Before You Book

PREPARING TO GO TO ZIMBABWE

CAPITAL

Harare.

LANGUAGE

Zimbabwe has 16 official languages where Shona and Ndebele are the most widely spoken indigenous languages. English is the main language used in the education and judicial systems and so is widely spoken in the cities but less so in the rural areas.

RELIGION

Christianity is the dominant religion in the country with 84.1% of Zimbabweans following one of the denominations of Christianity, 10.2% practicing no religion, 4.5% practicing African Traditional Religions and 0.7% practicing Islam.

LOCAL TIME

Central African Time (CAT) is 2 hours ahead of GMT.

ELECTRICITY

240 Volts - sockets are usually of the British, three-pronged variety.

PASSPORT & VISA

A valid passport is required by all nationals. All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Please ensure that passport/s are valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the intended date of return and contain between 2-6 blank “Visa” pages. You should have at least two free pages in your passport. Please access the Travel & Visa Requirements Section on the top of this page for the latest visa entry requirements for the country/ies you are visiting. Passports are required; in addition, travelers are also advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is the sole responsibility of the traveler.

LOCAL CURRENCY

The monetary unit of Zimbabwe is the Zimbabwean Dollar, and the US Dollar is widely accepted. XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.

Credit cards:

Zimbabwe is a cash-based society, and the use of credit cards is very limited. Visitors need to plan that their debit and credit cards may not be unusable. Institutions that accept credit cards will typically only accept Visa or MasterCard, it is best to be prepared that your American Express and Diners Club cards will not be accepted.

ATM:

Some ATMs accept credit cards.

Banking hours:

Mon-Fri 0800-1500 and Sat 0800-1100.

Currency exchange:

Major foreign currencies can be exchanged at bureaux de change, banks and major hotels at the official exchange rate.

CLOTHING

As a general guideline, clothing should be lightweight, loose fitting, hard-wearing and easily washed. As Zimbabwe is warm during the day all year round, cotton clothing is much more comfortable and practical than man-made materials like nylon. While in the National Parks, you should wear natural, neutral colours – bright colours can make you stand out, meaning that you’re less likely to spot wildlife. In general, shorts are acceptable, although there may be occasions when it is appropriate to where long trousers. Make sure you allow for climate changes and remember that even in very hot countries, night-time and early morning temperatures will be cooler, so it is worth taking a fleece along.

COMMUNICATION & EMAILS

Email
There are a few internet cafes, however most hotels offer Wi-Fi services to guests and in some instances mobile hotspots may be available.

Phone
The phone system in Zimbabwe is improving, although international calls are expensive. A 5-minute call (to the USA) can cost up to approx. $US 4-5. Your tour leader will be able to advise you on the best way to call home.

Post
The postal service is relatively good and is best described as cheap and slow. Stamps are available at the Post Office.

WEATHER & CLIMATE

Although Zimbabwe lies in the tropic zone, the climate of some areas is moderated by high elevation. Most rainfall occurs from November to March. This seldom brings constant rain but can lead to thundery build-up and showers from time to time. Some game parks are closed during this period; others are little affected by the weather. During this time, conditions are often hot and humid. A rain jacket should be considered for departures early or late in the year. In winter, temperatures during the day are usually in the mid 20s (Celsius); at night, however, and in the early morning and late afternoon it is possible for them to drop to zero, and you will need to bring adequate warm clothing. This is particularly so when travelling on game drives in open vehicle. By September, day temperatures will be back into the mid-30s (Celsius) with mild to warm nights.

Victoria Falls: (approx)

MEALS

Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below:

• Simple snack - $US 1-5
• Light meal - $US 5-10
• 3 course meal - $US 10+

DRINKS

Approximate costs for drinks bought in a shop or in the street are shown below. Prices in restaurants, hotels, and cruise boats can be as much as double those specified.

• 1.5l of water - $US 1.50
• 30cl bottle of soft drink - $US 0.80
• 33cl bottle of beer - $US 1-2

It is not recommended that you drink the local tap water in Zimbabwe however bottled water and carbonated soft drinks are widely available throughout the country.

FOOD

Traditional meals in Zimbabwe consist of a serving of starch, typically a thick mealie meal porridge called sadza served with a meat stew and a vegetable relish. Stews and relishes vary by region as each has its own culinary specialties, but common ingredients are beef, goat, chicken, fish, tomatoes, covo, rape and spinach. A common form of cooking meats is on the braai (barbecue). Common snacks include biltong (dried strips of meat), matemba (kapenta/Tanganyika sardine) and insects such as madora/amacimbi (mopane worms) and ishwa (termites). The usual collection of soft drinks can be found in Zimbabwe, and are widely available, as is bottled water. Tea and coffee are also readily available. Tea tends to be of the black variety. Zimbabwe has a good selection of local beers, perhaps the best of which are Lion, Castle or Amstel. Imported beers and spirits are available in larger towns, but almost always cost more than their local equivalents.

Specialties:

• Sadza (a thick mealie meal porridge) eaten with meat and/or a relish.
• Nhedzi soup (wild mushroom).
• Nhopi (mashed pumpkin with peanut butter).
• Game meat, including ostrich, warthog, and crocodile tail.

Regional drinks:

Hwahwa (traditional mealie meal beer).

Chibuku (non-carbonated maize beer and carbonated sorghum beer).

Maheu (non-alcoholic fermented mealie meal drink).

SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE:

Tipping is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable. 

Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful: