Zimbabwe

Overview

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in Southern Africa . For those looking to travel in Africa , Zimbabwe is a great starting place. It is rich in fauna (being home to the big five) and flora and has numerous ancient stone cities including the largest in Africa south of the Sahara, Great Zimbabwe . Its border with Zambia is formed by the Zambezi River which when in full flood drops as the world's largest curtain of falling water at the mighty Victoria Falls which is a major tourist attraction.

Stone cities were built in many locations in present-day Zimbabwe. The most impressive structures and the best known of these, Great Zimbabwe, were built in the 15th century, but people had been living on the site from about 400 AD. The Khami Ruins just outside Bulawayo are also a wonderful example.

Sights and landscapes

Zim's large cities all bustle with life. The famous capital, Harare , is one of Africa's most pleasant cities. It's a city of contrasts, there's expensive cosmopolitan boutiques, buzzing nightlife and delicious ethnic cuisine. However, it's the classic, unpolished side of the city that makes it a charming destination. The central colorful neighbourhoods where crazy traffic sounds drown out distant dance tunes, the pleasant street-cafés and garden restaurants, busy outdoor markets and historic colonial architecture. Avondale and Mount Pleasant are pleasant, older neighbourhoods of the city and a good place to indulge in the city vibe of cafés, street markets, and antique markets in a garden suburban setting. The atmosphere is perhaps Harare's biggest attraction, but some of the main sights include the National Gallery of Art and the Museum of Human Sciences.

Zimbabwe's other cities share the energetic buzz of Harare, but have a distinct character of their own. Bulawayo is a lively yet laid-back city, characterized by broad avenues and Victorian architecture. It's famous as a 'heritage city' far beyond the borders of Zimbabwe and a perfect starting point for the country's game parks to the north. In the east, Mutare , is well known for its scenic setting and is also a good base for hiking and other outdoor activities in the Eastern Highlands. The city of Gweru has shaken off its agricultural roots and is increasingly a vibrant university city. Masvingo, hosts classic Victorian architecture and serves as the gateway to exploring the Great Zimbabwe ruins

Zimbabweans love sports and are justifiably proud of their country's achievements and how they have constantly punched above their weight on the international stage. The main five sports are: Association football, Rugby Union, Cricket, Tennis and Golf. All of these sports attract a widespread following, both at matches themselves and on television; and it is very common to find televised coverage of them shown in pubs, hotels and bars. There are popular grounds to all these sports around the country: Rufaro (Harare), Bourbourfields (Bulawayo), National Sports stadium (Harare) and Ascot (Gweru) for football, Harare Sports Club (Harare), Queens Sports Club (Bulawayo) and Alexandra (Harare) for cricket, Police Grounds (Harare), Old Hararians (Harare) and Hartsfield (Bulawayo) for rugby, as well as the Royal Harare Golf Club for golf.

Culture and food

For a sample of what Zimbabweans eat (in some form, nearly every day), ask for "sadza and stew/relish." The stew part will be familiar, served over a large portion of sadza – a thick ground corn paste (vaguely like polenta and the consistency of thick mashed potatoes) that locals eat at for lunch and supper. It's inexpensive, quite tasty and very filling. There is a plethora of good Zimbabwean food- "Mbambaira" or sweet potatoes, "chibage" corn on the cob, for example. Fruits indigenous to the country like "masawu" for example. For foreigners, especially from the West, Zimbabwean meat is very tasty, especially the beef, because animals are raised and fed on a natural diet, mostly of grass.

Food options in the cities tend to follow western conventions and British visitors in particular will find themselves right at home as numerous British staples – from pork pies, Cornish pasties and an English breakfast to tea with milk and baked beans- are a hallmark of Zimbabwean cuisine. Fast food is increasingly popular with Nando's and KFC available in most urban areas as well as local brands like Chicken Inn and Wimpy.

Specialities worth sampling include peri-peri chicken , a Portuguese/Mozambican influence, meat pies (which make an excellent portable, inexpensive, and delicious snack or lunch and can be found easily at many supermarkets and bakeries.), samosas (Indian origin) bream , sadza nedovi (sadza with vegetables cooked in a peanut sauce), boerewors (spicy farmer sausages) and vetkoek (a delicious fried pastry), both South African in origin as the names suggest.

Planning your route

Between cities, you travel using luxury coaches like Pathfinder and Citilink . You can also get decent buses from RoadPort in Harare to other major cities including those in neighbouring countries like Johannesburg, Lusaka, Lilongwe.

Minibus taxis are available for intra-city transport, and are relatively inexpensive by European standards. They provide a cheap, though a not necessarily comfortable way of seeing the true Zimbabwe.

Car hijackings are possible. At traffic lights, when refuelling and otherwise when stopping your car, be alert for anyone approaching. When driving, always keep doors locked and windows closed. Be prepared for occasional fuel supply problems. Motorists should be prepared by buying an extra can of fuel.

Travel guide text compiled and adapted from Wikivoyage article (contributors). Sections were selected and reordered for this guide. Text is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Check current arrangements with your travel consultant.