Zimbabwe - Country Information

Film Commissions

Permits/visas
Visas are required.

General Information

Location: Southern Africa
Local Time: GMT +2
Capital City: Harare
Population: 12.4 million
Area: 390 square km, 242 square miles.
Language(s): English, Shona, Ndebele
Dialling Code: 263
Emergency: Police: 995. Fire: 993. Ambulance: 994
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard: PAL
Driving: Driving is on the left. International Driving Permit or National licence (for up to 90 days) if not in English must be accompanied by a certificate of authority or translation of text
Electricity: 220/230V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Zimbabwe Dollar (ZWD 1 = 100 Cents)
Notes: ZWD: 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000
Coins: ZWD: 1, 2, 5. Cents: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted

Opening Hours
Bank: 0800-1500 Mon-Tue & Thur-Fri, 0800-1300 Wed, 0800-1130 Sat
Office: 0800-1700 Mon-Fri
Shops: 0800-1700 Mon-Fri, 0800-1300 Sat

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1 New Years Day, Mar 21 Good Friday, Mar 24 Easter Monday, Apr 18 Independence Day, May 1 Workers Day, May 25 Africa Day, Aug 11 Heroes Day, Aug 12 Defence Forces Day, Dec 22 Unity Day, Dec 25 Christmas Day, Dec 26 Boxing Day

Business/Social Hints: Business is conducted in English. Smoking is generally accepted but restricted in some public buildings and on public transport. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants and clubs, punctuality is appreciated. Dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. The minimum drinking age is 18 years

Tipping: When there is no service charge, tips are around 10%

Health

Compulsory vaccinations: Yellow fever certificate if arriving from infected areas.

Recommended immunisations: Cholera*, diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, malaria, polio, TB, tetanus, typhoid, rabies
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: Malaria exists from Nov-Jun in areas below 1,200 metres and throughout the year in the Zambezi valley. There is little risk in Harare and Bulawayo. Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required by all

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid for duration of stay

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Zimbabwe
2) For stays up to 6 months by nationals of Hong Kong (S.A.R. passports)
3) For stays up to 3 months by nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Congo, Cyprus, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu & Zambia
4) For stays up to 30 days by nationals of Mozambique

Notes: Visas a 3 month hoilday visa, 30 day business visa or 3 day transit visa can be issued on arrival to the following:
a) Holders of British passports
b) Nationals of Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Czech Rep, Denmark, Dominican Rep, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland Rep, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau Islands, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Seychelles, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, United States, U.S. Vatican City
Fee: For nationals of Ghana and South Africa: Free of charge
all other nationals: Between USD 30 and USD 55 depending on the type of visa and number of entries allowed

Special Notes

All visitors must hold onward/return tickets or deposit adequate funds to purchase a ticket, documents required for next destination & sufficient funds for length of stay

Climate

The highland areas are wetter than the lowlands which are rather dry with minimal rainfall & considerably warmer all year round. Most of the country has a rainy season between Nov-Mar. Temperatures are warm throughout the year, with October being the hottest month. Winter from May-Aug is generally dry & sunny

Clothing

Lightweights with a warmer wrap for evenings and light rainwear for rainy season

Charts for Harare

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 26 26 26 26 23 21 21 23 26 28 27 26 Min Temp (C) 16 16 14 13 9 7 7 8 12 14 16 16 Humidity am (%) 74 77 75 68 60 58 56 50 43 43 56 67 Humidity pm (%) 57 53 52 44 37 36 33 28 26 26 43 57 Rainfall (mm) 196 178 117 28 13 3 0 3 5 28 97 163

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Zimbabwe Tourist Office contact Embassy of Zimbabwe
tel: +44 20 7240 6169
fax: +44 20 7240 5465
e-mail: zta.london@btclick.com
website: www.zimbabwetourism.co.zw
hours: 0900-1300 & 1400-1700 (Mon-Fri)

Embassy
Embassy of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe House, 429 Strand
London, WC2R 0JR
tel: +44 20 7836 7755
fax: +44 20 7379 1167
hours: 0900-1230 (Mon-Fri)