ZIMBABWE           ...Mosi-ao-Tunya - The smoke that thunders...

The Republic of Zimbabwe, formerly (1911–64) Southern Rhodesia, (1964–79) Rhodesia, or (1979–80) Zimbabwe Rhodesia is a landlocked country of southern Africa. It shares a 125-mile (200-kilometre) border on the south with the Republic of South Africa and is bounded on the southwest and west by Botswana, on the north by Zambia, and on the northeast and east by Mozambique. Its total area is 150,873 square miles (390,759 square kilometres). The capital is Harare.

Zimbabwe is synonymous with Victoria Falls, and it constitutes one of the seven most spectacular natural wonders of the world. After the rainy season the Zambezi river comes plummets over the falls with a roaring thunder and a cloud of mist and hence the name by the locals, Mosi-Oa-Tunya - The smoke that thunders.  There is a magic about them manifested in the towering column of spray when the river is high, the thunder of the falling water, the terrifying abyss and tranquil lagoons upstream in which hippo and deadly crocodiles lurk.

The Victoria falls is 1 708 meters wide, making it the largest curtain of water in the world. It drops between 90m and 107m into the Zambezi Gorge and an average of 550,000 cubic metres of water plummet over the edge every minute.  It is a sight that will touch your sole especially if you take a helicopter flight or "Flight of the Angels".

The Zambezi is also well known for its White water rafting and bungi jumping. 

Lake Kariba is one of the largest man made lakes in the world and the dam wall is certainly an engineering wonder.  Lake Kariba is not only a source of water for a rather drought stricken country but it also provides a haven for a variety of wildlife species and birds.

The mystic Zimbabwe ruins also has a charm of its own.

Zimbabwe has been subject to the dictatorship of Robert Mugabe and subsequently the country's economy has suffered tremendously, leaving thousands of people starving.