Normally, holders of the following passports require a visa to enter Zimbabwe when travelling as a tourist:

United Kingdom; United States of America; Canada; Ireland; France; Germany; Spain; Portugal; Italy; Switzerland; Australia; New Zealand.

If you are a passport holder from another country, please contact your local Zimbabwe High Commission or Embassy for up-to-date visa requirements or check this website: https://www.evisa.gov.zw/.

The following visas are available (all costs are per person and subject to change):

Single Entry: USD 30 (apart from British and Irish nationals who are charged USD 55; and Canadian nationals who are charged USD 75)

Double Entry: USD 45 (apart from British and Irish nationals who are charged USD 75)

Visas will be issued on arrival at an entry point upon payment of the correct visa fee - please make sure you have the correct amount of cash (US dollars) with you as change may not be available.

You can also obtain your visa prior to arrival, and this can be done as an E-Visa via https://www.evisa.gov.zw/home.

For visitors wanting to travel across to Zambia, the KAZA UniVisa is also an option (although unfortunately this is not always available). This visa allows tourists of certain nationalities to travel freely between Zimbabwe and Zambia, within a 30 day period from the date of their first entry.

This same visa will also allow those who cross into Botswana for a day trip to come back into Zimbabwe (or Zambia) without paying any extra visa fees - please note however it is not valid if staying in Botswana overnight.

The UniVisa can ONLY be obtained at SELECTED border posts (currently Victoria Falls Airport, Victoria Falls Land Border, Kazungula Land Border (border with Botswana) and Harare Airport) - the current price is USD 50 per person (subject to change) and payable in cash.

To check whether you are eligible for this visa, please check the KAZA UniVisa sections of the Zambian or Zimbabwean government websites.

For anyone entering Zimbabwe, your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry and have 3 blank pages left in it to enable you to enter Zimbabwe and exit via one of the neighbouring countries, if leaving at short notice becomes necessary.

You are advised to contact your doctor or clinic around 4-8 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations and to get their professional medical advice regarding travel to Zimbabwe.

To help prevent diarrhoea, avoid tap water – drink only bottled water and use bottled water for tooth brushing, and avoid ice made with tap water – and only eat fruit or vegetables that are cooked or can be peeled. To help avoid heatstroke, drink plenty of bottled water/fluids, and keep out of the midday sun.

There is no risk of yellow fever in Zimbabwe, so a yellow fever vaccination is NOT required for travellers whose sole destination is Zimbabwe. However, in accordance with International Health Regulations, Zimbabwe requires all travellers over one year of age arriving from a yellow fever risk country, or having been in transit longer than 12 hours at the airport of such a country, to have a yellow fever certificate. These countries include Kenya and Uganda but it is up to the traveller to check the full list here https://nathnacyfzone.org.uk/factsheet/60/yellow-fever-maps

There is a risk of malaria in all areas of Zimbabwe - check with your doctor about suitable antimalarial tablets. Dengue fever can also be transmitted via mosquito bites. Try to avoid mosquito bites wherever possible - wear loose long-sleeved clothing and trousers, and use a repellent on clothing and exposed skin.

Tsetse flies are found throughout the northern Zambezi River drainage area, including the Lake Kariba area. There have been some cases of sleeping sickness occurring after a tsetse fly bite, although these are mainly amongst farmers and other locals who have repeated exposure to bites. However, the fly can still deliver a painful bite, so it is advisable to take necessary precautions - don't wear dark colours, especially black and blue (including denim), wear long-sleeved clothing and trousers, and don't walk through bushes during the hottest part of the day.

English is the official language of Zimbabwe and is widely spoken with all guides and general staff in camps and lodges having a good command. In the broader population however, not everyone will speak English fluently as many have grown up speaking different tribal languages. Other indigenous languages spoken include Shona and Ndebele.

We would ask that all travellers are respectful of the local culture as follows:

Carry a photocopy of your passport at all times. Leave your original passport somewhere safe.

It is against the law for civilians to wear any form of clothing made from camouflage material.

Photographing government offices, airports, military establishments, official residences, embassies and other sensitive places is illegal. Taking photographs of members of police and armed forces personnel and of demonstrations and protests is also not permitted. The area around State House in Harare (the President’s official residence) is patrolled by armed members of the Presidential Guard and photography here is strictly prohibited.

Some acts of homosexuality is illegal in Zimbabwe. Whilst everyone is of course entitled to their own sexual preferences and gender identity, we would advise all clients of the LGBT+ community to refrain from public displays of affection (including kissing and holding hands) and to be as discrete as possible about their relationship.

If you’re working as a journalist (for example, as a reporter or news photographer), you must get accreditation before you travel. If you do not have proper accreditation, you are at risk of arrest, detention in difficult conditions, a fine and deportation. The Zimbabwe government uses a broad definition of journalism. This may include any form of interview, filming or photography. Consider carefully the risks associated with engaging in social media activities such as posting comments, blogging or sharing photographs, which can be seen as journalism.

Normally, holders of the following passports do not require a visa to enter Botswana when travelling as a tourist for stays up to 90 days:

United Kingdom; United States of America; Canada; Australia; New Zealand; Ireland; Belgium; Netherlands; Italy; France; Germany; Norway; Spain; South Africa.

If you are a passport holder from another country,  you can check to see if you require a visa and apply for an eVisa here: https://evisa.gov.bw/#/home.

Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Botswana and have sufficient blank pages for the Botswana entry/exit stamps (at least 2).

TRAVELLING TO/FROM BOTSWANA WITH CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 18 YEARS OF AGE AT DATE OF TRAVEL: The following requirements apply regardless of nationality.

Parents travelling with children must produce an unabridged birth certificate for the child, showing full details of the child's parents. If the birth certificate is in a language other than English, it must be accompanied by a sworn translation issued by a competent authority in the country concerned.

If the child is adopted, the adoption certificate must be produced.

If only one parent is travelling, said parent must also show consent in the form of an affidavit from the other parent named on the birth certificate authorising the child to travel (the affidavit must be no more than 6 months old from the date of travel), or a court order granting full parental responsibilities to the travelling parent, or (where applicable) a death certificate for the deceased parent. Legally separated parents should also provide a court order when the other parent does not give consent.

Where a person is travelling with a child who is not their biological child, he/she must produce an unabridged birth certificate for the child supplemented by affidavits from the child's parents/legal guardian giving consent for the child to travel and copies of the identity documents or passport of the parents/legal guardian PLUS their contact details.

There are also additional rules for unaccompanied minors - available on request.

PLEASE NOTE: All documents must be original - PHOTOCOPIES ARE NOT ACCEPTED. In the case of foreign countries that do not issue unabridged birth certificates, a letter to this effect issued by the competent authority of the foreign country should be produced.

For more information, please contact your local Botswana High Commission.

You are advised to contact your doctor or clinic around 4-8 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations and to get their professional medical advice regarding travel to Botswana.

To help prevent diarrhoea, avoid tap water – drink only bottled water and use bottled water for tooth brushing, and avoid ice made with tap water – and only eat fruit or vegetables that are cooked or can be peeled.

To help avoid heatstroke, drink plenty of bottled water/fluids, and keep out of the midday sun.

There is a risk of malaria in the northern half of Botswana, including Chobe and the Okavango Delta, particularly during the months of November to June - check with your doctor about suitable antimalarial tablets. Try to avoid mosquito bites wherever possible - wear loose long-sleeved clothing and trousers, and use a repellent on clothing and exposed skin.

There is no risk of yellow fever in Botswana, so a yellow fever vaccination is NOT required for travellers whose sole destination is Botswana. However, in accordance with International Health Regulations, Botswana requires all travellers over one year of age arriving from a yellow fever risk country, or having been in transit longer than 12 hours at the airport of such a country, to have a yellow fever certificate. These countries include Kenya and Uganda but it is up to the traveller to check the full list here https://nathnacyfzone.org.uk/factsheet/60/yellow-fever-maps

English is the official language of Botswana and widely spoken with all guides and general staff in camps and lodges having a good command. In the broader population, however, not everyone will speak English fluently as many have grown up speaking different tribal languages. 

We would ask that all travellers are respectful of the local culture as follows:

Although homosexuality is no longer prohibited by law in Botswana, public attitudes are less tolerant and public displays of affection may attract negative attention. Whilst everyone is of course entitled to their own sexual preferences and gender identity, we would advise all clients of the LGBT+ community to refrain from public displays of affection (including kissing and holding hands) and to be as discrete as possible about their relationship.

You should always ask permission before taking anyone’s photograph. Taking photographs of military and government buildings is prohibited.