Park, Wild Dog encounters at a conservation project, Game walking in the Zambezi National Park, Visit the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls and enjoy a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River

• from US$ 2345 + local payments + supplements

  Victoria Falls, Gameparks and Okavango 2013 Starts. Ends. Duration. Visits. Victoria Falls, Gameparks and Okavango 2013 Trip Notes Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 12 days (Tour code : 13VGO12) Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe This safari will take the tourist through Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana, visiting many game parks along the way. Among other animals, wild dogs and elephants in particular are in abundance. The tour also includes canoe poling in the Okavango Delta.

• from US$ 475 + local payments + supplements

  Victoria Falls Adventure 2013 Starts. Ends. Duration. Visits. Victoria Falls Adventure 2013 Trip Notes Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 3 days (Tour code : 13VFA3) Zimbabwe One of the natural Wonders of the World, the spectacular Victoria Falls offer a range of optional activities for you to enjoy and we provide you with a whole day to explore these. We also include two of the ‘must dos’ in the area; a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River above the Falls, and a visit to Victoria Falls National Park to watch the profusion of white water crashing into the gorge below.

• from US$ 1215 + local payments + supplements

  Lion & Elephant Encounter 2013 Starts. Ends. Duration. Visits. Lion & Elephant Encounter 2013 Trip Notes Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 5 days (Tour code : 13LEE5) Zimbabwe The Victoria Falls plunge dramatically into the Zambezi River gorge and this awesome spectacle is best-viewed from the tropical rainforest in the Victoria Falls National Park. The region is home to a magnificent array of wildlife, and you can get up close and personal with two of the renowned ‘Big 5’ by riding elephants and walking with lions in the pristine African bush.