About

Zimbabwe — the heart of Southern Africa

A landlocked country between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers, with one of the richest concentrations of wildlife and ancient civilisation on Earth.

390,757 km²
Area
~15 million
Population
18 April 1980
Independence
5
UNESCO Sites
Zimbabwe landscape

A land carved by giants

Bordered by South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi, Zimbabwe sits at a continental crossroads. Its plateaux climb from the lowveld scrub to the misty 2,592-metre summit of Mount Nyangani.

From the medieval stone city of Great Zimbabwe — which gave the country its name — to the colonial era and 1980 independence, the layered history pulses through every village, museum and monument.

Major cities

Harare

2.1M
Capital

Tree-lined boulevards, vibrant arts scene, jacaranda blooms in October.

Bulawayo

1.2M
Second city

Wide avenues, Ndebele heritage, gateway to Matopos & Hwange.

Victoria Falls

35k
Tourism capital

The launchpad for the Smoke that Thunders.

Mutare

262k
Eastern gateway

Surrounded by the Bvumba mountains; closest to Mozambique.

Masvingo

90k
Heritage hub

Closest city to Great Zimbabwe ruins and Lake Mutirikwi.

Gweru

158k
Midlands centre

Industrial heart with the Antelope Park lion sanctuary nearby.

Wildlife & nature

Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino all present.
670+ bird species — a top African birding destination.
15 national parks covering ~13% of the country.