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ZIMBABWE

3. AN OVERVIEW 4. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS 5. BANKING AND CURRENCY 7. TRAVEL, TRANSPORT AND GETTING AROUND 9. FOOD, DRINK AND CUISINE ADVICE10. CLIMATE AND WEATHER12. CLOTHING AND DRESS RECOMMENDATIONS15. INTERNET AVAILABILITY16. ELECTRICITY AND PLUG STANDARDSTHIS UPDATE: JULY 2021

Zimbabwe is without doubt one of the hidden gems of southern Africa. Zimbabweans of all races are among the friendliest people you willever meet. The rich history of Zimbabwe is only surpassed by its phenomenal natural beauty. From thunderous waterfalls, to balancing rocks scattered to the horizon in a red and green, alien-like landscapes, to mile-wide, calm, deeprivers home to massive pods of hippos, and almost legendary flood plains of the wild acacia forests, Zimbabwe is special. It will settle in yourheart forever and its song will rise within you on just hearing the names of the legendary places it holds within its borders. Names like ManaPools, Hwange National Park, the mighty Zambezi, Kariba - the world's largest man-made lake, home to the river god, Nyami-Nyami, and ofcourse, Mosi-oa-Tunya.You can hear the heartbeat of Africa and see its spirit rise into the air over forty kilometers away from the gorges in which it roars, this is TheSmoke That Thunders or Mosi-oa-Tunya. One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, this spectacular body of water more commonlyknown as Victoria Falls divides Zimbabwe and Zambia. With a combined width of 1,708 metres and height of 108 metres, it is the world'slargest sheet of falling water. So special are the Falls, and its rain forest filled with plants that occur nowhere else, that the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in which they can befound is a UNESCO World Heritage site. 3

Parents should note that in all circumstances, your child will need his or her long-form (unabridged with biographic information of bothparents) birth certificate, as well as a passport, to enter South Africa. Although the Department of Home Affairs states that these rules do not apply when directly transiting through South Africa, U.S. citizenshave been asked for paperwork at check-in in Harare, Zimbabwe, and been told they could not board the plane without documentation,even when transiting. If only one parent is traveling with a child, this parent will most likely also need an affidavit from the non-traveling parent—notarized within3 months of entry—and a copy of the other parent’s passport biographic page. Please read the regulations carefully to determine what applies in your situation. Although there is no official form, the South AfricanDepartment of Home Affairs just released a suggested affidavit format, which we encourage you to use - SPECIAL MENTION: South African Rules on Travelling with Minor Children which apply when transiting through South Africa to and fromZimbabweWe urge everyone to read the new rules regarding travel to South Africa with minor children, here -http://www.dha.gov.za/files/Brochures/Immigrationleaflet.pdf https://poetice.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/4.-Minor-Consent.pdf 4

As currency in Zimbabwe has, in recent history, been constantly changing, this section will be updated periodically. We would advise that you check https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/zimbabwe for the latest information.CurrencyThe Zimbabwean Dollar is the official currency. However, in reality, after March 2020, Zimbabwe once more allowed trading in multi-currencies. Prices are quoted in both Zimbabwean dollars and United States dollars. Foreigners will most probably be expected to pay in forex,especially, but not solely, at tourist sites. This includes recreational companies in Victoria Falls.Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWD; symbol Z$; = 100 cents) notes currently come in the following denominations: 20, 10, 5 and 2. Ensure you haveenough small notes to cover small purchases, as change for large notes is difficult to come by. To put that in perspective, there are no coinswithin the market at the time of writing.The Banks of ZimbabweInternational banks with branches in Zimbabwe include Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe, Standard Chartered Bank Zimbabwe and Stanbic BankZimbabwe. The leading local bank in the country is CBZ Bank. 5

Credit and Debit CardsVisitors need to plan for their debit and credit cards to be unusable. In fact, it’s best to consider credit cards as a non-viable option. Zimbabweis predominantly a cash society. In terms of credit or debit cards, only VISA and MasterCard are accepted in Zimbabwe in formal institutions.Foreign cards can attract a poor exchange rate and attract high banking charges. Make sure you know what the official daily rate of exchangesis every day. Apart from formal institutions, very few places will have credit card machines.ATM Withdrawals and CashBring cash with you as it cannot be obtained through credit or debit cards, or ATMs. Travellers to Zimbabwe do not have access to ATMs. It’sbest to pre-pay for as much as you can before leaving your home country. One more thought on cash - keep it safe-guarded at all times andcarry only what is essential for any one day.Banking HoursBanks in Zimbabwe are found in all medium to large towns. They open for business on weekdays from 08h00 to 15h00, except forWednesdays, when they are only open from 08h00 to 13h00. On Saturdays, they are open from 08h00 to 11h30. They are closed on Sundaysand Public Holidays. 6

By AirMost major airlines fly into Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. Charter flights are available to most attractions and camps. By RoadIf you are driving yourself around Zimbabwe, the most important thing to remember is -TRAFFIC DRIVES ON THE LEFT side of the road. Be sureto check fuel availability in advance. Fuel is generally available, but supply can fluctuate, and FUEL IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR CASH. If you arecovering long distances within the country, ensure you carry extra fuel in 5 or 10L metal containers in case of an emergency.You need a sense of humour to drive in Zimbabwe. By African standards, there is a good road infrastructure, but the roads are often potholed.There is no highway, motorway or freeway in Zimbabwe. There is what is known as ‘wide tar’. The speed limit outside of towns is 120kms perhour if you are driving a light vehicle. However, you need to vigilant if you are passing small towns and villages as domestic animals such asdonkeys, goats and cattle have no road sense whatsoever. Children running across the road are also a hazard. Drive with care through theseareas. The best policy is to slow down to 60 kms per hour. There are often speed traps to catch unwary tourists driving too fast into towns. Obeythe speed limit signs outside of towns. Between major towns, there are also frequent roadblocks. In urban areas, the speed limit is 60kms perhour. 7

By Public TransportWhile Uber doesn’t operate in Zimbabwe, taxis are safe and reliable and should be booked through your hotel front desk. Taxis in cities travelwithin a 40km radius of the city. Always take a taxi at night.By RailTraveling by rail in Zimbabwe is only for the truly adventurous. The only way to know for sure which trains are travelling is to ask at the stationas the situation changes daily. 8

Zimbabwe's native cuisine is a ground maize meal called sadza, a cooked, stodgy porridge. This is normally accompanied by some tasty relishmade of tomatoes and onions, rape – a type of kale, as well as meat or dried fish. Together they form a meal known as ‘sadza and nyama’. Safaricamps will often prepare sadza on its own, if requested. It is almost always available in small restaurants in the towns. A thinner version, servedwith butter, brown sugar and milk, is used as a breakfast porridge.However, restaurants, hotels, coffee shops, lodges and camps serve a wider, more western and also more international menu. Even in the mostremote bush camps meals are usually excellent, both in taste and preparation.If you are on a self-catering holiday or outing while in Zimbabwe, purchase your supplies in main towns, such as Harare and Bulawayo. SouthAfrican shopping chains, such as Spar, and Pick n Pay, operate in Zimbabwe and will generally have all that you will need.Water in the main towns is usually purified. However, if you are in Zimbabwe for a short period of time, we suggest drinking only bottled,boiled, or treated water which is available in towns and from all hotels, lodges and camps. All Zimbabweans drink tap water. If you are in thecountry for a long time, then it may be sensible to acclimatize yourself to it. 9

Unlike countries in the Northern Hemisphere, or even South Africa, Zimbabwe has only two real seasons - the rainy season and the dry season.The Dry Season - Winter (June, July and August)There is no rainfall, and low humidity. The average morning temperature is 6°C. Midday can be as warm as a cool Summer day withtemperatures between 14°C and 25°C. At night, some parts of the country drop to zero. In terms of tourism, winter in Zimbabwe, is the start ofthe 'peak season'. The days are often cloudless and, because the bush has dried out, it’s much easier to spot wildlife in the game parks. Warmclothes, including jerseys and a jacket are needed, especially in the game parks, as morning and evening game drives in open vehicles will becold. These drives are well worth going on despite the low temperatures, as wildlife concentrates around waterholes and rivers in search of theessential and scarce resource. August is a windy month. The Wet Season - Summer (September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April and May)Spring, Summer and Autumn are encapsulated in these months, but Spring and Autumn are such short seasons that most Zimbabweans don’teven mention them. As a result, Summer officially starts in September, and the heat once more begins to rise. It builds dramatically until therains bring relief. Only once this happens, usually in late October or early November, can the rainy season be considered to have started. Oncethe rains arrive, wildlife in the game parks become harder to find as water sources deep within the bush are now full. 10

November is unpredictable; it can be hot and dry, or rainy, or both on successive days. Until the rains have begun in earnest, the country’s lowerlying areas can experience temperatures anywhere between 32°C to 50°C, especially in the Zambezi Valley.December, January, February & March are the wettest months. If you thought the rains in November were strong, it’s these four months whenpotential torrential downpours occur, especially in the afternoons. While nights and mornings are warm, around 18°C, afternoon temperaturesare around 30°C, with a high humidity, making the thunderstorms that much more welcome and dramatic. Zimbabwe's higher eastern areas,some of the most beautiful in the country, usually receive more rainfall than the lower-lying western ones. In the north, closer to the borderwith Zambia, the rains arrive earlier and leave later than most other places in the country.April and May herald the end of summer. Temperatures start to drop, especially in more southerly lowveld areas, as well as the higher North-Eastern areas, such as Harare. They are relatively cool, typically around 10°C in the morning and 28°C in the afternoon, while night-timetemperatures can be below that. By May, the rain is almost gone. The green and verdant land begins to dry out, turning a stark, pale yellowannouncing the approaching arrival of winter. 11

There really are only two seasons in Zimbabwe – summer and winter. Spring and Autumn are so short that most Zimbabweans never mentionthem. Zimbabwe has on average 12 hours of sunshine a day no matter what the season is, so sunblock, a brimmed hat and sunglasses are agood idea all year-round. Long-sleeved shirts and long trousers will also guard against the scorching sun rays. We recommend you wear lightshoes, especially if your itinerary entails a lot of walking, unless you are hiking, then hiking boots are a necessity. The Dry Season - Winter (June, July and August)In Winter, daytime temperatures can rise to 25°C. However, it’s best to include warmer clothing, especially warm trousers, a jacket and a jerseyas temperatures can drop to 6°C, especially at night. It’s a good idea to have warm socks with you.Casual, comfortable clothes during the day are a necessity as temperatures can get extremely hot. Light, loose-fitting clothing, such as cottonor linen, are best. They are both cool and easy to wash.Spring (September)As mentioned above, Spring, is such short seasons that if you are travelling to Zimbabwe at the very end of the dry season then include a jerseyand a pair of warm trousers in your luggage. 12

The Wet Season - Summer (September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April and May)Temperatures in some parts of the country, like Kariba and game park along the Zambezi River can soar to 50oC. Harare and Bulawayo areusually more comfortable but can still get hot. Casual, comfortable clothes during the day are a necessity. Loose-fitting, light clothing, such ascotton or linen, are best as they are both cool and easy to wash.If you are planning to be in the country during the rainy season, bring rainwearwith you. Torrential rains can occur in December, January, February and March.Autumn (May)Autumn doesn’t make much of an appearance in Zimbabwe. There won’t be avenues of trees turning the familiar autumnal shadesexperienced, as Zimbabweans say, ‘overseas’. Autumn is such short seasons that if you are travelling to Zimbabwe at the very beginning of thedry season, but not staying for winter itself, then include a jersey and a pair of warm trousers in your luggage.When on BusinessSmart casual will cover just about every situation. If you are attending a business meeting you may want to dress more formally, but for bothmen and women standard business attire will be sufficient. 13

When on SafariFor safaris, please remember to wear appropriate clothing and shoes. Earth coloured clothes, such as browns, greens and tans are advisable.You don’t want to stand out as a tasty morsel to hungry lions. And on that note, if you are in the game parks, do not get out of your vehicle andkeep the doors locked. If lions are around, close the windows.When out on the townSmart casual will cover just about every situation. 14

Internet is available but can be limited, especially outside of the major cities, Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. Most holiday accommodation venues offer internet and or WiFi to their guests, but there are often disruptions in service. Some venues chargefor the service. It’s advisable to ensure you know if your venue charges or not. 15

A universal travel adaptor is essential for all trips abroad. A voltage converter or transformer may also be necessary. Here’s why.Universal Travel AdapterJust think of the electronics we have in our lives these days that need to be plugged in to work, or to at least charge the battery - smartphone,tablet, laptop, headphones, camera or Bluetooth speaker, toothbrush, curling irons and travel kettle and travel iron. Avoid purchasing one atthe airport as these are usually astronomically expensive.It is important to note that a travel adapter, even a universal one, does NOT convert the voltage or the frequency. Travel adapters ONLY allow adevice from one country to be plugged into the wall outlet of another country, using the universal adapter, as a link between the two.There are 3 plug types used in Zimbabwe: Types C, D, and G. It’s important to remember that some travel adaptors are not suitable for anyappliance that requires an earth connection. Please check your appliance first.Voltage Converter or TransformerZimbabwe operates on a 240V supply voltage and 50Hz. It is extremely dangerous to use an electrical appliance rated at a different voltagefrom the supply. If the standard voltage in your country is 240 V, you can use your electric appliances in Zimbabwe. If you're plugging in an 16

appliance that was built for 240-volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then a Universal Travel Adapteris all you need. If your appliance is NOT compatible with 240 volts, a voltage converter or transformer, will be necessary.We strongly advise that, to be on the safe side, that you should bring both a universal travel adapter AND a voltage converter or transformer foryour time in Zimbabwe. 17