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● ● ● ● ● People and Places ● ● ● ● ● Over 11.652 million residents live in Zimbabwe, while 1,190,000 urbanites live in the national capital: Harare. Other major cities include Bulawayo (population: 622,000), Chitungwiza (275,000), Gweru (125,000), Hwange, Masvingo, Mutare (132,000), and Shurugwi. While Zambia is known for its diverse variety of ethnic groups, Zimbabwe is predominantly shared between Shona (over 80%) people, Ndebele (14%) people, and several other minority groups. About twenty-one major languages are used for communication — including two (Barwe and Tsoa) that are facing a threatened existence in the future. Languages include Chichewa, Dombe, Kalanga, Kunda, Lozi, Manyika, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shona, Tonga, Tswana, and Venda. Zimbabwe's literacy rate is relatively high (84%) in Africa. About 70% of religious Zimbabweans are Christians and 0.75% are Muslims. About 30% of Zimbabweans adhere to native beliefs and customs.
Great Zimbabwe (southeast Zimbabwe) and Dhlo-Dhlo (south-central Zimbabwe) are two ancient Shona civilization sites with still-standing stone walls and towers. Standing about 10.05 meters and 33 feet tall in Great Zimbabwe, the prominent conical tower is attached to walls of the Great Enclosure — known as the largest pre-colonial structure in Sub-Saharan Africa. Another ancient site and tourist attraction is located at Khami, a current UNESCO World Heritage Site and ancient capital of the Kingdom of Butua — organized by the ancestors of Kalanga (Shona-related) people. Zimbabwe’s national parks include Chewore Game Preserve (north), Chizarira NP (northwest), Gonarezhou NP (southeast), Hwange NP (west), Kazuma Pan (west), Mana Pools NP (north), Matabo NP (southwest), Matusadona NP (NW), Mtarazi Falls NP (east), and Zambezi NP (Zimbabwe’s western tip).
● ● ● ● ● Land Features ● ● ● ● ● Zimbabwe’s major waterfalls are on opposite sides of the country. People can find the Mtarazi Falls and Pungwe Falls in eastern Zimbabwe, while tourists would want to visit western Zimbabwe to witness the world-famous Victoria Falls. There’s more than waterfalls in Zimbabwe! Non-water land features include the northern Chinhoyi Caves, northwestern Chizarira Hills, central Mafungabusi Plateau, southern Mateke Hills, eastern Mavuradonha Mountains (near NW Mozambique), and northern Zambezi Escarpment. The Chinhoyi Caves are located about 150 kilometers northwest of Harare, while the Zambezi Escarpment is further north and runs westward into Zambia. Located in eastern Zimbabwe near Mozambique, Mount Nyangani is Zimbabwe's highest peak and stands 2,592 meters and 8,504 feet in elevation. Nyangani is comprised of harder dolerite and softer sandstone.
This post was updated with more information in September 2016. GeoFact of the Day’s map of Zimbabwe was designed in December 2022.
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