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Basic Facts
Full Name : Republic of Zimbabwe(formerly Rhodesia)Capital : Harare
Currency : Zimbabwe Dollar (Z$)
Language : English, Shona and Ndebele
Getting Around
Rail & BusZimbabwe has a good railway service connecting Harare, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls and Mutare. Fares are very cheap. Most trains run at night and move slowly across the short distances so not to arrive too early in the morning. Two kinds of buses service Zimbabwe: express and local. Express buses are usually efficient and operate according to the published timetables. Local buses serve almost all populated areas of Zimbabwe. These "African buses" are cheap and if you don't mind the crowds and unreliability of service, are a great way to meet the locals.
Airports
Domestic air services operate between the major airports:
Harare Airport (HRE)
Bulawayo Airport (BUQ)
Karibe Airport (KAB)
Victoria Falls Airport (VFA)
There are a total of 467 runways in Zimbabwe, of which only 18 are paved. Charter air services can be arranged to reach remote areas. These tend to be very expensive, but are cheaper when booked through a tour operator.
Roads
There are 18,338 km of highways in Zimbabwe, of which 8,692 km are paved. Excluding the national parks and game reserves, the road conditions in Zimbabwe are good and they are well- signposted. Four-wheel drive vehicles are advisable for travelling within the national parks and game reserves. Foreign drivers may use their valid driving license, with an English translation if necessary. Driving is on the left side of the road and the general speed limit is 120km/h on open roads and 60km/h in urban areas, but watch out for the signs. Motorists must use their headlights between 5:30 pm and 5:30 am. Watch out for wildlife on the roads!
Passports and Visas
Entry Requirements(as at June 2000)
This is a guide only - please check with your nearest Zimbabwe Consulate for up to date information. All visitors are required to carry a passport that is valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay. There should be sufficient blank pages for entry stamps upon arrival.
Nationals of the following countries do not require visa for their visit to Zimbabwe: Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Botswana, Canada, Fiji, Ghana, Granada, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Western Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Swaziland, Sweden, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, UK, Vanuatu, Zambia
Nationals of the following countries will be issued a visa on payment at port of entry: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Cook Islands, Denmark, Dominica, Dominica Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Seychelles, South Africa (no charge), Spain, State of Palestine, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, USA
For all other countries, visas should be obtained from your nearest Zimbabwean Consulate. This costs US$30 for a single entry visa (valid for six months) and US$45 for a double entry visa (valid for three months). Requirements for obtaining a visa are a valid passport and one application form.
General Accommodation Info
It is strongly recommended that you reserve all your accommodation as far in advance as possible if you plan to visit Zimbabwe during the peak season since availability is at a premium during this period. There are many private game reserves with standard and luxury accommodation. The national parks include cottages, chalets or lodges, which are all fully equipped. Booking is always essential. Note that foreigners are required to pay in foreign exchange; US$ are preferred. The government campsites are well-maintained and offer full facilities.When 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 December - May when the vegetation is lush and green, and also when most plants are in flower.
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. These are the most comfortable times for travelling, but it is during the wet summer, from November - April, when the landscapes are a striking, fresh green. However, the abundance of water means that it is less certain that wildlife can be seen at perennial water holes.
Currency
The unit of currency is the Zimbabwean dollar (Z$), which is divided into 100 cents. Foreign currency is widely accepted and prices are usually also displayed in US$. Foreigners are requested to settle their accommodation payment in foreign currency, preferably US$.
Exchange Rate
For most visitors the 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.
Banks
Banks in Zimbabwe are open for business during the following hours:
Monday; Tuesday; Thursday; Friday 08:00 - 15:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 13:00
Saturday 08:00 - 11:30
Major hotels have foreign exchange facilities and most shops, lodges and travel agencies will accept travellers cheques. Note that hotels usually offer a more favourable exchange rate than banks.
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. Credit cards are not accepted at petrol filling stations.
