
Home Places Accommodation Activities Special Offers Houseboats	BOOK NOW

Your are in > Travel Guides > Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe - Tourist Information

Travel guide, facts and travellers tips to make your safari in Zimbabwe a pleasant travel experience

Important notes for clients traveling to Zimbabwe:

**With effect from 1 January 2007 MasterCard transactions will no longer be accepted in Zimbabwe. Only VISA, DINERS and AMEX cards will be accepted.

**Clients to settle accounts in foreign currency i.e. SA Rands or U.S. Dollars

**Clients to take small denominations of bank notes as change will be given in Zim Dollars

Tourist Information - Tips and Quick Facts

The political & economic strife that has dogged Zimbabwe in the last few years, has caused a slump in tourists, however those that do visit will find the rewards far out weigh the perceived risks.

Zimbabwe’s tourism highlights such as Victoria Falls, Hwange, and Lake Kariba are well away from urban centres and most often travelers to Zimbabwe never see or hear of trouble and the visitor is still safe

In fact in Victoria Falls there is a special tourist police force who patrol 24/7 to ensure the safety of visitors

Security
Despite continuing unrest in some parts of Zimbabwe, much of the country remains trouble-free and is safe to visit. The UK advises travellers to stick to well-established tourist destinations, visiting with reputable tour operators rather than independently.

TIP
Book through us for one of the cheaper African safaris. Zimbabwe is a headace for those that don't know first hand what to do and not to do. If carefully planned a holiday in Zimbabwe can be the best and cheapest safari experience in Africa.

Driving in Zimbabwe

International driving permits and valid driving licences issued in Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland are valid in Zimbabwe. A visitor from any other country may, for 90 days or more, use a valid driving licence, issued by the competent authority in that country.

self driving into Zim are allowed a full tank, and an additional 200 litres of fuel in jerry cans.

This must be declared at border post, and a fuel levy of approx 1000 zim dollars to be paid per litre in the cans

Transport and Tours

Taxis – no cruising vehicles, but are available at taxi-ranks in the main centres or on call from hotels and restaurants.
Car Hire – cars with or without chauffeurs can be hired in most tourist areas from reputable firms.
Buses – in towns and cities they are few and far between, chiefly transporting people to work. There are, however, good inter-city coach services.
Trains – comfortable daily services link rest centres.
Road tours – a selection of road tours are operated at reasonable cost to all Zimbabwe's main tourist's atrractions.
Air Services – the country's national airline has a convenient and frequent schedule of flights between the main centres and major tourist destinations. Air Zimbabwe also provides feeder services to all regional capitals. A number of international airlines provide connections to international destinations.
Boat Hire – at Kariba, houseboats are available for hire from registered companies

Border Post times for Zimbabwe

Posts given below are open weekdays and on public holidays

Zimbabwe / South Africa
Beitbridge (Bulawayo, Harare / Jo’burg) Open 24 hours
The border post is now open to tourists 24 hours a day and from 6 am to 6 pm for imports and exports.

Zimbabwe bordering South Africa and Botswana
Beitbridge 05.30 - 22.30 hrs
Plumtree 06.00 - 20.00 hrs
Kazungula 06.00 - 18.00 hrs

Zimbabwe bordering Mozambique
Forbes Border Post Mutare 06.00 - 18.00 hrs
Nyamapanda 06.00 - 18.00 hrs

Zimbabwe bordering Zambia
Chirundu 06.00 - 18.00 hrs
Kariba 06.00 -18.00 hrs
Victoria Falls 06.00 - 22.00 hrs

Check with your nearest Zimbabwean Embassy or Trade Mission for updates on the above as we cannot be held Responsible for the accuracy of the above information.

Airport Departure Tax for Zimbabwe

Included in your air ticket when departing Zimbabwe from an airport. The tax of US$30 will be reflected as a CB tax in the applicable tax box on the air ticket.

When returning to South Africa via the Beit Bridge Border, a ‘Toll Tax’ is payable for the use of the bridge (It’s about R50 subject to confirmation and change without notice).
There is an assigned counter for this payment, and you must get a receipt before moving on to Immigration/Customs

Customs for Zimbabwe

Your personal possessions which are intended for your own consumption in Zimbabwe are allowed entry duty-free.
In addition, other consumable goods (not Merchandise imported for trade
purposes) may be imported up to a value of US$250 per person.
Alcoholic beverages may be included within this allowance by persons over the age of 18 years, subject to a limit per person of 5 litres, of which not more than 2 litres may be spirits.
Members of your family travelling together may aggregate their allowances.

If you are bringing in commercial goods on a temporary basis (i.e. news crews bringing in camera equipment etc) you must obtain an invoice for customs purposes detailing the nature and value of the goods.
Customs may require a deposit or surety to cover the duty of the goods, whilst in Zimbabwe. A clearing agent should be able to arrange this if you do not have any cash

Motor Vehicles

Private motor vechicles, caravans and trailers may be brought temporarily into Zimbabwe, provided they are licenced in their home countries and bear appropriate registration plate and nationality plaque. The International Certificate of Motor vehicles is recognised in Zimbabwe.

Vehicles must be insured against third party risks arising in Zimbabwe, short-term policies are obtainable at border posts

Customs Concesssion

Your personal possessions, which are not intended for disposal or consumption in Zimbabwe, are allowed entry duty-free. In addition, other consumable goods which are not merchandise imported for trade purposes may be imported up to a value of US$2500 per person. Alcoholic beverages may be included within this allowance by persons over the age of 18 years, subject to a limit per person of 5 litres, of which not more than 2 litres may be spirits. Members of a family travelling together may aggregate their allowances.

Banking

CURRENCY

You may bring in any amount of foreign currency in bank notes or travellers cheques. But the total amount must he declared to Customs at entry, otherwise only the equivalent of US$200 will be allowed to be re-exported at the end of your holiday. Zimbabwe's unit of currency is the dollar, worth 100 cents

Credit Cards

In Zimbabwe don't pay by credit card, the official exchange rate makes it an unattractive method

Credit Cards are only accepted by some restaurants, hotels and few service providers. Visa Cards can be used to draw a limited amount of Zimbabwe Dollar at the local Standard Bank ‘ATM’ at one tenth of the unofficial rate.

**With effect from 1 January 2007 MasterCard transactions will no longer be accepted in Zimbabwe. Only VISA, DINERS and AMEX cards will be accepted.
**Clients to settle accounts in foreign currency i.e. SA Rands or U.S. Dollars
**Clients to take small denominations of bank notes as change will be given in Zim Dollars

Bank Hours in Zimbabwe

Banks in Zimbabwe are open for business during the following hours.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 08.00-15.00 hours.
Wednesdays 08.00-13.00 hours
Saturdays. 08.00-11.30 hours

Health Requirements

As health requirements differ from country to country, it is important that travellers, before entering Zimbabwe, check the health requirements of their own country and obtains vaccination certificates, if required, for their return home

Payments, Banks, Credit Cards

All mentioned entry fees, boarder charges, accommodation and activities need to be paid in foreign currencies. Preferred currency in Zimbabwe is the US$. Although other currencies like the Euro and South African Rand can be used we strongly advise guests to carry sufficient amounts of US$ in cash ($50 notes and smaller)

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe operates money exchange desks situated at the Victoria Falls airport and the Kingdom Hotel, where most major currencies can be
exchanged.

Rather pre book for your activities and accommodation. contact us

Transfers from your hotel to activities or even to Chobe and Hwange national parks or across the Zambezi into Zambia are easy to arrange so there is no need to rent a ca

Visa and boarder charges ......

Most nationalities can obtain a visa at immigration points at the airports and land boarder posts. Charges for single entry visa are US$ 30; double entry visa US$ 45.

Payment is accepted in other currencies as well but we recommend to carry US$ cash in small denominations. At departure via airports or land boarders no departure tax has to be paid