Zimbabwe

Understand

History Stone cities were built in many locations in present-day Zimbabwe. The most impressive structures and the best known of these, Great Zimbabwe, were built in the 15th century, but people had been living on the site from about 400 AD. The Khami Ruins just outside Bulawayo are also a wonderful example. The population was overwhelmingly made up of Shona speakers until the 19th century when the Nguni tribe (in 1839-40) of the Ndebele settled in what is now Matabeleland, and then in 1890, the territory came under the control of the British South Africa Company under charter from the British Government. The United Kingdom annexed the land, then called Southern Rhodesia, from the British South Africa Company in 1923, when the country got its own government and Prime Minister. A 1961 constitution was formulated that favoured whites in power. In 1965, this white supremacist government unilaterally declared independence as Rhodesia, but the UK did not recognize the act and demanded voting rights for the black majority. UN sanctions and a guerrilla struggle finally led to free elections and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert Mugabe became the first democratic leader of Zimbabwe. While initially lauded for his talk of reconciliation and his government's investment in education, healthcare and infrastructure, he slowly consolidated power from 1980-1987 as prime minister, and 1987-2017 as president. Starting in 2000, the government expropriated some very productive farms, which were in the hands of white Zimbabweans, as punishment for their support of the main opposition party, the MDC and handed them over to members of corrupt members of Mugabe's ZANU party, many of whom had no interest in farming, resulting in a drastic falloff in local food production. In 2005, h

See

For many visitors, Zimbabwe as a country has the same appeal as the natural landscapes for which it's famous.

Urban life Zim's large cities all bustle with life. The famous capital, Harare, is one of Africa's most pleasant cities. It's a city of contrasts, there's expensive cosmopolitan boutiques, buzzing nightlife and delicious ethnic cuisine. However, it's the classic, unpolished side of the city that makes it a charming destination. The central colorful neighbourhoods where crazy traffic sounds drown out distant dance tunes, the pleasant street-cafés and garden restaurants, busy outdoor markets and historic colonial archi

Getting there

Entry requirements

Category A - no visa required Passport holders of the following countries do not need a visa to enter Zimbabwe for up to 3 months (unless otherwise noted): Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, DR Congo, Eswatini, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Hong Kong (6 months), Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique (30 days), Namibia, Nauru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu and Zambia.

Category B - visa on arrival Passport holders of the following are eligible to get a visa on arrival to enter Zimbabwe for up to 3 months (for purpose of tourism) or for up to 30 days (for purpose of business): Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China (PRC), Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Se

Getting around

By bus Between cities, you travel using luxury coaches like Pathfinder and Citilink. You can also get decent buses from RoadPort in Harare to other major cities including those in neighbouring countries like Johannesburg, Lusaka, Lilongwe. Minibus taxis are available for intra-city transport, and are relatively inexpensive by European standards. They provide a cheap, though a not necessarily comfortable way of seeing the true Zimbabwe.

By taxi The taxi app in Zimbabwe is called Vaya, but you will need a Zimbabwean phone number to use it. Its exchange rate is fixed at Z$1 to US$1, so you will want to pay in Zimbabwean dollars (RTGS).

By train National Railways of Zimbabwe service was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic, and remains suspended as of November 2025.

By car Traffic is the biggest danger because of the poor condition of cars and the driving culture. Driving after dark is not recommended, especially outside cities. Car hijackings are possible. At traffic lights, when refuelling and otherwise when stopping your car, be alert for anyone approaching. When driving, always keep doors locked and windows closed. Be prepared for occasional fuel supply problems. Motorists should be prepared by buying an extra can of fuel. The condition of the roads in Zimbabwe seems to have improved considerably since the stabilization of the economy. Roads between Victoria Falls and Bulawayo, Bulawayo and Masvingo (Great Zimbabwe) and Masvingo and Mutare are all in relatively good condition. The highway between Plumtree and Mutare (passing through Bulawayo and Harare in between) is being resurfaced. Almost no fuel station in Zimbabwe takes credit cards. Also road blocks are common but usually police just want to see your driver's licence and your Temporary Import Pe