Travel Alert Status
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Time Difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Travel Climate
The climate on the central plateau is moderate in all seasons with warm days and cool nights. Homes do not have central heating or air-conditioning, although room heaters and fireplaces are used on winter nights (May-August). Annual rainfall averages about 28 inches on the highveld (Harare), more in the Eastern Highlands, and much less in the lowveld of the southeast and the Zambezi Valley. The sun shines nearly every day, even at the height of the warm rainy season (November-April). In Harare, the average low temperature in winter is 45°F at night, though frost occasionally occurs. The average daily temperature in summer is 75°F, with temperatures seldom surpassing 90°F.
Travel Currency
Zimbabwean dollar (ZWD)
Language Spoken
English is the official language of the republic and is spoken by most educated people. In rural areas English is less commonly spoken. Ndebele and Shona and are commonly spoken. People often speak more than one language and many mix parts of several languages in daily speech.
Languages
English (official), Shona, Sindebele
Ethnic Groups
African 98% (Shona 82%, Ndebele 14%, other 2%), mixed and Asian 1%, white less than 1%
National Holiday
Independence Day, 18 April (1980)
Geographic Coordinates
20 00 S, 30 00 E
Location
Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia
Airports
17