Trans Africa Safaris

ZIMBABWE: PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION

QUICK FACTS

Area: 150 871 sq miles
Capital City: Harare
Government: Parliamentary Democracy
President: Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister: Morgan Tsvangirai
Languages: English, Shona and isiNdebele
Location: Southern Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east.
Population size: 13, 349, 000, Population density: 85 sq miles
Telephone code: +263 plus city code and phone number
Time difference: GMT + 2 hours

BANKS/FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Banks are open as follows:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday	8:00am – 3:00pm
Wednesday	8:00am – 12:30pm
Saturday	8:00am – 11:30pm

The bank agency at Harare Airport is open from 6:30am to 10:00pm daily.

CLIMATE

Temperature - average daily maximum (in Fahrenheit) / Rainfall - av. monthly (in millimeters).

	Temperature Victoria Falls	Rainfall Victoria Falls	Temperature Hwange	Rainfall Hwange
Summer December to March	92	158	90	112
Autumn April to May	86	20	83	6
Winter June to August	81	0	78	3
Spring September to November	94	60	95	38

CLOTHING

Casual, comfortable clothing is suitable throughout the year Items should include:

Bush hat
T-shirts
One long-sleeved cotton shirt (gents)/long-sleeved blouse (ladies)
Shorts/skirts, jeans or safari trousers, tracksuit, swimsuit
Good walking shoes, sandals, warm jersey, jacket or parka (for game drives) and light rain gear in summer
Bright colours are not recommended – Khaki is fine. NO CAMOUFLAGE CLOTHING IS PERMITTED

Other suggested items are: good quality sunglasses, moisturizing cream, lip-salve, UV sunblock, torch, insect repellant, binoculars and camera

CREDIT CARDS/CURRENCY

The use of the Zimbabwe Dollar as a mode of payment for goods and services has been suspended indefinitely. The country has adopted a multi currency payment system. Readily accepted foreign currencies are USD, Pounds Sterling, Euro and SA Rand. Visitors are encouraged to carry their hard currencies in small denominations for ease of trade.

Though credit cards are generally not accepted as a form of payment, there are some hotels that do accept them (please check with your hotel before you travel).
To enable clients to have a stress-free holiday in Zimbabwe, it is best to book and prepay travel services (hotels, transfers, and excursions) in advance of travel.

Please be advised that Zimbabwe regulations require non-Zimbabwean residents to settle extra’s accounts in foreign currency. Payment can be made in cash (US$) or travellers’ cheques. If paying by traveller’s cheques, client MUST produce the original bank receipt for cheques purchased. Zimbabwe banks will also NOT exchange traveller’s cheques for cash without this receipt advice. Traveller’s cheques are not widely accepted at restaurants or hotels.

DEPARTURE TAX

Included in air ticket.

DUTY FREE

Cigarettes, cigars, tobacco - no limit
5 litres of alcoholic beverages, of which no more than 2 litres may be spirits
Perfume and toilet water - no limit
Limited shopping at Victoria Falls and Harare Airports

ELECTRICAL CURRENT

220/240 volts AC, 50 Hz. 14 amp plug sockets.

HEALTH CONCERNS

Remember malaria prophylactic medication is required if visiting Zimbabwe.

Tap water is generally safe to drink everywhere, but should bottled mineral water be preferred, this is readily available. Avoid drinking calm stagnant water as this may be infected with bilharzia. It is recommended that guests drink at least 3 litres of water per day to limit the effects of dehydration - this excludes tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages.

HOLIDAYS

2012
1 Jan	New Year’s Day
2 Jan	Public Holiday (day in lieu)
6 April	Good Friday
7 April	Holy Saturday
9 April	Easter Monday
18 April	Independence Day
1 May	Workers’ Day
25 May	Africa Day
13 Aug	Heroes’ Day
14 Aug	Defence Forces Day
22 Dec	Unity Day
25 Dec	Christmas Day
26 Dec	Boxing Day

PASSPORT/VISA REQUIREMENTS

Visas are not the responsibility of Trans Africa Safaris. Please check with local authorities for all information pertaining to visa requirements.

Currently, a single entry or transit visa is US$30 pp and Us$45 for a double entry visa – must be paid in US$ cash on arrival Zimbabwe. Multiple entry visas can only be obtained in your country of residence.

If you are staying in Zimbabwe and wish to see the Falls from the Zambian side, please purchase a double entry visa on arrival in Zimbabwe. A Zambian day-trip visa is available at the Zambian Port of Entry for a fee of USD20.00 per person.

Passports: The situation regarding blank pages in passports, for visits to Southern Africa, changes regularly. Please see the list of counties with their specific requirements below:

Passports must be valid for 6 months after your departure from Southern Africa

Please note pages headed “Endorsements, Observations” etc are not VISA pages.

For your visit to Zimbabwe: 3 blank VISA pages
For your visit to South Africa: 2 blank VISA pages
For your visit to Botswana: 3 blank VISA pages
For your visit to Kenya: 2 blank VISA pages
For your visit to Mauritius: 2 blank VISA pages
For your visit to Mozambique: 3 blank VISA pages
For your visit to Namibia: 3 blank VISA pages
For your visit to Seychelles: 3-4 blank VISA pages
For your visit to Tanzania: 3 blank VISA pages
For your visit to Zambia: 2 blank VISA pages

Without the above you could be denied entry

PHOTOGRAPHY

A good SLR (single lens reflex) or digital SLR camera with telephoto zoom lens is recommended for photography of birds and animals, as is colour reversal film (slides) if using film as this will give better quality pictures than regular film. A big memory card / abundant film and spare batteries as recommended as these are often not available at the bush camps/lodges.