Zimbabwe boasts several tourist attractions, located in almost every region of the country. Before the economic changes, much of the tourism for these locations came to the Zimbabwean side but now Zambia benefits from the tourism. The Victoria Falls National Park is also a tourist attraction and is one of the eight main National Parks in Zimbabwe,[1] largest of which is Hwange National Park. Zimbabwe is home to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Victoria Falls.

The logo of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority showing the Victoria Falls and the Zimbabwe Bird found at Great Zimbabwe.
Great Zimbabwe as featured on the defunct $50 note
Victoria Falls, the end of the upper Zambezi and beginning of the middle Zambezi
Chefs at the Victoria Falls Hotel

The Eastern Highlands are a series of mountainous areas near the border with Mozambique. These highlands stretch from Nyanga in the north with the highest peak in Zimbabwe, Mount Nyangani at 2593 metres is located here as well with the Bvumba Mountains further south and the magnificent quartzite Chimanimani range are the southernmost slopes. Mt. Binga is the highest of the Chimanimani peaks. It straddles both Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The endemic species of this transfrontier park attract scientists and hikers from all over the world. Views from all of the Nyanga mountains are famed that places as far away as 60–70 km are visible and, on clear days, the town of Rusape can be seen.

Zimbabwe is distinctive in Africa for its large number of medieval era city ruins built in a unique dry stone style. Possibly the most famous of these are the Great Zimbabwe ruins in Masvingo which survive from the Kingdom of Zimbabwe era. Other ruins include Khami Ruins, Zimbabwe, Dhlo-Dhlo and Naletale.

The Matobo Hills are an area of granite kopjes and wooded valleys commencing some 35 kilometres south of Bulawayo, southern Zimbabwe. The Hills were formed over 2000 million years ago with granite being forced to the surface, this has eroded to produce smooth "whaleback dwalas" and broken kopjes, strewn with boulders and interspersed with thickets of vegetation. Mzilikazi, founder of the Ndebele nation, gave the area its name, meaning 'Bald Heads'. They are linked to historical figures such as Cecil John Rhodes, whose vision led to foundation of Rhodesia, and other early white pioneers like Leander Starr Jameson, Major Allan Wilson; most of the members of the Shangani Patrol are buried in these hills at another site named World's View.[2]

Hwange National Park and Mana Pools, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are some of the best National Parks and safari destinations in the region. The tourism sector in Zimbabwe has been on the rise for past 2 years.

The deployment of widespread police roadblocks issuing fines for minor or non-existent infringements has had a negative impact on tourism to the country.[3]

Arrivals by country

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In previous years, most visitors arriving to Zimbabwe on short-term basis were from the following countries of nationality:[4]

Country 2017 2016 2015 2014
  South Africa 716,234 736,993 744,627 607,616
  Malawi 407,006 409,302 320,181 321,874
  Zambia 353,214 310,495 327,559 285,727
  Mozambique 189,237 171,684 181,435 169,829
  Botswana 101,845 94,347 70,354 71,384
  United States 101,206 82,699 66,577 57,410
  United Kingdom and   Ireland 73,552 32,457 53,528 38,606
  Germany 37,304 28,929 26,355 24,572
  Japan 34,214 22,566 12,713 18,443
  Democratic Republic of the Congo 33,811 26,223 26,422 28,368
Total 2,422,930 2,167,686 2,056,588 1,880,028

References

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  1. ^ "Zimbabwe Tourism Authority". Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  2. ^ "The Spirit of Matobo". Archived from the original on 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  3. ^ Matyszak, Derek (20 September 2017). "Zimbabwe's shady police roadblocks reflect its failing governance - ISS Africa". ISS Africa. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  4. ^ "Tourism Trends & Statistics – Zimbabwe A World Of Wonders". www.zimbabwetourism.net. Archived from the original on 2018-07-01.