What are 5 interesting facts about Zimbabwe?
Mia Russell
Updated on August 02, 2026
What are 5 interesting facts about Zimbabwe?
Languages.
What is Zimbabwe best known for?
It is a country of superlatives, thanks to Victoria Falls (the largest waterfall in the world) and Lake Kariba (the largest man-made lake in terms of volume). National parks such as Hwange and Mana Pools teem with wildlife, making Zimbabwe one of the continent’s best places to go on safari.
How old is the Victoria Falls?
around 3 million years ago
History of Victoria Falls. It is clear from archaeological sites around the falls that the area has been occupied from around 3 million years ago. Stone artefacts from that time have been found as well as items from the Middle and Late Stone Age.
How many languages are spoken in Zimbabwe?
16 official languages
Many languages are spoken, or historically have been spoken, in Zimbabwe. Since the adoption of its 2013 Constitution, Zimbabwe has 16 official languages, namely Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shangani, Shona, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, and Xhosa.
What is the national animal of Zimbabwe?
Sable Antelope
The handsome Sable Antelope is the national animal of Zimbabwe and is one of the most sought after for photographers and trophy hunters alike due to its scimitar horns.
How many states does Zimbabwe have?
| Provinces of Zimbabwe | |
|---|---|
| Number | 10 Provinces |
| Populations | 1,200,337 (Bulawayo) – 2,123,132 (Harare Province) |
| Areas | 1,710 km2 (659 sq mi) (Bulawayo) – 28,967 sq mi (75,025 km2) ( Matabeleland North) |
| Government | Provincal government, National government |
Who discovered Victoria Falls in Africa?
David Livingstone
David Livingstone ‘discovered’ the Falls in 1855, the local Batonga people had named them Mosi-oa-Tunya, ‘the smoke that thunders’. Livingstone named them for his queen.
Who named the Victoria Falls?
Livingstone
Livingstone named his sighting in honour of Queen Victoria, but the Sotho language name, Mosi-oa-Tunya—”The Smoke That Thunders”—continues in common usage.
