Zimbabwe on GuideMeet

Is Zimbabwe safe to travel?

Updated October 2026

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 28 September 2026.

🌐 Italiano · Français · Español

Safety

• Police checkpoints — If you travel in your own vehicle, expect frequent police checkpoints that cause sudden queues of traffic. Stick to the speed limits, carry every document local law requires in order, radio licence included, and pay particular attention to every mechanical and electrical detail, the emergency kit and the wear on brakes and tyres, to avoid fines, even several on the same stretch of road.
• Crime — The persistent socio-economic crisis, made worse by the lack of local and foreign currency, together with very high unemployment, contribute to a rise in protests and petty crime, including theft from parked vehicles, bag-snatching and break-ins, and widespread discontent persists. Foreigners can draw attention from criminals around hotels, restaurants, shopping centres and tourist areas. A police unit exists to protect foreigners, but it is scarcely operational. Do not show off jewellery, valuables or large amounts of cash, and avoid leaving luggage unattended at airports and bus stations.
• Do not photograph — Do not photograph airports, police officers, checkpoints, or government buildings and installations. The State House and the President's official residence count as sensitive sites and are heavily guarded.
• Where to be careful — Be cautious in the central areas of Harare and Bulawayo, and avoid little-used roads even in smaller towns such as Gweru and Mutare. Avoid crowds and street demonstrations, avoid moving around at night, even on foot, and if possible never travel alone.
• Cyclones and floods — In the south-east, cyclones during the December-to-April rainy season cause flooding that can destroy the road links of entire villages. Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Masvingo and the Midlands are the regions affected.
• Safaris and risky activities — Take care with potentially risky activities such as safaris, rafting and canoeing on the rivers, and flights in private planes or helicopters. Safari offers that do not come from known agencies specialised in the sector should be weighed carefully: accidents, sometimes serious, are reported on excursions run by local travel agents, often because of tourists' imprudence. Anyone who wants to hunt must be accompanied by licensed operators, with a licence issued by the Zimbabwe Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 28 September 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. Where a guide's profile shows “Licence verified”, we found that licence in the official public register; otherwise 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 28 September 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 7 October 2026.