A typical first trip here runs about $425 to $575 per person for 7 days at a mid-range style, before flights. Get your own number from the Budget Calculator.
- Sadza, stiff white maize porridge eaten with every meal; the national staple, used as an edible scoop for stews and relishes
- Nyama, any grilled or stewed meat (beef, goat, or game); braaied (barbecued) nyama is a social institution
- Muriwo une dovi, collard greens cooked in groundnut (peanut) sauce; one of Zimbabwe's most beloved vegetable dishes
- Mopane worms, sun-dried or fried caterpillars eaten as a snack or stewed; a traditional protein source in rural areas
- Mazondo, slow-cooked beef trotters in a rich gravy; a celebratory and deeply comforting dish
- Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA), week-long festival of world-class theater, music, dance, and circus held each May in the capital
- Jerusarema/Mbende Dance, UNESCO-recognized traditional dance of the Zezuru Shona people, performed at harvest and ceremonial occasions
- Zimbabwe Independence Day (April 18), celebrates independence from British rule in 1980 with national ceremonies and rallies
- Kurova Guva, one-year memorial ceremony to welcome the spirit of a deceased person home, marked by drumming, singing, and a communal feast
- Victoria Falls Carnival (December 31), multi-day music festival at the world's largest waterfall attracting international artists and travelers
Zimbabwe has 16 official languages, with English, Shona, and Ndebele being the most widely used. English functions as the language of government and education.
), "Ndatenda" (thank you). Key Ndebele phrases: "Sawubona" (hello), "Ngiyabonga" (thank you).
Zimbabweans are known for being articulate and highly educated; English conversation is comfortable across most urban areas.
- Greet with both hands extended or support your right forearm with your left hand when shaking hands, this shows respect and is commonly practiced
- Clapping is used to express thanks after receiving food, a gift, or a favor; women clap with cupped hands, men with flat palms
- Respect for elders is paramount, always offer your seat to an older person on public transport or in waiting rooms
- Photography at Great Zimbabwe and other heritage sites should be done respectfully; sacred areas may have restrictions
Latest for Zimbabwe
Updates for Zimbabwe will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.