Zimbabwe is a country located in the southern part of the African continent and is known for its beautiful natural scenery and many different attractions. Some of Zimbabwe’s major tourist attractions include Victoria Falls, Mana Pools National Park, World Heritage-listed safari areas; Safari Safaris, Hwange Safaris, Dande Safaris, Uruwe Safaris, Dante Safaris, Doma Safaris, Matobo Hills and Steppes, and numerous national parks and nature reserves. You can also visit various museums and Great Zimbabwean sites where you can experience Zimbabwe’s Stone Age and Iron Age habitation and culture.
1. Zimbabwe Quick Facts
Language English
Religion Christian lineage
Currency United States dollar (USD, $), South African rand (ZAR, R), Zimbabwean dollar (ZWD, Z$)
Visa
Category A : Countries who do not require a visa to enter Zimbabwe : Visa is Free
Category B : Countries who require visas to enter Zimbabwe and who can obtain them on arrival : Visa Fee is US$30.00 for Single Entry
Category C : Countries who require visas to enter Zimbabwe and who must obtain them before arrival.
UK is US$55.00 for Single Entry and US$70.00 for Double Entry.
Power Plugs 240 V 50 Hz ( D, G Type)
Capital Harare
ATM ATM are available in Harare and some major cities.
Use card
The use of credit cards is not recommended in Zimbabwe. Visa and MasterCard are accepted by most restaurants, shops and hotels. Diners Club and American Express are sometimes not accepted.
*Many hotels in Zimbabwe prefer foreign currencies (dollars, euros) or credit cards, and some don’t accept local currency at all.
APP
Google Maps
2. Packing for your trip
Air plain Ticket
Dollar Flight Club has made it easier and cheaper to buy flights to the Airport.
SIM card
Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving you access to 200+ eSIMs (digital SIM cards) globally at affordable prices.
New member one-time use 15% discount coupon
10% discount coupon for multiple use by all members.
Pacsafe Pro safe 800 Luggage Lock
Good protection against snatchers or impulse thieves.
Universal Power Adapter
One of the most essential but most forgotten items in your travel gear? A power adapter!
Travel insurance
Prepare for risky situations Travel insurance can be a big help in the event of an emergency
GoPro HERO11
If you want to capture your own memories of your travels, GoPro is the way to go. It’s small, has great image quality, and is easy to carry around
3. Transportation
There are intercity buses that run between cities, but they are unhygienic and unsafe, and trains run between some cities, but they are not recommended due to irregular service due to fuel shortages and frequent track breakdowns. Minibuses (about 15 seats), which are the local equivalent of buses, operate in the city, but they are unclean and rarely used by foreigners.
Taxis
There are a number of small, private taxis that operate on a call-and-response basis, but they are not very popular due to their high fares, and drivers who are not familiar with the local area may charge extortionate rates. There are metered taxis and unmetered taxis, but in the latter case, you should always check the distance and the price to make sure it is reasonable.
4.Safety
There have been a number of incidents of armed robberies targeting moving vehicles. Be cautious when travelling to off-the-beaten-path areas and out of town.
Do not accept rides from unknown third parties or share taxis.
Avoid going out at night if possible, and be careful not to expose large amounts of money in public to make yourself a target for robbers.
Useful phone numbers for tourists
Police: 995
Ambulance: 994
Fire Department: 993
General emergency number: 999
Country dialling code: 358
5. Climate
Zimbabwe has a subtropical climate with three distinct seasons. The cool, dry season runs from May to August, the hot, dry season runs from September to November, and the warm, wet, rainy season runs from mid-November to April. During the cool, dry season, temperatures range from 10°C to 27°C, with clear blue skies and cool nights. The cool, dry season is characterised by hot and dusty conditions, with temperatures between 20°C and 35°C (68°F and 95°F), and nighttime sunshine. Wildfires are common during this time. The hot and humid season is characterized by high humidity, with frequent heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms. Temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F)
6. price
Zambia is generally an affordable country with prices lower than many other African countries.
Gasoline (1 liter) is $ 1.50
McDonald’s Combo Meal: $ 6.00
Water (1.5 liter): $ 1.00
Milk (1 liter) : $ 1.60
7. Travel precautions
Please travel with good personal hygiene (washing hands, boiling or cooking water and food, etc.) to prevent infection with waterborne diseases such as cholera.
In Zimbabwe, timekeeping is very fluid and people are often late – appointments rarely start on time and apologising for not arriving or being late is not something they are used to, so don’t be offended.
Avoid discussing HIV/AIDS as many Zimbabweans have lost family members to HIV/AIDS or know someone who has.
8. Etiquette & Service Tip
It’s polite to use both hands to give and receive items. In more casual situations, use only your right hand.
There is a big gifting culture in Zimbabwe. Gifts represent a gesture of friendship, so refusing a gift can seriously hurt the person who gave it to you. It is considered taboo to do so. Always accept gifts from Zimbabweans.
If you are visiting Zimbabwe for the first time, you can expect them to give you something to take home. For example, when you return home from a trip, they may ask if you brought them a gift. Don’t perceive this as presumptuous, rude, or greedy.
Tip
There is no tipping culture in Zimbabwe. If you enjoy the service, you can leave a 10% tip. In bars, you are welcome to leave change.
Expect US$10-20 per person per day for safari group guides and US$20-40 per person per day for private guides. Give it directly to your guide at the end of the day. For camp staff, US$10-20 per person per day Do not leave daily, but put it in an envelope at the end of your stay and place it in the reception tip box.
9. Holidays
The following are the national public holidays for 2024:
1 Jan Mon New Year’s Day
21 Feb Wed Robert Mugabe National Youth Day
29 Mar Fri Good Friday
30 – 31 Mar Sat-Sun Easter Saturday,Easter Sunday
1 Apr Mon Easter Monday
18 Apr Thu Independence Day
1 May Wed Workers’ Day
25 May Sat Africa Day
12 Aug Mon Heroes’ Day
13 Aug Tue Defense Forces Day
22 Dec Sun National Unity Day
23 Dec Mon National Unity Day Holiday
25 Dec Wed Christmas Day
Zambia Public Holidays 2024
1 Jan Mon New Year’s Day
8 Mar Fri International Women’s Day
12 Mar Tue Youth Day
29 Mar Fri Good Friday
30 Mar Sat Easter Saturday
1 Apr Mon Easter Monday
28 Apr Sun Kenneth Kaunda Brithday
1 May Wed Labour Day
25 May Sat Africa Day
1 Jul Mon Heroes’ Day
2 Jul Tue Unity Day
5 Aug Mon Farmers’ Day
18 Oct Fri Prayer Day
24 Oct Thu Independence Day
25 Dec Wed Christmas Day
2025 National Public Holidays:
Wednesday, 1 January : New Year’s Day
Friday, 21 February : Robert Mugabe National Youth Day
Friday, 18 April : Independence Day
Friday, 18 April : Good Friday
Saturday, 19 April : Easter Saturday
Sunday, 20 April : Easter Sunday
Monday, 21 April : Easter Monday
Thursday, 1 May : Workers’ Day
Sunday, 25 May : Africa Day
Friday, 8 August : Heroes’ Day
Tuesday, 12 August : Defense Forces Day
Monday, 22 December: National Unity Day
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Friday, 26 December: Boxing Day