Significant safety concerns; travel only if you have a clear reason to go. Civil liberties are tightly restricted and political expression can carry risk.
Regional breakdown
Harare, the capital, draws most business and transit travellers. The official advisory guidance flags street crime in central Harare, including bag snatching near hotels and ATMs after dark. Carjackings and smash-and-grab attacks at traffic lights happen in the wider metropolitan area. Travellers are told to keep car doors locked and windows up. Bulawayo, the second city, sees fewer reported incidents but the same patterns of opportunistic theft. Visitors heading to Matabeleland often pass through on the way to Hwange National Park or Victoria Falls. The Victoria Falls tourist zone itself remains the busiest entry point for foreign visitors. With daily flights from Johannesburg and road links to Zambia and Botswana. Rural and border areas need more planning. The Beitbridge crossing with South Africa is known for long queues, document checks, and cross-border crime. Mining areas in the Midlands and Mashonaland have seen disputes turn violent. Recent flooding has affected parts of Manicaland and Masvingo provinces, with washed-out roads and damaged bridges. Travellers heading to Great Zimbabwe or the Eastern Highlands should check road conditions before setting out and allow extra time.
Recent advisory changes
The official advisory guidance last updated its Zimbabwe travel advice on 20 January 2026. The change added information about flooding in the Safety and Security section. The official advisory guidance keeps Zimbabwe at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution. The advisory was last reissued on 27 June 2023 and has not been upgraded or downgraded since. It points to opportunistic crime, occasional violent incidents including carjacking and home invasion, and unrest around political events. It also notes that foreigners, journalists, and NGO staff may face extra scrutiny from authorities. Neither government has ordered the departure of staff or dependants, and both embassies in Harare remain open for routine consular work.
What travellers should know
Cash and cards both have quirks in Zimbabwe. The US dollar is widely accepted alongside the local currency, and most hotels and tour operators price in dollars. ATMs can be unreliable, so travellers usually carry small denomination notes for tips, taxis, and park fees. Card readers work in larger hotels but often fail elsewhere. Power cuts are common and many businesses run on generators. Health, transport, and paperwork need attention before departure. Malaria is present in lower-lying areas including the Zambezi Valley and parts of Hwange, so antimalarials and repellent matter. Tap water is not reliably drinkable in most places. Road travel after dark is widely discouraged because of livestock, potholes, and unlit vehicles. Travellers should carry a printed copy of their passport, visa, and yellow fever certificate where required, and keep originals in a hotel low-risk. Political gatherings should be avoided, photography of government buildings and uniformed personnel is restricted. And anyone caught in flood-affected areas should follow local instructions and check official advisory guidance page before moving on.