Getting to Zimbabwe takes a bit of planning — there are no direct flights from Europe or North America, but connections through Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, and Dubai keep journey times manageable. Once you know which hub works best for your departure city, booking is straightforward.
International Airports in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has three international airports worth knowing about:
Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (HRE) — Harare This is the country’s main hub and handles the majority of international arrivals. It sits about 15 km south-east of the city centre. Most visitors arriving to see Great Zimbabwe ruins, Matobo Hills, or the Eastern Highlands will land here.
Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) The most convenient entry point if your primary destination is Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, or Botswana. The airport sits just a few kilometres from the falls themselves, so you can be watching elephants within an hour of touchdown. Several regional carriers now operate direct services here from Johannesburg and Nairobi, bypassing Harare entirely.
Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (BUQ) — Bulawayo Zimbabwe’s second city has its own international airport with regional connections, mostly from Johannesburg. A useful option if your itinerary centres on Bulawayo, Matobo Hills, or Hwange.
Main Airlines Flying to Zimbabwe
Ethiopian Airlines is consistently the most reliable option from Europe, North America, and Asia, routing all flights through Addis Ababa Bole International. Ethiopian flies to both Harare and Victoria Falls with generally competitive fares. From the UK, expect around 12–14 hours total journey time including the connection.
Kenya Airways connects Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta to Harare and Victoria Falls, making it a natural choice if you’re combining Zimbabwe with Kenya or Tanzania. From London Heathrow, the Kenya Airways codeshare with KLM via Amsterdam and Nairobi typically runs 15–17 hours.
Emirates operates Harare–Dubai daily, a useful routing from the UK (Heathrow to Dubai, then onward) and from South-East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Total journey time from London is approximately 13–15 hours.
South African Airways and Airlink offer the shortest routing from Johannesburg — a 90-minute hop to Harare or Victoria Falls. If you’re travelling from Europe or the US, connecting via OR Tambo International in Johannesburg often gives the widest choice of fares.
Fastjet / FlyZim (formerly Fastjet Zimbabwe) operates regional routes within southern Africa, including Harare to Johannesburg. Worth checking as a budget option for the southern Africa leg if you’re positioning from another country in the region.
Typical Flight Times and Fare Ranges
Journey times and prices vary significantly by season and booking window. These are rough guides as of 2026:
| Route | Typical Duration | Approx. Economy Fare |
|---|---|---|
| London → Harare (1 stop) | 12–16 hours | from GBP 550–900 |
| London → Victoria Falls (1–2 stops) | 14–18 hours | from GBP 600–950 |
| New York → Harare (2 stops) | 18–22 hours | from USD 900–1,400 |
| Johannesburg → Harare | ~1.5 hours | from USD 80–200 |
| Nairobi → Harare | ~3 hours | from USD 150–350 |
| Dubai → Harare | ~5 hours | from USD 250–500 |
Business class fares from Europe typically start around GBP 2,000–3,500 return. Direct comparison with flying into Zambia (Livingstone is 10 minutes from Victoria Falls) is always worth doing — sometimes a Zambia entry is significantly cheaper.
Best Time to Book Flights
Book 3–6 months ahead for travel during July–September (peak dry season) and December–January (holiday period). These are the most popular travel windows and fares climb steeply as departure dates approach.
Shoulder season (April–June and October–November) often delivers better value. The parks are less crowded in shoulder months and airlines fill planes less aggressively, so last-minute deals occasionally appear.
Midweek departures (Tuesday and Wednesday) are generally cheaper than Friday or Sunday travel regardless of the season.
Domestic Flights Within Zimbabwe
Don’t underestimate internal distances. Harare to Victoria Falls by road is approximately 9 hours — worth the drive if you have time, but flying is the practical option for short trips.
FlyZim (formerly Fastjet Zimbabwe) operates scheduled services between Harare (HRE) and Victoria Falls (VFA), as well as Harare to Bulawayo (BUQ). Fares from approximately USD 80–180 one way depending on demand and booking window. Flights take around 1 hour.
Wilderness Air and other charter operators run light aircraft (typically Cessna Caravan or similar) between major lodges and remote airstrips. These are the essential connector for anyone staying at Mana Pools, Kariba’s remote camps, or the more far-flung corners of Hwange. Expect to pay USD 180–350 per seat on a scheduled basis, or significantly more for private charter.
Charter flights can be organised through most safari operators and are the only practical way to access truly remote areas like the northern shores of Lake Kariba or the Zambezi Valley floor.
Booking Tips
- Use Aviasales or similar multi-airline search tools to compare fares across all routing options simultaneously — the cheapest connection from your city isn’t always obvious.
- Compare Harare versus Livingstone (Zambia) as your arrival airport. From Europe, Livingstone is sometimes USD 100–200 cheaper and puts you directly in Victoria Falls town in under 15 minutes.
- Check baggage allowances carefully before domestic connections. Charter operators often restrict to 15 kg in a soft bag, which matters if you’re packing camera gear or scuba equipment for Kariba.
- Allow a minimum 3-hour connection at Addis Ababa, Nairobi, or Dubai if booking separate tickets. African connections have a way of running late.
- Travel insurance that covers flight cancellations is worth having for Zimbabwe given that some regional airlines operate smaller fleets.
Entry Requirements
Zimbabwe issues visas on arrival for most nationalities at a cost of USD 30 (single entry) or USD 55 (KAZA UniVisa, which includes Zambia). UK, US, and EU passport holders are eligible. Always verify current requirements at the official Zimbabwe Embassy or your national government’s travel advisory before booking.
Confirm that your passport has at least six months validity beyond your intended departure date — border officers are strict about this. Once you have your flights booked, search hotels in Zimbabwe on Booking.com to sort accommodation across the country.