Tailor-made
Zimbabwe
Holidays

UK passport holders require a visa to enter Zimbabwe. This is purchased on arrival in the country at immigration by cash payment (at the moment the amount is USD50 per person).

If you are travelling via South Africa with children you will be required to present an unabridged birth certificate for each child, and possibly sworn affidavits permitting them to travel from parents not travelling. Please ask us for more details.

The guides in Zimbabwe are some of the best in Africa. Their experience in walking safaris and canoeing safaris is unparalleled. Some of the most famous names in African guiding are based in Zimbabwe and are well known on sites such as YouTube for the up-close and relaxed encounters that you can experience with big game, particularly on foot.

The infrastructure in Zimbabwe is better than some of its neighbouring countries. There is a domestic flight network with Air Zimbabwe, but the routings do not cover all areas of the country, so although most internal travel is by air, some sections can be pricey as it will be by light aircraft. Distances are vast and therefore road transfers are limited to certain areas, but these can be very lengthy drives and therefore have to be planned carefully into the itinerary, and may be worth the extra spend to fly in. Self-driving is possible but is not something we recommend for most trips due to the time constraints and logistics.

As we’re not medical experts, we feel it is essential you contact your GP regarding vaccinations and the like for travel to Zimbabwe. What follows are some suggestions, but they must be verified by a medical professional. In addition to such vaccinations as you’d routinely have for living in the UK, further boosters are recommended for Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Diptheria.

Malaria exists in Zimbabwe. Please consult your GP for advice on what malarial precautions to take.

We also like these guys, but again you must talk to your GP first: The Travel Doctor, an interactive website providing specialist health information for travellers plus customised lists of travel medicines, vaccines and malaria tablets for holiday makers, global adventure travellers and expeditions.

The Zimbabwean dollar has been phased out since 2009 due to hyperinflation, and is no longer accepted at all in Zimbabwe. Therefore, although a variety of strong currencies are accepted in Zimbabwe, the most widely accepted and best to use is the US Dollar (US$).

If you’re spending time on safari, there are some things you should pack in addition to your usual holiday luggage. These are our suggestions:

• Neutral coloured clothing (avoid blue, black or white as these attract Tsetse fly)
• Multiple layers – you will experience significant temperature variation in the course of one game drive
• Binoculars
• Camera
• Mosquito repellent (we recommend at least 50% Deet)
• Sun hat
• Good sturdy walking or trail shoes

We believe travel should be a force for good. That means exploring with open eyes, treading lightly, and respecting the people and places that make the world so special. Our code of conduct isn’t about rules, it’s simply a guide to help you travel thoughtfully, ethically, and with care. Because every small choice makes a big difference.

• If you choose to trust us with your holiday, we’ll send you a “Travel Facts” document when confirming your booking. This includes useful facts and travel advice, such as restaurant recommendations, reading tips, basic language information, cultural traditions, climate information, brief historical overviews, and more. We feel that this offers a useful insight and can help you interact with local residents in a more sensitive, well-informed manner. Please do try to take the time to read this information before your visit, it’s worth the time!

• A number of the countries in which we operate holidays are religious societies with a widely observed set of customs. Always respect these norms, particularly when visiting religious buildings.

• To the best of our knowledge, all hotels, lodges, and camps within our portfolio operate stringent measures to minimise water usage. All of our destinations have issues with water supplies to a certain extent, so feel free to raise any possible wastage should you encounter it during your stay, either with the accommodation or with us upon your return.

• Please ask permission before taking photographs of people, and respect their wishes if they are not happy to be photographed. We find that friendly requests and a smile are usually met with a ‘yes!’

• Strive, where possible, to make your own contribution to environmental practices as you travel. This might include minimising your electricity usage, not smoking in protected areas, avoiding coral while snorkelling, and safely disposing of all litter (recycling where possible).

• Where possible, try to purchase from local suppliers. This includes shopping for souvenirs, dining out at restaurants, and booking additional excursions during your free time. In areas where haggling is an accepted part of daily life, don’t be offended if you’re unable to obtain what you perceive as a fair price for an item.

• We emphasise to local suppliers that our clients should never be taken on unsolicited shopping trips, but if this does happen, try to retain your sense of humour, provide a firm refusal to participate and do let us know about it on your return. We pass on all feedback from every trip undertaken with us to our relevant local suppliers, who all share our commitment to travelling with sensitivity.

• Please don’t remove any indigenous items from their natural habitat and attempt to bring them home as a souvenir. This particularly applies to everything from coral, shells, plants and food in the natural world, to cultural artefacts and antiques.

If you’re unsure about anything relating to the above, please feel free to chat to us. We’ve travelled extensively in the country and will be more than happy to offer our considered advice.