Zimbabwe
Packing list for Zimbabwe, travel insurance for Zimbabwe and taking your belongings
What to take to Zimbabwe: brief
To pack and check:
- Documents and money: a passport that is valid for at least 6 months upon arrival and has at least three blank pages, as well as a visa arranged in advance. For some nationalities a visa on arrival is also possible. Copies of your passport, visa, travel insurance and vaccination records are useful, both digitally and on paper. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you're travelling from a country with a risk of yellow fever. The official currency is the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), but US dollars are widely used. Cash is very important, as withdrawing money and paying by card aren't possible everywhere. For example, bring sufficient small, undamaged US dollar bills, preferably in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 20 dollars.
- Clothing: lightweight, breathable clothing for warm days and layers for cooler evenings and higher-altitude areas. So make sure to bring a warm sweater or fleece as well. Quick-drying clothing is useful when visiting Victoria Falls. Long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt, preferably in neutral colours, are good for walks, evenings and protection against insects. All in all - the most efficient clothing is quick-drying, neutral coloured, lightweight and body covering. A rain jacket or poncho is recommended during the rainy season, which runs approximately from November to April. Remember to bring your swimwear if you're staying at a luxury lodge.
- Shoes: sandals and a good pair of hiking shoes.
- Toiletries and hygiene: high-SPF sunscreen, SPF lip balm, hand sanitiser, tissues and sufficient personal care products. Consider bringing menstrual products as well, especially if you're travelling to remote areas.
- Packing and protecting your belongings: a good rain cover for your backpack and a dry bag for your phone, passport, medication and electronics, especially during the rainy season or when visiting Victoria Falls. A dust cover or sealable bag can also be useful during safaris and long road trips.
- Insects and animals: a good insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin and a tick remover, especially if you're planning to hike, camp or spend time in nature reserves.
- Medication and travel first aid kit: sufficient supplies of your personal medication, including some extra in case your trip is delayed, ORS, plasters, blister plasters, painkillers, anti-diarrhoea medication, hand sanitiser and a thermometer. Before departure, consult a travel doctor about which vaccinations and any antimalarial medication you may need for your trip.
- Outdoor and useful items: sunglasses, a wide-brimmed sun hat, a reusable water bottle with a filter, a daypack and a lightweight buff or scarf.
- Technology and equipment: a travel adapter for type D and G sockets, a power bank, and a good torch or headlamp. Don't forget your camera either.
- Safety and theft: a money belt and/or another secure way to conceal valuables. Keeping a close eye on your belongings in cities and keeping valuables out of sight in your car is recommended. When possible, avoid travelling outside cities after sunset and keep your car doors locked while driving. Also, pay attention to photography rules, especially around government buildings and military sites.
To consider:
- Binoculars for wildlife and birdwatching during safaris.
- A shawl or kikoi (sarong), although you can, of course, buy one there!
- You can also treat your clothing with permethrin if you're spending a lot of time outdoors.
- A water filter or water purification tablets and a quick-drying towel if you're travelling independently or camping.
- Offline maps and accommodation details, especially if you're travelling to remote areas.
- A supply of (vegetarian or vegan) snacks for longer journeys.
- Offline entertainment, such as books.
Are there mosquitoes in Zimbabwe?
- Yes, mosquitoes are present in Zimbabwe, and malaria is a risk in large parts of the country. Malaria occurs throughout the year in the Zambezi Valley. In other areas below 1,200 meters, the risk is particularly high from November to June. During the rest of the year, the risk of contracting malaria in these areas is low. In Harare and Bulawayo, the risk is very low.
- Malaria-carrying mosquitoes are particularly active between sunset and sunrise, but other mosquito-borne diseases can also occur. Good protection is therefore important during day and night, especially if you're travelling outside the major cities in lower-lying areas.
- Insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin, combined with lightweight, long clothing and sleeping under an insecticide-treated mosquito net (if your room isn't properly sealed or fitted with mosquito screens), will help protect you.
- More about protection against mosquitoes and insects.
Are there sandflies in Zimbabwe?
- Sandflies can occur in Zimbabwe, but apart from causing itchy bites, they do not transmit leishmaniasis.
- A bigger problem are tsetse flies, which can transmit sleeping sickness. This is rare, but it's still worth protecting yourself against them. The main hotspots are Mana Pools National Park and the Zambezi Valley.
- DEET and picaridin do not work against tsetse flies, but covering up with clothing (avoiding black and blue colours) can help prevent bites.
- Ticks are also present in Zimbabwe and can transmit diseases. Bringing a tick remover is therefore advisable, especially if you're planning to hike or spend time in nature.
- More about sandflies and sand fleas.
Are DEET, or other insect repellents, available in Zimbabwe?
- In Harare, Bulawayo and other larger towns, insect repellents are generally available at pharmacies and larger shops. In smaller towns and remote areas, you might find them, or you might not!
- It's therefore a good idea to bring sufficient insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin, especially if you're planning to visit national parks or spend an extended period outside the cities.
- More about DEET.
Is it legal to buy a joint or weed in Zimbabwe, or bring it with you to Zimbabwe?
- Cannabis is strictly regulated in Zimbabwe. Since 2018, the production of medicinal cannabis and cannabis for research purposes has been legalized for licensed companies, but all forms of cannabis use within the country remain illegal.
- The law is strict, and even minor cannabis use can result in up to 10 years in prison. Bringing cannabis or other recreational drugs into Zimbabwe is an even more serious offense and is therefore absolutely not recommended.
