Zimbabwe Safari

Currency

Zimbabwe uses its own unit of currency, the Bond Dollar, as well as the USD. It is advised to carry small denominations of change with you, however, it is best to pay for as much as possible outside of the country. The Zimbabwe Bond Dollar and credit card work best in supermarkets, and for curios, accommodation, activities, and for gratuities, USD is still widely accepted. Be careful to not pay for items priced in Zimbabwean Bond Dollars with your foreign card as the exchange rate will end up costing too much. In most cases, suppliers are able to offer clients USD value for payment.

Cash machines do dispense USD. Clients may use USD notes, however, it is important to note some places you may receive change in the Zimbabwe Bond Dollar. Kindly be advised: Zimbabwe Dollars to be used before you depart the country as you may be unable to exchange currency outside of the country.

Banking

Banks in Zimbabwe are open for business Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 08h00 to 15h00, on Wednesdays from 08h00 to 13h00 and Saturdays from 08h00 to 11h30. They are closed on Sundays and Public Holidays. Visa and MasterCard are more widely accepted than American Express, and it should be noted that very limited facilities will have credit card machines, and the connection is not always reliable so it is advisable to carry cash as a backup.

Taxis are safe and reliable and can be booked through your hotel front desk. Taxis in cities travel within a 40km radius of the city. Always take a taxi at night. Major airlines fly into Victoria Falls, Harare and Bulawayo. Charter flights are available to most attractions and camps. Zimbabwe has a good road infrastructure, by African standards, although potholed.

Between major towns, there are frequent roadblocks. Traffic drives on the left side of the road. If you are driving yourself around Zimbabwe, be sure to check on fuel availability in advance. If you are covering long distances within the country, ensure you carry extra fuel in 5 or 10lt metal containers in case of emergency. Fuel is generally available, but supply can fluctuate.

Zimbabwe’s native cuisine is based on sadza, a cooked porridge made from ground maize which is normally accompanied by some tasty relish, perhaps made of meat and tomatoes, or dried fish. Safari camps will often prepare sadza if requested, and it is almost always available in small restaurants in the towns. Camps, hotels and lodges that cater to overseas typically serve a variety of international fare, and the quality of food prepared in the most remote bush camps is usually excellent.

If you are driving yourself around and plan to cook, then get most of your supplies in main towns. There are a number of South African shopping chains operating in Zimbabwe which will generally have all that you will need. Water in the main towns is usually purified. The locals drink it and are used to the relatively innocuous bugs that it may harbour. If you are in the country for a long time, then it may be worth acclimating yourself to it. However, if you are in Zimbabwe for just a short period of time, then try to drink only bottled water available in towns and from all camps, lodges and hotels.

According to our Zimbabwe travel advice in 2022, a discretionary ten percent tip is typical for restaurant bills, hotels and taxis. In many places, a service charge is automatically added. It is customary to tip the game guide and lodge staff while on safari.

In Zimbabwe, the rainy season is from November to March; the further north you are, the earlier the precipitation arrives and the later it leaves. Zimbabwe’s higher eastern areas usually receive more rainfall than the lower-lying western ones. By April and May, most of the rain is gone, leaving a verdant setting, which is starting to dry out. Especially in more southerly and higher locations, the night-time temperatures start to drop. June, July and August nights become much cooler, so don’t forget to bring some warmer clothes, in case you want to spend an evening outside; the days are still clear and warm.

This is the start of the ‘peak season’– days often cloudless and game sightings continually increase. During September and October the temperatures rise once again: and its wildlife areas can get up to 45 °C. During this time, you’ll see some fantastic game, as Zimbabwe’s wildlife concentrates around the limited water sources. November is unpredictable; it can be hot and dry, it can also see the season’s first rainfalls.

When in Zimbabwe the cardinal rule is to wear casual, comfortable clothes during the day as temperatures can get very hot. It is advisable to wear light loose-fitting clothing, such as cotton or linen, as they are cool and easy to wash. Warmer clothes are advised for the evenings and rainwear for the wet season.

A brimmed hat and sunglasses are a good idea year-round. Long-sleeved shirts and long trousers will also guard against the scorching sun rays. It is recommended you wear light shoes, especially if your itinerary entails a lot of walking. For safaris, please remember to wear neutral coloured clothing and closed shoes.

Internet availability can be limited, especially outside of the major cities. Most holiday accommodation venues offer internet and/or WiFi (free or paid) to their guests but there may be disruptions in service in remote areas.

The current is 220/240 volts with a frequency of 50Hz. Both types D and G plugs are used. If your appliance’s plug doesn’t match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance’s plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. Travel plug adapters do not change the voltage, so the electricity coming through the adapter will still be the same 220-240 volts the socket is supplying. If you need to use appliances that are not compatible with 220-240 volt electrical input, you will need a voltage converter.