Self-driving gives you the most freedom to cover Zimbabwe’s distances between Victoria Falls, Hwange and the eastern highlands, but it comes with patchy roads, fuel that is not always available and frequent roadblocks; combi minibuses are the cheap way to travel but not the safest, and the train is not an option at all right now. Zimbabwe drives on the left, as shown in the facts box on this page.
Driving yourself
Self-driving is workable if you are prepared for the road conditions: traffic accidents are a leading cause of death and injury for travellers, with hazards including potholes, broken traffic lights, poorly lit or badly maintained vehicles, dim street lighting and livestock straying onto the road. Emergency roadside assistance is limited outside the main towns, so avoid driving between towns after dark when these hazards are hardest to see coming.
If you bring a UK driving licence, it is valid to drive in Zimbabwe for up to 12 months; carry copies of your passport and visa with you whenever you drive. A Dutch driving licence is valid for as long as the Zimbabwe visa it was issued under remains valid, and the Dutch government points travellers to the ANWB for more detail on driving in Africa. If you plan to bring your own foreign-registered vehicle into the country rather than hire one locally, you will need a police vehicle clearance certificate for it.
Fuel supply is not something to take for granted: it is sometimes unavailable, so carry extra fuel along with a comprehensive medical kit and other supplies on longer drives between towns, especially toward national parks and the eastern highlands where filling stations are sparser.
Combi minibuses and taxis
Shared minibuses known as combis or kombis are the cheapest and most widely used way for locals to travel, but the UK Foreign Office describes them as often overcrowded, inadequately maintained, uninsured and recklessly driven, and recommends avoiding them where possible. A hotel-recommended taxi is the safer alternative: the same advisory notes that hotel-recommended taxis are usually reliable and in good condition, which makes them worth the extra cost over flagging one down on the street — see the costs page for what a taxi fare typically runs to.
Rail
Zimbabwe’s passenger rail network exists on paper but not in practice right now: passenger rail services are currently suspended, and the UK Foreign Office describes the rail system more broadly as underdeveloped and very poorly maintained. Do not build an itinerary around the train; plan on driving or flying between regions instead.
Roadblocks and toll gates
Police roadblocks and toll gates are a routine part of driving in Zimbabwe, not a sign anything is wrong. Obey police signals and stop at every roadblock and toll gate you reach; if you are fined, always ask for and keep the receipt, since a receipt is your record that the payment was official. See the safety page for the smash-and-grab theft risk on some of the same approach roads into Harare.
Practical tips
- Carry copies of your passport and visa whenever you drive, and keep your foreign driving licence’s validity window in mind for your whole stay.
- Get a police vehicle clearance certificate sorted before you try to bring your own foreign-registered car into the country.
- Carry extra fuel on longer drives, especially toward national parks, in case a filling station along the way has none.
- Avoid driving between towns after dark, when potholes, unlit vehicles and straying livestock are hardest to spot in time.
- Treat combis as a last resort; a hotel-recommended taxi costs more but is the safer choice.
- Don’t plan around the train — passenger rail is currently suspended.
- Stop at every roadblock and toll gate, and always get a receipt for any fine you pay.
What to check before you go
- Whether your UK or Dutch driving licence’s validity window (12 months, or your visa’s duration) covers your whole trip.
- Whether you need a police vehicle clearance certificate, if you are bringing your own vehicle rather than hiring one.
- Current fuel availability along your planned route, particularly for drives to national parks or the eastern highlands.
- Your own government’s current travel advisory close to departure, since road conditions and specific warnings can change: the UK Foreign Office page is the primary source behind this page.