Rules for overlanding in Zimbabwe

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 15 February 2026.

Which licence you need

All vehicles — An International Driving Permit is required, on either the 1949 Geneva or the 1968 Vienna Convention model.

An International Driving Permit states the categories it covers: check yours covers what you will actually drive. A car licence does not cover a motorcycle, and a heavy camper or a truck can need a higher category.

At the wheel

Insurance — Short-term cover has to be bought at the border. The ministry also advises an international policy that covers costs after a road accident or injury.
Bringing in a vehicle — A Carnet de Passages en Douane is required.
Left-hand traffic — Traffic drives on the left.
Alcohol — The maximum blood alcohol level for a driver is 0.08%. Police will require a breath test or a blood sample after an offence, or whenever there is good reason to suspect you have been drinking.
Helmets and seatbelts — Helmets are compulsory for everyone on a motorcycle and seatbelts are compulsory in the front seats. Children under 10 must sit in the back, and may only sit in front if there are no rear seats and an age-appropriate restraint is fitted.
Equipment on board — A warning triangle is compulsory for vehicles over 2.3 t, and the ministry notes a double-triangle requirement in the emergency kit. Tyres must not show the inner casing. Daytime running lights are optional for motorcycles.
No night driving — The ministry says not to drive after dark: there is no street lighting, signage is poor or absent, road surfaces are often terrible, many drivers use full beams and other vehicles run without lights or reflectors. Robberies of motorists are also more frequent at night, cities included. Even in the evening, watch for pedestrians walking along the edge of unlit roads and for animals crossing suddenly on rural roads.
Fuel — Fuel is normally available at service stations throughout the country.

What catches travellers out

Bring cash — The liquidity crisis makes withdrawing cash at bank counters and ATMs practically impossible, so arrive with enough US dollars in cash and never let it show. Foreign cards are accepted in principle but occasionally fail on local networks or are refused by small traders and restaurants. The ZiG, introduced on 8 April 2024, can only be used inside Zimbabwe, and taking out more than 2,000 US dollars is prohibited.
Medical evacuation cover — Take out accident insurance covering medical evacuation before you travel. An air evacuation and emergency admission in neighbouring South Africa runs to around 100,000 US dollars, payable in advance.
Power and water — Daily power cuts of up to 12 hours are normal and the municipal water network is at breaking point. Prices for goods and services have risen steeply.
Drugs and banned material — Drug use is forbidden and possession is illegal and prosecuted. Bringing in pornographic material is also prohibited, even for personal use, and anyone found with it faces criminal proceedings.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 15 February 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Zimbabwe before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.

Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 15 February 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.