Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe Climate | Zimbabwe Visa Requirements
Zimbabwe is a unique and fascinating holiday destination, blessed with a landscape of extraordinary beauty, rich and diverse tropical wildlife. Unspoilt by mass tourism, it has something to offer everyone - from a quiet and spacious haven to a land of thrilling adventure, through white-water rafting and traditional dance to birding safaris and contemporary music. For anyone who wants to experience the best that Africa has to offer, Zimbabwe is the ideal destination.
Victoria Falls is one of the most spectacular natural wonders of the world - hence its almost universal appeal to travellers. The mighty Zambezi flows broad and placid to the brink.
THE CLIMATE
Sept to Oct is hot and dry. Nov to Mar, hot and wet. The best time to visit Apr-May and Aug-Sep when the weather is mid with little rain.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
1 JAN; 14,15,17,18 APR; 1, 25 MAY; 11, 12 AUG; 22, 25, 26 DEC.
CURRENCY
The currency of the country is Zimbabwe Dollar.
Foreign travellers to Zimbabwe are expected to make payments in foreign currency South African Rands or US Dollars are accepted, We advise clients to take small denominations of bank notes as change will be given in Zimbabwean Dollars. National Park and River Usage fees are payable in US Dollar currency only and vary from USD5-USD20 depending on the activity clients take part in.
Please note credit cards will not be accepted as a form of payment in Zimbabwe.
Traveller’s cheques are accepted at some hotels or activity companies.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS:
Compulsory Vaccinations: None
Recommended Vaccinations: Hepatitus A and Tetanus
Precautions: Malaria prophylaxis
THE VICTORIA FALLS
The world renowned Victoria Falls which the local Kololo tribe call Mosi-oa-tunya (the smoke that thunders) are one of Africa's scenic enchanting sights. They were named after Queen Victoria by the first white man to see them, explorer David Livingstone in 1855.When local people showed him 5,45 million litres of water plunging every minute into a 100 meter deep chasm, David Livingstone was overwhelmed by their splendour and he immediately christened them after his queen. At the falls the Zambezi River is over 1,6 km wide, and plunges into a 106 m deep chasm which runs across the path of the river
WILDLIFE
The magnificent spectacle of Africa's wildlife is another factor in Zimbabwe's tourist success. No one can fail to be moved or excited by a sight of a herd of elephants moving with a ponderous grace to a waterhole, or rolling in mud-baths like children at play; a lion moving stealthily in pursuit of its quarry, herd of skittish wildebeest or neat zebra, or the seesaw gallop of giraffe. The 'Big Five' i.e. elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhinoceros can all be seen in their natural habitats in the country.
As one of the progressive countries in Africa in the field of wildlife management, Zimbabwe has reserved 5 million hectares or 13 percent of the country's land area as parks or wildlife estates conserving one of the world's largest remaining concentrations of animal life.
KARIBA
One of the greatest engineering achievements of the last century, the construction of the 122m high Kariba Dam wall, has tamed the strength of the great Zambezi and created one of the world's man made lakes. On the shores of the 5180 sq km lake, picturesque resorts, play host to visitors who come to sail, water-ski, sunbathe, fish for the fighting tiger fish, for which Kariba has become famous, or gamble at the casino. Lake Kariba is also fished commercially.
VISA INFORMATION:
As KDR Travel do not issue visas the below is given for information purposes only and is subject to change at any time. KDR strongly suggest clients contact their local Zimbabwe visa authorities to get up to date information on Visa requirements and cost of these
Zimbabwe Visa Authorities
Visas are not required by SA passport holders.
Issuing Authority:
Zimbabwe Consulate
17th Floor, 20 Anderson Street, Johannesburg
PO Box 61736 Marshalltown 2107
Tel: (011) 8382 156/9
Fax: (011) 8385620
O/hrs: Mon-Tue & Thur-Fri: 08H30-12h00
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web: www.zimbabweconsulate.co.za
The Following passport holders DO NOT Need a visa:
Aruba, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Caymen Islands, Congo (DRC). Cyprus, Fiji, Grenada, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Leeward lsl, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Monserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Singapore, Soloman Islands, South Africa, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent & Grenadines, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Western Samoa, Zambia.
The Following passport holders, Visas will be issued on payment at port of entry:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Cook Islands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau Islands, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico (USA), Russia, Seychelles, Spain, State of Palestine, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, UK, Uruguay, USA, Vatican, Virgin Islands (USA).
Visas must be obtained prior to arrival by passport holders of countries NOT mentioned above.
Requirements:
Applications made to the Zimbabwe Consulate in JHB.
• 1 Fully completed application form
• 1 Valid passport (valid a minimum of 6 months from date the application is submitted to the visa issuing authorities.)
• 2 Passport size photos.
• Proof of hotel booking or an invitation letter and proof of residential address ie. Water or electricity of the invitee
• If in transit, visa of the country of destination
Validitiy:
• Single entry visa is valid for 6 months.
• Double entry visa is valid for 6 months.
Processing time:
Non SA passport holders-approximately 7-14 working days if submitted over the counter, and 3-4 weeks to process a visa which comes through the post.
COST:
FREE to SA passport holders.
Other passport holders:
Single entry: USD32.00
Double entry: USD47.00
UK passport holders:
USD55.00 for a single entry visa
USD70.00 for a double entry visa if paying at point of entry.
For further clarification contact the Visa Section of the Zimbabwe Consulate or Zimbabwe Tourist office at:
Tel: (011) 616 9534/5/6
