Zimbabwe country guide

Zimbabwe Travel Guide

Zimbabwe has the best view of Victoria Falls, huge elephant herds in Hwange, canoe safaris on the Zambezi and the stone ruins that gave the country its name. Tourism is recovering after years of crisis, which means quiet parks, friendly people and good value. Plan around cash and long road days, and give it two weeks.

Where to go What it costs

UNESCO World Heritage sites

US$40–60

A backpacker day, before activities

US$50

KAZA visa for Zimbabwe and Zambia

May–Oct

Best months for safari

What travelling Zimbabwe is actually like

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country of granite hills, savannah and rivers in southern Africa, and it has some of the region's most impressive sights. Victoria Falls, on the Zambezi, is the one everyone knows, and about three-quarters of the falls' width is best seen from the Zimbabwean side. But the country also has Hwange, one of Africa's great elephant parks, the wild river camps of Mana Pools, the balancing rocks and rock art of Matobo, and Great Zimbabwe, the medieval stone city that is the largest ancient structure south of the Sahara.

Zimbabwe went through a long economic crisis, and tourism fell away for years. It has been recovering, especially around Victoria Falls, but outside the tourist hubs you will still find fewer visitors, fewer services and a lot of goodwill. Zimbabweans are known for their friendliness and good English.

Money is the thing to plan most carefully. The US dollar is used for almost everything, alongside the local Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency introduced in 2024. Small US notes are scarce, change is rare and cards don't always work, so bring plenty of clean, small-denomination dollar bills.

Getting around takes time. Buses connect the main cities, there is a weekly train between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, and domestic flights save long days on the road. Power cuts and fuel shortages happen, so pack patience.

Two weeks covers Victoria Falls, Hwange, Bulawayo and Matobo, and Great Zimbabwe or Harare. The KAZA visa makes it easy to add Zambia and a day in Botswana's Chobe.

Zimbabwe in short

Capital: Harare
Currency: US dollar used for almost everything; Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) also in circulation
Cash: Bring small, clean US notes; change is scarce and cards can fail
Languages: English, Shona and Ndebele are the most widely spoken of 16 official languages
Visa: On arrival or e-visa for most nationalities; KAZA visa US$50 covers Zambia too
Passport: Valid 6 months beyond arrival, with 3 blank pages
Time zone: Central Africa Time (UTC+2) all year
Plugs and voltage: Type D and G, 220 V
Tap water: Drink bottled or filtered water
SIM and eSIM: Econet and NetOne; passport needed
Power: Frequent power cuts; carry a torch and power bank
Laws: Don't insult the President; no photos of government or police
Best time to go: May to October

Where to go in Zimbabwe

Most trips centre on Victoria Falls and the west, with Bulawayo, Matobo and Hwange, then head east to Great Zimbabwe, Harare and the highlands. These are the stops that earn their place, with live hostel counts and dorm prices from Hostelworld.

Victoria Falls

5 hostels

Border town at the falls: the rainforest walk, bungee, rafting and sunset cruises, and most of Zimbabwe's hostels.

Vic Falls is a nice little town where many people are very friendly and helpful. The views of the falls are magnificent and there are more activities than you would believe possible. It *is* expensive though - everything is in dollars and much more expensive than eg South Africa. But they need the money more than you: just be aware of this before you go and plan for it.
A traveller, on Hostelworld

The Victoria Falls guide

Harare

2 hostels

The capital, with the National Gallery, Mbare market, live music and the country's best restaurants.

The Harare guide

Bulawayo

1 hostel

Relaxed second city with wide colonial streets and the base for Matobo and the Khami Ruins.

The Bulawayo guide

Pick your kind of Zimbabwe trip

Zimbabwe suits different trips. Choose one or two of these and build the route around them, rather than trying to cover the whole country.

Victoria Falls adventure in Zimbabwe

See the falls from the rainforest path, then bungee, raft, fly or cruise your way around the Zambezi.

What to do

Rainforest walk
Bungee jump
White-water rafting
Helicopter flight
Sunset cruise

Spots to visit

Victoria Falls Rainforest
Victoria Falls Bridge
Batoka Gorge
Zambezi River

Best cities for it

Victoria Falls

Things to do

The falls, the elephants and the stone city

Victoria Falls is the obvious start. From the Zimbabwean side, a path runs through the rainforest along the edge of the gorge, with views of most of the falls' 1.7 km width. International visitors pay US$58 at the main gate (from February 2026). Around it is a whole menu of adventures: bungee jumping from the bridge, white-water rafting in the Batoka Gorge, helicopter flights and sunset cruises on the upper Zambezi.

Hwange National Park, a couple of hours south of Victoria Falls, is Zimbabwe's largest park and home to tens of thousands of elephants, plus lions, wild dogs and huge herds of buffalo. Game drives from the main camp and lodges around the edge are the easiest way in.

In the north, Mana Pools is a UNESCO-listed wilderness on the Zambezi where you can walk and canoe among elephants, hippos and lions with licensed guides. Lake Kariba, nearby, is a huge reservoir with houseboats, fishing and drowned forests.

In the south-west, Bulawayo is a relaxed city with wide streets and colonial architecture, and the base for Matobo National Park, a landscape of balancing granite boulders with ancient San rock paintings and white rhinos. The Khami Ruins, a UNESCO site, are close by.

Great Zimbabwe, near Masvingo, is the ruined capital of a trading empire that flourished from the 11th to the 15th centuries, with massive dry-stone walls and the conical tower of the Great Enclosure. It gave the country its name and its national symbol, the Zimbabwe Bird.

In the east, the Eastern Highlands, around Nyanga, Bvumba and Chimanimani, offer cool mountain walks, waterfalls and tea estates.

Food and drink

Sadza, braai and kapenta

Zimbabwe's staple is sadza, a stiff maize porridge, eaten with your hands and dipped in relish: beef or chicken stew, leafy greens (muriwo), beans or tomato and onion. A plate of sadza and stew is the cheapest filling meal in the country, served at markets, canteens and roadside stalls.

Meat lovers will enjoy the braai, the southern African barbecue, with boerewors sausages and grilled steaks. Kapenta, tiny dried fish from Lake Kariba, are fried with tomato and onion, and mopane worms, a protein-rich caterpillar, are a traditional snack worth trying once.

For street snacks, look for maputi (puffed maize), roasted maize cobs and fat cakes, fried dough balls.

In Victoria Falls and Harare, restaurants serve steak, game meat such as kudu and warthog, and international food. Expect to pay around US$10 to US$20 for a restaurant main, and a few dollars for local food.

Zambezi and Castle are the popular beers, and chibuku, a thick, sour sorghum beer sold in cartons, is the traditional drink. Drink bottled water.

Nightlife

Sundowners and Harare bars

Most travellers' nights in Zimbabwe start with a sundowner. In Victoria Falls, that means a sunset cruise on the upper Zambezi, a drink on a lodge terrace overlooking a waterhole, or the bar at your hostel.

Victoria Falls town has a handful of bars and restaurants with live music, and the town fills up for the Vic Falls Carnival at New Year.

Harare has the liveliest nightlife in the country, with bars, clubs and live music venues in the northern suburbs, especially Avondale and Borrowdale. Zimbabwe has a strong music scene, from sungura and chimurenga to Zimdancehall, and live gigs are worth seeking out.

Bulawayo is quieter, with a few bars and an arts scene centred on its galleries.

Avoid walking at night in city centres, where muggings are common, and take a taxi arranged by your hostel. Political discussion in public is best avoided.

Getting around

Buses, the night train and the KAZA border

Long-distance buses connect Zimbabwe's main cities. CityLink runs between Harare and Bulawayo for about US$35, and buses run from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls in about six hours. Avoid overnight buses: the UK warns that night-time intercity bus travel has been linked to serious accidents. Combis, the commuter minibuses, are also best avoided.

The National Railways of Zimbabwe reintroduced a passenger train between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls in October 2025. It runs twice a week, leaving Bulawayo on Fridays at 7pm and returning from Victoria Falls on Sundays at 7pm, arriving the next morning, with economy seats from about US$9. It is slow and basic, but a classic journey.

Domestic flights link Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, and save long days on the road.

Many visitors hire a car or a car with driver for the parks. Roads are potholed, unlit and shared with livestock, so don't drive outside towns at night. Fuel can be scarce, and you must stop for the President's motorcade if you meet it.

Victoria Falls is a border town. You can walk across the Victoria Falls Bridge to Zambia and Livingstone, and Kasane, in Botswana, is about an hour away via Kazungula. The KAZA visa (US$50) covers Zimbabwe and Zambia for 30 days, plus day trips into Botswana.

Costs

What Zimbabwe costs in 2026

Zimbabwe runs mostly on US dollars. The local currency, Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), was introduced in April 2024, and you may receive it as change, but prices for travellers are almost always quoted in dollars.

Cash is the challenge. Physical US dollars are scarce, small notes are hard to find, and change is rare, so bring plenty of clean US$1, US$5, US$10 and US$20 bills. Torn or old notes are often refused, and cards may not work, even where advertised. Exchange money only at licensed dealers. You can't leave with more than US$2,000 in cash.

Zimbabwe is not a cheap country by African standards. Hostelworld lists dorm beds in Victoria Falls from about US$15 to US$33, and food costs from a few dollars at local canteens to US$10 to US$20 in restaurants.

Activities are the big costs. Victoria Falls costs US$58 for international visitors. Bungee jumps, rafting, helicopter flights and safaris cost from tens to hundreds of dollars each. Park conservation fees, accommodation and transport inside the parks add up, so check current rates with ZimParks before you go.

Buses are cheap, at around US$35 from Harare to Bulawayo, and the train from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls starts at about US$9.

On a budget, backpackers spend around US$40 to US$60 a day, before activities.

Safety

Staying safe in Zimbabwe

Most visits to Zimbabwe are trouble-free, and the tourist areas are generally safe. Crime is moderate: muggings, pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common in city centres, especially after dark, and smash-and-grab robberies have happened near Harare Airport, on main roads in Harare and on the road from Masvingo to Beitbridge. Keep car doors locked, don't leave a vehicle unattended in town and take taxis at night.

Politics needs care. Demonstrations can turn violent, and the authorities have used force. Avoid political gatherings and political discussion in public or online. Insulting the President is illegal. Photographing government buildings, airports, military sites, police or protests needs special permission. Around State House in Harare, roads close from 6pm to 6am and photography is banned.

Wildlife is a real danger. Animal attacks have killed visitors, so keep your distance, follow your guide and use operators registered with the Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe. Check that your insurance covers activities like rafting and bungee.

Sex between men is illegal, and society is conservative. Drug penalties are severe, and civilians can't wear camouflage.

Expect power cuts, water rationing in some areas, unreliable phone networks and fuel queues. Carry copies of your passport and visa.

Entry and documents

Visas, KAZA and paperwork

Most visitors, including UK, EU and US passport holders, can get a visa on arrival in Zimbabwe, usually for 30 days, or apply for an e-visa before travelling. Fees vary by nationality, roughly US$30 to US$55 for a single entry, so bring US dollars in small notes. The UK says visas are no longer issued by the Zimbabwean Embassy in London.

If you plan to visit Zambia too, the KAZA Univisa is the best option. It costs US$50, is valid for 30 days, and covers unlimited crossings between Zimbabwe and Zambia, plus day trips into Botswana through Kazungula. It is sold at Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls airports and at the Victoria Falls and Kazungula land borders, and can also be applied for online.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months after you arrive and have three blank pages. You need a yellow fever certificate only if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk.

You must declare cash worth US$10,000 or more, and you can't leave with more than US$2,000 in cash.

Carry copies of your passport photo page and visa, and keep the originals somewhere safe.

When to go to Zimbabwe

The dry season from May to October is the best time for safaris, as animals gather at water and the bush thins out. Victoria Falls is at its fullest from February to June, when spray can hide the view, and at its lowest in October and November. The rains run from November to March.

26°

Jan

Wettest month

26°

Feb

Rains; falls filling up

26°

Mar

Rains easing; big flow at the falls

25°

Apr

Falls at peak; Independence Day 18 April

23°

May

Dry season starts

22°

Jun

Cool and dry; heavy spray at the falls

21°

Jul

Peak safari season

24°

Aug

Peak safari; Heroes' Days

27°

Sep

Hot and dry; great game viewing

29°

Oct

Hottest; falls at their lowest

28°

Nov

Rains begin

26°

Dec

Vic Falls Carnival at New Year

Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets: quiet busy peak

Temperatures are average daily highs in Harare (weather2travel climate data). Victoria Falls, Hwange and the Zambezi Valley are several degrees hotter, especially from September to November. Crowd levels are our own rough estimate.

How much a day in Zimbabwe costs

Pick a travel style and the number of nights to see a rough total. Figures are per person per day in US dollars, the currency used for almost everything, based on dorms or guesthouses, local food, buses and a mix of paid sights.

Rough figures for 2026, in US dollars. Adventure activities at Victoria Falls, safaris and park fees can add hundreds of dollars.

Nights 7

—

Beds—
Food and drink—
Getting around—
Doing things—

What's on

Festivals and events in Zimbabwe

National days, arts festivals and the big New Year party at Victoria Falls shape the Zimbabwean calendar.

18 April

Independence Day

Nationwide

Public holiday marking independence in 1980.

Second Monday and Tuesday of August

Heroes' and Defence Forces Days

Nationwide

Public holidays honouring the liberation war.

September

Shoko Festival

Harare

Urban culture festival of hip-hop, spoken word, comedy and film.

Varies; check dates

Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA)

Harare

Zimbabwe's biggest arts festival, with music, theatre and dance from across Africa.

22 December

Unity Day

Nationwide

Public holiday.

29–31 December (usually)

Vic Falls Carnival

Victoria Falls

Three-day New Year music festival and party near the falls.

All events in Zimbabwe

Hostels

Top-rated hostels in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's hostels are mostly in Victoria Falls, with gardens, pools, bars and activity desks that book rafting, bungee and safaris. These are the best-rated right now, with live prices.

9.9 8,576

Zimbabwe travel FAQs

Visa, price and timetable details were checked in October 2026. Rules change, so confirm with official sources before you travel.

Is Zimbabwe safe for backpackers?

Generally yes, especially in tourist areas like Victoria Falls. Muggings and pickpocketing happen in city centres after dark, so take taxis at night. Avoid political gatherings and discussions, follow wildlife guides' instructions, and don't photograph government buildings or police.

Do I need a visa for Zimbabwe?

Most visitors can get a visa on arrival or an e-visa, usually for 30 days, for roughly US$30 to US$55 depending on nationality. If you are also visiting Zambia, the KAZA visa costs US$50 and covers both countries for 30 days, plus day trips to Botswana.

What currency does Zimbabwe use?

Mostly US dollars, alongside the local Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG). Bring plenty of small, clean US notes, as change is scarce and cards don't always work.

Which side of Victoria Falls is better?

The Zimbabwean side shows most of the falls' width and has the classic rainforest walk. The Zambian side gets you closer to the edge and has Devil's Pool from about August to January. If you have time, see both with a KAZA visa.

How much does Victoria Falls cost to visit?

International visitors pay US$58 at the main gate on the Zimbabwean side, from February 2026. Activities like bungee, rafting and helicopter flights cost extra.

How many days do I need in Zimbabwe?

Two weeks covers Victoria Falls, Hwange, Bulawayo and Matobo, and Great Zimbabwe or Harare. With a week, focus on Victoria Falls and Hwange, with a day trip to Chobe.

What is the best time to visit Zimbabwe?

May to October, the dry season, is best for safaris. Victoria Falls is fullest from February to June and lowest in October and November.

How do I get from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls?

By bus in about six hours, or on the overnight train, which leaves Bulawayo on Fridays at 7pm and costs from about US$9 in economy. Avoid buses at night.

Can I use cards in Zimbabwe?

Sometimes, in bigger hotels and restaurants, but they often fail. Bring enough US dollars in cash, in small notes, for most of your trip.

Is Zimbabwe safe for LGBT+ travellers?

Sex between men is illegal and society is conservative, although prosecutions are rare. Discretion is wise, and public displays of affection may attract attention.

Say yes to hostels, meet the world

Compare Zimbabwe hostels: live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.

Find a hostel in Zimbabwe Get the app

Zimbabwe Travel Guide

What travelling Zimbabwe is actually like

Where to go in Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls

Harare

Bulawayo

Pick your kind of Zimbabwe trip