Since 24 June 2019, the only legal tender in Zimbabwe has been the new “Zimbabwe dollar” (Z$, ISO code ZWL), also known as the “RTGS dollar” or the “zollar”. It includes Zimbabwean bond notes, bond coins and mobile money such as Ecocash. New Zimbabwe dollar banknotes were issued in November 2019. The value of the currency is volatile. The exchange rate published on xe.com refers to old Zimbabwean dollars so is completely wrong.

However, as of 23 December 2019, there is a shortage of Zimbabwe dollar notes, and it’s not possible to make cash withdrawals using an international bank card. It is impossible for foreigners to obtain cash in the country; you must bring foreign currency cash with you.

As of January 2020, most retailers and service providers are trading their products in U.S. dollars or pegging their prices in Zimbabwe dollars using U.S. dollar black market rates. Some retailers and public transport operators are no longer accepting denominations lower than the Zimbabwe dollar coin. Wikivoyage articles generally quote prices in U.S. dollars.

There are many ATMs which take Visa and MasterCard. However, you will not be able to withdraw money from any ATMs, so bring plenty of cash. Try to obtain Zimbabwean dollars before you arrive, otherwise you will have to change your U.S. dollars after you arrive. If bringing U.S. dollars, bring smaller denomination notes, e.g. US$20 and below. Anything larger is unlikely to be accepted. Change will be given in Zimbabwean dollars.

Many banks do not have enough bank notes due to a shortage of paper, so will only change U.S. dollars for Ecocash. Registering for Ecocash is recommended. You will need your ID to buy an EcoNet SIM card at EcoNet shops or other small phone shops. You can then register for EcoCash, but you will need to produce your ID again to activate your account. You can then load your account at a bank, and spend money in most shops using your PIN.

A growing number of businesses accept Visa and MasterCard in Zimbabwe, however shop workers are often resistant to use them. Be careful what currency your card is charged in, otherwise you may get charged US$10 instead of Z$10!

Between cities, you travel using luxury coaches like Pathfinder and Citilink. You can also get decent buses from RoadPort in Harare to other major cities including those in neighbouring countries like Johannesburg, Lusaka, Lilongwe.

Minibus taxis are available for intra-city transport, and are relatively inexpensive by European standards. They provide a cheap, though a not necessarily comfortable way of seeing the true Zimbabwe.

The condition of the roads in Zimbabwe seems to have improved considerably since the stabilisation of the economic. Roads between Victoria Falls and Bulawayo, Bulawayo and Masvingo (Great Zimbabwe) and Masvingo and Mutare are all in relatively good condition. The highway between Plumtree and Mutare (passing through Bulawayo and Harare in between) is being resurfaced.

Almost no fuel station in Zimbabwe takes credit cards. Also road blocks are common but usually police just want to see your driver’s licence and your Temporary Import Permit (TIP). Police can fine you if you do not have reflective reflectors on your car, red hazard triangles in your boot, a spare tire, or a fire extinguisher, so be sure to carry those items if you want to avoid a fine.

The taxi app in Zimbabwe is called Vaya, but you will need a Zimbabwean phone number to use it. Its exchange rate is fixed at Z$1 to US$1, so you will want to pay in Zimbabwean dollars (RTGS).

BY TRAIN:

The more adventurous tourists could travel by train around Zimbabwe. National Railways of Zimbabwe runs services between most major cities at least three times per week. However, due to ongoing economic difficulties and dilapidated tracks, there are often delays and cancellations. The most popular route is the daily overnight train between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. This train passes through Hwange National Park, one of the biggest national parks in Africa, and there are plenty of opportunities to see wild animals along the route. There is an tri-weekly overnight service between Bulawayo and the capital Harare as well.

EAT:

For a sample of what Zimbabweans eat (in some form, nearly every day), ask for “sadza and stew/relish.” The stew part will be familiar, served over a large portion of sadza – a thick ground corn paste (vaguely like polenta and the consistency of thick mashed potatoes) that locals eat at for lunch and supper. It’s inexpensive, quite tasty and very filling. There is a plethora of good Zimbabwean food- “Mbambaira” or sweet potatoes, “chibage” corn on the cob, for example. Fruits indigenous to the country like “masawu” for example. For foreigners, especially from the West, Zimbabwean meat is very tasty, especially the beef, because of the great way that animals are raised and fed and not pumped up with hormones, etc.

The restaurant and coffee-shop scene in Harare is great, with a wide variety of places to choose from.

DRINK:

Mazoe, the local orange squash, is the quintessential Zimbabwean cordial.

A variety of domestic brews are made in Zimbabwe, mainly lagers with a few milk stouts. You may even want to try “Chibuku” a local brew popular among working class men that’s based on a traditional beer recipe made from sorghum and/or maize (corn). It is generally sold in a 2-litre plastic bottle called a ‘skud’ or a more popular variety called “Chibuku Super” that comes in a disposable 1.25 litre plastic container and costs USmainly lagers with a few milk stouts. You may even want to try “Chibuku” a local brew popular among working class men that’s based on a traditional beer recipe made from sorghum and/or maize (corn). It is generally sold in a 2-litre plastic bottle called a ‘skud’ or a more popular variety called “Chibuku Super” that comes in a disposable 1.25 litre plastic container and costs US$1. As with all alcohol. As with all alcohol, it’s definitely an acquired taste! There is also a limited range of local wines, usually found within a much larger variety of imported wines. The South African creamy liqueur, Amarula, is a common delight.

Imported drinks and locally made franchises are available as well as local “soft drinks” (carbonated drinks/sodas). Bottled water is also available.

Zimbabwe has a great number of tourist facilities, and offers a variety of accommodation options, from international hotels to guest houses, lodges, backpacker hostels and safari camps for all budgets.

If you are on a safari tour there are tented camps, chalets and camping sites in most of the safari areas.

Most places have a backpacker hostel with prices from US$10 a night.

TBC.