Zimbabwe is Reopening for Tourism on October 1

Zimbabwe has fully reopened its tourism sector after five months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu announced the development at a press conference Thursday.

If you’re missing the rains down in Africa, you might not need to wait much longer. The map of potential travel destinations hasn’t quite been the same in recent months, but day by day countries are reopening again, looking to balance health and safety with the vital opportunities travel brings. After South Africa’s exciting announcement to reboot travel from October 1st just last week, Zimbabwe is now jumping in too.

Zimbabwe Reopening Tourism

From October 1st, 2020, Zimbabwe will reopen international tourism. Much like South Africa’s recently announced return to international travel, all visitors to Zimbabwe from October will be expected to provide a negative covid-19 PCR test, taken within 48 hours of departure, but will not be asked to quarantine upon arrival.

According to tourism officials, Zimbabwe is eager to have you back.

OUR PARKS ARE NOW OPEN!!! Visit us for the best adventurous holiday experience.#daretotravel#everydayisaholiday#inharmonywithnature#knowyourparks#zimparks@FarawoTinashe @ZtaUpdates @tourismzimbabwe @BeautifulZim pic.twitter.com/hpSyasU9lA

— Zimparks (@Zimparks) September 17, 2020

All travel businesses were forced to shutter for 6 months, which lead to a variety of issues, including the return of poaching in many of the most prized safari lands and game parks. In recent weeks, good news has returned though, with nearly all hotels, restaurants, cafes, shops and attractions including Victoria Falls reopening.

Couldn’t everyone use a splendid safari right about now? Live camera feeds of safari lands were welcome during home lockdown, but there’s absolutely nothing like the real thing.

So, Who Can Visit Zimbabwe?

For now, it’s believed that from October 1st, any traveler presenting a negative covid-19 PCR test taken within 48 hours of departure will be admitted into Zimbabwe once again.

Today the Vice President of the Republic of #Zimbabwe who is also the Minister @MoHCCZim Hon. CGDN Chiwenga & the Hon N.M @nqo_nn are touring International Airports in the country i.e. R.G.Mugabe Int Airport. JMN Nkomo Int & Victoria Falls Int Airport.#RestartTourism pic.twitter.com/GmXMZx4Qi8

— Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (@ZtaUpdates) September 19, 2020

Harare’s Robert Gabriel Mugabe Airport will serve as the primary entry point for visitors once tourism to Zimbabwe reopens on the 1st of October, where screening of all arriving passengers will occur with temperature checks.

Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg offer far greater connectivity from European and North American departure points, and relatively cheap flights between Harare and any of these gateways are widely available.

Zimbabwe has yet to produce an official list of which countries may be eligible for entry, but officials suggest there won’t be any country restrictions, due to the strong testing requirements. In other words, UK and US visitors are expected to be included.

With winter season in the Northern Hemipshere fast approaching, which of course means summer in Zimbabwe and the Southern hemisphere, sunshine might be just the ticket. Watching elephants bathe, or lions roam certainly doesn’t hurt either.

September 23, 2020