Big Skies
SOUTHERN Zimbabwe brings together the three great attractions of wildlife, glorious scenery and the mysterious relic-kingdom of Great Zimbabwe - the largest man-made structure south of the pyramids, which were left by our ancestors of antiquity.
These "great houses of stone", which gave their name to modern Zimbabwe, sprawl across more than 7000 hectares of valley, and is one of the most awe-inspiring sights of the southern continent, for they hold the key to the area's social and cultural history.Close to these great ruins are some of the largest private conservancies in Southern Africa.
Here, the traveler is rewarded with a feast of wildlife, spectacular landscapes and an incredible array of natural wonders. Staying in luxury lodges, intimacy and proximity to nature are the main features of these wilderness retreats, and adventures into the surrounding areas can be by foot or in a 4 x 4 vehicle.
From the southern city of Bulawayo, the visitor is lured to the Matobo National Park, an area of hills and domes, weirdly shaped rock formations, valleys and woodlands.
The stupendous sight from World's View - also known as "Place of Spirits" - is matched by few others in Africa.
When that famous old colonialist, Cecil John Rhodes - who gave the country its pre-independence name - saw the Matobos, he was so struck by the majesty of the landscape that he arranged to be entombed there! Visitors can reach Southern Zimbabwe either by air charter or by road as part of a self-drive excursion.
