Zimbabwe isn’t the cheapest destination in Africa, but by no means is it the most expensive. As with any holiday, the cost ultimately depends on how you spend your time. Are you into private safaris, luxury game lodges and three-course feasts? Or do you prefer to backpack on a shoestring-budget, eating street food and camping in the hills? Zimbabwe can be done in a multiple of ways.
So how much will a holiday to Zimbabwe cost? For budget travellers, you will need up to $100 USD per day. This should cover costs for camping/a bed in a dorm room, street food or a local meal, public bus tickets and entry into a couple of national parks. For a mid-range budget, we suggest taking around $100-200 USD per day. This should cover a mid-range boutique hotel, safari lodge and game drive, restaurant meals and taxi hire. And if you’re looking at staying in an all-inclusive luxury safari lodge with private game drives, car hire for the day and lots of souvenirs, we suggest taking upwards of $200 USD per day.
The currency in Zimbabwe can become a little confusing as they use US dollars and Zimbabwe Dollars and you can’t use both interchangeably. We advise bringing both currencies with you.
Food in Zimbabwe can vary drastically in price. If you’re sticking to a tight budget, street food and cheap meals in local diners cost around $5 USD. If you’d prefer a Western-style meal in a restaurants, you’ll need to budget for around $10-20 USD per meal. And if you’re after a fancy meal, including alcoholic drinks, you’ll need at least $30 USD per meal. A beer will usually cost you around $2 USD, and a 1.5l bottle of water costs around $1.60 USD.
Transport can become a significant expense. For example, taxis usually run on a meter and charge around $2.50 USD per km. If you want to hire a car for the day, it will cost you around $150 USD. Travelling by bus is usually the cheapest option. For example, a bus ticket from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls will cost you around $30 USD. However, if you join a group tour with Tucan Travel, you don’t need to worry about transport costs. We use a combination of private vehicles and flights depending on the tour. It’s all taken care of by us so you can sit back, relax and make the most of your time abroad.
Depending on which national parks you visit and how you explore them, the price can vary dramatically. For example, Entrance into the majority of national parks is around $15-20 USD; however, Victoria Falls costs around $30 USD. If you’re exploring by foot, hiking in the hills or wandering around ancient relics, your day trip could cost just that. However, it’s also possible to stay in a catered safari lodge for around $150, and if you want all all-inclusive safari, you could be looking at anything in between $250 – 1000 USD.
Tipping is a common practice in Zimbabwe but not obligatory. However, as wages are much lower in comparison to Western standards, a tip can go a long way and is always appreciated.
In Zimbabwe, it is customary to tip waters 10-15%. Although, before you offer a tip, check you’re bill. Some restaurants will automatically add a 10% service charge, in which case you do not need to add a tip.
Most people leave tips for their guides at the end of their stay, tour or excursion. Guides wages predominantly come from tips, so we always advise our passengers to leave one. Between $5-20 per day is recommended.
If you leave your hire-car with a car park guard, it’s customary to give them $1 USD tip. If you hire a driver for the day or your driver was particularly helpful, a 10% tip is usually offered. Other than in these cases, you do not need to leave a tip.
In the majority of cases, such as paying in shops, or for activities and accommodation, prices are set in Zimbabwe. However, there are some cases where haggling for goods is expected. If you’re buying souvenirs or art at local markets, almost nothing has a fixed price. Some sellers will even hike up their prices so that they can be bartered down. So, if you’re at a market, don’t be shy – haggle away! But if you’re in a store, the prices will be fixed.
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