Author: thedigitalphilatelist

Haemanthus multiflorus (now Scadoxus multiflorus ) is a bulbous plant native to most of sub-Saharan Africa to South Africa. It is grown as an ornamental plant for its brilliantly coloured flowers, either in containers or in the ground in where the climate is suitable. There are three recognized subspecies. Strongly…

View More Rhodesia Philately: Fireball (Haemanthus multiflorus)

Hibiscus is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. The name is derived from the Greek name ἰβίσκος (ibískos) which Pedanius Dioscorides gave to Althaea officinalis (c.40–90 AD). The genus is quite large, comprising several hundred species that are native to warm temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world.…

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The Blue Pansy Butterfly (Junonia oenone) is a Nymphalid butterfly native to Africa. The butterfly inhabits woodland and savanna, as well as suburban parks and gardens, and occurs over the moister eastern half of South Africa. Adults may be seen throughout the year though they’re much more numerous in spring…

View More Rhodesia Philately: Blue Pansy Butterfly (Junonia oenone)

Cycads are seed plants that typically have a stout and woody (ligneous) trunk with a crown of large, hard, stiff, evergreen and (usually) pinnate leaves. The species are dioecious, that is, individual plants of a species are either male or female. Cycads vary in size from having trunks only a…

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The Great Zimbabwe Ruins Hotel was located on the site of Sheppard’s Hotel. It had a fully licensed restaurant, golf course and swimming pool. It was located on land called Mundell’s Plot. It was the closest accommodation to the Zimbabwe Ruins. References Men who Made Rhodesia – A Register of…

View More Rhodesia Philately: Great Zimbabwe Ruins Hotel (Pvt.) Ltd.

Moffat Street was located in Salisbury. Robert Moffat (1795 – 1883) was a Scottish Congregationalist missionary to Africa, father of Mary Moffat Livingstone and father-in-law of David Livingstone, and first translator of the Bible into Setswana. He worked closely with hunters, explorers, miners and ultimately the pioneer column which marched…

View More Rhodesia Philately: Salisbury – Moffat Street

The Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) is a large woodland antelope, found throughout eastern and southern Africa. The greater kudu is one of two species commonly known as kudu, the other being the lesser kudu, T. imberbis. Greater kudus have a narrow body with long legs, and their coats can range…

View More Rhodesia Philately: Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros)

The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), also known as the African savanna elephant, is one of two living African elephant species. It is the largest living terrestrial animal. It is distributed across 37 African countries and inhabits forests, grasslands and woodlands, wetlands and agricultural land. It is a social mammal,…

View More Rhodesia Philately: African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana)

Epworth is located about 12km outside of Salisbury. It is bisected by a stream into two parts. The Balancing Rocks found in the northern approaches of the town are famous. The town was originally established in 1890 as a Methodist Mission Station known as Epworth Mission. A large influx of people…

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The Balancing Rocks are geomorphological features of igneous rocks found in many parts of Rhodesia. The formations are of natural occurrence in a perfectly balanced state without other support. The Balancing Rocks are particularly noteworthy in Rhodes Matopos National Park and near the township of Epworth to the southeast of…

View More Rhodesia Philately: Balancing Rocks (Epworth)