Travel Essentials › Zimbabwe
Travel Essentials
Plugs: Types D and G, 240 V. Emergency: One number for everything 999, Police 995, Ambulance 994, Fire 993. Tipping: About 10% in restaurants and tips for safari guides and lodge staff are customary. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water..
Types D and G, 240 V
| One number for everything | 999 |
| Police | 995 |
| Ambulance | 994 |
| Fire | 993 |
About 10% in restaurants and tips for safari guides and lodge staff are customary.
Greetings. Greetings are warm and unhurried, often including a handshake with the left hand supporting the right forearm as a sign of respect.
Respect for elders and titles. Age and status matter; use titles (Mr./Mrs./Doctor) until invited to use first names, and greet the eldest person in a group first.
Modest dress outside lodges. Dress conservatively in towns and rural areas, covering shoulders and knees, even though resort areas around Victoria Falls are more relaxed.
Zimbabwe is generally safe for tourists, with very low crime in the main tourist areas (Victoria Falls, Hwange, Matobo Hills); Harare and Bulawayo need normal urban precautions but violent crime against visitors is rare.
Craft market overcharging. Vendors at curio and craft markets often quote inflated starting prices; negotiate firmly and compare prices across stalls.
Unsolicited 'guides'. Self-appointed guides approach tourists at sites and expect payment; use official guides or ones booked through your hotel.
Currency confusion. With USD as the main tourist currency alongside a volatile local currency, count change carefully and confirm which currency a price is quoted in.
Women travelers. Solo women travel Zimbabwe safely in general, though verbal harassment can occur in busy urban areas; avoid walking alone at night in poorly lit or isolated places and use trusted transport.
Criminalized
Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Zimbabwe and the law provides no protection against discrimination; no tourists have been prosecuted under these laws, but public displays of affection between same-sex couples are discouraged and can draw negative attention.
| Coffee (café) | $2.50 | $2.50 |
| Local bus or metro ride | $0.50 | $0.50 |
| Mid-range restaurant meal | $15 | $15 |
| Hostel bed / budget room (night) | $20 | $20 |
| Mid-range hotel (night) | $100 | $100 |
| Daily budget, mid-range traveler | $180 | $180 |
2026-09
The dry season, May to October, is best for wildlife viewing as animals gather at waterholes, with July-September the coolest and most popular; Victoria Falls is fullest and most dramatic from February to June and clearer (less spray) from July to September.
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