Dar es Salaam to Johannesburg

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DarEsSalaam
Tanzania

Dar es Salaam, melting pot of cultures

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Selous GR
Tanzania

Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania

15 minutes
183km
The Ruvuma
Basin

The Ruvuma Basin

1hr 10mins
607km
Lake Malawi/
Nyasa

Lake Malawi/Nyasa, East Africa

1hr 40mins
950 km
Nyanga
Zimbabwe

Nyanga, Zimbabwe

2hrs 10mins
1,448km
The Limpopo
River

The Limpopo River

3 hours
1,992km
Johannesburg
South Africa

Johannesburg - The Beating Heart of Africa

3hrs 40mins
2,388 km

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Nyanga, Zimbabwe

Mount Nyangani is the highest mountain in Zimbabwe; at 2,595m high it is just under half the height of Africa’s tallest mountain, Mount Kibo.

Nyanga National Park is Zimbabwe’s oldest national park and was originally owned by 19th century businessman and politician, Cecil Rhodes: the founder of the colonial territory of Rhodesia.

Mutarazi Falls, or Bridal Veil Falls, is the highest waterfall in Zimbabwe and one of the highest in Africa, falling 791 metres.

The Eastern Highlands forms a link in the chain of mountains that forms Africa’s spine, stretching from South Africa’s Western Cape to the Ethiopian Highlands.

Ziwa National Monument contains some of the most extensive and well-preserved ancient stone buildings in Africa.

Ziwa is under consideration as a World Heritage Site for its archaeological importance in revealing evidence of each aspect of Zimbabwe’s early human history.

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Flying at 13,000m - The Eastern Highlands

Mount Nyangani is the highest mountain in Zimbabwe. Its unusual summit can be seen here, which juts 40m above the rest of the mountain.

The powerful Pungwe and Nyazengu Rivers carve deep gorges and valleys through the Eastern Highlands.

Mutarazi Falls can be seen in the distance of this image, clearly visible as the taller falls on the right of the mountainside.

The peak of Ziwa Mountain in Nyanga. These granite peaks have been worn down by millennia of erosion and weathering.

Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands enjoy cooler, wetter conditions than the rest of southern Africa due to their altitude and proximity to the coast.

The Eastern Highlands stretch for 300km north to south, forming a natural border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Mutarazi Falls is also known as Bridal Veil Falls for the narrow shape of its white cascade, which resembles a long veil.

Huge granite outcrops such as these can be found across Nyanga and the Eastern Highlands.

Mutarazi Falls is the highest waterfall in Zimbabwe, falling 791m. The Eastern Highlands are known for their moist climate, with several rivers and many waterfalls.

The view over the valleys of the Eastern Highlands from one of the range's highest points, World's View.

Rain falls in the valleys of the Eastern Highlands. This region is the wettest part of Zimbabwe; moisture from the Indian Ocean falls on the highlands as rain and mist.

The rugged Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe extend for 300km along the country's eastern border. The northern section of the range is known as Nyanga.

The spectacular stepped Nyanga Falls is one of many waterfalls found in the Eastern Highlands. High levels of rainfall feed several rivers that cascade down the steep mountainsides.

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Flying at 6,000m - Nyanga National Park

Nyanga National Park is characterised by its varied landscape: heather moors, pine and deciduous forests are all visible in this image.

Waterbuck, a large species of antelope, are common in Nyanga National Park. The park is one of the most wildlife rich regions in Zimbabwe.

Looking over the rolling grasslands and pine hillsides of Nyanga National Park. Note the Pungwe River and Pungwe Falls to the left.

In 1896, Cecil Rhodes ensured that when he bought his parcel of land in Nyanga, it would incorporate the spectacular Pungwe Falls.

Cecil Rhodes was the 19th century businessman and politician who founded and gave his name to the colonial territory of Rhodesia. He was the first owner of Nyanga National Park.

Klipspringer can be spotted in Nyanga National Park. They are one of the smaller species of antelope, and prefer rocky landscapes.

Looking out over Pungwe Valley in Nyanga National Park. Nyanga National Park lies in one of the most picturesque portions of the Eastern Highlands.

Lions can be seen occassionally in the Nyanga National Park. The park is very popular with visitors for the large numbers of wildlife that can be seen here.

Nyanga National Park is one of the most visited national parks in Zimbabwe, having joined together with Mutarazi Falls National Park along its southern boundary.

Pungwe Falls are a major attraction of Nyanga National Park. The falls are part of the Pungwe River, which finds its source in Zimbabwe's highest mountain, Mount Nyangani.

The kudu is one of the largest species of antelope, and can be found in great numbers in Nyanga National Park. They are a popular attraction for safari visitors for their attractive curled horns.

The high altitude and frequent rains in Nyanga National Park have encouraged the growth of huge forests of pine trees that cover large portions of the park.

The green landscape of Nyanga is nourished by high rainfall and several rivers which originate in the mountains.

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Flying at ground level - Ziwa National Monument

Ziwa National Monument is a 33km² region of ancient stone structures, forts and pits created more than 400 years ago.

One of the many preserved walls in the Ziwa National Monument. The dry-stone-walling technique used to create the structures at Ziwa was very advanced.

One of the cattle pits at Ziwa. The stone walls have been preserved for several hundred years even though they are not held together with any kind of mortar.

Restored daub houses and a stone pit structure at Ziwa National Monument.

Dense terracing is a feature of Ziwa National Monument; farmers built these 'steps' on the hills of the Nyanga mountains to make the most of the hillsides' fertile soils.

One of Ziwa National Monument's pits that has become overgrown with plants after centuries of disuse.

The fort at Ziwa National Monument was built high in the Eastern Highlands, with a view over large parts of the surrounding landscape.

Ziwa hill forts are still standing within Nyanga National Park. The dry stonewalling technique has held these walls up for hundreds of years.

A reconstruction of the Ziwa pits found in Nyanga. These are thought to have housed cattle.

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© 2013 Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)