Need visa for Zimbabwe??

Hi,

I'm going to be travelling to Zimbabwe, landing in Harare in a little less than two weeks. I'm trying to figure out whether or not I need a visa now or if I can get one when I land.

I've got a US Passport valid for several years from now as well as proof of a plane ticket out of Kenya a couple of months later. I've looked in several books and talked to a couple of travel agencies and gotten conflicting advice as to whether I'll need one or not.

Does anyone here know for sure?

TIA,

Zimbabwe visas are issued on arrival. Stand in line, pay your money, and hit the road. Here's the Zimbabwe Embassy website that describes the costs: $30 for single entry, $45 for double entry. http://www.zimembassy-usa.org/immigration.html

You need double entry to cross into Botswana (for example) outside Victoria Falls and then return. You may cross the bridge at Victoria Falls into Zambia, however, just for the day, without a double entry visa. Problem is, you have to get a Zambia visa when you do.

I was there in '99 and my visa was issued on arrival (Canadian passport) with NO fee. Might be different for non-commonwealth countries (and us, too, given the warm relations between CHOG and Bobby Mugabe at the mo'

Sorry Cornelis, your info is out-of-date, or very limited. Have you read about the situation in Zimbabwe RECENTLY...not in 2000, not in 2001...NOW.

And of course, I noted your cute little comment about 'as fair as the US elections'...well, for the record, let me point out:

1) No US opposition candidates (we don't even use this term in the US!) have been beaten, or had their homes invaded or burned 2) The sitting president did not change the membership on the US Supreme Court to overturn previous court decisions that had undermined the position of the current 'president' 3) The US sitting president did not prohibit foreign journalists from covering the election, or the country 4) The US sitting president did not require that all journalists be 'licensed', to intimidate coverage of the political situation 5) The Joint Chief of the US Armed Forces did not make public statements threatening a coup if the the current president was not re-elected ...

Do I really need to go on???

It probably is true that the probability of violence against foreigners is still small, but the situation in Zimbabwe is extremely volatile. And if there is trouble, with current politics being what they are, you should not expect any help from local authorities or the local police...who are either allied with Mugabe's thugs, or desperately afraid of them. The situation could spin out of control very rapidly.

And make no mistake, we are talking about politically motivated violence in Zimbabwe, which is a completely different situation than random or economically motivated crime. The US has no more political violence than the Netherlands, so please don't try to imply otherwise!

And when posting about countries that are currently going through political upheaval, please don't provide info that is 2 years old...your experience two years ago is worse than irrelevant, it is misleading. And your comments comparing Zimbabwe's current election to the last US election only underline your lack of accurate information about both countries.

Well Chessie,

A few days ago I had a chat session with family of me, who live in Zimbabwe (Bulawayo). They say only the bad news is printed in foreign papers. They're a little concerned, but also say that there won't change that much if Mugabe will lose the elections.

Chrissie, in Harara, Masvingo, Bulawayao, Gweru, Hwange and Vic. Falls you can drive in your rented car without any problem. When you drive a rented car in Miami, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago etc. etc. (do I need to go on?) you're not sure about your life, when you take the wrong turn in those cities. America is much more violent than Zimbabwe. OK the white farmers issue is pure racist and robbery. And the opposite party is intimidated. Do you think America should sent troups to Zimbabwe? I believe the countries Nambia, Botswana, Zambia and South-Africa should sent observers, and the EU will protest against Zimbabwe by stopping their help. Mugabe has supporters in some big cities, the opposite has them in the country mostly.

Zimbabwe is still save at the moment, but end February and beginning of March you should be aware of demonstrations, especially in Ndbele country. If you don't get involved, and just visit the parks in Ndebele country then this should'nt be a problem.

Regards, Corné.

Elections in Zimbabwe will be fair, just like in America recently...

That's just plain nuts. Mugabe is a despot in every sense of the word.