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Discover Zimbabwe: Top 9 Amazing Fun Facts You Never Knew About This African Gem

illustration of zimbabwe
Dive into the world of Zimbabwe as we reveal a treasure trove of fascinating tidbits that are sure to make you fall head-over-heels for this mesmerizing African gem.

1. Termite Snacks

Move over, protein bars, and make room for termite snacks: In Zimbabwe, flying termites, or ishwa, are a popular and nutritious source of protein, second only to Mopane Worms, and are often captured during their annual mating flight in the second month of the rainy season. Bon appétit!
Source => entonation.com

2. Soapstone Birdies

Step aside, Angry Birds, the soapstone birdies of Zimbabwe have been ruling the roost way before you: Found in the ancient ruins of Great Zimbabwe, these sculptures aren't just religious artifacts - they're national symbols proudly perched on the country's flag and once served as a symbol of power and prestige for the ruling elite.
Source => nationalgeographic.org

3. Cow's Mountain Dilemma

Why did the cow refuse to climb Mount Nyangani? Because there's no dairy farm at the top! : Venture to Zimbabwe's highest peak at 2592 meters and marvel at the stunning vistas of the Eastern Highlands, including Nyangombe Falls, Pungwe Gorge, and the daredevil adventures of ziplining over Mtarazi Falls and sky walking 90 meters above ground at the World's View.
Source => wetravel.com

4. Zimbabwe's Ancient Rocks

In Zimbabwe, you can get stoned with ancient rocks and relive a different kind of ruckus: The country is home to five UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the majestic Great Zimbabwe Ruins and the millennia-old rock art of Matobo Hills National Park, showcasing its rich historical and cultural legacy.
Source => africatvl.com

Prehistoric Wall Entertainment

5. Prehistoric Wall Entertainment

Before Netflix and cave chill, our prehistoric ancestors were pioneers in the original wall entertainment: behold the rock art galleries of Matobo Hills in Zimbabwe! Serious reveal: Boasting one of the highest concentrations of rock art in southern Africa, these 13,000-year-old masterpieces offer a glimpse into the lives of Stone Age foragers and their Iron Age successors, all within a region inhabited for over 500,000 years.
Source => whc.unesco.org

6. Waterfall Rainforest

Who says you can't have a rainy day without clouds? Welcome to Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls rainforest: constantly drenched by the raging waterfall's spray, this unique ecosystem flourishes with diverse flora and fauna, evolving and migrating upstream as the waterfall carves new paths through the landscape.
Source => victoriafalls-guide.net

7. Left-side Driving Knights

Watch out, knights in shining armor: you might need to swap your sword-wielding arm if you venture into Zimbabwe! Here's why: Zimbabwe is one of the few countries where driving on the left side of the road is the norm, a quirky legacy of its British colony days when horse riders would ride on the left to greet passersby or draw their sword with their dominant right arm. So, if you're renting a car in Zimbabwe, remember to stick to the left lane and watch out for wandering knights who might have not gotten the memo.
Source => rhinocarhire.com

8. Money Rock Rebellion

In a stroke of true rock n' roll rebellion, Zimbabwe's national currency boasts a trio of rocks that have been rocking the nation since 1981: The Domboremari, also known as the Money Rock, is a formation of three boulders in Chiremba Balancing Rocks, Epworth, and has featured on all Zimbabwean banknotes since 1981, as well as being the logo of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Wizardry of Literacy

Who needs Hogwarts when you've got Zimbabwe: boasting an adult literacy rate of 89.70% in 2021, Zimbabwe has waved its magic wand of education over the years, transforming itself from a mere 83.51% back in 1992. Not only that, they've spirited away out-of-school children from 1.4 million in 2008 to a significantly smaller number of 443,000 in 2019.
Source => macrotrends.net

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