| ACCOMMODATION
It is strongly recommended that you reserve all your accommodation as far in advance as
possible if you plan to visit Zimbabwe during the peak season since availability is at a
premium during this period.
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BANKS
Banks in Zimbabwe are open for business during the following hours :
Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri 08h00 - 15h00
Wed 08h00 - 13h00
Sat 08h00 - 11h30
Major hotels have foreign
exchange facilities and most shops, lodges and travel agencies will accept travellers
cheques.
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BORDER
POSTS
All border posts open daily.
ROAD : Zimbabwe /
Botswana
Kazangula (Victoria Falls / Kasane) 06h00 - 18h00
Plumtree (Bulawayo / Maun) 06h00 - 18h00
ROAD : Zimbabwe / South Africa
Beitbridge (Bulawayo, Harare / Jo’burg) 06h00 - 20h00
BEST TIME TO GO
Zimbabwe is an all year round destination. However there are certain seasons for special
interest groups to take note of :
For high adventure
enthusiasts, white water rafting is most exciting when the Zambezi waters are low,
generally from August to December.
Best botanical months
to visit the famous Vumba Botanical Gardens are Dec - May when the vegetation is lush and
green, and also when most plants are in flower.
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CLIMATE
Summer : October - April, days are hot and generally sunny in the morning with possible
afternoon thunder storms. Daytime temperatures can rise to 30º C and night temperatures
drop to around 14º C - 16º C. The temperatures given are those for the main centres but
it is considerably warmer all year round in the low-lying areas such as Kariba, Victoria
Falls, and the Zambezi Valley. The rainy season runs from November to March, although the
Eastern Highlands are damp for most of the year.
Winter : May - September, days are dry, sunny and col to warm while evening temperatures
drop sharply. Daytime temperatures generally reach 20º C and can drop to as low as 5º C
at night. Please note that exceptionally cold spells can occur (although this is the
exception rather than the rule) so it is recommended to bring appropriate clothing, just
in case!
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CLOTHING
Generally, casual comfortable clothing is suitable throughout the year. The most practical
items to pack for safari are :
- blouses with long sleeves (even in summer,
they will protect you from the sun and from mosquitos)
- T-shirts
- shorts or a light skirt
- jeans or trousers for evenings and cooler
days
- fleece or sweater and a warm jacket for
gamedrives (necessary, even in summer)
- comfortable walking shoes
- sunblock, sunglasses, hat, insect
repellent - essentials!
- binoculars and a camera are a must
- track suit good for sleeping in during
winter months
- light, compact raincoat a good idea for
the summer
- swimsuit, as most hotels/lodges have
swimming pools
- towel, torch and sleeping bag for camping
safaris (sleeping bags can be hired from most safari operators)
- Elegant casual outfit for dinner and/or
cocktails at the smarter hotels and restaurants - men are generally expected to don
collar, jacket (sometimes even a tie) in cocktail bars and restaurants after 18h30 except
in the warmer parts of the country and of course not at the game lodges.
Layers are most practical
for the fluctuating day/night temperatures of Zimbabwe. Dull and/or neutral colours are
more suitable for safari, white is not practical.
VERY IMPORTANT :
if you are going on safari, remember that packing space is limited on all modes of safari
transport so you will need to restrict your luggage to 10-12kg (packed in a soft bag) plus
a reasonable amount of camera equipment.
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COMMUNICATION
A direct international dialing service is available from the major hotels in Zimbabwe.
Both local and long distance calls are metered on a time basis and every second counts in
terms of cost. Major hotels and businesses have a fax service. Remember that hotels levy a
substantial surcharge on all calls.
Lodges in the more remote
areas of Zimbabwe do not have telephonic communication facilities. These lodges are able
to communicate with the outside world via two-way radio.
CREDIT
CARDS
All major credit cards are accepted at hotels, shops and restaurants. However, please note
that certain lodges and restaurants do not accept payment by Diners or American Express.
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CURRENCY
Zimbabwe’s unit of currency is the dollar, worth 100 cents. Visitors may import up to
Z$500 and any amount of foreign currency in bank notes and travellers cheques but the
total amount must be declared to Customs on entry, otherwise only the equivalent of US$200
will be allowed to be re-exported at the end of your holiday.
Non-residents and
visitors must settle their hotel accounts in foreign currency.
ELECTRICITY
220/240 Volts AC. Outlets are of the 3 pin, 13 amp type.
Lodges in the more remote
areas of Zimbabwe do not have electricity. These lodges generally rely on generator power
for lighting and refrigeration and this power only runs at certain times of the day.
Please be aware that at these lodges you will not find plug sockets in your rooms/tents.
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ENTRY
REQUIREMENTS
Passports :
Required by all. Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond the intended length of stay
and please ensure that there are sufficient blank pages for any visas as well as for entry
stamps upon arrival.
VISAS : Updated in February 1998.
This is a guide only - please check with your nearest Zimbabwe Consulate for up to date
information. It is the responsibility of all visitors to Zimbabwe to obtain all necessary
visas in advance.
- South African passport holders should
proceed to point of entry for immigration formalities. The Consulate does not process
South African visa applications as this is not necessary.
- Please note that citizens of Greece,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Israel, India, Portugal, Philippines, Eastern European
countries, and other countries that require visas must secure their visas in advance, as
visas are not issued at the border or airports for these nationalities.
- Member countries of the European
Community, Commonwealth countries, United States, and the majority of South American
countries do not require visas.
Single entry visa is
valid for 6 months, double entry visa is valid for 3 months, multiple entry visas are
valid for 6 months and are only issued in Harare.
No visitor is permitted
to work or seek employment.
General :
Visitors should have sufficient funds to support themselves whilst in Zimbabwe and should
be in possession of a return ticket or have proof of other means to return to their home
country.
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EXCHANGE
RATE
Is in your favour. Generally, you will find that fine cuisine, wine, and entertainment
cost a fraction of the tariff charged by equivalent establishments elsewhere in the world.
HEALTH
REQUIREMENTS
It is imperative that you obtain Malaria Prophylactics before entering Zimbabwe. When
purchasing these, please tell your doctor or pharmacist which areas in Zimbabwe you intend
visiting. Start your course at least 24 hours before entering Zimbabwe and continue taking
the pills for 6 weeks after leaving the country. If you suffer from side-effects, try
taking your malaria prophylactics at night, after dinner as this usually minimises the
effect of the symptoms.
Precautionary measures
that you can take to prevent contact with mosquitos are : sleeping under a bed-net or in a
room/tent with mosquito proofing (remember to keep the flaps zipped at all times);
spraying your accommodation with insecticide; making use of a mosquito-repelling lotion or
stick; and wearing long-sleeve clothing, long trousers and socks when outside at night.
Any person entering
Zimbabwe from, or via, a yellow fever or cholera infected area must be in possession of a
valid International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever and/or cholera.
Please avoid swimming in
dams and rivers as the water may be infected with bilharzia. If you are canoeing or
rafting and cannot avoid the water, this is not a problem - just remember to towel off as
soon as possible. Tap water is perfectly safe to drink and only in extremely remote areas
is it necessary to boil or purify the water.
See also Center for Disease Control
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INSURANCE
We strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance which includes curtailment and
cancellation cover, upon confirming your booking.
If you are coming on
safari with Afro Ventures, you will automatically be covered by their Emergency Evacuation
Insurance, underwritten by Europ Assistance. This guarantees all reasonable, practical
assistance in obtaining primary and/or emergency medical services for an insured person
who suffers illness or injury. Please note that this is an evacuation insurance only and
does not replace the normal travel insurance which you must purchase.
LANGUAGES
The official language of Zimbabwe is English and other indigenous languages spoken include
Ndebele and Shona. Your safari will be conducted in English.
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MALARIA
See HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
MEDICAL
SERVICES
Zimbabwe does not have a national health welfare scheme. It is therefore advisable to
obtain medical insurance prior to arrival. It is also wise to bring with you, any
medicines which you may require since you will not have access to pharmacies in many of
the areas which you may be visiting.
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NATIONAL PARKS & TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
The treasures of Zimbabwe are rich and varied, ranging from her great wildlife
sanctuaries, mighty rivers and natural wonders to her ancient art heritage left behind by
iron and stone age man ...
PHOTOGRAPHY
Film is available at most game lodges, but stocks are usually small and of the common
sizes only.
For game and bird
photography a telephoto lens of between 200 and 300mm is strongly recommended. Larger
lenses which require a tripod are generally impractical for game photography from
vehicles, as are double lens reflex cameras. A lens hood and ultra violet filter are
advisable and a dust cover (plastic bag) is essential. Remember to bring spare batteries
for your camera as these are seldom available on safari. Binoculars are invaluable for
bird and game viewing.
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ROAD
CONDITIONS
Excluding the national parks and game reserves, the road conditions in Zimbabwe are good
and they are well signposted. Visitors may, for 90 days or more (depending on the
country), use a valid driver’s license issued by the competent authority of their
country. If not printed in English, it should have a certificate of authority and validity
or translation of the text with the bearer’s photograph attached. Drive on the left
hand side of the road and note that the general speed limit is 120km/h on open roads and
60km/h in urban areas, but watch out for the signs.
TOURISM
SEASONS
Zimbabwe’s popularity as a destination is gaining in leaps and bounds to the extent
that seasonal differences are not as marked as in previous years. Traditionally, however,
peak season is from July - October and middle season is from May - June. Note that
availability is at a premium during these seasons so you will need to book in advance.
Also see BEST
TIME TO GO.
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TRAVEL
INSURANCE
See INSURANCE
VISAS
See ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
WATER
Throughout Zimbabwe at hotels, inns, lodges and other public places, tap water is purified
and perfectly safe to drink.
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