Passport/Visa Requirements: Almost all nationalities require visas to enter Zimbabwe, which are available on arrival at Harare and Victoria Falls international airports and at land borders. Visas must be paid for in U.S. dollars in cash. Reconfirm travel document requirements with your carrier before departure.
Population: 12,671,860.
Languages: English, Shona, Sindebele (the language of the Ndebele)..
Predominant Religions: Animist, Christian..
Time Zone: 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+2 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is not observed.
Voltage Requirements: 220 volts.
Telephone Codes: 263, country code;
| Currency Exchange | Top  |
Zimbabwe's currency is the Zimbabwe dollar (Z$). Since 2000, exchange rates against all other currencies have been extremely erratic in direct response to the country's spiraling inflation. Because of inflation, there is often a shortage of cash, and many bank notes and coins, although still in circulation, have become worthless. You may find that you will need a large amount of cash to pay for something relatively inexpensive. Prices go up frequently, though for visitors with foreign currency, these price hikes are usually tempered by an increase in the exchange rate.
Don't be tempted to deal in the black market. It is illegal, and you could be prosecuted for changing money on the street; plus, there is the danger of being ripped off. You can exchange currency and traveler's checks at banks and most large hotels and lodges across the country. Always ask what commission and charges will be deducted, because they vary from place to place. High-end hotels and lodges often accept payments in U.S. dollars. There are ATMs in the cities, but security is a concern. Visa and MasterCard are accepted at ATMs, in some hotels and by the major tour operators, but the acceptance of American Express is very limited. It is best to take your money in a combination of U.S. cash, traveler's checks and credit cards to cover all eventualities.
| Banking Hours | Top |
Monday-Friday 8 am-3 pm (Wednesday to 1 pm), Saturday 8-11:30 am.
Tip 10%-15% in restaurants, and give a small tip to bellhops for carrying luggage. If on safari, it is also usual to show your appreciation by tipping the driver and guide. Some hotels and lodges have tip boxes so that money can be distributed among the entire staff.
Zimbabwe is south of the equator, so the seasons are reversed from those in the Northern Hemisphere—winter in New York is summer in Harare. But seasons aren't extreme—overall, the climate is very similar to that of southern California. Because of the elevation (averaging 3,000 ft/915 m), it rarely gets above 90 F/33 C or lower than about 45 F/7 C. Choosing the best time to go is a matter of splitting the difference between comfort and optimum game viewing. The weather is most comfortable just after the rainy season, in May and June, but the grass is also highest then, and the animals are dispersed (in addition, the views of Victoria Falls are obscured by heavy mist). By October, animals are easy to see in the thinning vegetation and they congregate around water holes, but it's very hot, and Victoria Falls is at its least impressive. We think July-September is the best time to go. The rainy season begins in November and continues through March, but it still isn't a horrible time to go—most of the rain falls in the morning or at night.
| Transportation | Top  |
Harare Airport (HRE) is 9 mi/14 km from the capital. Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) is 13 mi/22 km from Victoria Falls. Air service within the country is provided by Air Zimbabwe. From Harare, buses (only for the adventurous) and adequate rail lines branch out to major cities. Bus lines within Zimbabwe are generally poorly maintained. Taxis are abundant and fairly inexpensive within large towns. Rental cars (with or without driver) are available, but be forewarned that many vehicles are small and not air-conditioned, and many roads are barely passable during the rainy season. Road signs are also unreliable. If you're touring huge Hwange Park on your own, remember that gas is available only at the entrance. Traffic moves on the left. Rail safari trips on a historic train are available. Escorted and independent tour programs are very popular and moderately priced.
| For More Information | Top |
Tourist Offices
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Tourism Office, Kopje Plaza, 1 Jason Moyo Ave., Eighth and Ninth floors, Harare. Phone 263-4-758-730. Fax 263-4-758-828.
Canada: Contact the tourist board in the U.S.
U.S.: Zimbabwe Tourism Office, 128 E. 56th St., New York, NY 10022. Phone 212-486-3444. Fax 212-486-7888.
Zimbabwe Embassies
Canada: Zimbabwe High Commission, 332 Somerset St. W., Ottawa, ON K2P 0J9. Phone 613-237-4388. Fax 613-563-8269. http://www.DocuWeb.ca/Zimbabwe.
U.S.: Embassy of Zimbabwe, 1608 New Hampshire Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20009. Phone 202-332-7100. Fax 202-483-9326.
Embassies in Zimbabwe
Canadian High Commission, 45 Baines Ave., Harare. Phone 263-4-252-181. Fax 263-4-252-186.
U.S. Embassy, 172 Herbert Chitepo Ave., Harare, Zimbabwe. Phone 263-4-250-593. Fax 263-4-722-618.
| Additional Reading | Top |
The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing (Paladin). Noted author's first novel, set in the Zimbabwe of her youth.
Mukiwa: A White Boy in Africa by Peter Godwin (HarperCollins). A modern memoir of growing up in Zimbabwe.
