Zimbabwe: What to Know Before You Go

Cuisine Highlights

• 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

Traditions & Festivals

• 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

Language & Communication

Zimbabwe has 16 official languages, with English, Shona, and Ndebele being the most widely used. English functions as the language of government and education. Key Shona phrases: "Mhoro" (hello), "Maswera sei?" (how has your day been?), "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.

Cultural Etiquette

• 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