Travel Guide
Republic of Zimbabwe is known as the Botanist’s Heaven because of it boasts in thousands of Plant species. All visitors require a valid passport to enter the Zimbabwe Many nationalities, such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the USA can obtain a visa on arrival by paying the appropriate visa fees if you are travelling from UK the Zimbabwean Embassy in London is the official representative body of the Zimbabwean Government in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. When coming from Europe you can fly directly with Air Zimbabwe from London Air Zimbabwe also operates to Dubai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Singapore in Asia .when you search cheap flights to Zimbabwe Ethiopian airways, KLM, Kenya airways and British airways offers the cheap flights to Zimbabwe . Victoria Falls is a popular tourist destination located in the western corner of the countryno. If you're feeling very adventurous, you may want to try the unusual "beer" that most locals drink, a thick, milky beverage known as Chibuku - guaranteed to be unlike anything you've ever tasted outside of Africa. An indication that the security risk for visitors is low, remember, most Zimbabweans are still very sensitive to foreigners' opinions of their country and its politicians. Therefore, it is always a wise idea to avoid political discussions or discussions pertaining to opinions of political leaders. Doubts that the creatures in the African continents are different in their own kinds but creatures found in Zimbabwe are more assertive Rolling hills and waters of Victoria Falls will truly amaze you with its true natural beauty.
Zimbabwe is no longer nearly as cheap as it once was, but its richness in culture and colour remain. Colonialism remains etched in all sorts of ways, but local traditions are visible. If you’re willing to join a tour group, or pay and plan your own trip, then a country of charm, political intrigue and magnificent wilderness awaits. Oh, and Zimbabwe’s got one of the world’s best climates…even the worst government can’t destroy that.
Hwange National Park is the easiest to reach out of all of Zimbabwe's game parks and offers the biggest variety and concentration of game.
The Great Zimbabwe Ruins is sub-Saharan Africa's greatest archaeological site. It's also an astonishingly peaceful place to relax for a couple of days of camping and exploring.
Chimanimani National Park is home to Zimbabwe's wildest and most rugged mountain wilderness. There are no roads in the park, however, there are many hiking tracks that offer the best bushwalking in Zimbabwe.
Matobo National Park is the best place in the world to see white rhino. The Matobo Hills near Bulawayo also shelter hundreds of amazing caves and rock paintings.
Mana Pools National Park is one of the only parks where visitors are alowed to venture out alone on foot. Access to Mana Pools is difficult, the best way to arrive here is by canoe safari along the Zambezi River.
Lake Kariba is a favourite amongst Zimbabweans. Around the lake you can find great fishing, boating, game viewing and camping.
Vumba National Park is famous for the beautiful forests and botanical gardens. Vumba offers excellent walking opportunities and expansive views across nearby Mozambique.
Domboshawa and Ngomakurira are located just 30km from Harare. They offer brilliant hiking over stunning lichen-covered domes, you can also see as well as the opportunity to see lots of rock paintings.
Bulawayo Museum of Natural History includes information on the geology, palacontology, anthropology, zoology and history of Zimbabwe. This is a must see and is definitely Zimbabwe’s best museum.
Mzilikazi Arts & Crafts Centre is located just outside Bulawayo. It displays the amount of artistic talent to be found in Zimbabwe.
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Culture |
There are a huge percentage of artists in Zimbabwe. Many Zimbabweans make a living out of traditional arts, such as pottery, basketry, textiles, jewellery and carving. The work is brilliant and Zimbabwe has some of the best sculptors in the world.
A little less than half of Zimbabweans belong to Christian churches. The Mwari cult is the dominant non-Christian religion. This entails ancestor worship, and spiritual mediation. Mwari, the unknowable being, speaks to his human subjects through The Voice of Mwari, a cave-dwelling oracle who is most often female. The oracle serves as an intercessionary between the spirits, the god and the people. English is the official language of Zimbabwe, however, it is the first language for only about 2% of the population. The rest of the population are native speakers of Bantu languages, the two most prominent of which are Shona, spoken by 76% of the population, and Sindebele, spoken by 18%. Zimbabwean cuisine is mainly made of sadza, a white maize meal porridge and nyama, which is meat, usually beef or chicken, but can also be crocodile, kudu and impala. Fruit and vegetables are limited.
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Local Currency |
The currency in Zimbabwe is the Zimbabwe dollar (Z$).
Banks are open Monday to Saturday (closed Wednesday and Saturday afternoons). All brands of travellers' cheques in US dollars or UK pound denominations can be easily exchanged for Zimbabwe dollars at any bank. Major international currencies are also accepted. Informal currency exchange is illegal and not worth the risks - you're almost certainly dealing with a scammer. Credit cards are accepted by establishments catering to tourists and business people.
There's a 15% tax on hotel rooms, safaris and other tourist services. Tips of around 10% are expected by taxi drivers and in tourist-class hotels and restaurants. Some establishments automatically add a 10% service charge to the bill.
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Transport |
Air Zimbabwe connects Harare and Bulawayo with Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park and some other places.
There are two types of buses, that you can catch, express and local. There aren't any schedules for local buses and they depart from the 'African township bus stations, which are never in the town centre. Car and 4WD rental in Zimbabwe is expensive.
Zimbabwe has a good railway system, which connects Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare and Victoria Falls, and if you travel economy class they are cheaper than the express buses. Most trains also travel at night.
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Zimbabwe Visa |
Most visitors are not required to obtain a visa for stays of up to 90 days. |
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