Zimbabwe Geography

Sparse flora in Zimbabwe

The dry savanna characterizes Zimbabwe. You can imagine that in the rainy season green grass grows that can reach a height of up to two meters. Then of course the land doesn’t look dry, but rather green. But this grass dries up during the summer and turns yellow and brown.

A few trees also grow, but only those that have the ability to store a lot of water over a long period of time. One such tree is, for example, the baobab tree. Mopane trees and umbrella acacias can also be found. In the east of the country you will find regions where the forest remains evergreen. But overall the grass savannahs predominate.

Parts of the land were cut down to make way for agriculture. Many trees fell victim to this clearing – so it is said when the forest is cut down. Large parts of the country are now nature reserves.

Animals in Zimbabwe

You can encounter many different animals in Zimbabwe. You will discover the typical animals of Africa such as elephants, giraffes, zebras and antelopes as well as hyenas, jackals and buffalo. The big cat species like lions, leopards and fast cheetahs also live in Zimbabwe. For more articles on Zimbabwe and Africa, please visit areacodesexplorer.

The black rhinoceros is threatened with extinction. This still lives mainly in the national park. Its horn is popular as a medicine and so the rhino is still hunted when it should be protected. But there are always poachers who do not adhere to this commandment.

Monitor lizards and other reptiles

Many large reptiles can also be found in Zimbabwe. They also include monitor lizards, which can be up to two meters long. Incidentally, monitor lizards are not only found on land, but also in the water, such as the Nile monitor lizards, which not only live on the Nile.

You should be careful of the crocodiles, which are waiting for prey on and in the waters and often cannot be seen at first glance.

African tree snake and horned puff adder

In a savannah country like Zimbabwe there are also many different snakes, such as the very poisonous African tree snake or the horned puff adder. The mamba and the cobra can also be discovered.

By the way, the black mamba is the largest and fastest venomous snake in Africa. Together with the green mamba, it is the most dangerous snake in Africa. But not all snake species are poisonous.

Everything that flies…

Many birds roam the savannah air. Flamingos cavort in the water and a considerable number of all eagle species in the world live in one of Zimbabwe’s numerous national parks. There are also other bird species such as ostriches, vultures, finches, guinea fowl and many more.

You can also discover a large number of different butterfly and insect species in Zimbabwe.

Yesterday and today

A rift in society

Like many other African countries, Zimbabwe was a colony, a colony of the British. This time shaped the country so that much like the language, the education system and some traditions were strongly influenced by this time. But the government wanted to set itself apart from the white traditions, especially after independence. A departure from the West, from which many Zimbabweans had suffered for decades, was on the political program.

So it came about that the educational qualifications were abolished. There are still a few whites living in Zimbabwe, most of whom are based on British culture, and the majority of the black population, who are increasingly turning to old traditions. So it was not possible to create a good connection between the two parts of the population and to find the way together that a modern society demands.

Houses made of stone?

In the Shona language, the word Zimbabwe means “houses made of stone”. The Shona in Zimbabwe built houses out of stone in the past and many residents of the country still live in these houses today.

They are round buildings that are covered with straw. But there is not much space in these houses. The residents have to share a single room. Children and adults sleep together in one room.

Stone houses are atypical

Incidentally, these stone houses are atypical in Africa, because most of the houses are usually made of wood or clay. The cities of Zimbabwe show the influence of the former colonial rulers, the British. But the old traditions live more strongly in the country. The traditional handicraft is still very important here.