Zimbabwe: landmarks, animals & facts for kids

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa, lying between two great rivers, the Zambezi in the north and the Limpopo in the south. It borders Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa and Botswana. The capital, Harare, is on the high central plateau. The country's name comes from a Shona phrase usually translated as 'houses of stone'.

Zimbabwe is known for the stone ruins that gave it its name, Victoria Falls, and wildlife parks full of elephants. On the globe you can find Great Zimbabwe, a medieval stone city with towering walls, and the Khami Ruins near Bulawayo, as well as the African wild dog, one of Africa's most endangered hunters.

Geography and nature

Much of Zimbabwe is a high plateau with a mild climate. The Eastern Highlands, along the border with Mozambique, have misty mountains and waterfalls, and Mount Nyangani, about 2,592 metres, is the highest peak. In the north, the Zambezi River tumbles over Victoria Falls and fills Lake Kariba. The Matobo Hills are famous for granite boulders balanced on top of each other. Hwange National Park has one of the largest elephant populations in Africa, and Mana Pools is known for wild dogs, lions and hippos.

People, languages and culture

Zimbabwe recognises 16 official languages, more than almost any other country; Shona, Ndebele and English are the most widely used. Most people are Christian, and traditional beliefs remain important. The staple food is sadza, a thick maize porridge eaten with relish of vegetables or meat. The mbira, a 'thumb piano' with metal keys, is central to Shona music, and the art of making and playing it is listed by UNESCO. Zimbabwean stone sculpture is admired around the world.

History in a nutshell

From about the 11th to the 15th century, Great Zimbabwe was the capital of a powerful kingdom that traded gold and ivory with the Indian Ocean coast. Later, the Torwa state ruled from Khami, and the Mutapa kingdom controlled the north. In the 1890s the British South Africa Company took over, and the land became Southern Rhodesia. In 1965 a white-minority government declared independence from Britain, leading to a long liberation war. Zimbabwe became independent with majority rule on 18 April 1980.