Travel Answers

If anyone has recently driven from Beit Bridge to Vic Falls via Bulawayo I would be keen to know whether they encountered any problems.

I am traveling to Victoria Falls and going through to Kenya so I was wondering what sim card would be best and were would I be able to purchase one? I was hoping to get one in the airport.

What EXACTLY needs to be done to go from one country to the other in order to get back into S. Africa?
- Where/how hard is it to get visas? Do you need visas for both countries? Can we get these ahead of time or do you get them in the airport?
- Yellow Fever Shot: Can you get before even coming to Africa (I know it needs to be within 10 days). We will be coming from Munich straight to Victoria Falls and only staying there for 1 day. If we get the shots in Munich and have the certificates, will this be ok?
- How long does it take to get from one side to the other and what is the best method of transportation and costs?

what is the best way to travel in Zimbabwe

Hey,

I would like to know wht is the safest way to get from Johannesburg to Bulawayo.
I know there are flights but they are too expensive. Also, I've heard that taking a bus from park station is not safe for tourists.

What do you recommend?

which airlines are currently offering flights to Zim - worldwide? Thanks

Hello all,

Me again and here to share my next itinerary with you! Happy to hear your feedback - It's very valued, and every time I have shared I have adjusted factoring in your suggestions - you're the experts!

5 April – Fly Sydney – Johannesburg
6 April – Drive from Johannesburg to Gaberone, Botswana (368km)
7 April – Day in Gaberone
8 April – Palapye (Visit Serowe, Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Old Palapye)
9 April - Francistown
10 April – Muan
11 Apri – Muan
12 April – Okavango Delta
13 April – Okavango Delta
14 April – Okavango Delta
15 April – Chobe National Park
16 April – Chobe National Park – staying in Kasane
17 April – Victoria Falls
18 April – Victoria Falls (golfing at Elephant Hills)
19 April – Hwange National Park
20 April – Hwange National Park
21 April – Bulawayo
22 April – Bulawayo (Matobo National Park)
23 April – Gweru (Antelope Park)
24 April – Masvingu (Great Zimbabwe National Park)
25 April - Polokwane
26 April – Fly Johannesburg – Sydney

I am going to be in Harare and have a weekend and Monday to play. I would like to see the countryside and get to where I can really see wildlife. Are there good tour agents in Harare to help? And how and where do you suggest?

So..I'm travelling to Vic falls with my boyfriend in january and I've realized I haven't figured all the details out yet. And I'm hoping you could help me out.. We're flying in and out through Livingstone airport with SAA, but we've booked accommodation on the Zim side of the falls, and we're unfortunately only staying 2nights.. So my biggest question is if that's "doable"? Will we waste too much time going through customs and acquiring our visas etc.. And what would be the best way to travel this leg between Livingstone and Victoria falls town (several taxis? Pick-up service?)? And what would the damage be- time and moneywise? I've also got my mind set on doing a sunset train or tram ride halfway across the bridge.. The trams run daily, I've figured out as much..But is it possible to prebook tickets? or is it strictly get in line and hope for the best/"first come, first served"? And is there a lot of people turned down due to limited capacity on the tram?.. Any other tips as to how we best spend our one afternoon and one full day in the beautiful region is much appreciated.. =)

I leave in 11 days for Johannesburg and will be spending the 2nd week of my 2 week stay on a private game reserve. My question is where should I spend my first week? I've been to South Africa before visiting Capetown, wine country, Durban, rafting in Swaziland, and Kruger. Have had little time to plan and am rather overwhelmed. Am a single female traveling on my own this time and am on a budget. Zimbabwe? Mozambique? I'm game for an adventure but really need some guidance. Open to busing it or flying.

I leave in 11 days for Johannesburg and will be spending the 2nd week of my 2 week stay on a private game reserve. My question is where should I spend my first week? I've been to South Africa before visiting Capetown, wine country, Durban, rafting in Swaziland, and Kruger. Have had little time to plan and am rather overwhelmed. Am a single female traveling on my own this time and am on a budget. Zimbabwe? Mozambique? I'm game for an adventure but really need some guidance. Open to busing it or flying.

I am flying in to Bulawayo from Johannesburg in the next 1 week. Can someone enlighten as to what is there to do in Bulawayo? Do the shops close early? It is easy to drive around in a rented car? I plan to stay in Bulawayo Club Hotel right in downtown to experience its colonial past. Thanks for any tips.

What Are the best hotels inVictoria Falls? Going to be there for three nights like luxury and good food.

Hi, We are going to be staying at Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side but would like to cross over to the Zambian side to visit Livingstone and the Mukuni Big Five Safari Park. How to we cross over to the Zambian side and, once there, how do we get to Livingstone and the Safari Park?

Can anyone tell me what the weather is usually like in May. I travel light so I was only going to take one fleece jumper and a waterproof jacket. Should I take another fleece jacket for the nights too? I'll be doing some camping. I have a 3 season sleeping bag and planned to sleep in tracksuit trousers and a long sleeved t-shirt. hould I bring a thermal vest too? I feel the cold easily. I'm from the UK though so I am used to cold, cold weather.

I was here in 1974.I shopped at a factory on the outskirits of town for Ivory pieces. They had rings for 5.00 and small carved animals for 5.oo and up. I was wondering if this type of stores are still around?

What would you recommend for this forthcoming trip? I aim to spend a clubbing and fun period between Harare (28 to 30 Dec) and Bulawayo (new years eve and new years day plus). I have established a place to stay in Harare for the days (Meikles Hotel). Will hire a car to Bulawayo. Bulawayo hotel reviews do not seem too positive though. Should I stay in Harare for New Year's Eve and rather party there? I have given up this time on the Vic Falls visit during that time. I will do it during the year for a long weekend and just focus on it. Maybe from the Zambia side. I am from South Africa. Really disappointed by accommodation reviews in Bulawayo and this is putting me off. Please help.

In our trip this May, we will have an opportunity to "walk with lion (cubs)" at Victoria Falls, and to do the "cheetah experience" at Bloemfentein, South Africa. If anyone has seen both of these attractions, is one more worthwhile than the other?

Was also wondering about getting a VISA for Zimbabwe. I've read that you can "apply for one when entering the country" - is that easy to do and/or the cheapest option? I would be doing this at a land crossing, coming in from Botswana, if that makes a difference (maybe what I read was for if you are flying in only??) If that's not a good option, what is the best way to obtain a VISA?

I'm planning a trip from Botswana to Victoria Falls and, from looking at maps, it looks like going from Francistown to Bulawayo, and then Bulawayo to Victoria Falls is the easiest way to go. Is that right? I read that there is a daily train from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls... is that correct? Is that a good option to get there? I haven't really found any info regarding getting TO Bulawayo yet. What are the best options to get there from Francistown? Thanks!

I'm going to be going to Cape Town and then up to Kruger for 2 weeks. Is it worth taking another flight to go up to Victoria Falls? What is it like? Is there anything else to do around that area if we stay a couple nights?

Which route can be used to Masvingo from Harare and which stops can be best when people are on an educational tour?

What options are there for travel from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls?

Hi, In Dec/Jan my wife and I are on a camping tour through the Okevango Delta that ends in Livingstone. Once the tour finishes and we have seen the Vic Falls from both sides, we have a week before our flight out of Johannesburg. We have decided that we want to come down through Zimbabwe, possibly taking the overnight train from Livingstone to Bulawayo and then making trips to Matobo or Hwange, before taking an overnight coach down to Johannesburg. We don't want to fly, we prefer going overland. Do you have any advice on what the best things to do are in Western Zimbabwe? How easy is it arrange trips to Matobo or Hwange (not in luxury accommodation) when you're in Zimbabwe, or do you need to book ahead? And we've read that it's not easy to hire a car (as there may fuel shortages?) so is it easy to get around without one? Thanks for any advice you can give! Dan

Hello all. I am about to design an itinerary (15 days) for an africa trip from scratch. must see place victoria falls. Questions: 1. Another highlight for me is Serengeti in Tanzania. What could be a trip to compine both places? 2. Which are the transportation options between these 2 places? 3. Which season is best for travelling there? 4. I find many small group tours on the internet. Should I arrange it this way or should I better make my arrangements step by step once there? 5. Do you think that I can find an experience equal to Serengeti close to victoria falls? Is it worth trying to compine serengetti and victoria falls?

we are planning to travel among Zimbabwe & Mozambik, and I have some questions regarding Zimbabwe as below, I'd appreciate if anybody help, Thank You and the best, Berna Kanbay 1) FLIGHT CONVENIENCE ? We have learned that Air Zimbabwe pilots are currently on strike. No Air Zimbabwe flights are currently operating internally or internationally including Harare -London Gatwick route. Does anybody have the most updatest information about flight convenience ? 2) VISA PROBLEM ? Zimbabwe requires visa and after leaving commonwealth its no longer represented by English embassy, for that reason we have contacted with local authorities in Zimbabwe by phone, and we are asked to send our passaports to Zimbabwe !!! Naturally we did not . So how is it possible to get visa from Zimbabwe ? Are there any agencies You may advise in order to get visa safe and properly ? ( maybe there is a way to get a visa via a seperate paper submitted upon sent passaport jpegs ) 3) HYPERINFLATION - OFTEN CHANGING RATES IN EXCHANGE ? Considering the 2008 inflation rate as % 232 million, and local people are using gold instead of zimbabwe dolar, which is the most clever way to exchange from Euro or US Dolar to Zimbabwe dolar.

Hi, I am a UK passport holder and have a number of queries. We are going to be staying in Livingstone. 1. Is it worth even bothering with Victoria Falls at the beginning of November? (our only other option in mid-Febraury)? 2. How easy is it to get to Zimbabwe for a day trip? I'm not talking about visas here, just the pure logistics of getting across to Zim to their side for a bit. 3. Also, we want to do a day trip to Chobe National Park from our base in Livingstone. Is this easy to arrange and what is the going rate? 4. Visas!! I live in Qatar where there is no Zambian Embassy, so I'm going to have to get a visa on arrival in Livingstone Airport. From what I understand, the visa in arrival comes in 2 types - Single/Double entry BUT not MULTIPLE ENTRY. Have I got this right? So I arrive Livingstone, buy a double entry visa. Go on my day trip to Chobe, get a Botswana stamp, come back into Zambia using my other visa. Day trip to Zimbabwe, get the visa there and then come back and and pay for another Zambian visa, this one a single entry? Have I got this right or is there any way I can pick up a multiple-entry visa for Zambia on the way in? Cheers for any help with any of these queries. Jason

Hi Can anyone tell me the transfer time from chobe game lodge to Victoria Falls Airport or Livingstone Airport for our flight home? The flight from Livingstone Airport is earlier and I do not need a visa for Zambia- I do for Zimbabwe - Just wondering which is the easier airport -

i am not that keen on adventure sports etc so what else is there to see and do . i will have up to one whole day probably - is that enough. is it worth going across to zimbabwe on a day pass - will i see much more ? many thanks in advance

Is there train service available from Nairobi?