Zimbabwe: Travelling

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Harare International Airport	15 km	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Victoria Falls International Airport	18 km	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
JM Nkomo International Airport	18 km	Yes	No	No	Yes
Kariba International Airport	4 km	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Masvingo International Airport	4 km	Yes	-	No	Yes

Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country

Train reservation services

National Railways of Zimbabwe

Major airlines

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical

Zimbabwe has many historical sites, which testify to the country's rich history. The Matobo Hills are home to archaeological sites dating back to the Stone Age. Zimbabwe also has the remains of the largest ancient capital in sub-Saharan Africa, the Great Zimbabwe. Between the 13th and 15th century, this medieval city was the religious and secular capital of a vast kingdom. Its fascinating elliptical enclosure is the largest ancient building in southern Africa.

Cultural

Zimbabwe is surprising because of the diversity and extraordinary quality of artistic talent it houses. Characteristic of African cultures in general, art touches on many aspects of life, each tribe generally having a recognizable canon and a wide variety of objects such as masks, drums, textiles, beadwork, sculpture, ceramics, etc. the body itself is decorated by scarification or tattooing. Shona sculpture, created by a merger of African folklore with European influences, has world-renowned sculptors have managed to influence a new generation of artists, particularly Black Americans. Music is also an important factor of traditional Zimbabwean culture, accompanying oratory, poetry, stories and legends, the song of praise, tribal ritual songs and social events. Among the traditional instruments include the marimba (wooden xylophone), the mbira (thumb piano), the ngoma (tapered cylindrical drum) and mujelele, or "stone bell". Zimbabwe has four sites listed as World Heritage by UNESCO: the Mana Pools National Park, Matobo National Park, Victoria Falls and the ruins of Great Zimbabwe.

Nature

Zimbabwe offers many attractions for nature lovers: a wide range of African wildlife including lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, rhinos, monkeys, zebras, warthogs, hippos, cheetahs, etc. There are some breathtaking sceneries, including spectacular gorges, dense forests, waterfalls, green hills, rivers terrace, etc. The country has a dozen national parks, three of which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage: in the Mana Pools National Park, named after the four major indoor pools of the Zambezi River, you can see a wide range of large mammals, over 350 species of birds and diverse aquatic fauna; The Zambezi National Park and Victoria Falls has one of the largest and most spectacular waterfalls in the world, considered one of the "Seven Wonders of the World"; the Matobo National Park features majestic rock formations carved into a granite plateau, which has a spiritual and cultural significance to the local population.

Religious

The people of Zimbabwe have a rich spiritual life and the country has many sites locals consider sacred. Various rituals are performed in thanks after harvest, to bring rain, to ask for healing, etc. The medieval city of Great Zimbabwe, was not only a political and economic center, but before all a religious center. We may also mention the cellars of Domboshava and Mhakwe, the graves of Mzilikazi, Lobengula Tohwechipi and the ruins of Mutota, and site Nharira Hills, Khami and Thabasikamambo.

Thermal

The hot springs include the Chizarira Springs in northwest Zimbabwe, the Nyanyadzi Springs in the Chimanimani Mountains in Manicaland, the Kabata Springs in Binga, and the Chitake Springs in Mana Pools National Park.

Beach

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country, so there are no natural beaches. However, it is possible to swim in lakes, rivers and natural pools, such as the Nyangombe Pool in Nyanga National Park and Devil's Pool in the Victoria Falls National Park.

Winter Sports

None

Outdoor Activities

The main outdoor activity is the safari, which can take different forms. You can go hiking in the bush in national parks, and sometimes camp there. On the Zambezi River below the Victoria Falls, there are places for canoeing and rafting, or you can ride the steam trains between Victoria Falls and Mutare, or choose safari on horseback in the Zambezi Park. For fishing enthusiasts, the rivers of Eastern Highlands and Kariba are excellent sites. Zimbabwe also has inexpensive and uncongested gold courses.

Shopping

You can buy some local crafts almost everywhere. In Harare and Bulawayo in particular, you can shop for Shona sculptures, precious or semi-precious stones, crocheted tablecloths and batonka stools made of carved wood.

Tourism Organisations

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority
Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe

Health and Safety

Health Precautions

A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travelers coming from infected areas. Up-to-day vaccination against diphtheria-tetanus-polio is recommended, as well as typhoid fever and hepatitis A and B immunizations. It is advisable to follow a preventive treatment against malaria and use repellents, especially in hot and humid areas. There is a very limited presence of the tsetse fly in the tourist area of Mana Pools, but the risk of contracting sleeping sickness remains small. Avoid swimming in stagnant water, and follow the usual phytosanitary rules when using tap water and eating fruits and vegetables.

International Hospitals

Adequate medical services are available in Harare and Bulawayo, but in other places medical facilities are extremely limited. For urgent medical problems, most expats go to the Avenues Clinic or St Anne. Doctors, hospitals and medical evacuation services often require immediate cash payment. Most serious illnesses or accidents require medical evacuation to South Africa.

For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions

World Health Organization
The U.S. Government's Center for Disease Control and Prevention

For Further Information on Safety Conditions

Canada Bureau of Foreign Affairs
U.S. Department of State

Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference

It is %T:%M %A In Harare (GMT+2)

Summer Time Period

Zimbabwe enjoys a warm climate all year round, but during the summer (November to April) the weather is hot and humid.