Zimbabwe travel information
GENERAL
For stays of less than than six months all you need is a valid passport, a return ticket to your country (or enough money to buy one) and sufficient funds to cover your stay in Zimbabwe.
All visitors require valid passports with at least two empty pages.
NEW VEHICLE REGULATIONS IN ZIMBABWE
Take note: Stricter vehicle regulations in Zimbabwe from December (17 Wed, Nov 2010)
According to the latest Zimbabwe Government Gazette, vehicles will not be considered
roadworthy unless they are equipped with a fire extinguisher, warning triangles, a serviceable
spare wheel and an efficient jack and a wheel spanner.
The new regulations come into effect from December 1.
Specific guidelines for motorists include having two reflective warning triangles that conform to
the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) which must be placed at the front and rear of a
vehicle in the event of a breakdown. According to the published guideline, the triangles must bear
a serial number, name of the manufacturer and year of manufacture.
The guideline also states that all vehicles must carry an SAZ-approved fire extinguisher in a
visible and accessible place in the cab of the vehicle as well as red and white reflectors. White
reflectors are to be used at the front of the vehicle and red reflectors are to be used at the back of
the vehicle.
Representatives of the motor industry in Zimbabwe have expressed concern over the new
regulations and are looking for clarification from authorities on the issue of serial numbers and
SAZ approval.
ZIMBABWE VISAS
With a few exceptions most visas can be purchased on arrival in Zimbabwe. Only single and double entry visas can be purchased on arrival so if you are planning on visiting Victoria Falls and considering a day trip to Zambia or to Chobe ( Botswana) you may want to buy a multiple entry visa before you arrive in Zimbabwe.
South Africans obtain a visa free of charge on entry to Zimbabwe.
Please note the following change in Visa Policy by the Zimbabwe Government:
Any person who requires a visa for Zimbabwe and who travels out of Zimbabwe and enters into any of the surrounding countries for any time what so ever, should this person return to Zimbabwe, then they will be required to purchase a visa to enter Zimbabwe.
We thus highly recommend clients coming to visit Victoria Falls, who may want to go to Botswana or Zambia, should purchase double entry visa’s on arrival as this will save them money.
Guests who fall into the category C, need to purchase their visa prior to arrival. If you are going out of the country and re entering such as for a day to Chobe please bear this mind and purchase either a double or multiple entry visas as this cannot be bought on arrival.
A visa can be obtained from any Zimbabwean Embasssy or from:
The Chief Immigration Officer
P Bag 771, Causeway
Tel:
Harare, Zimbabwe
For further information visit the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority website
| VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR ZIMBABWE AT 1 JANUARY 2010 | ||||
| Category A | ||||
| Countries whose nationals do not require visas | ||||
| Antigua & Barbuda | Grenada | Maldives | St Lucia | Vanuatu |
| Arbua | Hong Kong | Malta | St Vincent & The Grenadies | Zambia |
| Bahamas | Hong Kong (China) | Mauritius | Swaziland | South Africa |
| Barbados | Jamaica | Montserrat | Tanzania | |
| Belize | Kenya | Nambia | Tonga | |
| Botswana | Karibati | Nauru | Trinidad & Tobago | |
| Caymen | Leeward (S) | Samoa Western | Turks & Caicos Islands | |
| Congo (DRC) | Lesotho | Singapore | Tuvalu | |
| Cyprus | Malasia | Solomon Island | Uganda | |
| Fiji | Malawi | StKittis | Mozambique | |
| Category B | ||||
| Countries whose nationals are granted visas at the port of entry on payment of the requiste visa fees | ||||
| ** Britain/UK/Ireland - US$55 single entry / US$70 double entry / US$90 Multiple entry | ||||
| *** Canadian - US$75 single entry / double - multiple can only be obtained from local embassy prior to departure | ||||
| Rest: US$30 single entry / US$45 double entry | ||||
| Argentina | Egypt | Korea (South) | Puerto Rico | |
| Austria | Finland | Kuwait | Seychelles | |
| Australia | France | Liechtenstein | Slovac | |
| Belguim | Germany | Luxembourg | Spain | |
| Bermuda | Ghana* (*Gratis Visas) | Monaco | Sweden | |
| Brazil | Greece | Netherlands | Switzerland | |
| Britain (UK) ** | Hungary | New Zealand | United Arab Emirates | |
| Brunei | Indonesia | Norway | Uruguay | |
| Canada *** | Iceland | Palau Islands | USA | |
| Cook Island | Ireland ** | Palestine (State of) | Vatican | |
| Czech Republic | Isreal | Papau New Guinea | Virgin Island | |
| Denmark | Italy | Poland | Russia | |
| Dominic Rep | Japan | Portugal | ||
| Category C | ||||
| Countries whose nationals are required to apply for and obtain visas PRIOR to travelling to Zimbabwe | ||||
| Afghanistan | Conakry | Jordan | Oman | Tunisia |
| Albania | Cote D'Ivoire | Kazakhstan | Pakistan | Turkey |
| Algeria | Croatia | Korea | Panama | Turkmenistan |
| Andorra | Cuba | Kyrgyzstan | Paraguay | Ukraine |
| Angola | Djibouti Republic | Laos | Peru | Uzebikstan |
| Amenia | El Savador | Latvia | Phllipines | Venezuela |
| Azerbaijan | Equator | Lebannon | Principe | Vietnam |
| Bahrain | Equatorial Guinnea | Liberia | Qatar | Yemen Rep |
| Bangladeshi | Eritrea | Libya | Reunion | Yugoslavia |
| Belarus | Estonia | Lithuania | Romania | |
| Benin | Ethiopia | Macau | Rwanda | |
| Bhutan | Eyrom | Madagascar | Samoa (America) | |
| Bolivia | French Guiana | Marshall Island | San Marino | |
| Bosnia Herzegovina | French West Indies | Mauritania | Sao Tome | |
| Bulgaria | Gabon | Mexico | Saudi Arabia | |
| Burkina Faso | Gambia | Micronesia | Senegal | |
| Burundi | Georgia | Moldova | Serbia | |
| Cambodia | Gibraltar | Mongolia | Sierra Leone | |
| Cameroon | Guam | Morrocco | Slovenia | |
| Cape Verde Islands | Guatemala | Myanmar | Somalia | |
| Central Africa Rep | Guinea | Nepal | Sri Lanka | |
| Chad | Guinea Bissau | New Caledonia | Sudan | |
| Chile | Guyana | Nicaragua | Suriname | |
| China | Haiti | Nieu | Syria | |
| Colombia | Honduras | Niger | Tajikistan | |
| Comores Islands | India | Nigeria | Taiwan | |
| Congo (Brazaville) | Iran | Norfolk Islands | Thailand | |
| Costa Rica | Iraq | Northern Madana | Togo | |
MONEY:
The local currency is no longer the Zimbabwe Dollar. ONLY foreign currency is now used in Zimbabwe and the most popular of these are USD and South African Rand. In our experience travelling with USD is a better option in the main tourism areas as guests get a very unfavourable rate for their Rand.
The most practical currencies to travel with are USD or Rand. For any extras such as visas, tips and curios we recommend that you travel with a selection of small denominations.
With a few exceptions credit cards are not widely accepted in Zimbabwe. However in main tourist centres like Victoria Falls most hotels have a Visa Card credit card facility for extras.
However guests can now able to use their Visa and MasterCard debit/credit cards to draw money from Barclays Bank ATM's. Money is dispensed in USD in $20 and $50 bills with an overall limit of up to $500 per day, depending on your personal limit with your bank.
If you are planning on buying curios and enjoy bargaining, offering an "extra" in the form of pens, batteries, coloured crayons, T shirts or sunglasses will clinch the deal for you.
HEALTH:
The low lying areas of Zimbabwe lie within malaria areas so we recommend that you take malaria precautions including prophylatics, covering up in the evening with long sleeved shirts and trousers and using mosquito repellant.
All visitors to Zimbabwe are responsible for their own travel and medical insurance. Please ensure that you are fully insured for all eventualities including emergency evacuation, medical, curtailment and repatriation.
Zimbabwe is serviced by medical air rescue services who are able to fly you to the nearest hospital which is able to deal with your condition
DOCUMENTS & CAR PAPERS REQUIRED FOR SELF DRIVE GUESTS TO ZIMBABWE:
Vehicle registration papers (If you are not the registered owner of the vehicle you require a letter from the registered owner / financial institution
3rd party insurance - if purchased at port of entry the cost is R200. A COMESA which covers many African countries can also be bought at the AA head office
Carbon Tax - is based on engine capacity of the vehicle and ranges from R60 for a 1/3l engine to R270 for a 3l 4x4 and is valid for 30 days.
Road access fee - based on the size of the car. R60 for a small sedan to R270 for a large 4x4 - paid on entry. Exit pass - R70 on each exit.
Carnet - not required. Temporary import permit is issued free of charge will be issued at the border.
ZA sticker
Red & white T-signs if towing a trailer - white on the front of the trailer and red on the rear right of the trailer.
White and red reflective tape (2 white rectangular strips on left and right of the front bumper. 2 red strips on the back bumper, both should be a minimum of 75 mm longx 50 mm wide, 2 red strips on the back of a trailer.
MANDITORY VEHICLE EQUIPMENT FOR ZIMBABWE - APPLICABLE 1 JUNE 2011
The following is required by all vehicles travelling within Zimbabwe as of 1 June 2011
- 2 x red warning triangles
- A serviceable spare wheel
- an efficent jack and wheel spanner capable of undoing the vehvciles wheel nuts
- A fire extinguisher
