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Zimbabwe is Becoming a
Tourist Destination
By: Douglas Scott
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country at the
base of the African continent. Its neighbors' are Mozambique
to the east, South Africa and Botswana to the south and west
and Zambia to the north. It lies on a high plateau, and its
terrain consists primarily of grasslands bordered on the
east by mountains.
A tourist destination is once again
increasing in popularity with lots of overseas tourists as
well as thousands of African tourists flocking there each
year. Its a very popular stop off point for over Landers
doing trips through Africa in safari type trucks. The
capital, Harare, is modern, bright and bustling, but my
favorite city is Bulawayo, where the people are particularly
friendly and the atmosphere is typically laid back African.
Zimbabwe boasts some amazing natural
sites. The Victoria Falls are without a doubt one of the
worlds grandest natural spectacles and every viewpoint
reveals something new. Running from northeast to southwest
down the centre of the country, and connecting its two
largest cities, is the Highveld, a chain of low mountains
and Zimbabwe's most populous area.
The best wildlife parks in southern
Africa. From the forested mountains of the Eastern highlands
to the sun washed grasslands of Hwange National Park, from
the hot Mopani Forest to the shores of Lake Kariba, more
than 11 percent of Zimbabwe's land 44,688 sq km has been set
aside as parks and wildlife estates.
There are also several botanical
gardens, sanctuaries and more than a dozen national safari
areas for hunting.
Present day Zimbabwe was the site of a
large and complex African civilization in the 13th and 14th
centuries. It was populated by descendants of the Bantu
tribes, who had migrated from the north around the 10th
century. Evidence of their mainly pastoral lifestyle may
still be seen in the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, near the
present day town of Masvingo.
Modern Zimbabwe is in a terrible state.
The economy has all but collapsed. There is widespread
famine, which has been cynically manipulated by the
government so opposition strongholds suffer the most.
The government lacks the resources or
machinery to deal with the ravages of the HIV/AIDS pandemic,
which affects an estimated one quarter of the population.
With all this and the forced and violent removal of white
farmers in a brutal land redistribution program, President
Mugabe has earned himself widespread scorn from the
international arena.
Although located in the tropics,
temperate conditions prevail all year, as the climate is
moderated by altitude and the inland position of the
country. The hot and dry season is from August to October,
and the rainy season from November to March. The best months
to visit are April to May and August to September.
Night-time temperatures can fall below freezing.
Author
Resource:- Douglas Scott works for
The Rental Car Hire Specialist.
and is a free lance writer for
The Zimbabwe Rental Site
Article From
Lydia's Articles
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