Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in the southern part of the African continent. With a total land area of 390,580 square kilometres, the country is home to around 11.75 million people.
The capital of the country is Harare and, with around 1.45 million inhabitants, it is also Zimbabwe’s largest city. Zimbabwe has three official languages: English, Ndebele and Shona. This is because the population is largely made up of the Shona, Ndebele and Tonga peoples. The Shona account for around 70 per cent of the total population. More than half of Zimbabwe’s inhabitants are Christians. The country also has small numbers of Muslims, Jews and followers of traditional African religions.
Attractions in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. The second-largest city, Bulawayo, is also frequently visited by tourists. Among the city’s attractions are the National Museum and the Khami Ruins, which lie just outside the city.
Other attractions in Zimbabwe include the country’s many national parks, such as the Rhodes-Matopos National Park with its impressive granite rock formations, and the Zambezi National Park, home to the rare sable antelope. The Hwange National Park, which covers an area of more than 14,000 square kilometres, is Zimbabwe’s largest national park. It is home to a wide variety of animals, including elephants, buffalo, hippopotamuses, zebras, lions, leopards and cheetahs.
Location and climate
As a landlocked country, Zimbabwe is bordered to the southwest by Botswana, to the south by South Africa, to the northeast by Mozambique and to the northwest by Zambia, via the Zambezi River.
Zimbabwe has a subtropical climate, with one rainy season and two dry seasons. The rainy season lasts from around November to March. During this time, there is heavy, long-lasting rainfall and temperatures are cooler. After the rainy season comes the first cool dry season, which is followed by a warm dry season in August. During the cooler dry season, temperatures in the Harare area range from around seven to 21 degrees Celsius. November sees temperatures of up to 27 degrees Celsius.
Entry and arrival
Zimbabwe’s international airport in Harare can be reached directly from Germany by air, for example from Frankfurt or Munich airports. Zimbabwe also has two other international airports, in Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. However, most tourists use the capital’s airport, which is around twelve kilometres from the city centre. Taxis and buses provide quick transfers from the airport to the city. It is also possible to enter Zimbabwe by car or bus via border crossings with neighbouring countries.
German nationals require a passport and a visa to enter Zimbabwe. The passport must be valid for at least one month after the date of entry, and all tourists can obtain a visa on arrival at international airports and border crossings for a fee. If you are travelling directly from Germany, there are no mandatory vaccinations for travellers.
