'Today' to take its show on the road to Zimbabwe

In what NBC labels a series of "unprecedented telecasts," the "Today" show will originate live from Africa for six days in November (a "sweeps" month, of course), "Today" boss Jeff Zucker announced Wednesday.

The broadcasts, from three locations in Zimbabwe -- the capital city of Harare, wildlife preserve Hwange National Park and Victorial Falls -- will be seen Nov. 13, and Nov. 16-20. They represent the first time a regularly scheduled network news program has originated from sub-Sahara Africa, NBC says.

The Africa project has been in the works for several years. Mr. Gumbel, who recently returned from a survey of the African locations, will return to tape some footage for November.

(During his July 27-Aug. 7 trip, "Today" will be pre-empted by NBC's Olympics coverage from Barcelona, Spain.)

"Today's" last week-long international jaunt was to Korea in September 1988. Mr. Gumbel and Jane Pauley did the shows the week prior to the Summer Olympic Games in Seoul.