Getting Around, Zimbabwe Travel and Transport
(Zimbabwe, ZW, Southern Africa)
Getting around Zimbabwe is relatively easy, so long as you arrive with a large supply of patience, don't have an itinerary that is overly busy and make sensible, realistic travel plans.
Car rental makes sense if you plan to travel widely in Zimbabwe or don't have too much time to rely upon timetables. However, most large towns and cities in this African country do have some form of public transport if you want to experience local culture at close quarters.
Harare International Airport is the first point of call for most visitors to Zimbabwe. International flights arrive and depart from here on a regular basis. There are also daily flights from
Johannesburg. Taxis from the airport to Harare city centre are available at a fixed price.
Harare International Airport (HRE) / Arriving by Air
Address: Harare South, Harare, Zimbabwe, ZW, Africa
Tel: +263 4 575 164
From Harare Airport, it is possible to take domestic flights to most of Zimbabwe's major tourist destinations, including Victoria Falls, the Hwange National Park and the Mana Pools National Park. These services operate regularly and are a viable option if you are short of time. Bulawayo has its own recently refurbished airport, known as the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport, situated to the north of the city.
Car Rental
One way of getting to Zimbabwe is to drive overland from South Africa, Botswana or Zambia. From Johannesburg, in particular, the road is fairly good, although drivers are advised to travel during the daytime, rather than at night.
A car can also be a useful way of getting round Harare and its environs. Fuel is readily available, although it is worth remembering that not all fuel stations are open 24 hours a day. That said, car rental can be quite expensive and it is always worth checking the small print with care before you sign anything.
Buses and Coaches
A domestic bus service is available for visitors wanting to get around Zimbabwe. Express buses tend to operate to fixed timetables, offer more in the way of luxury and are seen as more reliable. Services run from Harare to Mutare and Bulawayo. Visitors to Victoria Falls can catch a bus from Bulawayo. A cheaper option is to wait for a local bus. This economy form of public transport can be a much more haphazard affair. Local buses only depart when full and offer little in the way of luxury for travellers.
International overnight buses and luxury coaches take passengers from Bulawayo and Harare to such cities as Johannesburg, offering an economical alternative to flying. Don't forget to factor in the time it takes to get through border crossings, which can be slow.
Trains
The country's train transport is run by National Railways of Zimbabwe. Most domestic services are fairly slow. An overnight train service runs from Harare to Bulawayo three days a week. It is also possible to travel by overnight train between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls via Hwange. Accommodation on board overnight trains ranges from 2-berth and 4-berth sleeper rooms, to airline-style seating and economy class. Other domestic train services include Harare to Mutare and Bulawayo to Chiredzi.
International rail services operate between Bulawayo and Botswana. It is possible to travel from Victoria Falls to Zambia, although this does now involve a walk across the Victoria Falls bridge to the Zambia border, and then a taxi into Livingstone. Tourist trains also operate between South Africa and Zimbabwe. In particular, the Blue Train takes visitors from Pretoria to Victoria Falls once a month.
Taxis
If you are sightseeing in Harare, you may want to consider using taxis to get around. Mini-buses known as 'kombis' are an especially popular option when it comes to transport possibilities. For trips out to the suburbs, don't forget to negotiate a price for the journey in advance.
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