Zimbabwe - Useful information for your trip

Zimbabwe is a country in Eastern Africa, between Zambezi and Lipompo rivers. A landlocked country, its capital city is Harare and its official language is English. Rainfalls in this area of Austral Africa are generally quite frequent and, thanks to the great availability of water, this land is more hospitable than that of other countries in the same region.

Its territory is quite uniform: the highest mountains are located in the North and North-East on the ridges of Mavuradona and Inyangani. The land is divided into three sections depending on altitude: low Veld, medium Veld and high Veld, The intense volcanic activity has also caused the formation of diamond veins in all the country. The main river is Zambezi tracing the boundary between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Zambezi, fed by other rivers, forms world-famous Victoria Falls.

Around 14% of the territory of Zimbabwe is protected. Vegetation is primarily made up of so-called "tree Veld", thin forests, or savannahs where acacias and baobabs grow, while gallery forests develop along Zambezi river. Wildlife includes lions, hippos, elephants and antelopes.

The climate is tropical with two seasons, a dry one from April to October and a rainy one from November to March. Health conditions in Zimbabwe are dramatic, as the high child mortality rate testifies along with the high diffusion of Aids. Once thriving, today Zimbabwe economy is going through a deep recession. The agricultural production and cropland have considerably decreased: main products are still corn, sorghum, wheat, sugar, tobacco, coffee, cotton, peanuts and tea.

The subsoil is rich in important resources, such as gold, silver, nickel and cobalt. Mines are numerous. Tourism concentrates in the areas of the capital city of Harare, Great Zimbabwe ruins, Victoria Falls, Kariba Lake and in national parks.