Travel to Zimbabwe

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• Zimbabwe Intro
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Safari Tours

Accommodation Zimbabwe is a country that offers a surprising diversity and impressive scenery for its small size.

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa bordering South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique and Botswana. It is an exciting country appealing to outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers from the grand and famous Victoria Falls to the natural beaty of the Motopo Hills and their huge boulders to the ancient Great Zimbabwe ruins going back to Africa's great ancestry. The Victoria Falls are one of the great natural wonders of the world. The mile-wide (2km) water fall creates a cloud of mist that can be seen up to 20 miles (32km) away. It is one of Zimbabwe's most popular tourist destinations. It is also a popular adrenaline adventure destination with white water rafting and bungee jumping into the nearby Zambezi River gorge.

Zimbabwe enjoys a rich Wildlife legacy. The national parks and wildlife reserves offer good game viewing, especially on the shores of Lake Kariba, where hippo, crocodiles, buffalo, rhino, elephant and lion roam freely. Hwange National Park is Zimbabwes largest game reserve and the saltpans and grassy plains support a large concentrations of animals.

Lake Kariba is treasured as a source of hydro-electricity, as well as for its fishing resources. It is a beautiful stretch of water studded with islands and the sun-bleached branches of dead trees, surrounded by mountains and forests. Houseboats offer a wonderful opportunity to relax and take in the spectacular sunsets, enjoy a variety of water sports, and spot the vast quantities of game attracted to the lake, including huge Nile crocodiles and hippo.

Unfortunately due to the ongoing social and political unrest in Zimbabwe, most potential Travelers are put off from visiting this beautiful country that offers first-class game viewing safaris and breathtaking scenery. Although visitors to the country are urged to exercise caution at all times and to remain aware of recent developments, the main tourist areas, and national parks in particular, have been largely unaffected by the political situation, being far from the cities where much of the instability exists. In a desperate attempt to attract business, many game lodges are offering extremely competitive prices to Travelers.

Currency

1 Zimbabwe dollar (ZWD)= 100 cents. Foreign currency, especially US dollars, is hard to come by, but widely accepted and often preferred, and many prices are given in US dollars. Hard currency is required to pay for entry to Victoria Falls and many national parks; it is advisable to carry notes in small denominations, as change is often unavailable. Banks and major hotels have foreign exchange facilities and many lodges, travel agencies and shops accept Travelers cheques. Major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club and American Express are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops. ATM facilities are available in the cities.

Health

Travelers coming from infected countries require a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Precautions against Hepatitis A, Meningococcus and tetanus are also recommended. Other risks include typhoid, polio and bilharzia; a high prevalence of AIDS/HIV exists. There is a risk of malaria all year in most of the country, particularly in the Zambezi Valley, Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park and in the Eastern Highlands; the risk is very small in Harare and Bulawayo. Mosquitoes are chloroquine resistant. A series of cholera outbreaks have been occurring since early 2006, resulting in over 70 deaths so far, the most recent being during May in the northeastern town of Guruve. Cholera outbreaks occur usually during the rainy season when flooding and contamination of water sources takes place. Visitors are advised to take food and hygiene precautions. Tap water in urban areas is considered safe to drink, but bottled water is also available. The current economic instability has led to shortages of medication in public hospitals, and many staff are on strike; it is advisable to bring a supply of personal medication. Medical insurance is essential. Private clinics expect cash payment and medical costs can be high.

Language

English is the official language, although it is only spoken as a first language by a tiny percentage of the population. Several indigenous languages are spoken including Shona ad Ndebele.

Tipping

A service charge is usually included in the bill, otherwise a 10% tip is customary. In general tipping for good service is discretionary. Tour guides and game rangers depend largely on tips for their income and ranges from US$5 to US$10 per person per day.

Geography and Climate

Summer runs from October to April and has hot, sunny days with daytime temperatures around 86ºF (30ºC) in the main centres and hotter in the low-lying areas such as the Zambezi Valley, Kariba and Victoria Falls. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible. The rainy season runs from November to March, although the Eastern Highlands experience rain throughout most of the year. Winter days are warm and dry (68ºF/20ºC), with a vast drop in temperature at night, and runs from May to September. Winter is the most pleasant time to travel, and is best for game viewing and white water rafting; however this is also peak tourist season and is the busiest time of year.

Religion

A large portion of the population are Protestant and Roman Catholic with a minority following indigenous beliefs and Islam. People enjoy freedom of religion.

Entry Requirements

All visitors require tickets and documents for return or onward journeys, as well as sufficient funds for their duration of stay.

Internal Transport

Travel within the country can be conducted by road on good tar surfaces between major centres. For acccess to wilderness areas. air charter flights are the most convenient, or, in the case of very remote sites, 4X4 vehicles.

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