Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe opens its borders in less than a month. Image via Pixabay

Regional travel: Zimbabwe to open for tourism on 1 October

According to the Zimbabwe Ministry of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, Zimbabwe will open its borders for international travel on 1 October.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe opens its borders in less than a month. Image via Pixabay

Zimbabwe is following in the footsteps of other African nations that have already opened their borders to international travellers, removed curfews, and are slowly resuming international tourism.

Domestic travel will open from Thursday 10 September and international travel a few weeks later at the beginning of October.

Most countries in Africa have been in complete lockdown to curb the spread of the virus, however, with COVID case numbers dropping and now relatively low across the continent, some nations have already reopened, with others making plans to open responsibly shortly.

African countries already open for international travel

  • Burkina Faso
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia 
  • Ghana
  • Kenya
  • Liberia
  • Namibia
  • Nigeria
  • Rwanda
  • Sao Tome and Principe 
  • Senegal
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Tunisia
  • Zambia

Travellers to Zimbabwe will have to adhere to the National Guidelines for Aviation Safety and Security Guidelines which have been developed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ).

According to the ministry, these guidelines and protocols include temperature testing, social distancing, sanitisation, and mandatory wearing of masks. All travellers will be required to have a PCR COVID-19 Clearance Certificate issued by a recognised facility within 48 hours of departure, in line with WHO guidelines.

Beautiful Zimbabwe

Boasting some of the world’s most spectacular natural sites, including the magnificent Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe is one of Africa’s most beautiful countries.

Landlocked in southern Africa bordering South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, and Botswana, Zimbabwe enjoys rich wildlife and natural beauty, ranging from the Matopo Hills and their megalithic boulders to the ruins of Great Zimbabwe that highlight Africa’s great ancestry and the vast salt pans, grassy plains and teeming wildlife of the Hwange National Park.

History of Rhodesia / Zimbabwe

Derived from the Shona term, dzimba dzemabwe, the name Zimbabwe means “houses of stone”, symbolised today by the Great Zimbabwe Ruins near the town of Masvingo.

Zimbabwe has a rich history; beginning with the European penetration through Christian missionaries, followed by colonialism, courtesy of Cecil John Rhodes, who renamed the country Rhodesia.

Following years of dissent and war, the battle for liberation ended in 1979 and saw the Rhodesian regime and the British government concede defeat and grant independence under a democratic constitution. Zimbabwe emerged as an independent state on 18 April 1980.  

Accommodation and airports

Zimbabwe offers a range of accommodation to suit every budget, ranging from simple backpacker lodges, rustic bush camps, and comfortable bed and breakfasts to three-, four- and five-star luxury hotels and resorts. Major airports include Harare’s International Airport, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo, and Victoria Falls International Airport.

Activities

Home to a host of spectacular natural landscapes and a plethora of wildlife, Zimbabwe has much to offer in the way of activities and things to do. There are four different World Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO in Zimbabwe — Mana Pools National Park, Matobos National Park, Victoria Falls, and the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, and some of Africa’s most exclusive wildlife is found here, with many of the national parks teeming with the classic African Big Five — elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, and rhino.

Fed by the mighty Zambezi River, the Victoria Falls remain Zimbabwe’s most popular attraction, an impressive two kilometre-wide curtain of water that spills over into a 110 metre-deep canyon to create the swirling mists of Mosi-oa-Tunya — “The Smoke that Thunders” as respectfully referred to by the locals. 

Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s largest game reserve and the vast saltpans and grassy plains support a large concentration of animals. Mana Pools is renowned for its canoe trails, and Lake Kariba is best known for its abundance of wildlife, including hippo, crocodiles, elephant, and lion, and excellent fishing.