Zimbabwe National Parks
Thought by some to be the land of King Solomon 's mines, Zimbabwe (previously called Rhodesia ) is a country blessed with good farmland, mineral wealth, beautiful and varied landscapes, and excellent game parks.
Most of Zimbabwe consists of a central plateau 3000-4000 feet (915-1220 m) above sea level. The highveld, or high plateau, stretches from southwest to northeast from 4000-5000 feet (1220-1525 m) with a mountainous region along the eastern border from 6000-8000 feet (1830-2440 m) in altitude.
The Zambezi River runs along the northeastern border, and the Limpopo River along the southern border. The Zambezi Valley is an extension of the Great Rift Valley . The southern edge of the Zambezi Valley is formed by the Zimbabwean escarpment. The Zambian escarpment, situated north of the Zambezi River , forms the northern edge of the Zambezi Valley . The climate is moderate and seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere. Winter days (May-August) are generally dry and sunny with day temperatures averaging 59-68° F (15-20°C). Summer daytime temperatures average 77-86° F (25-30° C) with October being the hottest month. The rainy season is November-March.
The major ethnic groups are the Mashona and Ndebele. About 50 percent of the population is syncretic (part Christian and part traditional beliefs), 25 percent Christian, 24 percent traditional, and one percent Hindu and Muslim. English is understood by about half of the population.
In the first century, the region was inhabited by hunters related to the Bushmen. Cecil Rhodes and the British South Africa Company took control in 1890, and the area was named Southern Rhodesia , which became a British Colony in 1923. Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) from Britain was declared by Prime Minister Ian Smith and the white minority on November 11, 1965. Officially Zimbabwe became independent on April 18, 1980.
Zimbabwe has one of the most widely diversified economies in Africa , consisting of industry, mining and agriculture (in which they are self-sufficient). Main foreign exchange earners are tobacco, minerals, agriculture and tourism.