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.
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.
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.
Is it ok to travel from South Africa to Zimbabwe, for several safaris, without being refused, that was presented for entry in South Africa 1st and then going to Zimbabwe 10 days later, or is another possible test available upon arrival in Zimbabwe?