Zimbabwe is one of the hidden gems of Africa, and is blessed with a good infrastructure of road networks and many natural treasures; the spectacular Victoria Falls, the mighty Zambezi River, the wilderness shores of Lake Kariba and Hwange National Park, one of the great game parks of Africa. Zimbabwe also has the greatest concentration of elephant on the African continent.

Basic facts

Full name Republic of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia)

Capital Harare

Independence 18 April 1980

 

Time GMT + 2 hours

Population 11 163 160 (July 1999 est.)

Currency ZIMBABWE DOLLAR (Z$)

Area 390 580 km2

Language English (official) and Shona and Ndebele.

Geography & Landscape

 

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country lying entirely between the tropics. The country is largely plateau, giving rise to many rivers which feed into two Africa’s greatest river systems; the Zambezi in the north-west and the Limpopo in the south-east. The Zambezi plain extends from man-made Lake Kariba, down to Victoria Falls, Africa’s biggest waterfall. Landscape of the plateau is bushveld, dotted with kopjes (rocky outcrops). The scenic Eastern highlands is the mountainous region.

Climate

 

Summer : October to April

Winter : May to September

Summer days are hot and generally sunny in the morning with possible afternoon thunderstorms. Daytime temperatures can rise to 30 degrees and night temperatures drop to around 14 degrees to 16 degrees. The temperatures given are those for the main centres, but it is considerably warmer all year round in the low-lying areas such as Kariba, Victoria Falls and the Zambezi Valley.

Winter days are dry, sunny and cool to warm while evening temperatures drop sharply. Daytime temperatures generally reach 20 degrees and can drop to as low as 5 degrees at night.

When to go & what to bring

 

Zimbabwe is an all year round destination. However, there are certain seasons for special interest groups to take note of :

Traditionally peak season is from August to December. Availability is at a premium during these seasons, so you will need to book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Generally casual comfortable clothing is suitable throughout the year. Fleece or sweater and a windbreaker for game drives (necessary even in summer), comfortable walking shoes, sun block, sunglasses, hat, insect repellent, elegant casual outfit for dinner and/or cocktails at smarter hotels and restaurants. Layers are most practical for the fluctuating day/night temperatures of Zimbabwe. Dull and/or neutral colors are more suitable for safari – white is not practical. It is best to pack hardy/durable clothing.

 

 

Attractions and National Parks

 

The treasures of Zimbabwe are rich and varied, ranging from her great wildlife sanctuaries, mighty rivers and natural wonders, to her ancient art heritage left behind by iron and stone age man.

Victoria Falls

The Victoria Falls is the largest, probably the most beautiful and certainly the most majestic waterfall in the world. A trip to Southern Africa would be incomplete without visiting this memorable sight. Visitors to Victoria Falls can also enjoy sundowner cruises on the Zambezi River, fishing, walking amongst the game, horse back safaris, bridge tours, white water rafting, bungee jump, helicopter flights and many more. The best option is to take tours under, over, below and in the Victoria Falls to really experience all it has to offer.

Lake Kariba, Zambezi Valley and Mana Pools

It took four years of incredible engineering to block the mouth of a narrow gorge in order to flood the Gwenbe Trough and form the great Lake Kariba – a place of outstanding beauty and tranquility.

A golden Kariba sunset, savored over a cool sundowner against the backdrop of mountains and clear African skies is one of the true pleasures to be had here.

Situated in the middle of the Zambezi Valley lies the Mana Pools National Park, where the excitement of a close up view of an abundance of wildlife along the banks of the Zambezi. Canoeing trips is recommended in the Mana Pools area.

Hwange National Park

Hwange is the largest and probably the most popular national park in the country. With a land area of more than 14 000km2, the park boasts over a hundred species of animal and over 400 species of birds. Hwange is also one of the few great elephant sanctuaries left in Africa.

Eastern Highlands

There are streams, waterfalls, lakes, forests, hiking trails, golf courses and many other mountain activities to be enjoyed in this region. The crisp mountain air and the lush scenery make this a favorite tourist destination.

The region includes Nyanga National Park, with its spectacular World’s view; 30 hectares of indigenous and exotic plants, which make up the Vumba Botanical Gardens, and the rugged Chimanimani Mountains, reaching over 2 400m, pose a real challenge for climbers.

Great Zimbabwe

The famous ruined city of great Zimbabwe lies about 30km from Masvingo and is the country’s premier national monument. Judging from the ancient iron tools, ceramics, pottery, gold and carvings discovered in the ruins. It is believed to date from the 12th to 16th century. The complex covers about 720 hectares with its huge granite walls, conical towers and fortresses. Tourist facilities are excellent and there are

guided tours, a souvenir shop and a museum containing the archaeological artifacts recovered from the ruins.

Matobo Hills National Park

 

The Matobo Hills National Park near Bulawayo is another of Zimbabwe’s major tourist attractions. Covering an area of 2 000km2, it contains fantastic rock formations, fine San (Bushman) paintings at Nswatugi Cave and a game park with 20 varieties of game including white rhino and the worlds largest concentration of black eagles. Picnic spots abound in the park and on the hill Malindidzimu “the legendary place of benevolent spirits”, lies the tomb of Cecil John Rhodes.

Health requirements

 

Remember to get malaria prophylactics before entering Zimbabwe. Take precautionary measures to prevent contact with mosquitoes, like : sleep under a bed net or in a room/tent with mosquito proofing, spray your accommodation with insecticide; make use of a mosquito repelling lotion or stick; and wear long sleeved clothing, trousers and socks when outside at night.

Recommended vaccinations : Tetanus.

It is advisable to obtain medical insurance prior to arrival. Medical services within Harare and Bulawayo are very good. All main towns have well-stocked pharmacies, but it is recommended that you bring any medicines you may require

Visa requirements

 

All visitors are required to carry a passport that is valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay. There should be sufficient blank pages for entry stamps upon arrival.

Please check with your nearest Zimbabwean Consulate for up-to-date information depending on your passport nationality. The onus is on the traveler to ensure all visa requirements are met.Jambo Safari will not be held responsible for any visa information supplied below, as this might change. this is a guideline only.

 

CATEGORY A

Countries whose nationals do not require visas viz

 

Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Cayman, Congo (DRC), Cyprus, Fiji, Grenada, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Leeward Island, Lesotho, Malaysia, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Namibia, Nauru, Samoa Western, Singapore, Solomon Island, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadies, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Turk & Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia

 

CATEGORY B

Countries whose nationals are granted visas at the port of entry on payment of the requisite visa fees viz

 

Visa fees at the port of entry for Category B nationals are as follows: US$30 single-entry, US$45 double-entry, US$55 multiple entry - valid passport, itinerary, exit ticket, and cash payment are required

 

Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Brunei, Cook Islands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana (Gratis), Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Iceland, Ireland*, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau Island, Palestine (State of), Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Seychelles, Slovak Republic, South Africa (Gratis), Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, USA, Vatican, Virgin Islands

 

CATEGORY C

Countries whose nationals are required to apply for and obtain visas prior to traveling

 

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazzaville, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada*, Cape Verde Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Columbia, Comoros Islands, Congo (Brazzaville), Costa Rica, Conakry, Cote d’Voire, Croatia, Cuba, Djibouti Republic, El Salvador, Equador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Eyrom, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French West Indies, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Gibraltar, Great Britain (UK)*, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea (DPRK), Krygystan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Macau, Madagascar, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nie, Niger, Nigeria, Norfolk Islands, Northern Mariana Island, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Principe, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia Fed, Rwanda, Samoa (America), San Marino, Sao Tome, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen Republic, Yugoslavia

 

*Visa fees are listed on the visa application form http://zimbabwe-embassy.us/consular.html

 

 

 

Tipping

 

A service charge of 10 % is usually included in the bill. When service charge is not included a 10 % tip is acceptable.

Souvenirs

 

A Zimbabwean specialty is the Batonka stool seats, which are traditionally carved form one piece of wood. Another specialty is a toilet seat made from Mukwa wood. These can be purchased at hardware stores. Along roadsides, one finds row upon row of soapstone and wooden carved items. Haggling is expected and one normally pays less than half the asking price. Crochet garments, tablecloths and bedspreads are a new craft. Precious and semi precious stones, polished and/or set are widely available.

 

For complete information on VISA and VISA requirements visit

www.zimbabweconsulate.co.za