Amazing  Zimbabwe holidays & tours

Zimbabwe’s natural attractions are its biggest draw for tourists, including the dramatic cascades of Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya) and the national parks, including Hwange, Matobo, Zambezi and Mana Pools National Parks. There are also cultural and historic attractions to be found in Bulawayo, known as the ‘City of Kings’, which is home to the National Museum, as well as the Great Zimbabwe National Monument in Masvingo, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring remains dating back to the 11^th century from the palace and capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe.

Yes, UK citizens need a visa to travel to Zimbabwe. It is no longer possible to get this from the Zimbabwean embassy in London, but you can apply for an e-visa before you travel or buy a visa on arrival at airports including Harare and Victoria Falls. This costs $55 for single entry or $70 for double entry with 90 days validity (required if you are leaving Zimbabwe for a neighbouring country but returning to fly home) and you will need to pay with cash. The KAZA Univisa is also available, valid for travel between Zimbabwe and Zambia, and for day trips into Botswana, on arrival at Zimbabwe’s airports and land borders, priced $50 for 30 days validity. Your passport must have at least six months remaining to the expiry date and a minimum or three blank pages. Requirements can change, though – for the most up-to-date information on visas, please use the quick-check tool on our visa requirements page.

Zimbabwe is generally safe for tourists, with the biggest risks coming from petty crimes such as pickpocketing and bag snatching, but also muggings in city centres. Take extra care when leaving banks and ATMs, and avoid carrying or displaying valuables if possible. Street lighting can be poor in cities, so be wary after dark and avoid travelling alone. Scams include people asking to see documents such as passports, so always request identification before handing anything over – it’s better to carry a copy of your passport and visa than the original. The National Parks are usually very safe as vehicles are registered upon entry and exit, so the only bag-snatchers you’re likely to encounter here are baboons.

Zimbabwe’s dry season runs from April to October, and these months are the best time to visit if you’re hoping to see the wildlife as the animals are often easier to spot around waterholes. The country is often busy during the peak summer months while temperature gets significantly hotter by October, although September and October are also good times to see elephant herds in Hwange National Park. June to September is one of the best times to appreciate Victoria Falls – although the water level is lower than April and May and the falls aren’t at their most powerful, your views are less likely to be hidden by spray. You can expect many safari lodges to close entirely between January and March for the rainy season.

Yes, the Victoria Falls lie along the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia so it’s possible to see the falls from both countries. Around 75% of the cascades like within the Zimbabwe side and the National Park is easier to visit, as well as better set up for tourists. If you have a KAZA Visa, which grants entry to both Zimbabwe and Zambia, it is possible to visit the falls on both sides of the border.

Zimbabwe is home to one of Africa’s largest elephant populations at Hwange National Park, as well as lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo at several different national parks. Other safari highlights include cheetah, spotted hyena, hippo and zebra. You can also see both white and black rhino at different locations in the country, antelope including sable and roan, giraffes and one of Africa’s biggest wild dog populations. Pangolins also live in Zimbabwe, although the chance of seeing this rare animal is small.

Zimbabwe is a great destination for a family safari holiday, with many lodges welcoming younger guests and the chance to see some of the world’s most memorable wildlife in its natural habitat. Older kids will also be mesmerised by the spectacle of the Victoria Falls, while there are also more adrenaline-fuelled activities for teens on family Zimbabwe holidays, including white-water rafting.

US dollars have been the everyday currency in Zimbabwe for some years and will remain legal tender until at least 2030 so these are the easiest option for Zimbabwe holidays. Dollars are often accepted more widely than the official currency, currently the Zimbabwe Gold, or ZiG, which replaced the Zimbabwean dollar in April 2024. The sixth currency used by the country since the collapse of the Zimbabwe dollar in 2009, it is notionally divided into 100 cents, although the smallest denomination coin is 1 ZiG, along with 2 and 5 ZiG coins. Bank note denominations officially include 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200, although not all are in circulation. 

Getting around Zimbabwe can be challenging with public transport often limited outside the cities, as well as just two rail lines across the country. Private transport and organised tours of Zimbabwe are one of the best ways to get around, particularly for destinations like Victoria Falls and the national parks.

As well as the vaccinations recommended for life in the UK, including polio, tetanus and diphtheria, a vaccination against Hepatitis A (or a booster shot) is also advised. If you are planning to spend longer than four weeks in Zimbabwe, you may also be advised to have a booster dose of polio vaccine if you haven’t had one in the past 12 months. Malaria is present in parts of Zimbabwe, and the risk is highest around the Zambezi Valley, Victoria Falls and Hwange, especially from November to June, so antimalarials and insect repellent is essential. The parasitic infection schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia) is also a risk if you swim or paddle in fresh water lakes and streams – always get advice from your Zimbabwe tour guide on which areas are safe.

Tipping is not compulsory but unless you’ve received sub-standard service, it’s usual to tip in Zimbabwe. If you’re staying in lodges or taking a safari, there’s generally a combined tip box at reception where you can leave cash at the end of your stay. Otherwise, a tip of around 10% is standard in restaurants. Your tour manager can also advise on tips for drivers and guides; you can also find suggested amounts in our useful information sheet, which will be sent to you before you travel. Porterage is included in our Zimbabwe tours.

There are three international airports in Zimbabwe, at the capital Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. Our Zimbabwe tour In The Footsteps Of Livingstone currently flies in to Victoria Falls and home from there, after time in Botswana. Our Tracks of Africa tour flies into Cape Town and home from Victoria Falls. For the most up-to-date flight options, speak to one of our travel advisors. Flight time from London to Zimbabwe is approximately 13 hours.

You’ll stay in a real mix of places on our Zimbabwe tours – these can range from small, friendly safari lodges to the five-star Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, a tented camp in Hwange National Park, as well as by Rovos Rail or a small boat chartered exclusively for our group. For details, take a look at the tour itinerary or speak to one of our travel advisors.

We get around by road, rail and water on our Zimbabwe tours. Bigger distances are covered by coach, while game drives and water safaris are taken on smaller vehicles and tender boats.