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 Purchases |
| Zimbabwe is best known for soapstone and wooden carved items, available on almost every well-travelled road in the country. Other items such as woven baskets, crocheted
garments as well as precious and semi-precious stones are popular souvenirs. |
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| Money |
| The unit of currency in Zimbabwe is the Zimbabwe Dollar, divided into 100 cents. Z$ notes come in denominations of – 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200. Coins come in
denominations of –1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, as well as 1 and 2 Z$. Most hotels and lodges accept payment in USD or Pound Sterling. |
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| Foreign Exchange |
| Cash can be exchanged at banks and major hotels, and travellers cheques can be used at most shops, lodges and travel agencies. Credit cards are accepted at most lodges,
but please note that some of the lodges do not accept Diners or American Express credit cards. |
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| Hours |
| Post Office : |
08:00 to 16:30 (weekdays) |
08:00 to 12:00 (Saturdays) |
| Shops : |
08:00 to 17:00 (weekdays) |
08:00 to 12:00 (weekends) |
| Banks : |
08:00 to 15:00 (weekdays) |
08:00 to 11:30 (Saturdays) |
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| Post Offices |
| Apart from the post offices, it is also possible to hand in your mail at the hotel reception. |
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| Tips (at your discretion) |
| Restaurants : |
Most restaurants do not include a service charge, so 10 to 15% should be added to the total bill (for meals and drinks). |
| Porterage : |
1 USD per room. |
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| Electricity |
| The voltage is 220/240 V. It is important to note that lodges in the more remote parts of Zimbabwe do not have electricity, and generators are used. |
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| Programme |
| Distances : |
Distances between towns and cities are long, unless the tour includes a stay at Victoria Falls only. |
| Wake-ups : |
Wake-ups for game drives are between 05:30 and 09:00. Wake-ups are often early for programmes that include overland tours, as distances between towns and cities are long. |
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| Restaurants |
| Water : |
Tap water is drinkable, unless you are advised otherwise. |
| Food : |
Food served at restaurants and hotels is safe to eat. Fruit and vegetables bought from markets should be washed before eaten. |
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| On The Road |
| Driving in Zimbabwe is on the left-hand side of the road. A foreign driver’s licence is valid for 90 days. An official English translation is necessary for non-English licences. Petrol must be paid for
in cash, as credit cards are not accepted at petrol stations. There has recently been a shortage of petrol in certain areas, therefore long self-drive trips should be carefully planned in advance. |
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| Health |
| Malaria : It is strongly advisable to take malaria prophylactics before entering Zimbabwe. Wear long sleeve shirts and long trousers at all times, use a mosquito repelling lotion, and ensure that
tent flaps are zipped during the night if staying in a tented lodge. |
| Persons entering Zimbabwe via a yellow fever infected area must have a valid International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever. Immunisation against tetanus is also recommended. |
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| Safety |
| Due to the current political unrest in Zimbabwe, it is advisable to avoid the larger cities such as Harare or Bulawayo. However, most of the tourist regions have been unaffected, and this is a good time to
visit Victoria Falls, which is usually very crowded. Exercise common sense as in any other foreign country. |
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| Telephone |
| The international dialling code for Zimbabwe is 263. When making an international call from Zimbabwe, dial 00, then the international country code e.g. 44 (UK), and then the number. |
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