Is It Safe to Travel to Zimbabwe in 2026?
Zimbabwe - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe and formerly Rhodesia, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo River, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the north, and Mozambique to the east. The capital and largest city is Harare, and the second largest is Bulawayo.
Is It Safe to Travel to Zimbabwe in 2026?
Zimbabwe is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Zimbabwe due to crime and official harassment of U.S. citizens. Opportunistic crime, such as pickpocketing and theft, is common, and violent crime also occurs.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- civil_unrest
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Opportunistic crime is common, and violent crime also occurs., Demonstrations may occur and can escalate to violence, especially around political events..
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face a heightened risk of opportunistic crime, including pickpocketing and theft, particularly in urban areas and tourist hotspots.
Business travelers may encounter reliable accommodations and infrastructure, but should remain vigilant against petty crime and potential disruptions from civil unrest.
Families with children face significant risks, including limited healthcare access and exposure to diseases like malaria, necessitating careful planning and precautions.
Remote workers can find decent connectivity in urban areas, but should avoid rural regions where infrastructure is less reliable and health risks are higher.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Zimbabwe.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Zimbabwe has an overall threat severity of 4.4 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Not Free — scored 27/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG)
Language
English / Shona / Ndebele
Notable restrictions:
- Opportunistic crime is common, including pickpocketing and theft.
Vaccinations
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: high
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
- alertEast African Sleeping Sickness in Zambia and Zimbabwe: There have been several cases of East African human trypanosomiasis among travelers returning from safari areas in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Zimbabwe
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Zimbabwe?
▶Is it safe to travel to Zimbabwe right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Zimbabwe?
▶What vaccines do I need for Zimbabwe?
▶Is Zimbabwe safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Zimbabwe?
More Zimbabwe Data
Not Free — 27/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.