Zimbabwe: Pre-Departure Information

This document includes some travel information and tips regarding your upcoming visit to Zimbabwe. If you have any further queries regarding your visit please contact your placement coordinator through the contact page. Please read all information carefully and make the necessary arrangements to avoid complications during your visit. Many thanks – we look forward to having you in Zimbabwe.

Visa

A few things to let you know and to remind you of, before your arrival in Zimbabwe. Please check that we have your arrival and departure times and flights correct to avoid any confusion. On arrival at the airport, please make sure that you apply for a Holiday Visa. The price of visas change all the time, so please ensure you have sufficient cash to allow for some increase in price. Please bring correct change as change will not be given in same currency.
British passport holders - $60.00, payable in US$ cash.
EU passport holders – Approximately $50, payable in US$ cash.
US passport holders - $30.00 payable in US$ cash.
German passport holders are roughly US$40.00.
Canadian passport holders - US$ 65.00 for a visa.
Passports must be valid for 6 months after your departure for you to be allowed entry into Zimbabwe.
Please check the expiry date.
There is a US$ 30.00 airport departure fee when leaving unless this is prepaid in your ticket. Please check that this is included or bring cash to cover this. Please make sure you confirm your departure flight 72 hours before leaving the project.

Airport Pick-up - We will meet you at the airport!

You will be met at Harare International Airport (HRE) by ACTS staff. You will then travel to your placement on ACTS transport. Please put the ACTS address on your visa form: 11 Philips Ave, Belgravia, Harare. We recommend that you fly direct to Harare International Airport (HRE) mos international flights connect thru Johannesburg (Oliver Tambo) International Airport (JNB) and transfer to HRE.

Accommodation

Our volunteer house is a comfortable and safe home shared with other volunteers during your time here. You may be required to share ablutions and bedroom with other volunteers of the same sex. All bedding is provided, so you will not need to bring a sleeping bag with you, unless you are thinking of doing a camping safari during your stay and an extra cover sometimes is useful in the colder months (March - August). Regardless of which house you end up staying at, all meals, laundry and transportation to and from your projects and tourist activities will be provided and organised by your volunteer co-ordinator. ACTS staff are also available to organize tourist activities, which will be at your own cost.

Weather & Climate

Zimbabwe has a very pleasant climate, with warm Summers and temperate Winters. April-September: Dry Season (winter) Nights and early morning are cool so if you are arriving during this time, ensure you bring some warm clothes.

October-March: Wet Season (summer) Days and nights can get very hot and sticky (up to 35°c). You need light clothes although there might be a day the temperature drops so ensure you also bring a sweater. Rain tends to be in short thunderbursts, so although it is known as the wet season, the weather is mostly very pleasant.

Meals

All meals will be provided for by ACTS staff during your stay at the various houses, camps and while travelling between sites.

Communication and Electrical Appliances

• Email will be available sporadically and volunteers will be able to check email at least once every week.
• You will be able to use your mobile phone in Zimbabwe if you enable international roaming before you leave home.
• We have British (square) plugs in Zimbabwe. There will be electricity in most of the sites that you visit and you will be able to use all normal electrical appliances such as hair straighteners; iPod; camera chargers, etc.
  

Clothing

Please make sure you bring comfortable clothes, bathing suit and clothes that you don't mind getting dirty. It is accepted in Zimbabwe to wear shorts and skirts in the cities, but the clothes you wear to your project work should not be revealing, and short or short skirts would not be a good idea for girls. From May to August, nights can be cold, so make sure you bring some sweaters and warm clothing. Trainers or good walking shoes are highly recommended.

Malaria and Sun Precautions

Please bring effective sun screen recommend SPF factor 20 and above particularly for summer. Malaria is not present in Harare, but if you are travelling to other parts of the country or Africa, please enquire with our staff about the need to take anti-malarial treatments. Please bring with you effective mosquito repellent spray or cream.

Volunteer Expectations and Conditions of Stay

Africa provides an ever-changing environment and power failures, water shortages, temperature fluctuations and other uncontrollable situations do occur. You will need to remain flexible, understanding and good humoured. “African time” can be difficult and frustrating for those used to a very structured life so this is something to keep in mind!

Once you arrive in Africa, your care is the responsibility of ACTS and our trained project managers. We always aim to provide you with all your daily needs, keep you out of harm’s way and support you in your volunteer work. In exchange, we ask you to attend work punctually and to behave consistently in ways that reflect well upon ACTS and our project managers. We ask that you to dress according to local norms while in public and to treat people on the work site with kindness and respect. In addition, ACTS insists that volunteers avoid any contact with drugs and any culturally inappropriate activities relating to alcohol. The ACTS projects rely on networks, and those networks are held together by good relations. If a case should arrive in which our staff feels that volunteers have repeatedly behaved in ways that contradict the basic spirit of this agreement, we reserve the right to remove you from the program.

We view the volunteer experience as a commitment that includes a willingness to overcome challenges of various sorts. In cases where volunteers are experiencing difficulties, we strongly encourage creative, collaborative solutions. At the same time, we respect the ability and freedom of our volunteers to make their own judgement and understand that volunteer work only functions well when volunteers retain the will to participate fully and energetically.

Packing Checklist

Please be aware that your clothes are going to get dirty! In addition, it can get very cold during the evenings in dry season (April-September) so please bring a warm jacket/fleece and long trousers.

• Passport, insurance certificates & personal documentation, including some certified copies stored separately.
• Spending money in US$
• Camera with enough film and batteries for the duration of your placement (you will have electricity on your placement to charge batteries)
• Notebook and pen
• Personal medical first aid & hygiene kit
• Diarrhoea & anti histamines & headache tablets
• Sunscreen & lip salve; Sun Hat
• Sleeping bag
• Trainers
• Sandals
• Personal torch
• Sunglasses
• Pocketknife is handy but not a priority (not in your hand luggage)
• Lightweight waterproof jacket for the Wet Season (November – April)
• Fleece type pullover (it can get very cold at night)
• Khaki, or similar neutral coloured lightweight bush wear (Note: Not with camouflage design)
• Long trousers
• Swimwear; Beach Towel
• Mosquito & insect repellent
• Positive attitude!

Contact Us

Contact us to organise your mission, volunteer project or holiday to Africa. Get in direct contact with us via phone/email or fill in our simple form and we will get back to you.