Research Resources
A collection of resources for students, researchers, academics, and professionals seeking in-depth information about Zimbabwe’s tourism, history, culture, wildlife, and conservation.Tourism Statistics & Data
Official Sources
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA)
Website: zimbabwetourism.netAvailable Data:
- Annual tourism statistics
- Visitor arrivals by country of origin
- Tourism contribution to GDP
- Accommodation occupancy rates
- Activity and attraction visitor numbers
- Annual reports available on website
- Research inquiries: [email protected]
Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT)
Website: zimstat.co.zwAvailable Data:
- Population and demographics
- Economic indicators
- Employment statistics
- Trade data
- Census information
- Quarterly Digest of Statistics
- Census reports
- Economic surveys
International Sources
| Source | Data Available | Website |
|---|---|---|
| UNWTO | International tourism statistics | unwto.org |
| World Bank | Economic indicators, development data | worldbank.org |
| African Development Bank | Africa-focused economic data | afdb.org |
| World Travel & Tourism Council | Tourism economic impact | wttc.org |
| IUCN | Conservation data | iucn.org |
Historical Resources
Great Zimbabwe
Academic Resources on Great Zimbabwe
Key Publications:
- Garlake, Peter. Great Zimbabwe. London: Thames & Hudson, 1973.
- Huffman, Thomas. Snakes and Crocodiles: Power and Symbolism in Ancient Zimbabwe. Johannesburg: Wits University Press, 1996.
- Pikirayi, Innocent. The Zimbabwe Culture: Origins and Decline of Southern Zambezian States. AltaMira Press, 2001.
- Great Zimbabwe National Monument
- World Heritage documentation and reports
- University of Zimbabwe, Department of History
- National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe
- British Institute in Eastern Africa
- National Archives of Zimbabwe, Harare
- Rhodes House Library, Oxford (colonial period)
Colonial & Post-Colonial History
Recommended Reading:Colonial Period:
- Beach, D.N. The Shona and Zimbabwe, 900-1850. London: Heinemann, 1980.
- Ranger, Terence. Revolt in Southern Rhodesia, 1896-97. London: Heinemann, 1967.
- Martin, David & Phyllis Johnson. The Struggle for Zimbabwe. London: Faber, 1981.
- Meredith, Martin. Mugabe: Power, Plunder, and the Struggle for Zimbabwe. Public Affairs, 2007.
- Godwin, Peter. When a Crocodile Eats the Sun. Little, Brown, 2007.
- National Archives of Zimbabwe
- Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation Archives
- Various university libraries with African studies collections
Rock Art
San Rock Art Research
Key Resources:
- Garlake, Peter. The Painted Caves: An Introduction to the Prehistoric Rock Art of Zimbabwe. Harare: Modus, 1987.
- Lewis-Williams, J.D. & T.A. Dowson. Images of Power: Understanding Bushman Rock Art. Southern Book Publishers, 1989.
- Rock Art Research Institute, University of Witwatersrand
- National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe
- Matobo Hills National Park (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Domboshava
- Chinhoyi region sites
Wildlife & Conservation
Conservation Organizations
Research & Conservation Bodies
Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks)
- Website: zimparks.org
- Wildlife population data
- Park management reports
- Conservation programs
- Website: awf.org
- Conservation research
- Zimbabwe programs
- Website: painteddog.org
- African wild dog research
- Hwange-based research
- Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation
- Research programs
- Anti-poaching initiatives
- Conservation leadership training
- Zimbabwe-focused programs
Wildlife Research
Key Research Areas:Elephants:
- Hwange elephant population studies
- Human-wildlife conflict research
- Transboundary elephant movements (KAZA)
- Painted Dog Conservation research
- Population monitoring
- Pack dynamics studies
- Save Valley Conservancy
- Matobo Hills populations
- Anti-poaching effectiveness
- BirdLife Zimbabwe (birdlifezimbabwe.org)
- Important Bird Areas (IBAs)
- Species surveys and monitoring
Academic Journals
Relevant Journals:
| Journal | Focus |
|---|---|
| African Journal of Ecology | Wildlife and ecology |
| Koedoe | African conservation |
| South African Journal of Wildlife Research | Wildlife studies |
| Oryx | International conservation |
| Journal of Southern African Studies | Multidisciplinary |
Cultural Resources
Ethnographic Studies
Cultural Research
Shona Culture:
- Bourdillon, M.F.C. The Shona Peoples. Gweru: Mambo Press, 1987.
- Gelfand, Michael. Shona Religion. Cape Town: Juta, 1962.
- Ranger, Terence. Voices from the Rocks: Nature, Culture & History in the Matopos Hills of Zimbabwe. James Currey, 1999.
- Tracey, Hugh. African Dances of the Witwatersrand Gold Mines. African Music Society, 1952.
- Winter-Irving, C. Stone Sculpture in Zimbabwe. Harare: Modus, 1991.
- National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare
- Museum of Human Sciences, Harare
- Natural History Museum, Bulawayo
- Zimbabwe Military Museum, Gweru
Language Resources
Shona:
- Hannan, M. Standard Shona Dictionary. College Press.
- Fortune, G. Shona Grammatical Constructions. Mercury Press.
- Pelling, J.N. A Practical Ndebele Dictionary. Longman Zimbabwe.
- Various university African language departments
- Ethnologue (ethnologue.com) - language statistics
Academic Institutions
Zimbabwe
Universities & Research Centers
University of Zimbabwe
- Location: Harare
- Departments: History, Geography, African Languages
- Website: uz.ac.zw
- Location: Gweru
- Tourism and hospitality programs
- Website: msu.ac.zw
- Location: Bulawayo
- Environmental science programs
- Website: nust.ac.zw
- Environmental and agricultural sciences
- Website: buse.ac.zw
- Tourism and hospitality management
- Website: cut.ac.zw
International Programs
Study Abroad & Field Research:Many international universities offer Zimbabwe programs:
- Field research opportunities
- Archaeological excavations
- Wildlife conservation internships
- Community development projects
- Organization for Tropical Studies
- School for International Training
- Various university international programs
Data & Statistics
Key Indicators
Zimbabwe at a Glance
| Indicator | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | ~16 million (2023 est.) | ZIMSTAT |
| Land Area | 390,757 sq km | - |
| National Parks | ~27,000 sq km (13% of land) | ZimParks |
| UNESCO Sites | 5 World Heritage Sites | UNESCO |
| Elephant Population | ~100,000 | Great Elephant Census |
| Languages | 16 official languages | Constitution |
Tourism Data Points
Typical Data Available:
- Annual visitor arrivals (pre-COVID ~2.5 million)
- Top source markets (South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, UK, USA)
- Average length of stay
- Tourism revenue
- Accommodation capacity
- Employment in tourism sector
Useful Databases
Research Databases
General:
- JSTOR (jstor.org) - Academic journals
- Google Scholar (scholar.google.com) - Free academic search
- African Journals Online (ajol.info) - African scholarly journals
- Africa Bibliography - Comprehensive African studies
- African Studies Centre Leiden - Netherlands-based
- SOAS Library - University of London
- Zimbabwe Parliament - legislation
- National Archives of Zimbabwe
Student Programs
For Students
Research in Zimbabwe:
- Apply through your university’s IRB/ethics process
- Contact Zimbabwe Research Council for permits
- Partner with local institutions when possible
- Semester abroad programs
- Summer field schools
- Research fellowships
- Volunteer programs (ethical ones with established organizations)
Bibliography Suggestions
Essential Reading List
Travel & Tourism:
- Lonely Planet Zimbabwe & Botswana guidebooks
- Bradt Travel Guide to Zimbabwe
- Newman, Kenneth. Birds of Southern Africa
- Stuart, Chris & Tilde. Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa
- Various coffee table books on Zimbabwe
- National Geographic features
- Recent journalism and reportage
- Travel memoirs set in Zimbabwe
Research Ethics: When conducting research in Zimbabwe, respect local communities, obtain proper permits, and work with local partners. Academic research involving human subjects requires ethics clearance. Wildlife research requires permits from ZimParks.
Last updated: January 2025 This page provides starting points for research. For specific academic inquiries, contact relevant institutions directly.