Physical Geography of Zimbabwe: Relief, Drainage, Climate and Vegetation
Relief
Zimbabwe's relief is a series of steps. The Highveld lies above about 1 200 m and runs south-west to north-east through Bulawayo, Gweru and Harare. The Middleveld (about 900–1 200 m) surrounds it, and the Lowveld (below 900 m) occupies the Zambezi valley and the south-east lowlands. The Eastern Highlands are highest, with Mount Nyangani at 2 592 m, Zimbabwe's highest point.
Drainage
The main watershed follows the Highveld. North-flowing rivers include the Zambezi, which forms the northern border and carries Victoria Falls and Lake Kariba. South of the watershed flow the Limpopo (southern border), Save, Runde and Mwenezi; eastwards flow the Pungwe and Odzi. Western rivers such as the Gwayi and Nata lose water into Kalahari sands and never reach the sea - an example of internal drainage. Lake Kariba is the largest artificial lake.
Climate
Zimbabwe lies in the tropics, but altitude moderates temperature, so the Highveld is cooler than the Lowveld. The wet season is roughly November to March, when the inter-tropical convergence zone brings rain; May to October is dry. Rainfall decreases from east to west and from north to south, and the Limpopo and Save lowveld lie in a rain shadow, making them the driest areas. Zimbabwe is often divided into five natural regions (I–V) by rainfall.
Vegetation
Miombo woodland (msasa and mubondo) covers much of the Highveld and Middleveld, mopane woodland dominates the hot lowveld, and montane forest survives in the Eastern Highlands. Grassland, acacia and thorn scrub occur in drier areas.
Trap: the statement "Zimbabwe has a Mediterranean climate" is false, and the wettest place is the Eastern Highlands, not Harare.
Rule of thumb: go down in altitude and you go up in temperature and down in rainfall.