Traveling to Zimbabwe………

Passports and Visas

To travel to Zimbabwe (if you are over the age of 16), you require a valid passport or other valid travel document. Kids under the age of 16 need a children’s passport or other travel document and a letter of consent from their parents or guardian permitting them to travel.

South African passport holders require visas to enter Zimbabwe. Single entry visas can be obtained at the border and South African passport holders do not have to pay for them. Multiple entry visas must be obtained prior to departure and can be obtained from the Chief Immigration Officer, Private Bag 7717, Causeway, Harare or from the Zimbabwe Consulate in Johannesburg, 17^th Floor, CCMA Building, 20 Anderson Street, Tel: (011) 838 2156; Fax: (011) 838 5620. Allow at least 7 days for obtaining multiple entry visas. Tourist multiple entry visas are valid for 6 months while those obtained for business are valid for a year.

You must also be able to satisfy the immigration authorities that you have the financial resources to cover your stay for the proposed period and the cost of the return journey. If not you may be required to make a deposit to cover any repatriation costs that may be incurred. When we entered Zimbabwe however we were not asked about our financial resources or whether we had sufficient funds to cover our proposed stay.

Personal Effects

Zimbabwe is not part of the Common Customs Area. You may import used clothing, personal effects, binoculars, cameras and camping equipment into Zimbabwe without paying any import duty on it. Other goods may be imported duty free to a maximum of ZW$2000-00 per person for a 30 day stay. You may import 5 litres of alcohol (of which not more than 2 litres may be spirits) duty free. Tobacco, cigars and cigarettes that are imported form part of your ZW$2000-00 allowance.

Currency

• The Zimbabwean currency is the Zimbabwe dollar which is equal to 100 cents. At present you can buy just over ZW$6 for R1.
• Before our arrival in Zimbabwe, we were told that visitors were only allowed to import up to ZW$500-00 in foreign banknotes and that it was imperative to fill in a currency declaration form on entering Zimbabwe declaring all foreign currency (including traveler’s cheques) in your possession. We were also told that all foreign currency transactions in Zimbabwe were to be recorded. The rationale behind this was apparently to avoid having foreign currency confiscated when leaving the country as visitors may only export ZW$500-00 in foreign currency when leaving Zimbabwe. When we tried to declare our currency on entry into Zimbabwe we were given a look of mild disdain by the customs officials who told us that it was unnecessary to do so and waved us through. We were also not asked to declare how much money we had spent in Zimbabwe on exiting the country or how much currency we were taking out with us. The rules would seem to be in place but are very poorly enforced – if at all!
• There are no currency exchange facilities at any of the border posts. You may wish to carry a small amount of Zimbabwean currency with you to cover your immediate needs.
• We discovered, however, that South African banks do not buy or sell Zimbabwean currency as it is too unstable. You may therefore need to make a special arrangement to order Zimbabwean currency before your departure.
• We found that our credit cards were well accepted throughout and that we could use our credit cards to draw cash from ATM machines.
• We found that all entertainment, adventure sports etc must be paid for in US$. Also hotel bills must be settled in US dollars. Zimbabwean currency is not accepted.
• There are hundreds of bureaux de change in Vic Falls – we changed our travelers cheques at the banks however.

Firearms

Firearms and ammunition must be declared at the border post of entry and a Visitors Certificate to Possess Firearms and Ammunition must be completed. The certificate is issued for the duration of the visitor’s stay up to a maximum of 90 days.

Firearms and ammunition are not subject to customs duty – however should the value of your firearm exceed your ZW$2000-00 limit, you will be required to pay duty on it.

A license to own a firearm and an export certificate from the SAP will need to be obtained before visiting Zimbabwe.

CB radios

The temporary importation of a CB radio is prohibited unless a license is obtained in advance.

Vehicles, Registration, Licensing etc

• Drivers licenses issued in SA, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Mozambique and Angola are recognized in Zimbabwe. The AA does however recommend that you get an international drivers license.
• Tourists and visitors may import vehicles into Zimbabwe on a temporary basis without a carnet or having to lodge a deposit at the border. You will be issued with a temporary customs import permit at the border which is normally valid for one month and can be extended to six months. We are in possession of a carnet which we presented to the Zimbabwean Immigration and Customs Authorities and so did not need to get a temporary import permit.
• All valid foreign licensing and registration documents are recognized in Zimbabwe and you must be able to produce your car’s papers on request.
• You will need to buy Zimbabwean Third Party Insurance on entry into Zimbabwe as South African third party insurance is not recognized in Zimbabwe. This needs to be bought in foreign currency and Zimbabwean currency is not accepted (Rand, Pula and US dollars are accepted). We entered Zimbabwe from Botswana and bought our insurance in Pula (it cost about 70 pula – about R90-00 – obviously this will depend on the exchange rate of the day). The insurance is valid for a month from date of entry.
• ZA nationality plates must be displayed (can be got at the AA)

Health

• You do not need a yellow fever certificate or inoculations against small pox and cholera to enter Zimababwe.
• You should take some sort of anti-malarial measure (see Malaria section in our Travelling to Botswana and Namibia segments)
• Don’t swim in rivers – the rivers may have bilharzias and crocs
• Clothing hung out to dry in the summer months should be ironed before being worn as it my have been infested by maggot flies.
• We filtered all our water through our British Birkfield water filter.

Driving and Roads in Zimbabwe

• The roads in Zimbabwe are generally in a good condition and there are main, tarred roads joining most major cities.
• Don’t drive at night as there may be animals on the road
• Speed limits – 80km per hour on narrow tar roads, 120km per hour on wider tar roads and highways
• Wearing seat belts is compulsory

Petrol and Diesel

There have been severe shortages of petrol and diesel in Zimbabwe recently. There is diesel and petrol available at Vic Falls and at nearby Kasane and Kazungula on the Botswana side of the border. We have been advised that you can get diesel inland in Zimbabwe – you will however have to queue for it and may be limited to 20 or 30 litres per vehicle. We have been advised however that if you tell the petrol attendant that you are traveling through, you may be able to get some additional petrol or diesel. We have not tried this so don’t know whether it works.