Practical information Zimbabwe

Yes, a visa is necessary for French, Belgian, Swiss and Canadian nationals. It is most easily obtained on arrival at Harare international airport, at Victoria Falls airport or at the Beitbridge border post, for 30 USD for a single entry and 45 USD for a double entry. The KAZA UniVisa, at 50 USD, allows round trips between Zimbabwe and Zambia for 30 days, which is convenient for combining both sides of Victoria Falls. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date and have two blank facing pages. Payment must be made in US dollars, in cash and in small denominations. An e-visa option exists but remains less reliable than the visa on arrival.

No vaccination is mandatory if you arrive directly from Europe. Yellow fever is only required for travelers from risk countries. We recommend being up to date with universal vaccines: DTP, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and rabies if you plan extended stays in rural areas. Malaria is present in the Zambezi Valley, at Mana Pools, in Hwange during the rainy season and around Lake Kariba. Preventive treatment is advised, to be confirmed with your doctor or an international vaccination center. Also consider an effective insect repellent for your skin and long clothing for evenings at the lodge. Harare highlands and the Eastern Highlands are malaria-free zones.

Budget between $200 and $400 USD per day and per person excluding international flights, for an organized trip in mid-range to upscale lodges, with private transfers, park entries and activities included. Top-tier safari lodges at Mana Pools or Hwange can reach $700 USD per person per night on full board with game drives. Main expenses are accommodation, domestic flights (approximately $200 USD for Harare-Victoria Falls route), park entries (between $15 and $30 USD per day) and activities at Victoria Falls. Plan for $200 to $300 USD in cash for tips, beverages and local purchases. ATMs are unreliable, it's better to arrive with your budget in cash.

The dry season, from May to October, remains the most effective period for safaris: vegetation clears, animals concentrate around water points, and tracks are passable. July and August are the coolest months, with nights around 5°C at Hwange and daytime temperatures of 22°C. September and October warm up significantly, reaching up to 38°C in October at Mana Pools, with particularly dense wildlife at water points. Victoria Falls reach their maximum flow between March and May, just after the rainy season. From November to March, the country turns green, migratory birds arrive, births in herds are abundant, but some tracks close, notably at Mana Pools.

Domestic flights are the quickest solution to connect Harare, Victoria Falls and Bulawayo, with several daily connections via Fastjet and Airlink, around 200 USD per journey. To reach Mana Pools, we organize charter flights from Harare to Mana Main airstrip, which we recommend over the 4x4 road route that requires a full day. Private transfers in air-conditioned vehicles remain comfortable on the Harare-Great Zimbabwe and Bulawayo-Hwange routes, with roads in good condition between major cities. Within the parks, game drives are conducted in open 4x4s driven by lodge guides. Self-driving is possible but not recommended outside tourist areas.

Yes, as part of an organized trip. Zimbabwe is among the Southern African countries with a satisfactory safety level for travelers, with petty crime concentrated in certain neighborhoods of Harare and Bulawayo, away from tourist routes. National parks, Victoria Falls, and the Eastern Highlands present no particular concerns. Standard precautions apply: avoid walking at night in the city, don't display valuable items, keep your passport in the lodge safe. Police checkpoints exist on the roads and proceed without incident for tourist vehicles. Our team in Harare remains available 24/7 during your trip for any questions or unexpected situations.