Zimbabwe

At a Glance

Zimbabwe is a southern African country with a rich culture centred on the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, one of the most important archaeological sites in sub-Saharan Africa, alongside excellent safari areas in Hwange and Mana Pools and the Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls. The people are widely considered among the most educated and warmly hospitable in the region. The country is in the process of rebuilding its tourism infrastructure, and those who visit now will find a destination of great beauty with very few crowds.

• Experienced the world's second-worst hyperinflation on record — 500 billion percent in 2008.
• Has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa, legacy of a strong post-independence education system.
• Great Zimbabwe ruins — for which the country is named — were built without mortar and stand today.