Zimbabwe

Recommended Vaccinations For Zimbabwe

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B Vaccine

There is a significant risk of infection with hepatitis B for this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

There is a significant risk of exposure to hepatitis A for this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

For Some Travellers

Cholera Vaccine

The U.K. NaTHNaC recommends the oral cholera vaccine for some travellers whose activities or medical history put them at increased risk, travelling to areas of active cholera transmission. These risk factors include: aid workers; those going to areas of cholera outbreaks who have limited access to potable water and medical care; travellers for whom the vaccination would be considered potentially beneficial, such as chronic medical conditions.

Rabies Vaccine

Vaccination against rabies is recommended for travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) who may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk and should be vaccinated.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Vaccine

BCG vaccine is recommended for those at increased risk from coming in close contact with infected persons or for unvaccinated, children under 16 years of age, who are going to live in the country for more than 3 months.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Yellow Fever Vaccine

The yellow fever vaccination is not recommended for travel to this country. However, this country requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate for travellers 9 months of age and older arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and for travellers having transited more than 12 hours through an airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Typhoid Fever Vaccine

There is a risk of exposure to typhoid fever in this country through the consumption of unsafe food and water. Since exposure to unsafe sources is variable within this country, the vaccination against typhoid fever is generally recommended, especially when visiting smaller cities or rural areas, where food and water sources may be contaminated.

Recommended Medications For Zimbabwe

For Some Travellers

Anti-malarial Drugs

Recommended anti-malaria medication includes atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine. Anti-malaria drug resistance for chloroquine is present.

Diseases To Be Aware of for Zimbabwe

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis A

There is a significant risk for hepatitis A virus exposure in Zimbabwe through contaminated food or water.

Hepatitis B

There is a significant risk for acquiring hepatitis B in this country.

Chikungunya Fever

Chikungunya fever has occurred in this country.

Dengue Fever

There is a risk of dengue fever in this country.

Cholera

Cholera transmission is widespread in Zimbabwe. The risk to travellers is low unless living or working in poor sanitary conditions, drinking untreated water or eating poorly cooked food in this country.

For Some Travellers

Rift Valley Fever (RVF)

Sporadic outbreaks of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) may occur in this country.

West Nile Fever

There is a risk of acquiring West Nile virus in this country.

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

There is a risk of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic fever in this country.

African Tick Bite Fever

This disease may occur in this country. Ticks that cause this disease are usually most active from November through April. Travellers engaging in outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, and game hunting in wooded, brushy, or grassy areas may be at a higher risk.

Marburg Haemorrhagic Fever

Marburg hemorrhagic fever is caused by touching infected animals or their body fluids ; touching body fluids (blood or sweat) from an infected person or objects contaminated with the body fluids of a person infected with Ebola or Marburg virus.

Hanta Virus

There is a risk of acquiring Hantavirus in this country through the consumption of food and water contaminated by an infected rodent or through rodent bites.

Measles

There is a risk of acquiring Measles in this country.

Sleeping Sickness (Type 2)

African trypanosomiasis (“sleeping sickness”) occurs in rural Zimbabwe. Travellers to urban areas are not at risk.

Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is found in Zimbabwe. Well-chlorinated swimming pools and contact with saltwater in oceans or seas will not put travellers at risk for schistosomiasis.

Malaria

Malaria risk exists from November to June inclusive in areas below 1,200 meters and throughout the year in the Zambezi Valley. In Bulawayo and Harare, the risk is negligible.

Yellow Fever

Travellers are not at risk for yellow fever in this country. However, this country requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate for travellers 9 months of age or older arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and for travellers having transited more than 12 hours through an airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Rabies

Rabies occurs in this country. Travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk.

Typhoid Fever

Unvaccinated people can become infected through contaminated food and water in Zimbabwe, especially when visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where food and water sources may be contaminated.

Tuberculosis

Travellers to this country are at risk for tuberculosis if visiting sick friends or family, working in the healthcare field, or having close prolonged contact with a sick person.

Safety & Security in Zimbabwe

Personal Safety

Crime has increased substantially in Zimbabwe in recent years. Between March 2024 and March 2025, crime rose by 25%. Violent crime has nearly doubled, with armed robberies frequently involving groups of six or more intruders. Fuel stations and industrial sites remain particularly vulnerable. Petty crime including pickpocketing, bag snatching, and theft is common in urban centers and tourist areas. Armed robberies and assaults occur regularly, especially at night and during daylight hours in crowded areas. Smash and grab incidents happen frequently on roads leading to the airport and major routes in Harare and Bulawayo. Armed intruders routinely target businesses and residences, often breaching security measures to steal valuables. People storing large amounts of cash face heightened risk. Highway robberies occur frequently, particularly after dark. Criminal networks engage in extortion, particularly targeting small business owners and artisanal mining operations. The mobile phone network is unreliable, which can complicate emergency communication. While Zimbabwe does not have a recent history of terrorism, attacks cannot be ruled out.

Extreme Violence

Zimbabwe does not experience significant levels of terrorism or extreme organized violence targeting civilians. While violent gangs operate in artisanal and defunct gold mines with impunity due to connections with corrupt police and politicians, these activities remain largely localized to mining areas. Drug trafficking networks and criminal syndicates are expanding, with reports indicating high-level government officials are involved. Criminal networks operate in major cities and strategic border towns. In March 2025, six armed robbery suspects were fatally shot by police following a shootout near Bulawayo. Human trafficking remains a concern, with Zimbabwe serving as a source, destination, and transit point for trafficking networks. The country’s homicide rate has historically been low, with 4.98 per 100,000 population recorded in 2020. State security forces have committed violence against opposition members and activists, including abductions, torture, and arbitrary detention, but these acts target specific political figures rather than random civilians. There is no evidence of mafia-style groups engaged in protection rackets, though smaller violent gangs participate in illegal mining.

Political Unrest

Political unrest and demonstrations occur regularly in Zimbabwe, particularly in Harare and Bulawayo. Authorities have consistently repressed civil society, restricted political pluralism, and used force to suppress protests. In 2024, authorities continued to undermine democratic processes and arrested opposition members. In March 2025, protests called by former ruling party members resulted in approximately 200 people gathering, with police arresting about half of them. Protesters have faced charges of disorderly conduct and participating in gatherings with intent to promote violence. The government views demonstrations as threats and has arrested participants, including at private gatherings. In June 2024, 44 student union members were arrested and fined for disorderly conduct. Opposition leader Jameson Timba and dozens of others were detained for holding unauthorized political gatherings, with some spending over 80 days in detention before receiving bail. Security forces routinely use arbitrary arrests, detention, and violence against opposition politicians, activists, and civil society members. The August 2023 elections were characterized by repression, with observers noting they fell short of constitutional and international standards. Authorities have used new legislation to restrict civil engagement, with proposed laws threatening to deregister civil society organizations deemed to have political affiliations. Political tensions escalated in early 2025 over attempts to extend the president’s rule beyond constitutional limits. Avoid all political discussions in public places and online, as criticizing the president or government is illegal and can result in arrest.

Areas To Avoid

Avoid the border area with Mozambique and do not stray from main roads near the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border, where crime and theft risks are high. The Marange diamond mining fields in Chiadzwa, Mutare are restricted by security forces. Do not attempt to enter this area. The area around State House in Harare, the president’s official residence, is heavily patrolled by armed Presidential Guard members. Roads in this area close from 6pm to 6am. Loitering is not allowed, photography is illegal, and you should avoid using GPS navigation in this area. Do not attempt to cross roadblocks, even if they appear unattended. High density suburbs in Harare and Bulawayo experience higher crime rates. Be particularly vigilant along Liberation Legacy Way (Borrowdale Road) and Churchill Road in Harare, where smash and grab robberies from vehicles occur frequently. The main intersections along the route to Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport are also targeted for vehicle crimes. Some areas have landmines remaining from past conflicts. Stick to main roads and established paths in areas where landmines could exist. Central business districts in major cities experience frequent petty crime, especially after dark when street lighting is poor.