From the airport to the city centre Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has two international airports: Harare and Victoria Falls. Harare International Airport, which was named after Robert Gabriel Mugabe in 2017, has many services: cafes, toilets, hotel reservation offices, phone cards, cab stand... Its runway, which measures 4,725 m, is one of the longest on the continent. The terminal for international flights, opened in 1999, is located next to the old one, which is now used for internal flights. Hotel shuttles or cabs run from the airport to the center and into the suburbs of Harare. Cabs from the airport to the city center cost US$25. The modern Victoria Falls Airport was opened in 2015 and serves as the country's second international airport. Flights arrive from South Africa, Namibia, Ethiopia and Kenya. Victoria Falls is linked by an internal flight to Harare and Bulawayo. Charter airlines connect Victoria Falls to several airfields in the national parks and tourist areas in the north of the country: Bumi Hills, Tashinga (Matusadona), Kariba and Mana Pools, among others.
There are two types of airlines in Zimbabwe: scheduled airlines, which fly to major cities and tourist sites, and charter airlines, which provide personalized service and are licensed to use small bush airfields.
Arrival by train Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has a rail network of approximately 3,500 km, which connects the main population centers and tourist areas to each other (apart from the North East and Kariba). All lines in the country are managed by the National Railways. The country used to have a functioning intercity passenger train service. Trains offered first- and second-class carriages, the majority of which were fitted with sleeping compartments, and economy class, where a large number of passengers were seated. It was also possible to connect Maputo, Mozambique, and Francistown, Botswana. Unfortunately, all passenger trains are currently suspended. Freight services are still operating. Customers can transport their goods by rail to any destination in the entire network in Zimbabwe, as well as to neighboring SADC countries. For more information, contact the National Railways of Zimbabwe: +263 292 363 521 - www.nrz.co.zw - [email protected]. There are, however, high quality trains that run through Zimbabwe and other countries in the region. For example, Rovos Rail, a private South African company, runs routes around southern Africa. The trains are true luxury hotels on wheels with air-conditioned rooms and private bathrooms. The most expensive rooms take up the space of a half car and have a living room and a bathroom with bathtub. Lectures are given on board by historians. Three fine meals are served daily and guided tours are provided to places of interest. The four-day Zimbabwean journey takes you from Pretoria, South Africa to Victoria Falls with a safari in Hwange Park en route. The 15-day trip from Cape Town, South Africa to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania includes three days in Zimbabwe. Rovos Rail: +27 12 315 8242 - www.rovos.com - [email protected]
Arrival by boat Zimbabwe
For a nice boat trip, it is recommended to cross Lake Kariba between the towns of Kariba and Mlibizi. This 22-hour trip can be booked through Kariba Ferries: [email protected] - +263 772 232 155. Boat cruises from a few hours to several weeks, on houseboats that can accommodate up to 50 people, can be arranged throughout the Zambezi, especially on Lake Kariba and around Victoria Falls. For ease of travel, many companies have small motorboats for lodge-to-lodge transfers.
Public transport Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is well served by international buses. The international bus station in Harare is located at the Roadport, next to the bus station on Fourth Street. Here buses arrive and depart for Windhoek (Namibia), Gaborone (Botswana), Beira, Tete and Maputo (Mozambique), Lusaka (Zambia), Lilongwe and Blantyre (Malawi), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), and many cities in South Africa including Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg. Many departures to South Africa, Zambia and Botswana are also available from Bulawayo. Be aware of visa requirements for countries transited if departing for a more distant destination; among the border countries, French citizens must obtain a visa for Mozambique and Zambia. For those arriving from Zambia directly to the Victoria Falls, no buses cross the border, but many companies run from Lusaka to Livingstone, from where the falls and the border are easily accessible by cab or local transport.
Traveling by bus in Zimbabwe can be an adventure. There are high-end buses and local buses, minibuses or shared cabs. Vehicles (except for some buses) stop on request and pick up customers at the side of the road if there is room. The traveler can also be dropped off anywhere on the roadside, which is very useful given the number of hotels located between cities.
High-end buses. Comfortable, often air-conditioned, with music or television, they provide reliable and regular service at a higher price on the route between Harare and Victoria Falls via Bulawayo, with stops along the way in lesser places. Tickets can be booked in advance. Some companies can also take you as far as Beitbridge en route to South Africa. For a Bulawayo-Harare trip, it costs around US$40 per person.
Chicken bus. Local buses are called chicken buses in Zimbabwe because their prices, like chicken, make them affordable for everyone. With five seats per row instead of four, passengers are more crowded. They serve most communities on paved roads. Schedules are fixed, but sometimes a little less punctual than the premium buses. The terminals of these local buses are sometimes located in the suburbs, where life is colorful and onlookers are more numerous. There is no point in booking in advance, you should arrive at the bus station and take the first bus that leaves in the desired direction. For a trip from Bulaway to Harare, you should expect to pay around 15 USD per person.
Kombis and shared cabs. Where buses do not go, you can almost always rely on these two forms of transportation. Kombis, minibuses where passengers are packed like sardines, will get you to your destination for the same price as chicken buses, but large pieces of luggage are often charged extra. Shared cabs are private cars that operate in the same way. Typically, a ride in a kombi will cost 0.5 to 1 USD.
Bike, scooters & co Zimbabwe
Bicycles are the most popular means of transportation in rural areas, as they can be used to travel between fields, gardens and forests, and to connect small communities over long distances. In Harare, there are no bicycle paths, but as soon as one moves away from the capital, it becomes possible to ride a bicycle along the roads. As for motorcycles, they are very rare in Zimbabwe. Stores selling spare parts can be found in most major cities.
With a driver Zimbabwe
Cabs are available in all major cities in the country (Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, Masvingo, Kariba, Victoria Falls, to name a few). These are usually five-seater vehicles or minibuses(kombi), which are quite expensive compared to other African countries. A transfer from Harare airport to the city center costs about US$25, while a simple ride from one end of the city to the other rarely costs more than US$20. Official cabs are licensed and sometimes equipped with taximeters. However, it is not uncommon for drivers to offer flat rates that can be negotiated. Prices vary between towns and companies, but the average is US$1-2 per kilometer. Even bush camps, lodges and large hotels usually have a shuttle service and manage the transfer of their guests. It is therefore possible to arrange an airport-hotel transfer in advance.
Hitchhiking in Zimbabwe is a very common practice, and one that many Zimbabweans who cannot afford a vehicle engage in. Hitchhiking is an easy way to get around the country and to get a taste of the African atmosphere. If you are driving in a rental car, beware of people on the side of the road who raise their hands when they see that you are a tourist. It is not very safe to stop at every hand raised..
Some advice before getting on board. Favour the main roads (i.e. the national ones) which are always busier than the secondary roads, where the wait can be interminably long. Gas stations are excellent places to stop. Take a quick but discreet look at the general condition of the vehicle (some walking garbage cans tend to stay on the market!). Beware of drunk driving, do not hitchhike at night. For short distances, drivers often don't ask for money, but you may come across a shared cab that does. Don't be surprised if you're traveling tight: when there's room for one, there's room for ten! Don't hitchhike with your thumb in the air, but with a gentle wave of your hand horizontally.
By car Zimbabwe
Entering Zimbabwe with your own vehicle is not easy; it requires paperwork and payments. The Automobile Association of South Africa publishes a list of required documents on its website. For those who want to rent a car in a country neighboring Zimbabwe, it is imperative to tell the rental agency that you intend to go to Zimbabwe. Some do not allow this and you will need documentation from those who do. The most common border crossings used by motorists are Beitbridge (South Africa), Plumtree or Kazungula (Botswana), Victoria Falls and Chirundu (Zambia), Nyamapanda and Mutare/Forbes (Mozambique). Border crossings are generally open from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, but some close later. The Beitbridge station is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Beitbridge now has a newly built border post on the Zimbabwean side with very clean, efficient and modernized facilities and helpful staff.
If you fly into Zimbabwe, you can easily rent a car to get around the country. Vehicle import taxes are very high in Zimbabwe and this is reflected in the rental price, which is much higher than in Europe. When you add to this the cost of fuel, one of the most expensive in the region, and the tolls to be paid at the entrance and exit of each city, renting a car is not the best option for travelers on a budget. Also beware of mileage limits imposed by rental agencies. The larger agencies generally have offices in Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. However, the flexibility of a car allows you to see places that would be much more difficult or impossible to access by public transport. The multitude of police roadblocks where travelers were extorted have disappeared since 2017 and the main roads are in very good condition. A 4 x 4 is not necessary except in some national parks and especially between Kariba and Victoria Falls. Generally speaking, on the roads between the tourist sites, a classic car will suffice.
As in England, driving is done on the left. The road is a very good way to travel the country, if you have time. The national network is very well developed and represents more than 5,000 km of two-lane tarred roads. It is in good condition and links the main cities and tourist centers. Harare (the capital) and Bulawayo (the second largest metropolis in the country) are connected to Victoria Falls, Hwange, Masvingo (ruins of Great Zimbabwe), Kariba and the various regions of the Eastern Highlands. There are also very good roads leading to all border crossings and allowing easy access to all neighboring countries: paved roads to Beitbridge (for South Africa), Plumtree and Kazungula (for Botswana), Mutare, Mount Selinda and Nyamapanda (for Mozambique), Chirundu and Kariba (for Zambia) The only problem is that the northwestern part of the country has no paved road between Kariba and Victoria Falls. Unless you want to drive through this last section, it is not necessary to own a 4WD to get to the most visited places. Renting a four-wheel drive vehicle is only necessary for those who wish to leave the usual tourist routes and travel to the most remote reserves on their own. While the best-known part of Hwange National Park is easily accessible by car, the wildest parks require a high-suspension vehicle for their sandy or rough trails. This is the case for Mana Pools, Gonarezhou, Matusadona, Chizarira and the entire northwestern and southern part of Hwange National Park. In addition to these paved roads, Zimbabwe has a huge network of tracks, which wind their way through the larger parks, but also criss-cross the country from north to south and east to west. Only the main routes, of varying quality, are mapped and have a relatively good number of signs. The others, i.e. the myriad of roads that branch off from the major routes, are less well marked. If you wish to travel through deepest Africa to particularly remote areas of the country, it is wise to gather as much up-to-date information as possible about the condition of the tracks and their exact location beforehand, and to have a good map and a GPS.
Accessibility Zimbabwe
The destination has few facilities for the disabled. However, some tourist establishments offer a personalized welcome to this category of customers. Zimbabweans with disabilities are not well integrated into society, as they are sometimes associated with a curse that would have struck their parents.
