Real Africa, Zimbabwe is wild nature, carefully preserved in the expanses of national parks, excellent hunting and rafting. Victoria Falls, holidays on Lake Kariba and the vibrant capital of Harare – everything about Zimbabwe from the Subtleties of tourism: hotels, photos, tours and maps. See Countryaah.com for other countries starting with Z.
Zimbabwe is located in southern Africa, between the Zambezi rivers in the north and the Limpopo in the south. The magnificent wildlife is what attracts tourists here. This country, thanks to a sane policy in the field of environmental protection, has managed to save many animals in their natural habitat. At the same time, you can look at some animals in Zimbabwe not only through binoculars, but also through the scope of a carbine: this is one of the few African countries where hunting is allowed. Golf fans will also find something to do in the country: it is in Zimbabwe that one of the best golf courses on the African continent is located.
The capital is Harare. The main purpose of visiting the country is the national parks of Zimbabwe, but apart from them there are enough attractions. About what other places you can visit in the country, see the page cities and resorts of Zimbabwe.
How to get to Zimbabwe
There are no direct flights to Zimbabwe from Russia. Possible flight options: British Airways flights with a connection in London (involves an overnight stay), as well as a joint flight of Lufthansa and South African Airways with transfers in Frankfurt and Johannesburg. The duration of the flight is about 14-15 hours, excluding connections.
Find cheap flights to Zimbabwe
Visa to Zimbabwe
A visa to Zimbabwe can be issued both on arrival and at the consular department of the embassy in Moscow, insurance is the best online in advance.
- How to extend a visa in Zimbabwe
Customs
Import and export of currency is not limited, amounts over 50,000 USD are declared. The import of hunting weapons and ammunition requires a permit, as well as the export of hunting trophies. The cost of such a permit is 250 USD. The import of drugs and certain medicines is prohibited.
Useful phone numbers
Embassy of Zimbabwe in Moscow: st. Mytnaya, 3, phone: (499) 230-17-87, 230-18-46
Russian Embassy in Harare: 70 Fife Av., PO Box 4250; tel.: (4) 701-957, 701-958; Web site
Tourist safety
No vaccinations are required before visiting the country. Tourists planning to visit national parks need only take antimalarial pills, wear long sleeves and use insecticides.
Climate of Zimbabwe
In the north of the country the climate is subequatorial, in the south – tropical. In summer (December-March) the average temperature is about +25 °C, in the winter season (June-August) +17 °C. Rains mostly occur from November to March.
Depending on the purpose for which tourists travel to the country, the best time to visit will be different. For example, the most suitable period for rafting on the Zambezi is August-December, when the river is not the most full-flowing and, accordingly, not very stormy. The most comfortable time for observing animals is the winter months, when it is dry and warm (from May to October). But it should be borne in mind that at this time at night there are sometimes even frosts.
Actual information: weather forecast for the main resorts of Zimbabwe for the coming days.
Zimbabwe Hotels
Most of the hotels in Zimbabwe are concentrated in national parks, near the Victoria Falls, as well as in the country’s capital. When choosing accommodation in safari lodges and campsites, be careful: the zone of the complexes is not always fenced and wild animals can enter the territory.
Banks and exchange offices
The country’s monetary unit is the Zimbabwean dollar (ZWL), in 1 dollar 100 cents. Current exchange rate: 1 ZWL = 0.18 RUB (1 USD = 322 ZWL, 1 EUR = 338.74 ZWL).
Banks are open from 8:00 to 15:00 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 8:00 to 13:00 on Wednesday and from 8:00 to 11:30 on Saturday. Currency can be exchanged at banks, hotels, the airport, as well as numerous exchange offices.
In the markets and in the provinces, you can also pay with the South African rand, and US dollars are accepted for payment almost everywhere.
Due to the high rate of inflation, prices in the country can change very much even for a short period.
Entertainment and attractions in Zimbabwe
The main and very spectacular attraction of the country is the Victoria Falls. It is located on the Zambezi River, near the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. This is the fourth largest stream and one of the largest waterfalls in the world in terms of water flow and power.
Lake Kariba is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. Tourists come here to sail, go water skiing, sunbathe and fish, and in the evening try their luck at the casino open on the lake.
Landmarks of Harare – National Gallery, Kopje Hill, Botanical Gardens and Mbaremusika Market.
Great Zimbabwe is a medieval city with an elliptical Great Wall about 100 meters in diameter and 255 meters in circumference. According to some sources, this is the oldest structure in sub-Saharan Africa.
To get the most out of visiting the country, you need to rent a jeep and go on a safari. There are many national parks in the country where you can observe hippos, rhinos, crocodiles, buffaloes, roe deer and other rare animals.
The wild flow of the Zambezi River in the gorge behind the Victoria Falls is considered one of the best places in the world for extreme rafting. Thrills are guaranteed.
In addition, you can rent a small plane and admire the world’s largest Victoria Falls from a bird’s eye view. The sound of water can be heard from 20 km away, and a column of water dust above the waterfall is visible from 40 km away.
Thrill-seekers in Zimbabwe should definitely go rafting. The wild flow of the Zambezi River in the gorge behind the Victoria Falls is considered one of the best places in the world for extreme rafting. Thrills are guaranteed.
Plus, sport hunting is developed in Zimbabwe. There are all the prerequisites for this: a variety of natural conditions and animal species, the opportunity to hunt both on specialized ranches and in the wild, a very high level of service.
- What time of year does the bungee run at Victoria Falls?
- How to visit Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe
Hunting in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is considered a hunting country: special hunting ranches are built here, and guides and instructors provide trophies for arriving Pulkins from all over the world. Hunting tourism makes up a significant share of the country’s economy, so the activities of rangers, guides and other personnel are strictly controlled.
There are several safari regions in the Zambezi River valley below the Kariba Dam, where elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards and some species of antelope live. Many of them are allowed to be hunted with a permit from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
All animals in these areas are divided into several categories by the rules: game that can be hunted, protected and endangered species. Endangered species of animals are not subject to shooting, but for the first two “categories” a quota for shooting is determined annually – depending on their number.
The hunting season is open in Zimbabwe from early May to late September. Hunting permits are issued only to a limited number of applicants.
