Geography
Zimbabwe is a landlocked Southern African country, and lies between latitudes 15° and 23°S, and longitudes 25° and 34°E. Most of the country is elevated, and consists of a central plateau (high veld) which stretches from the southwest northwards with altitudes between 1 000 and 1 600 metres above sea level and has extensive areas of wooded savanna, with a temperate climate. The country's extreme east, which borders Mozambique, is mountainous (the Eastern Highlands), with Mount Nyangani the highest point at some 2 592 metres above sea level.
A relatively small country, Zimbabwe is 390 580 square kilometres in area (242 700 square miles), and is bordered by South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Mozambique.
The Eastern Highlands are well known for the wonderful natural beauty, with famous tourist destinations such as Nyanga, Troutbeck, Chimanimani, Vumba and Chirinda Forest at Mount Selinda.
Only some 20% of the country is made up of low-lying areas, and is under 900 metres above sea level – this is mostly in the Limpopo and Zambezi Valleys (home to the Victoria Falls and Lake Kariba) which are hotter and drier areas.
Although the country is mostly savannah, the moist and mountainous eastern highlands do support areas of tropical evergreen and hardwood forests. Species found in the Eastern Highlands include teak, mahogany, enormous specimens of strangling fig, forest newtonia, big leaf, white stinkwood, chirinda stinkwood, knobthorn and a host of others.
The lower parts of Zimbabwe are home to fever trees, mopane, combretum and baobabs; in addition there is much miombo woodland, dominated by brachystegia species. Among the numerous flowers and shrubs are hibiscus, flame lily, snake lily, spider lily, leonotus, cassia, tree wisteria and dombeya.
Wildlife is diverse, with some 350 species of mammals, in addition to numerous snakes and lizards, over 500 bird species, and 131 fish species.
A relatively small country, Zimbabwe is 390 580 square kilometres in area (242 700 square miles), and is bordered by South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Mozambique.
The Eastern Highlands are well known for the wonderful natural beauty, with famous tourist destinations such as Nyanga, Troutbeck, Chimanimani, Vumba and Chirinda Forest at Mount Selinda.
Only some 20% of the country is made up of low-lying areas, and is under 900 metres above sea level – this is mostly in the Limpopo and Zambezi Valleys (home to the Victoria Falls and Lake Kariba) which are hotter and drier areas.
Although the country is mostly savannah, the moist and mountainous eastern highlands do support areas of tropical evergreen and hardwood forests. Species found in the Eastern Highlands include teak, mahogany, enormous specimens of strangling fig, forest newtonia, big leaf, white stinkwood, chirinda stinkwood, knobthorn and a host of others.
The lower parts of Zimbabwe are home to fever trees, mopane, combretum and baobabs; in addition there is much miombo woodland, dominated by brachystegia species. Among the numerous flowers and shrubs are hibiscus, flame lily, snake lily, spider lily, leonotus, cassia, tree wisteria and dombeya.
Wildlife is diverse, with some 350 species of mammals, in addition to numerous snakes and lizards, over 500 bird species, and 131 fish species.
