Zimbabwe travel tips

Zimbabwe is one of the greatest bush destinations in Africa, and people are starting to travel back to the country after years of political turmoil. These travel tips will help your journey remain hassle-free.

Cash is king – but make sure you have small denominations of US dollars or Rands for tips etc and to counter the problem of change not always being available. Credit cards are not widely accepted (a bank “issue”, rather than a retailer “issue”).

In Victoria Falls, the ATM at Barclays Bank dispenses up to USD500 in cash – including USD1 notes. Most products and services are priced in US dollars but payment can be made in Rand at a conversion rate close to the current (international) rate of about 8-1, while in country areas the conversion rate is usually 10-1. So, if you are making large purchases in country areas, have dollars.

Take old pairs of shoes, t-shirts or caps to use as “currency” when buying road side souvenirs, carvings etc.

Fly at the front of the aircraft to be at the front of the visa queue when you arrive (unless you have a South African passport which requires no visa).

Beware of taking pictures of any “official” structure or activity: you face possible arrest as Gerrit Rautenbauch describes in his feature, while another staffer was instructed to delete his picture of a toll road sign listing prices – USD1 for a passenger car to pass through!

When flying out of OR Tambo International Airport, ensure that your luggage is plastic wrapped: there is still pilferage happening there, as a Getaway staff member discovered recently. Keep valuables in your cabin bag. Photograph (with your cellphone or digital camera) your baggage and its locks before you fly for easy identification in case it goes missing.

If you have booked an all-in travel package, check reservations and times carefully with your agent who, being careful and conservative, might have arranged to get you to the airport too early. You don’t want to sit around some airports too long!