Money:
The de facto official currency is the US dollar (USD). The
Zimbabwe dollar (ZWD) was effectively abandoned as the official
curency in early 2009 after runaway inflation. The South African
Rand (ZAR) and British Pound (GBP) are also sometimes accepted.
Major credit cards, including Visa and MasterCard, are accepted in
most of the larger hotels, restaurants and shops. Many smaller
establishments still do not have credit card facilities; Diners
Club and American Express are often not accepted. ATM facilities,
dispensing US$, are available in the cities, although in smaller
towns and rural areas you'll need to bring cash. Because there are
few coins in circulation, you may not receive change for anything
that costs less than US$1. It is not uncommon to receive change in
sweets for small amounts, even in shopping malls.
Time:
Electricity:
Electrical current in Zimbabwe is 220 volts, 50Hz.
Three rectangular blade plugs are common.
Language:
English is the official language in Zimbabwe, although it
is only spoken as a first language by a tiny percentage of the
population. Several indigenous languages are spoken including Shona
and Ndebele.
Health:
Travellers to Zimbabwe who are coming from infected countries
require a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Precautions against
Hepatitis A, and rabies are also recommended. Other risks include
typhoid, polio and bilharzia; a high prevalence of AIDS/HIV exists.
There is a risk of malaria all year in most of the country,
particularly in the Zambezi Valley, Victoria Falls, Hwange National
Park and in the Eastern Highlands; the risk is very small in Harare
and Bulawayo. Mosquitoes are chloroquine resistant. Precautions
against mosquito bites should be taken to avoid any number of
mosquito-borne diseases. Cholera outbreaks occur usually during the
rainy season when flooding and contamination of water sources takes
place. Rapidly declining health standards are also responsible for
the world's lowest life expectancy according to WHO, and a
breakdown in the water distribution system, especially in Harare.
Visitors are advised to take food and hygiene precautions. The
standard of tap water in urban areas is considered low, and bottled
water is available. The current economic instability has led to
shortages of medication in public hospitals, and many staff are on
strike; it is advisable to bring a supply of personal medication.
Medical insurance is essential. Private clinics expect cash payment
and medical costs can be high.
Tipping:
A service charge is usually included in the bill in Zimbabwe,
otherwise a 10% tip is customary for restaurants, hotels and taxis.
In general tipping for good service is discretionary. Some tour
guides and game rangers depend largely on tips for their
income.
Safety:
Zimbabwe has a less-than-glowing safety report according to most
governments. Continued political unrest and vigilante action by
members of the National War Veterans' Association have left most
farm and rural areas unsafe for travel due to the high chance of
crime.Even within cities like Harare there are indiscriminate
outbreaks of violence and looting. The government is widely
acknowledged to be dysfunctional. Although Zimbabwe is unstable,
there have been no reports of violence targeted at foreign
tourists; nonetheless it is wise use taxis and hire cars to avoid
walking the city streets alone at night.While there are travel advisories in place for much of the
country, Victoria Falls is considered safe and well-policed and the
majority of visits are hassle-free. The resort areas around Lake
Kariba are also considered to be safe, especially on guided tours
and package holidays.
Customs:
In Zimbabwe it is against the law to take photographs of public
buildings or government institutions, and it is not advisable to
take photographs anywhere in the vicinity of such buildings, or any
roadblocks and illegally occupied farms, as this could lead to
arrest. It is also illegal to take photographs of police and
military, as well as of demonstrations. It is a criminal offence to
make insulting comments about President Mugabe and his government.
It is also an offence to continue driving when the President's
motorcade goes past, no matter which side of the road you are on.
Visitors should be aware that an open hand is the political symbol
of the main opposition political party, the Movement for Democratic
Change, and a friendly wave may therefore be misinterpreted as a
provocative gesture. Homosexuality is illegal. Civilians are not
permitted to wear camouflage clothing.
Business:
Business in Zimbabwe is conducted in English, and is fairly
informal, with drinking and socialising very much part of the
business scene. Dress is fairly conservative, but lightweight suits
or casual jackets are more suited to the hot climate than formal
business wear. It is customary to shake hands with men and women at
the beginning and end of a meeting. Business hours are generally
Monday to Friday 8am to 4.30pm, although hours vary considerably
depending on the establishment; some businesses close at 11am on
Wednesdays, and some are open on Saturday mornings.
Duty Free:
Travellers to Zimbabwe do not have to pay duty on items to the
value of US$250 provided this allowance is not claimed more than
once in a 30-day period. These include goods for personal
consumption, including tobacco, and alcohol up to 5 litres with no
more than 2 litres of this being spirits. Prohibited items include
narcotic and amphetamine drugs, honey, indecent or obscene reading
material, toy firearms, and blade knives.
Communications:
The international dialling code for Zimbabwe is +263. The
outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g.
0027 for South Africa). International Direct Dialling is available.
City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)4 for Harare. Telecel, Econet
and Net*One operators provide GSM 900 network mobile phone coverage
in most cities, towns and tourist areas throughout the country.
Internet and email facilities are available in most towns and
cities Harare, but internet cafes are generally crowded.