Zimbabwe pre-travel information

This information is intended as a guideline only. It is accurate to the best of our knowledge. Please note that we are providing links to external websites as guidelines only, Karell Travel is not responsible for the content thereof.

Visa Information

Passports

Passports are required by all foreign visitors to Zimbabwe and must be valid for at least 6 months after the intended length of your trip. It is essential to have at least two blank, consecutive pages for each country you will be visiting. This excludes Amendment and Endorsement pages. If you do not have the required blank pages, you could be denied boarding on your international flight.

Visas

Visas for U.S. / Canadian citizens are issued upon arrival at a cost of $30.00 per person. This should be paid with US cash (exact change). It is is your responsibility to check the entry visa requirements with the individual embassy of each country you intend visiting prior to departure.

If you are also visiting Zambia, you may purchase a KAZA Univisa for $50.00 per person which is valid for both countries.

*Karell Travel has provided this information as a courtesy only. Although it is accurate to the best of our knowledge, regulations are subject to change without notice and Karell Travel cannot be held liable for travel interruption and/or denial of entry resulting from failure to meet immigration requirements.

Health & Vaccines
There is no formal requirement for any shots for entry into Zimbabwe, except if you are coming from a Yellow Fever endemic country in which case proof of Yellow Fever vaccination is required.
 
Certain safari areas do present a malaria risk so you should speak with your physician about anti-malarial medication. They may have other optional recommendations for you to consider, we defer to their medical expertise. Please consult with your physician for recommendations regarding inoculations/immunizations.
Electricity & Plugs
All electrical appliances in Zimbabwe run on 220V (in the U.S. we run on 110v). Outlets are made to fit round 3 pin, 15 amp plugs. Although adapters are generally available at hotels, we highly recommend taking your own adapter. Most modern electronics (smartphones, tablets, laptops etc) have dual voltage capability and can be safely used with a plug adapter. Any devices that do not support dual voltage should only be used with a voltage converter adapter.
 
For Zimbabwe you need Type D / G Adapters
Packing Suggestions
As a general guideline, comfortable, casual wash-and-wear clothes are recommended. If you are going on safari, the less you take the better as most lodges and hotels do offer laundry service if you are staying at least two days. Muted colors such as stone, khaki, beige or brown are recommended when you are on safari. Darker colors and colors that are very bright tend to attract unwanted insects such as mosquitoes and other bug types. Game drives in the early morning and evenings can be quite cold, especially in winter, so you should pack accordingly. The key is to dress in layers in the early morning and strip down layer by layer as it gets warmer as the sun rises. Vice versa for evening game drives.
You should bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes for use during bush walks or when off the game drive vehicle.

Meal times are generally informal so it is not necessary to dress in formal attire.

You should bring a video or normal camera, a good pair of binoculars, enough memory cards and the relevant plug and charger for the equipment. Cellular phones are also suitable during game drives for the purpose of taking photos.

General Clothing
  • Light-weight shirts/blouses with long sleeves as protection from the sun and mosquitoes
  • T-shirts
  • Shorts
  • Jeans or safari trousers
  • Pajamas
  • Socks
  • Underwear
  • Light-weight waterproof jacket
  • Comfortable walking shoes/sneakers
  • Comfortable walking sandals or flip flops for warmer days
  • Wide-brimmed hat with under-chin tie to prevent it from flying away
  • Swimsuit
  • Warm windproof jacket (winter)
  • Fleece (winter)
  • Warm turtle neck shirt (winter)
  • Beanie (winter)
 Gloves (winter) Warm scarf (winter)

    General Equipment & Accessories

    • Sunglasses
    • Spare prescription eye glasses/contact lenses
    • Binoculars
    • Cameras and related paraphernalia, like lenses, etc and plenty of memory cards and spare batteries
    • Small powerful flashlight and extra batteries

    • Light pack-able backpack or tote to carry equipment and stuff on game vehicles
    • Chargers for cell phones, iPad, cameras, computers and you may want to invest in a mini travel charger
    • First aid kit (Band-aids, pain relievers, eye drops, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, tissues, chapstick, any prescription medications etc)
    Gratuities

    Tipping is completely discretionary. If you have received good service, and would like to show your appreciation by tipping, we have enclosed a brief guideline to assist you.

    Transfer Driver: $5 USD per person

    City Touring  Driver/Guides: $10-$15.00 USD per person for half day tours / $20-$25 USD per person for full day tours

    General Lodge  Staff: $25 USD per person per day

    Safari Guide: $20-25 USD per person per day

    Restaurants: 10-15% is customary on meal accounts if you are satisfied with the service

    Travel Insurance
    Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
     
    A travel insurance quote can only be provided once your initial deposit has been made.
     
    Cost of coverage depends on the cost of your trip, your state of residence and age. It is normally about 10% of the cost of your trip, although it is higher for older passengers.
     
    We recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. These plans predominantly provide cover related to medical issues. It is not ‘cancel for any reason’ coverage. Travel protection plans usually include coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage Delay and more.
     
    Please Note: To be eligible for the waiver of pre-existing medical condition exclusion, the protection plan must be purchased within 14 days from the time you make your initial trip deposit. However, the plan can be purchased any time prior to departure.
    Luggage

    Valuables

    Valuable items such as medications, eye glasses, sunglasses, wallets, passports, computers, iPads, cell phones, cameras, binoculars, jewelry etc should be packed in your carry on luggage. We recommend placing a TSA-approved lock on all checked baggage out of an abundance of caution.

    Luggage Weight

    Luggage restrictions vary between airlines. Please check with your travel consultant with regard to weight restrictions and quantity / size of bags permitted.

    Light Aircraft Flight Restrictions

    If your journey contains flights on light aircraft you will be subject to restrictions due to the capacity of the aircraft. You must have a soft-sided duffel bag in order for it to fit in the luggage pod. Hard suitcases are strictly prohibited.

    Light aircraft baggage weight allowances typically range from 33 lbs- 44 lbs per person, your consultant will ensure you are notified of the specific requirements of your itinerary. Additional luggage weight allowance can be purchased at a surcharge, subject to availability.

    Passenger Weight

    For safety reasons, all light aircraft passengers must provide their personal weight prior to travel to ensure the aircraft is safely loaded within its weight restrictions.