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Getting around Zimbabwe takes some planning. The main tourist areas are well connected by air and good tar roads, but distances are long, night driving is risky and public transport is basic. Most visitors combine a flight or two with road transfers arranged by their lodge or operator. Written by Bryan Fawcett.
Last reviewed: 21 October 2026 against the UK FCDO’s Zimbabwe travel advice, the Airports Company of Zimbabwe, airline websites (South African Airways, Airlink, Fastjet), Emirates’ published schedule, and The Man in Seat 61 for trains. Airlines add and drop routes often, so check your airline’s own schedule before you book.

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Getting to Zimbabwe

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International flights

Zimbabwe has three international airports. Most long-haul visitors connect in Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Nairobi or Dubai. Our airport guide covers each airport in detail.

Harare (HRE)

The main gateway, with the most connections:
  • Air Zimbabwe: London Gatwick (operated by Plus Ultra), regional and domestic
  • South African Airways: Johannesburg
  • Airlink: Johannesburg
  • Fastjet: Johannesburg and domestic
  • Emirates: Dubai, with a stop in Lusaka
  • Ethiopian Airlines: Addis Ababa
  • Kenya Airways: Nairobi

Victoria Falls (VFA)

Best for a falls-and-safari trip:
  • Airlink: Johannesburg, and Mbombela (Kruger)
  • Fastjet: Harare, Bulawayo and Johannesburg
  • Ethiopian Airlines: Addis Ababa
  • FlyNamibia: Windhoek
Other airlines fly seasonally or occasionally.

Bulawayo (BUQ)

Useful for Matobo and western Zimbabwe:
  • Airlink: Johannesburg
  • Fastjet: Johannesburg, Harare and Victoria Falls
  • British Airways no longer flies to Zimbabwe. Its South African flights were run by Comair, which stopped flying in 2022. Airlink took over Johannesburg–Victoria Falls.
  • Emirates’ Harare flights stop in Lusaka, Zambia, in both directions. You stay on the plane, but allow for the extra time.
  • Book early for July to October, the busiest safari months.
  • Fly into one airport and out of another, for example into Victoria Falls and out of Harare, to avoid backtracking.

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Overland border crossings

  • South Africa: Beitbridge is the only road border and is open 24 hours. It is often congested at month ends, school holidays, Easter and over Christmas.
  • Botswana: Kazungula (near Victoria Falls) and Plumtree (near Bulawayo).
  • Zambia: the Victoria Falls Bridge and Chirundu.
  • Mozambique: Forbes (near Mutare) and Nyamapanda.
Border posts other than Beitbridge close at night, and opening hours change. Check the current hours with ZIMRA or your operator before you set off. Tips for crossing:
  • Carry US dollars in small notes for visa and vehicle fees. See visas and entry.
  • If you’re driving a car not registered in Zimbabwe, you need a ZIMRA temporary import permit and police clearance for the vehicle. Our Beitbridge guide lists the documents.
  • At busy borders, ignore touts and deal only with uniformed officials inside the building.
  • If you’re visiting both sides of Victoria Falls, the KAZA UniVisa (US$50) covers Zimbabwe and Zambia.

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Domestic flights

Flying saves long days on the road: Frequencies change by season, so check the airline’s schedule. Road times are a guide only; see our distances guide. Charter flights reach remote parks and private airstrips, such as Mana Pools, Hwange’s private concessions, Matusadona and Gonarezhou. Your lodge or safari operator will usually book these for you. Light aircraft have strict luggage limits, often 15–20kg in soft bags. Ask your operator for the exact limit.
The UK FCDO notes that some airlines registered in Zimbabwe are on the UK Air Safety List and that British government staff are told to use carriers that are not on it. Check the list when choosing an airline. Air Zimbabwe’s London–Harare route is operated by Plus Ultra, which is approved to fly to the UK.

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Self-drive

Hiring a car

International and local car hire firms have desks at the main airports. See the Airports Company of Zimbabwe’s car rentals list.What you need:
  • Your home driving licence and an International Driving Permit. The FCDO says UK licences are accepted for up to 12 months.
  • A credit card for the deposit.
  • A 4x4 or high-clearance vehicle for national parks and rural roads, especially in the rains.
Check the car has the required kit: a fire extinguisher, two warning triangles, a spare wheel, a jack and a wheel spanner. Police fine drivers who don’t have them.Hire prices vary widely by season and vehicle. Get quotes from several firms, and ask about one-way fees and cross-border permission.

Roads and hazards

The FCDO describes the standard of driving as very poor and says road accidents are a common cause of death and injury. Hazards include:
  • Deep potholes and badly marked roads
  • Vehicles without lights, including lorries and cyclists
  • Stray livestock, wildlife and pedestrians
  • Broken traffic lights, especially during power cuts
  • Fuel shortages and queues outside the main towns
Main roads between cities are tarred, but quality varies. Park and rural roads are mostly gravel or sand.

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Self-drive tips

  • Drive on the left.
  • Don’t drive at night outside towns. It’s the biggest single risk for self-drivers.
  • Stop at police roadblocks and toll gates. Be polite, and always ask for an official receipt if you’re fined. A demand for cash without a receipt is not a legitimate fine.
  • Pull right off the road for a presidential motorcade, whichever side of the road you’re on, and wait until it has passed.
  • Carry copies of your passport photo page and visa in the car.
  • Fill up whenever you can, carry extra fuel on long trips and have cash in case cards don’t work. Fuel is paid for in US dollars.
  • Keep doors locked and bags out of sight in towns. Smash-and-grab theft happens at traffic lights in Harare. See our travel advice.
  • Download offline maps before heading to remote areas, where mobile coverage is patchy.

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Private transfers and guided tours

For most first-time visitors, road transfers and guided trips are easier and safer than driving yourself:
  • Airport and lodge transfers: most hotels and lodges arrange these. Many Victoria Falls hotels include airport transfers in the room rate.
  • Driver-guides: a private guide with a vehicle can cover a whole itinerary, including border formalities and park routes.
  • Group tours: scheduled overland and safari tours with fixed itineraries are good value for solo travellers.
Ask for prices in writing in US dollars, and check what’s included (fuel, park fees, guide’s meals and accommodation).

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Public transport

Scheduled coaches run between the main cities, and across the border to Johannesburg. They are cheap but slow, and the FCDO warns that intercity buses may be poorly driven and that there have been serious accidents involving long-distance buses at night.
  • Use established coach companies and travel in daylight where you can.
  • Book a day or more ahead at busy times, such as month ends and public holidays.
  • Timetables change often. Confirm times with the operator or at the bus terminal.
  • Carry water and snacks, and keep valuables on you.
Kombis are the main transport for most Zimbabweans, but the FCDO describes them as often overcrowded, poorly maintained, uninsured and recklessly driven, and advises avoiding them. Some embassies ban their staff from using them. Use a taxi, coach or private transfer instead.
  • The FCDO says taxis recommended by hotels are usually reliable, and that major hotels often have their own.
  • Taxis are rarely metered. Agree the fare in US dollars before you get in.
  • Ride-hailing apps operate in Harare. Check which ones work when you arrive, because services come and go.
  • Don’t walk around cities after dark. Take a taxi instead.
National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) restarted a weekly overnight passenger train between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls on 17 October 2025, according to The Man in Seat 61 (updated June 2026). It stops at Dete and Hwange.
  • Times (2026): leaves Bulawayo on Friday evening and Victoria Falls on Sunday evening, arriving the next morning. Expect delays of several hours.
  • Fares: very cheap, payable in US dollars at the station.
  • Tickets: sold at the station, usually on the day of travel. There’s no online booking and no food on board.
Other passenger routes, including Harare–Bulawayo, remain suspended. The UK FCDO still describes passenger services as suspended and the rail system as very poorly maintained, so treat the train as an adventure rather than reliable transport, and check with NRZ before you plan around it.

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Getting around by region

  • The town is compact. Walk in daylight, but take a taxi at night, partly because elephants and buffalo walk through town.
  • Hotels and activity operators usually include pick-ups.
  • Hwange: two to three hours by road to Main Camp. Lodges and operators run transfers.
  • Chobe (Botswana): day trips include transport and border formalities.
  • Livingstone (Zambia): cross the Victoria Falls Bridge by taxi or on foot. Consider the KAZA UniVisa.
  • There is no public transport into the parks.
  • Hwange: road transfer from Victoria Falls, self-drive, or charter flights to private airstrips.
  • Mana Pools: charter flight from Harare or Kariba, or a long self-drive in a high-clearance 4x4.
  • Gonarezhou: self-drive in a 4x4, or charter flight. It’s very remote.
  • Matobo: an easy drive from Bulawayo, with tours available.
  • A hire car is the most practical option. Main roads to Nyanga, Mutare and the Bvumba are tarred.
  • Some roads to viewpoints and lodges are steep and rough, especially in the rains.
  • Use hotel-recommended taxis or ride-hailing.
  • Walk in central areas in daylight only, and keep valuables out of sight.
  • Use guarded parking at shopping centres and hotels.

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Travellers with extra needs

  • Accessibility: public transport is not wheelchair accessible. Book private transfers and tell lodges and operators your needs well in advance. See our accessibility guide.
  • Families: bring your own child car seats if you can, or request them in writing when you book a hire car or transfer. See family travel.
  • Solo travellers: use transport arranged by your accommodation, avoid arriving anywhere after dark, and share your plans with someone at home. See solo travel.
Build in slack. Roadblocks, potholes, weather and flight changes all cause delays. Avoid tight connections, especially on the day you fly home.

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Sources

Last modified on October 21, 2026