This Update: July 2021
AN OVERVIEW
Zimbabwe is without doubt one of the hidden gems of southern Africa. Zimbabweans of all races are among the friendliest people you will ever meet. The rich history of Zimbabwe is only surpassed by its phenomenal natural beauty.
From thunderous waterfalls, to balancing rocks scattered to the horizon in a red and green, alien-like landscapes, to mile-wide, calm, deep rivers home to massive pods of hippos, and almost legendary flood plains of the wild acacia forests, Zimbabwe is special. It will settle in your heart forever and its song will rise within you on just hearing the names of the legendary places it holds within its borders. Names like Mana Pools, Hwange National Park, the mighty Zambezi, Kariba - the world's largest man-made lake, home to the river god, Nyami-Nyami, and of course, Mosi-oa-Tunya.
You can hear the heartbeat of Africa and see its spirit rise into the air over forty kilometers away from the gorges in which it roars, this is The Smoke That Thunders or Mosi-oa-Tunya. One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, this spectacular body of water more commonly known as Victoria Falls divides Zimbabwe and Zambia. With a combined width of 1,708 metres and height of 108 metres, it is the world's largest sheet of falling water.
So special are the Falls, and its rain forest filled with plants that occur nowhere else, that the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in which they can be found is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Entry Requirements
SPECIAL MENTION: South African Rules on Travelling with Minor Children which apply when transiting through South Africa to and from Zimbabwe
The new rules regarding travel to South Africa with minor children:
Whether a child needs to present their birth certificate when visiting or departing from South Africa depends on the child’s nationality:
- South African children traveling on a South African passport do need to carry their unabridged birth certificate to enter the country
- Foreign visa-exempt children will no longer need to present their birth certificate nor parental consent letters
- Foreign visa-required children will have their birth certificate processed during their visa application, and no longer have to produce the document for inspection at the airport upon arrival
Several years ago unabridged birth certificates were introduced as a travel requirement for minors arriving in South Africa in 2015. This document was initially required to help prevent child trafficking.
However, on Friday, November 8th, 2019, South African government officials announced that birth certificates and consent letters are no longer required for foreign children traveling with their parents to enter the country.
The birth certificate requirement for South Africa is eliminated when children visit the country with their mother and father carrying a valid passport on which the child’s parents are registered as such.
Banking and Currency
As currency in Zimbabwe has, in recent history, been constantly changing, this section will be updated periodically.
We would advise that you check https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/zimbabwe for the latest information.
Currency
The Zimbabwean Dollar is the official currency. However, in reality, after March 2020, Zimbabwe once more allowed trading in multi-currencies. Prices are quoted in both Zimbabwean dollars and United States dollars. Foreigners will most probably be expected to pay in forex, especially, but not solely, at tourist sites. This includes recreational companies in Victoria Falls.
Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWD; symbol Z$; = 100 cents) notes currently come in the following denominations: 20, 10, 5 and 2. Ensure you have enough small notes to cover small purchases, as change for large notes is difficult to come by. To put that in perspective, there are no coins within the market at the time of writing.
The Banks of Zimbabwe
International banks with branches in Zimbabwe include Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe, Standard Chartered Bank Zimbabwe and Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe. The leading local bank in the country is CBZ Bank.
Credit and Debit Cards
Visitors need to plan for their debit and credit cards to be unusable. In fact, it’s best to consider credit cards as a non-viable option. Zimbabwe is predominantly a cash society. In terms of credit or debit cards, only VISA and MasterCard are accepted in Zimbabwe in formal institutions. Foreign cards can attract a poor exchange rate and attract high banking charges. Make sure you know what the official daily rate of exchanges is every day. Apart from formal institutions, very few places will have credit card machines.
ATM Withdrawals and Cash
Bring cash with you as it cannot be obtained through credit or debit cards, or ATMs. Travellers to Zimbabwe do not have access to ATMs. It’s best to pre-pay for as much as you can before leaving your home country. One more thought on cash - keep it safe-guarded at all times and carry only what is essential for any one day.
Banking Hours
Banks in Zimbabwe are found in all medium to large towns. They open for business on weekdays from 08h00 to 15h00, except for Wednesdays, when they are only open from 08h00 to 13h00. On Saturdays, they are open from 08h00 to 11h30. They are closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.
Travel, Transport and Getting Around
By Air
Most major airlines fly into Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. Charter flights are available to most attractions and camps.
By Road
If you are driving yourself around Zimbabwe, the most important thing to remember is -TRAFFIC DRIVES ON THE LEFT side of the road. Be sure to check fuel availability in advance. Fuel is generally available, but supply can fluctuate, and FUEL IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR CASH. If you are covering long distances within the country, ensure you carry extra fuel in 5 or 10L metal containers in case of an emergency.
You need a sense of humour to drive in Zimbabwe. By African standards, there is a good road infrastructure, but the roads are often potholed. There is no highway, motorway or freeway in Zimbabwe. There is what is known as ‘wide tar’. The speed limit outside of towns is 120kms per hour if you are driving a light vehicle. However, you need to vigilant if you are passing small towns and villages as domestic animals such as donkeys, goats and cattle have no road sense whatsoever. Children running across the road are also a hazard. Drive with care through these areas. The best policy is to slow down to 60 kms per hour. There are often speed traps to catch unwary tourists driving too fast into towns. Obey the speed limit signs outside of towns. Between major towns, there are also frequent roadblocks. In urban areas, the speed limit is 60kms per hour.
By Public Transport
While Uber doesn’t operate in Zimbabwe, taxis are safe and reliable and should be booked through your hotel front desk. Taxis in cities travel within a 40km radius of the city. Always take a taxi at night.
By Rail
Traveling by rail in Zimbabwe is only for the truly adventurous. The only way to know for sure which trains are travelling is to ask at the station as the situation changes daily.
Food, Drink and Cuisine Advice
Zimbabwe's native cuisine is a ground maize meal called sadza, a cooked, stodgy porridge. This is normally accompanied by some tasty relish made of tomatoes and onions, rape – a type of kale, as well as meat or dried fish. Together they form a meal known as ‘sadza and nyama’. Safari camps will often prepare sadza on its own, if requested. It is almost always available in small restaurants in the towns. A thinner version, served with butter, brown sugar and milk, is used as a breakfast porridge.
However, restaurants, hotels, coffee shops, lodges and camps serve a wider, more western and also more international menu. Even in the most remote bush camps meals are usually excellent, both in taste and preparation.
If you are on a self-catering holiday or outing while in Zimbabwe, purchase your supplies in main towns, such as Harare and Bulawayo. South African shopping chains, such as Spar, and Pick n Pay, operate in Zimbabwe and will generally have all that you will need,
Water in the main towns is usually purified. However, if you are in Zimbabwe for a short period of time, we suggest drinking only bottled, boiled, or treated water which is available in towns and from all hotels, lodges and camps. All Zimbabweans drink tap water. If you are in the country for a long time, then it may be sensible to acclimatize yourself to it.
Climate and Weather
Unlike countries in the Northern Hemisphere, or even South Africa, Zimbabwe has only two real seasons - the rainy season and the dry season.
The Dry Season - Winter (June, July and August)
There is no rainfall, and low humidity. The average morning temperature is 6°C. Midday can be as warm as a cool Summer day with temperatures between 14°C and 25°C. At night, some parts of the country drop to zero. In terms of tourism, winter in Zimbabwe, is the start of the 'peak season'. The days are often cloudless and, because the bush has dried out, it’s much easier to spot wildlife in the game parks. Warm clothes, including jerseys and a jacket are needed, especially in the game parks, as morning and evening game drives in open vehicles will be cold. These drives are well worth going on despite the low temperatures, as wildlife concentrates around waterholes and rivers in search of the essential and scarce resource. August is a windy month.
The Wet Season - Summer (September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April and May)
Spring, Summer and Autumn are encapsulated in these months, but Spring and Autumn are such short seasons that most Zimbabweans don’t even mention them.
As a result, Summer officially starts in September, and the heat once more begins to rise. It builds dramatically until the rains bring relief.
Only once this happens, usually in late October or early November, can the rainy season be considered to have started. Once the rains arrive, wildlife in the game parks become harder to find as water sources deep within the bush are now full.
November is unpredictable; it can be hot and dry, or rainy, or both on successive days. Until the rains have begun in earnest, the country’s lower lying areas can experience temperatures anywhere between 32°C to 50°C, especially in the Zambezi Valley.
December, January, February & March are the wettest months. If you thought the rains in November were strong, it’s these four months when potential torrential downpours occur, especially in the afternoons. While nights and mornings are warm, around 18°C, afternoon temperatures are around 30°C, with a high humidity, making the thunderstorms that much more welcome and dramatic. Zimbabwe's higher eastern areas, some of the most beautiful in the country, usually receive more rainfall than the lower-lying western ones. In the north, closer to the border with Zambia, the rains arrive earlier and leave later than most other places in the country.
April and May herald the end of summer. Temperatures start to drop, especially in more southerly lowveld areas, as well as the higher North-Eastern areas, such as Harare. They are relatively cool, typically around 10°C in the morning and 28°C in the afternoon, while night-time temperatures can be below that. By May, the rain is almost gone. The green and verdant land begins to dry out, turning a stark, pale yellow announcing the approaching arrival of winter.
Clothing and Dress Recommendations
There really are only two seasons in Zimbabwe – summer and winter. Spring and Autumn are so short that most Zimbabweans never mention them. Zimbabwe has on average 12 hours of sunshine a day no matter what the season is, so sunblock, a brimmed hat and sunglasses are a good idea all year-round. Long-sleeved shirts and long trousers will also guard against the scorching sun rays. We recommend you wear light shoes, especially if your itinerary entails a lot of walking, unless you are hiking, then hiking boots are a necessity.
The Dry Season - Winter (June, July and August)
In Winter, daytime temperatures can rise to 25°C. However, it’s best to include warmer clothing, especially warm trousers, a jacket and a jersey as temperatures can drop to 6°C, especially at night. It’s a good idea to have warm socks with you. Casual, comfortable clothes during the day are a necessity as temperatures can get extremely hot. Light, loose-fitting clothing, such as cotton or linen, are best. They are both cool and easy to wash.
Spring (September)
As mentioned above, Spring, is such short seasons that if you are travelling to Zimbabwe at the very end of the dry season then include a jersey and a pair of warm trousers in your luggage.
The Wet Season - Summer (September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April and May)
Temperatures in some parts of the country, like Kariba and game park along the Zambezi River can soar to 50oC. Harare and Bulawayo are usually more comfortable but can still get hot. Casual, comfortable clothes during the day are a necessity. Loose-fitting, light clothing, such as cotton or linen, are best as they are both cool and easy to wash. If you are planning to be in the country during the rainy season, bring rainwear with you. Torrential rains can occur in December, January, February and March.
Autumn (May)
Autumn doesn’t make much of an appearance in Zimbabwe. There won’t be avenues of trees turning the familiar autumnal shades experienced, as Zimbabweans say, ‘overseas’. Autumn is such short seasons that if you are travelling to Zimbabwe at the very beginning of the dry season, but not staying for winter itself, then include a jersey and a pair of warm trousers in your luggage.
When on Business
Smart casual will cover just about every situation. If you are attending a business meeting you may want to dress more formally, but for both men and women standard business attire will be sufficient.
When on Safari
For safaris, please remember to wear appropriate clothing and shoes. Earth coloured clothes, such as browns, greens and tans are advisable. You don’t want to stand out as a tasty morsel to hungry lions. And on that note, if you are in the game parks, do not get out of your vehicle and keep the doors locked. If lions are around, close the windows.
When out on the town
Smart casual will cover just about every situation.
Internet Availability
Internet is available but can be limited, especially outside of the major cities, Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.
Most holiday accommodation venues offer internet and or WiFi to their guests, but there are often disruptions in service. Some venues charge for the service. It’s advisable to ensure you know if your venue charges or not.
Electricity and Plug Standards
A universal travel adaptor is essential for all trips abroad. A voltage converter or transformer may also be necessary. Here’s why.
Universal Travel Adapter
Just think of the electronics we have in our lives these days that need to be plugged in to work, or to at least charge the battery - smartphone, tablet, laptop, headphones, camera or Bluetooth speaker, toothbrush, curling irons and travel kettle and travel iron. Avoid purchasing one at the airport as these are usually astronomically expensive.
It is important to note that a travel adapter, even a universal one, does NOT convert the voltage or the frequency. Travel adapters ONLY allow a device from one country to be plugged into the wall outlet of another country, using the universal adapter, as a link between the two.
There are 3 plug types used in Zimbabwe: Types C, D, and G. It’s important to remember that some travel adaptors are not suitable for any appliance that requires an earth connection. Please check your appliance first.
Voltage Converter or Transformer
Zimbabwe operates on a 240V supply voltage and 50Hz. It is extremely dangerous to use an electrical appliance rated at a different voltage from the supply. If the standard voltage in your country is 240 V, you can use your electric appliances in Zimbabwe. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 240-volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then a Universal Travel Adapter is all you need. If your appliance is NOT compatible with 240 volts, a voltage converter or transformer, will be necessary.
We strongly advise that, to be on the safe side, that you should bring both a universal travel adapter AND a voltage converter or transformer for your time in Zimbabwe.
