Confronting Inequities in STI Prevention, Diagnostics and Care
About Zimbabwe
Accessibility
Zimbabwe is situated on the southern African great plateau with an average elevation of 1,500 metres. However, Victoria Falls is situated in the Zambezi valley at an altitude of 1,060 metres. It is accessible by air, road and rail, but the easiest and fastest mode of transport is by air.
There are international flights into Victoria Falls as follows.
- Ethiopian Airlines: Addis Ababa to Victoria Falls and return on Sundays, Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays. It is advisable to verify the schedules with your travel agent.
- Eurowings Discover (part of the Lufthansa Group) flies from Frankfurt to Victoria Falls via Windhoek in Namibia arriving in Victoria Falls on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and departs on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Please, check frequency and days of service with your travel agent.
- Kenya Airways has flights from Nairobi to Victoria Falls on Fridays.
- Fastjet flies from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls on Sundays, Mondays and Fridays. Check schedule with your travel agent, please.
- British Airways flies via Johannesburg with Comair (BA). Please, check frequency with your travel agent.
- There are also other international airlines, such as Mack Air from Botswana. Mack Air will also soon be flying from Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park. SA Airlink flies from Cape Town to Victoria Falls.
- Emirates and Qatar Airways fly into Harare from Dubai and Doha, respectively. Travellers can then connect from Harare to Victoria Falls. There may be an overnight stay in Harare as the domestic flights to Victoria Falls may have departed by the time Emirates and Qatar Airways arrive in Harare.
- SA Airlink flies from Johannesburg to Harare (and Bulawayo) daily, as well as between Cape Town and Harare.
- South African Airways flies daily from Johannesburg to Harare and back.
- Fastjet flies from Harare to Johannesburg return, daily.
- Kenya Airways flies daily from Nairobi to Harare.
The domestic flights from Harare to Victoria Falls include Air Zimbabwe and Fastjet.
Health Matters
Regulations under Covid-19 restrictions
Regulations under Covid-19 control measures (Updated 1 August 2022)
This information on Covid-19 regulations is currently applicable in Zimbabwe. Any change in the regulations will be updated and communicated to the delegates attending the conference..
Fully vaccinated returning residents or visitors with a valid vaccination certificate against Covid-19 will not be required to have a Covid-19 PCR test to enter or leave Zimbabwe (with effect from 1 April 2022 according to Zimbabwe Statutory Instrument 67 of 2022). Any or more of the vaccines approved by the World Health Organization will be accepted. Fully vaccinated applies to two doses of a 2-dose regimen or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers will need a negative PCR Covid-19 test certificate obtained within 48 hours of boarding. On departure, a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel will be required.
A symptomatic traveller may be required to undergo a PCR Covid-19 test at the traveller’s own expense.
Children under 12 years of age are exempt from vaccination and PCR test requirements.
Travellers are required to maintain social distancing (1 metre from any other individual), wear masks in public and adhere to hygienic measures, such as washing of hands or use of hand sanitisers. There is a curfew from midnight to 05:30 hours. Restaurants, bars and night clubs are operational from 08:00hrs to 22:00hrs.
Covid-19 PCR Tests
Departing travellers who need to show a negative PCR Covid-19 certificate can be tested in Victoria Falls. Arrangements have been made by the Conference Local Organising Committee to have the samples taken at the Conference Venue (The Elephant Hills Resort Hotel). The price for the PCR test will be US$40 cash per person and only international VISA cards are transactable from the Point-of-Sale (POS) machines. However, it is advisable to have cash as the POS machines may experience connection problems from time to time. The PCR Test Certificates will be printed and stamped with QR coded barcodes that are internationally readable at any port of entry. The results will be available within 2–6 hours. Zimbabwe is registered on the Trusted Travel Initiative Platform. The laboratory engaged to perform the tests is accredited with this platform.
Other Infectious Diseases
Victoria Falls, being in the lowveld, requires malaria prophylaxis. Mefloquine (Larium), atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone) and doxycycline are normally effective. Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia and South Africa are not considered Yellow Fever Risk Zones. However, a Yellow Fever Certificate is required if one has travelled or lived in any of the countries that are considered high risk area for Yellow Fever. It is also advisable to carry travellers’ diarrhoea medicines.
Security
Whilst Zimbabwe has suffered over a decade of economic turmoil, the tourist destination of Victoria Falls has continued to offer venues for conferences and tourism. As a commercialised place and a popular tourist destination, rather pushy vendors have flourished in the city centre, but no harm has come to visitors in this small city. Nevertheless, all care should be taken not to display valuables, such as cameras, wallets and cell phones without due care.
Victoria Falls National Park and other national parks around the country are open. It is important to check the normal opening hours as they will vary from city to city on account of Covid-19-related restrictions. Nearer the time of the conference, updated information will be given and also made available at the conference.