Zimbabwe: Visas, borders and miscellaneous info
 

Given renewed interest in Zimbabwe, these notes may be helpful for those planning to visit this beautiful country:

August 2011


Visa
USD 55/70 single/double entry visa for UK citizens, available at the border, Similar for other European nationals, but cheaper



ENTRY
Entry point: Kariba at GPS: S16.526034 E28.761405
Time taken: 40minutes


Costs
Carbon tax:
Cars <= 1500cc USD 6, 1501cc – 2000cc USD 11, 2001cc-3000cc USD 15, >3000cc USD 30
Road access fee: USD 10 valid for 1 month


Money change
None needed – country is on USD


Process
After immigration, proceed to customs, who directs you to “Interpol”, plain clothes police who check vehicle chassis and engine numbers against the carnet. Return to customs to have carnet stamped and duties paid. At each stage, a section of the gate pass (a slip of paper) is stamped, and hand in the completed slip to the policeman at the boon to exit.


EXIT
Exit point (to Botswana): Kazungula at GPS: S17.81446 E25.264555
Process straightforward – less than 10 minutes.


Costs
None


Money
The country is on USD. Barclays ATMs accept international visa cards


Fuel
No availability issues encountered
Makuti: Petrol USD 1.52/litre, Diesel USD 1.40/ litre
Harare: Petrol USD 1.43/litre, Diesel USD 1.30/ litre
Bulawayo: Petrol USD 1.45/litre, Diesel USD 1.32/ litre


Camping
Harare, Small World Backpackers at GPS: S17.803182 E31.029633
Great Zimbabwe, Norma Jeane's Lake View Resort at GPS: S20.251335 E31.001712
Chimanimani, Chimanimani Hotel at GPS: S19.805 E32.872502
Great Zimbabwe, Norma Jeane's Lake View Resort at GPS: S20.251335 E31.001712
Bulawayo, Municipal Camping & Caravan site at GPS: S20.15828 E28.593625
Vic Falls, Victoria Falls Lodge & Restcamp at GPS: S17.925938 E25.838795


Car workshops
Toyota Bulawayo (at GPS: S20.158467 E28.581283) – very helpful.
PanelCraft at 24 Chatham Rd, Belmont, Bulawayo,
GPS: S20.174468 E28.577656 is a good body shop


Communications
Econet is widely used. Mobile internet using prepaid data bundles costs are around 10MB per USD.
Internet access needs to be activated at an econet shop/customer care. Internet settings are:
APN: econet.net
username: <leave blank>
password: <leave blank>


Useful GPS
The Bulawayo Club, Bulawayo at GPS: S20.154574 E28.581326 has accommodation/restaurant and bar set in a nice colonial building.
26 on Park restaurant, Bulawayo at GPS: S20.154575 E28.597842 has excellent food set in an impressive colonial building and garden.
Garden Restaurant, Bulawayo at GPS S 20.163762 E28.595266 has good food and open 7 days a week.
Natural History Museum, Bulawayo at GPS: S20.155855 E28.596447 has a comprehensive collection of wildlife that have seen the hands of the taxidermist
Barclays Bank, Masvingo GPS: S20.073887 E30.833373
Fuel station (Petraf) Makuti at GPS: S16.311003 E29.245323 is the first reliable fuel stop after crossing the border from Zambia at Kariba Dam
Small World Backpackers & Camping 25 Ridge Rd, Harare is at GPS: S17.803060, E 31.029513 is incorrectly marked on both Google Maps and T4A v11.05




Roads
Very good tar network around most of the country. The gravel track into Mana Pools is heavily corrugated. Several roads have tolls of $1

Excellent post thanks for the update.

We're currently in Zim having crossed from Mozambique at the Nyamapanda Border. The procedure is pretty much the same as you mention for the Kariba border, although you only see "Interpol" right at the end of the formalities.

The road from the border to Harare is a bit bumpy, but very scenic and generally in good shape with good tar all the way.