:: Useful Information
:: Health & Malaria
The lowveld areas of Zimbabwe, including
the Zambezi Valley and the south east of
the country, are malaria areas and recommended
prophylaxis should be taken. Your doctor
can advise you on the best type for the
area of travel and your personal requirements.
However, taking prophylaxis will not guarantee
that you will not contract malaria! The
best way to avoid malaria is to avoid being
bitten by the mosquitoes that carry the
parasite. Only the females of one species
of mosquito (Anopheles) carry the tiny parasite,
and the greatest incidence of malaria is
in areas of high population where there
are many people for the mosquito to bite
and pass the parasite between.
Mosquitoes usually bite between sunset
and sunrise, so make sure that you are covered
up during this time! Wear loose fitting,
long sleeved shirts and trousers, use a
good insect repellent and sleep underneath
a mosquito net or in a tent/ room sealed
with netting. If you do develop flu-like
symptoms, or feel at all unwell, during
your holiday or after your return home,
you must make sure that your doctor knows
that you have recently travelled in a malaria
area. Malaria is not a serious problem provided
people take adequate precautions and seek
advice and treatment immediately if they
feel unwell.
Zimbabwe's private hospitals are of a good
standard with clean and safe facilities.
However, serious medical cases will be evacuated
by air to South Africa where further facilities
are available. For this reason you must
make sure that comprehensive travel insurance
is taken out before you travel, this insurance
should cover any medical expenses, air evacuation
and repatriation if necessary.
:: Water
The water is safe to drink throughout most
of Zimbabwe, and in all the major tourist
areas. Plenty of water must be drunk to
prevent dehydration. We recommend 2-3 litres
minimum, excluding beverages such as tea,
coffee, juice and alcohol. Dehydration can
cause very serious problems, it is totally
avoidable, so don't let this spoil your
holiday!
:: Climate
Rainy season: |
November to April. Rainfall
does not usually occur every day, and
generally takes place in the afternoon
with mornings being fairly clear. |
| Summer: |
November to April with a high of 29°
C and a low of 18° C. |
| Winter: |
May to October with a high of 25°
C and a low of 6° C. |
There is no "best time" to visit
Zimbabwe as the different seasons all offer
completely different experiences! However,
you may like to consider the following when
planning your trip:
|
:: Season Summer rainy
season (November to April) |
| Pros: |
Quieter tourism period, lush
green inland landscape, beautiful
sunsets and stunning views of
electrical storms. |
| Cons: |
Warm temperatures, activities
may be interrupted by rain, increased
mosquitoes in lowland areas. |
| ::
Season Winter dry season
(May to October) |
| Pros: |
Cooler, clear skies, fewer
mosquitoes. |
| Cons: |
Busier tourism period, cooler
mornings and evenings. |
|
Our personal preference would be for either
April - May or early November as these times
are neither too hot nor too cool. At these
times, rain should not be a problem and
the heat is not excessive. Wildlife sightings
are usually at their best in the dry, winter
season.
:: Photography
Bring plenty of film and a spare camera
battery as these items are not available
in the more remote areas of Zimbabwe, and
can be very expensive in tourist centres.
100 ASA film is recommended for normal light
conditions, 200 may be used for low lighting
conditions. A good zoom lens (minimum 200
mm) is essential for wildlife photography.
:: Clothing
Neutral, muted colours such as khaki, dark
green or beige ensure as little disturbance
to wildlife as possible whilst on game drives
or walks. White or bright colours are not
advised and army camouflage uniforms or
army hats are also not recommended.
:: Recommended Packing
Light, casual clothing (shorts/shirts)
for everyday wear, stout shoes for walking,
light waterproof jacket for summer, warm
jumper/ fleece for winter, warm long trousers
for winter, two sets of good casual clothes
for evening dining where appropriate, towel,
broad brimmed hat, sunglasses, sunscreen,
camera, plenty of film & spare battery,
binoculars, reliable torch, sleeping bag
if camping. Evening wear in the lowveld
should be light coloured and loose fitting
to discourage mosquitoes.
It is also worth noting that if you are
travelling by light aircraft you should
carry no more than 10-15kg of luggage in
a soft bag for ease of packing.
:: Currency
The unit of currency is the Zimbabwean
dollar and exchange rates vary wildly depending
on where you are. At this point in time,
it is unadvisable to exchange cash at the
official bank rate as this is approximately
1/10th the rate that you can get from shops
or Bureau de Change. Likewise, do not use
credit cards as these will be processed
using the bank rate and you will find that
a meal in a restaurant costs a week's salary!
The best course of action is to take US$
cash (Sterling and Euro can also be exchanged,
but US$ command a much better rate) in small
denominations and to enquire as to the best
place to change this when you arrive. Accommodation
& activities can now only be paid for
in foreign currency, and preferably US$.
Travellers cheques are not generally accepted
at the unofficial rate, so cash is best.
:: Visa Requirements
Visitors from the Commonwealth and some
other countries can obtain tourist visas
at the border, at present the fees are as
follows:
Brits:
- single entry visa US$55
- double entry visa US$70
- multiple entry visas US$90.
All other nationalities:
- single entry visa US$30
- double entry visas US$45.
Please contact us for details regarding
your personal visa requirements.
|
