The checklist as a PDF
Entry, health, money, transport and safety, laid out for print, with their sources and verification date.
Zimbabwe
East Africa
Safari, rivers, Victoria Falls, monuments and culture. Great Zimbabwe, Matobo and the landscapes of the Zambezi.
- On the map
CapitalHarare
When to goMay to October
Suggested length8 days min.
CurrencyUnited States dollar / Zimbabwe ZiG / pound sterling / Australian dollar / euro / rand / yen / renminbi / Indian rupee / Zimbabwean dollar
LanguagesEnglish +15
The Viafro verdict
For whom, and for which trip.
An editorial bearing, with no percentage and no rating: our criteria are written down, and every “good to know” links to its source.
- For which trip
- Harare · Great Zimbabwe · Chutes Victoria · Grand Zimbabwe
- Best season
- May to October
- Length
- Allow at least 8 days for these 4 essentials, one stop every two or three days. (Viafro’s rule of thumb)
Best time to visit
Twelve months, in colour.
Hover or tap a month: its reading and its source appear. Bars measure rain, the figure is the capital’s mean maximum.
Before you go
The essentials, tab by tab.
Entry, health, safety, money and facts: dated official extracts, never paraphrased.
Visa, passport, customs
GOV.UK advice, written for British passport holders. French travellers: see France Diplomatie (https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/information-par-pays/zimbabwe/conseils-aux-voyageurs-entree-sejour).
- To enter Zimbabwe, your passport must have: an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive
- You must have a visa to visit Zimbabwe. Most visitors get their visa on arrival.
- To enter Zimbabwe, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk. For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Zimbabwe guide.
Vaccines, malaria, water
This is not medical advice: talk to your doctor or an international vaccination centre before you travel.
- At least 8 weeks before your trip: There are currently a number of disease outbreaks in Zimbabwe. For more information, please see NaTHNaC - Zimbabwe
- Healthcare provision and quality in Zimbabwe is variable and can be very poor outside of the major cities. There are shortages of drugs and trained medical staff in hospitals, making it difficult for hospitals to treat some illnesses and trauma cases.
Per the ministries
Viafro gives no safety rating: here are the zones and advice published by the French ministry (in French) and the official extracts, with their dates.
Vigilance zones published by France Diplomatie (in French) · page updated on 15 Sept 2026 · see the official map
- Orange · Zones déconseillées sauf raison impérative
Mine de Marange
L’accès aux champs diamantifères de Marange (environ 50 km au sud-ouest de Mutare) est contrôlé. Il est déconseillé de s’y rendre, sauf raison impérative et motif professionnel précis.
- There is a moderate level of crime in Zimbabwe. People travelling alone may be more vulnerable. Mugging, pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common in city centres, especially after dark. Street lighting can be poor. Be vigilant when leaving banks and ATMs.
- There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
What the country’s law provides
Photography, alcohol, drugs, relationships: the rules published by the ministries, quoted as they stand, without comment.
- Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties. You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport. Airports in Zimbabwe have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items.
Currency
United States dollar / Zimbabwe ZiG / pound sterling / Australian dollar / euro / rand / yen / renminbi / Indian rupee / Zimbabwean dollarViafro publishes no price or budget range without a source: amounts will come from our own expenses recorded on the ground, dated and itemised.
- There are strict rules about goods that you can take into or out of Zimbabwe. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
Express card
Structured data from Wikidata and the CIA World Factbook, re-checked at every site update.
- Population · 2025
- 16,950,795
- Time zone
- +1 h from Paris
- Plugs and voltage
- Type G plugs · 220 V
- Driving side
- Driving on the left
- Calling code
- +263
- Languages
- English, Shona, Northern Ndebele, Chewa, Barwe, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Tsonga, Zimbabwe Sign Language, Sesotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Nambya
- Area
- 390,757 km²
- Highest point
- Mount Nyangani, 2,592 m
- Main religions
- Apostolic Sect 40.3%, Pentecostal 17%, Protestant 13.8%, other Christian 7.8%, Roman Catholic 6.4%, African traditionalist 5%, other 1.5%, none 8.3%
Getting there and around
Airports, roads and transport.
- HRERobert Gabriel Mugabe International AirportHarare1.7 M passengers · official site
- BFOBuffalo Range AirportChiredzi
- KABKariba Airport
- CHJChipinge AirportChipinge
Direct flights from Paris are to be checked on the airport’s or airline’s website.
On the road
- If you are planning to drive in Zimbabwe, see information on driving abroad. You can drive in Zimbabwe with a UK driving licence for up to 12 months. Make sure you have copies of your passport’s photo page and visa with you in the car at all times.
Destinations
The essentials.
Harare
Harare ( hə-RAR-eh) is the capital and largest city of Zimbabwe.
Great Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe was a city in the south-eastern hills of the modern country of Zimbabwe, near Masvingo.
Chutes Victoria
Victoria Falls (Lozi: Mosi-oa-Tunya, "Thundering Smoke/Smoke that Rises"; Tonga: Shungu Namutitima, "Boiling Water") is a waterfall on the Zambezi River, located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Grand Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe was a city in the south-eastern hills of the modern country of Zimbabwe, near Masvingo.
Grand Zimbabwe
Image taken by Jan Derk in 1997 in Zimbabwe.Must-try food
Two dishes, and where to taste them.
Sadza
Le sadza est un plat traditionnel zimbabween. C'est l'aliment le plus mangé dans le pays. Le sadza est l'aliment de base à l'échelle national. La quasi-totalité des familles du Zimbabwe consomment quotidiennement le sadza au déjeuner comme au dîner. Le sadza e (summary in French)
Boerewors
Boerewors is a type of sausage which originated in South Africa. It is an important part of South African, Setswana, Zimbabwean cuisine and is popular across Southern Africa. The name is derived from the Afrikaans words boer and wors ('sausage'). According to
Culture and etiquette
Customs, dress, useful words.
- Hellohello
- Thank youthank you
- Pleaseplease
- Entries checked on Wiktionary.
- Religions: Apostolic Sect 40.3%, Pentecostal 17%, Protestant 13.8%, other Christian 7.8%, Roman Catholic 6.4%, African traditionalist 5%, other 1.5%, none 8.3%.
- Languages: Shona (official, most widely spoken) 80.9%, Ndebele (official, second most widely spoken) 11.5%, English (official, traditionally used for official business) 0.3%, 13 minority languages (official;
Festivals and events
The big dates.
- National holiday
Independence Day, 18 April (1980) ; independence: 18 April 1980 (from the UK).
Fixed dates and moveable events, each with its source; moveable dates change every year and are to be checked on an official calendar.
Did you know?
Three things to remember.
The country’s highest point, Mount Nyangani, reaches 2,592 m.
16,950,795 inhabitants in 2025 on 390,757 km², about 43 per km².
Independence on 18 April 1980 (from the UK).
Gallery
See it before you go.
Real photographs: free images under a verified licence and Viafro images. Never a generated image. Credits in the footer.
Share your trip with #viafro: the best images will join this gallery, with your credit.
Live, work, invest
A few key figures.
Sourced data (World Bank). No investment advice.
GDP per capita (current US$)3World Bank · 2025GDP growth8.1 %World Bank · 2025Inflation (consumer prices)104.7 %World Bank · 2022Unemployment (ILO estimate)9.3 %World Bank · 2025International tourist arrivals639World Bank · 2020
World Bank data (World Development Indicators), consulted on 28 Oct 2026. Tourist arrivals are the latest year published.
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Sources and verification dates · 17 sources, checked on 28 Oct 2026
Travel advice · GOV.UK (FCDO)Entry, visa, safety: the official page, kept up to date by the ministry. Travel health · US CDCVaccines and precautions from a reference medical source. World Heritage · UNESCOThe country’s inscribed sites and tentative list. WikidataCapital and currency, verified structured data.
- Wikidata · Zimbabwe (Q954)
- World Bank · World Development Indicators
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · Zimbabwe · Foreign travel advice · Entry requirements (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · Zimbabwe · Foreign travel advice · Health (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · Zimbabwe · Foreign travel advice · Safety and security (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- Rough Guides · Zimbabwe Travel Guide · When to visit
- Wiktionary · Checked entries (English)
- Wikipedia · Sadza
- Wikipedia · Boerewors
- Wikipedia · Harare
- Wikipedia · Great Zimbabwe
- Wikipedia · Chutes Victoria
- Wikipedia · Grand Zimbabwe
- CIA World Factbook · Zimbabwe (public domain) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
- France Diplomatie · Zimbabwe · Travel advice · Security (zones, in French) (page updated on 15 Sept 2026)
- Wikidata · Airports of the country (IATA code, traffic) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia (climate normals) · Harare · monthly normals (World Meteorological Organization,) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
Information checked on 28 Oct 2026. Check the official source before you travel. Viafro gives no safety rating and publishes no price without a source.