Zimbabwe: how to get there and traffic
How to get to Zimbabwe
Plane
For most visitors to Zimbabwe, the main gateway to Zimbabwe is certainly Harare International Airport, which guarantees a large number of flight connections from Africa and other continents. If you are traveling from Europe, you can take Air Zimbabwe directly from London to Harare. British Airways, however, have suspended their flights between Harare and London Heathrow. The national airline Air Zimbabwe also operates to/from Dubai, Beijing and Guangzhou (China) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). Good alternatives are South African Airways and South African Airlink, which fly to Zimbabwe via Johannesburg. SAA offers flight connections between Zimbabwe and some European airports and flies numerous connections to/from South Africa and other African destinations. Travelers from South Africa can also use the Kulula airline. The Dutch airline KLM offers connections from Amsterdam – via Nairobi (Kenya) – which then fly from Harare to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia.
The near Victoria Falls, Zimbabwean Airport Victoria Falls Airport is the starting point for daily flights from South African Airways, South African Airlink and British Airways to/from Johannesburg. Furthermore, you can fall back on Air Namibia, which connects Victoria Falls with Namibia’s capital Windhoek.
Bus transport
Deluxe buses run between Harare and Johannesburg at regular intervals. Numerous connections also exist between Johannesburg and Bulawayo. Greyhound, on the other hand, offers connections to both Harare and Bulawayo, where tickets can be purchased directly from Greyhound or via the Computicket website. RoadPort’s very good buses in Harare also go to Johannesburg, Lusaka (Zambia) and Lilongwe (Malawi).
Long-
distance rail trains run from Harare and Bulawayo to Botswana and as far as South Africa. There is also a train connection to Zambia via the Victoria Falls.
Traveling by car
With the help of the car one can reach Zimbabwe from all the countries that surround it. However, longer waiting times at the borders should be planned. Roads lead from Zimbabwe to Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa and Zambia.
Travel in the country
Domestic air traffic
Domestic flights are guaranteed by Solenta Aviation. It connects all major tourist destinations and major cities as well as the safari lodges along the Zambezi River, Lake Kariba, Victoria Falls and the Hwange National Park.
Bus traffic
The buses that run between the Zimbabwean cities are in a deplorable condition, even by African standards. It is best to take the local minibus taxis.
Rail
The more adventurous travelers can take the train from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, which also runs through Hwange National Park, one of the largest national parks in Africa.
Minibus taxis
Minibus taxis ensure intra-city transport. For European standards they are more than cheap and offer a glimpse into the real Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, they are far too unsafe as a means of transport and require a certain degree of adventure and contempt for death.
Go hitchhiking
Hitchhiking is very common in the country. However, (foreign) tourists should be careful with whom they are traveling, because assaults and kidnappings occur (especially in Harare). The number of reported crimes related to this has increased in recent years. If you decide to take a ride despite everything, you should have some money with you because some drivers expect some form of financial benefit.
Car traffic
Zimbabwe has a road network of around 97,500 km, of which just 18,500 km are asphalted. The roads in the country are in a deplorable condition, so you should always be careful when driving your (own) car, because potholes are very common and a serious threat to the health of every car. Many roads (sections) are often impassable, especially at night and during the rainy season (from November to March).
International license plate
According to Abbreviationfinder, the international license plate of Zimbabwe is:
| ZW |
Zimbabwe: Embassies and Consulates
Visit Countryaah for a full list of Zimbabwe embassies and consulates in each country around the world.
The embassy building of the Republic of Zimbabwe is only a few 100 m away from the Springer high-rise. The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania is also located in the building.
The building originally dates back to before World War II and was used by the GDR publisher Volk und Wissen until the fall of the Berlin Wall. After the fall of the Wall, the building was redesigned and got its current appearance. The embassies of Zambia and Uganda are located in the same building – but with a separate entrance on Axel-Springer-Straße. It is usually possible to find a parking space near the embassy.
Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe in Berlin
Kommandantenstrasse 80
10117 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 206 2263
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 2045 5062
German representations in Zimbabwe
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Harare
30 Ceres Road, Avondale
PO Box A 1475
Harare
Tel: 00263 – (0) 4 – 308 655
00263 – (0) 4 – 308 656
00263 – (0) 4 – 332 292
00263 – (0) 4 – 332 326
Fax: 00263 – (0) 4 – 303 455
E-Mail: [email protected]
www.harare.diplo.de
Austrian representations in Zimbabwe
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Austria in Harare
13, Duthie Road, Alexandra Park
Harare, Zimbabwe
:
POBox 4120
Harare
Tel: 00263 – (0) 4 – 702 921
00263 – (0) 4 – 702 922
00263 – (0) 4 – 707 648
Fax: 00263 – (0) 4 – 705 877
Email: [email protected]
The Austrian embassy in Zimbabwe is still responsible for:
- Angola
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Zambia
Representations of Zimbabwe in Austria
Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe Vienna
Strozzigasse 10/15
1080 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 407 9236
0043 – (0) 1 – 407 9237
Fax: 0043 – (0) 1 – 407 9238
Email: [email protected]
Swiss representations in Zimbabwe
Embassy of Switzerland in Harare
15 Fleetwood Road
Alexandra Park
Harare, Zimbabwe <
Tel: 00263 – (0) 4 – 745 682
Fax: 00263 – (0) 4 – 745 465
Email: [email protected]
www.eda.admin.ch/harare
Representations of Zimbabwe in Switzerland
Embassy
The embassy in Berlin/Germany is responsible ()
Zimbabwe: entry and exit requirements
Formalities and visas
Tourists from EU countries need a valid passport, a visa and a return ticket to enter Zimbabwe.
Visa department of the Embassy of Zimbabwe
10052 Berlin
Kommandantenstrasse 80
10117 Berlin
Tel: 0049 (0) 30 206 22 63
Fax: 0049 (0) 30 20 45 50 62
Email: [email protected]
Import and export of foreign currency
National currency
The import of the national currency is limited to 50,000 Z $, the export to 2,000 Z $.
Foreign
currencies Foreign currencies can be imported without limitation, but must be declared upon entry. Export of foreign currencies up to a maximum of the amount imported.
Import and export of goods
Goods up to a total value of US $ 250 including tobacco products in opened packaging without a quantity limit (no age limit) can be imported into Zimbabwe duty-free.
Zimbabwe: Travel Medicine, Vaccinations and Warnings
Infectious Diseases
In Zimbabwe, the following infectious diseases are to be expected in Germany and Central and Northern Europe:
- Malaria: At altitudes below approx. 1,500 m there is a risk of infection nationwide and largely all year round. The exception is the capital Harare, where the risk of infection is relatively low. Almost 100% of the infections occur with the very dangerous malaria tropica, a small remainder with malaria tertiana.
- AIDS, HIV: There is a high infection rate.
- Amoebic dysentery
- Bacterial agitation
- Schistosomiasis
- Cholera, a serious cholera epidemic broke out in the country in late November and will not peak until 2009 – with potentially thousands dead
- Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water, including amoeba, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria
- Hepatitis A and B
- Polio, polio
- Plague – Occurrence in some areas
- Sleeping sickness – sleeping sickness can be expected nationwide.
- tetanus
- rabies
- typhus
Vaccination recommendations
- Diphtheria – a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country.
- Hepatitis A and B
- Polio, polio – vaccination against polio should always exist, also in the home country.
- Tetanus – a vaccination against tetanus should always exist, also in the home country.
- Rabies – but only for high-risk travelers who can come into contact with the vector animals.
- Typhoid – but only for travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
Compulsory vaccination
For all persons older than one year and coming from a yellow fever infection area designated by the WHO, there is a compulsory vaccination against an illness with yellow fever.
Yellow fever vaccination of children
In most countries where a yellow fever vaccination is mandatory, this also applies to children over a year old, in some countries even from six months. It should be noted that vaccination against yellow fever had a number of side effects, such as encephalitis. Around two-thirds of those affected were children under six months. Therefore, under no circumstances should children under this age be vaccinated. But children under one year of age should also not be vaccinated if possible. If in doubt, yellow fever infection areas must then be avoided. Any vaccination against yellow fever may only be carried out in specially authorized yellow fever vaccination centers!
Malaria prophylaxis
When traveling to the country, especially when traveling to the areas mentioned above, it is strongly advised to undergo malaria prophylaxis. However, if the side effects seem questionable to you, you should at least have a “stand-by preparation” with you.
Who pays for vaccinations in Germany?
Most people in Germany are vaccinated against a number of infectious diseases at an early age. However, the vaccination protection only lasts up to 10 years, in some cases even shorter. Therefore, before traveling abroad, you should carefully consider against which infectious diseases a vaccination is necessary or useful in the country concerned and whether the vaccination protection, if applicable, was not too long ago.
Most statutory health insurances have been reimbursing the costs for the following vaccinations since June 2007. There is even no 10 € practice fee – but the insured usually have to pay the statutory co-payment, which is 10% of the vaccine price – that is at least 5 € and a maximum of 10 €. Under these conditions, the following vaccinations are free of charge. Some health insurance companies also reimburse the cost of malaria prophylaxis. As a rule, private health insurance companies (inquire beforehand) also cover the costs mentioned.
- cholera
- diphtheria
- Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE)
- Yellow fever
- Hepatitis A and B
- Meningococcal meningitis
- Pneumococci
- Polyo (polio)
- Tetanus (tetanus)
- rabies
- typhus
Current warnings
Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany
Citizen Service
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 5100
www.auswaertiges-amt.de
Zimbabwe: Currency, Shopping, and Exchange Rate
Currency
The national currencies of Zimbabwe are:
– the US dollar
– the South African rand
– and the renminbi
Exchange rate
The following currency converter gives you the current exchange rates:
http://www.bankenverband.de/html/reisekasse/waehrungsrechner.asp
Attention,
money can only be exchanged in Zimbabwe at official offices, i.e. banks, exchange offices or the like. Unofficial exchanges on the street are illegal.
Bank opening times
Banks in Zimbabwe are open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Shop
Shop opening times
Shops in Zimbabwe are usually open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Cheap or country-specific goods, souvenirs
Popular souvenirs in Zimbabwe include copper goods, carvings made of wood and soapstone, leather goods, ceramics and wicker.
