Landlocked in southern Africa, bordering South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique and Botswana, Zimbabwe enjoys rich wildlife and natural beauty. Home to a host of spectacular natural landscapes and a huge variety of wildlife, Zimbabwe has much to offer in way of activities. There are four different UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Zimbabwe – Mana Pools National Park, Matobos National Park, Victoria Falls and the Great Zimbabwe Ruins. Some of Africa’s most exciting wildlife is found here, with many of the national parks teeming with the classic African Big 5 – elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, and black rhino. Derived from the Shona term, ‘dzimba dzemabwe’, the name Zimbabwe means ‘houses of stone’, symbolised today by the Great Zimbabwe Ruins near the town of Masvingo. Zimbabwe has a rich history, beginning with the European penetration through Christian missionaries, followed by colonialism, courtesy of Cecil John Rhodes, who named the country Rhodesia. Following years of dissent and war, the battle for liberation ended in 1979 and saw the Rhodesian regime and the British government concede defeat, granting independence under a democratic constitution. Zimbabwe emerged as an independent state on 18th April 1980.

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