Vic falls Zim/Zam border | Customs and Immigration

April 22nd, 2024 by TornadoTim

Crossing from Zimbabwe to Zambia

Zimbabwe side was really easy, just stamp in the passport and on the Carnet.

On the Zambia there were many fixers storming the car, but you don’t need one.
At immigration you just get an entry stamp and at customs you have to fill out some document for the road tax. The fixers insist that you buy the expensive insurance there, but the customs officer sided with us and said we can get it in town and just write „to be purchased in town“ in the insurance reference field. He knew what to do with the Carnet.
To pay for the Road and Carbon Tax you don’t have to go to the counter next to the customs, but leave the building and go to the left of the restrooms. There go in the right corridor to go to the pay desk there. Currently it’s not possible to pay by card, so we had to pay 20$ and 314 Kwacha in cash. There’s an exchange beareau, but it’s on the departure side.

April 13th, 2024 by fettekuh1880

Description by K-Wayversl'Afrique is very good
just some more infos:
- you can pay all fees with credit card
- driver: ask the immigration guys for the gate pass (you need 2 stamps on it)
- if you have comesa, then tell that the guy at counter 4 directly :-)
- they didn't check our car, we just have to write some dates (name, numberplate etc.) in a book

October 21st, 2023 by justaroadtrip

Zimbabwe to Zambia, took 45 minutes in total. Both sides are quick, easy and friendly. They know what to do with your Carnet de Passage. No visa fee for Zambia, just a stamp. We travel by motorbikes and had to pay (Zambia):
- 118 kwatcha per bike for carbon tax and that other thing
- 20 dollar per bike road tax
- they advised to buy insurance in Livingstone

August 31st, 2023 by K-Wayversl'Afrique

A very easy border to cross, with the added bonus of being able to linger and take a few photos on the bridge.

Zambia side - 5 minutes in total
1. Park before the bridge
2. Go to the
immigration office to receive the exit stamp in your passport
3. Go to the Custom office to receive the exit stamp in your CPD
4. Give the ticket received from the Custom bureau at the gate before crossing the bridge.

Zimbabwe side - 50 minutes in total (because it was busy)
1. Park before the offices
2. Go to office n°2 to fill in a visa document + pay 30$/pers
3. Go to office no. 4 to have the CPD completed and stamped
4. Go to office n°3 to pay ($10 road tax, $10 carbon tax & $30 insurance)
5. Present the vehicle for a general check before the gate
6. Leave the border

August 7th, 2023 by t-high-5

Zam - Zim
Very smooth and easy on Zam side. Immigration, Carnet thats it. Then just road tax papers were checked and after 10 mins we were good to go
Zim side a lot of people waiting, but quick process. Immigration easy, also Carnet. But than asked for Comesa. Showed my international insurance certificate, but was not accepted and we were asked to buy comesa at broker right at the border. Broker was a cheating guy. Asked 1% of present vehicle value. After discussing started with $300. After further 20 mins on negotiating we agreed on $150. So be aware as I am sure you get it cheaper. Never bought any comesa so far in Africa as we have international coverage also for third party….
Customs at exit gate wanted to check inside but more because of want to have a look inside.

July 5th, 2023 by jonathan

Zim into Zambia
You can get hassled quite a bit at the border by “agents”. Ignore them, process is easy BUT one needs to know a few things before the time.
Carbon Tax - $20 ( paid in US dollar only )
Road tax - K264 ( paid in kwatcha only )
Council Levy - K25 ( paid in kwatcha only )
Third party - K450 for 30 days ( paid in kwatcha only )
Exchange kwatchas in Vic Falls otherwise rate at the border is not good!
Our vehicle is a 3.0 so we paid K264 - it works on a sliding scale.
Really simple process , just ask the officials.

REMEMBER to have kwatcha for the toll gates further along the road towards Lusaka.

June 29th, 2023 by Overlanderdream

One of the easiest border crossings we’ve had in the past eight months. Zambia side took us 10-15 minutes to get stamped out and fill in carnet. Then drove over to Zimbabwe side (with spectacular view from the bridge) and there it took us around an hour and 15 minutes. Most of this time we were waiting for an official who was busy watching tik tok videos. Still went quiet smooth.

Visa Zim (Dutch passport holder) $30
Road tax/Insurance/Carbon tax $50

May 23rd, 2023 by Seth Wing

For those that only want to cross the bridge on foot and immediately come back (zim to zam to zim): you don’t have to pay anything, you get a special bridge pass, you can cross the bridge, step into Zambia, then return and show your pass. It doesn’t cost anything and takes a few minutes to get at the immigration office. Super easy. It’s walkable from town and the Zimbabwe side of Victoria falls, just lots of big trucks.

July 8th, 2022 by Wyld Eagle Adventures

NOTE: KAZA Visa valid only for entry in the Vic Falls area. Any other border post you need to pay again.

April 19th, 2022 by Stiebilli op Jöck

Zambia-Zimbabwe
Our easiest border crossing in months.
Nearly everything as described previously. The 25 Kwacha are the council levy and not a cancellation fee. Nobody stopped us to see our vaccination books. We drove straight to Zim immigrations, got our visa for 30 days, had to go to No 4 for customs/TIP. They accepted an old police clearance (2015) for our Namibian registered car. He said we had to pay 50US$ for TIP and insurance. After we had shown our Comesa (the guy didn't even checke the countries, just looked at our names) it was only 20US$.
Just before the exit gate Zambian Road Authorities wanted to see our Toll papers. They said we should have paid 38$ at Tunduma and not 20$, but finally let us through without any other payment.

April 8th, 2022 by expeditionconservation.org

Very easy crossing ZAM-ZIM.
Took about an hour (max) altogether. Out from Zambia side in 15
minutes. Stamp out your passport and TIP. Paid 25 kwacha for the TIP cancellation fee (we had weeks left in our TIP). Drive across the Victoria Falls bridge (with beautiful views!) straight to Zim side of the border. All in the same, small building at the right hand side. We showed our vaccination certificates at the ”Covid-19 checkpoint tent” (but they didn’t specifically asked for them). Then, first get your visa at the Visa counter ($30 single entry for 30 days, VoA. Cash only). And ask for a gate pass for your car from the visa counter. Kaza visa available here, too ($50). Then do your car’s TIP at the counter nr. 3. Road fees and taxes $20 altogether, was possible to pay with VISA. We had Comesa, so we didn’t need insurance. They asked for a Police clearance for our Namibian registered car, but a) Namibia doesn’t issue those anymore b) we only had the one we got from NAM in 2019 (the last time since we have been in Nam) and they first said that they don’t accept it. However, after saying the same things again, all was ok. ;) Very friendly staff altogether. One of the smoothest border crossings we’ve had.

January 2nd, 2022 by edubrancalion

ZAM-ZIM crossing. They only asked for 48 hour pcr test, no vaccine proof or quarentine asked. (check for pcr info next the Immigration at Port of Helth). Payed $30 pp for single entry visa but they had to get more stamps from the Imigration in town and we waited 1 hour. For the car we did a TIP (our carnet will expire and we didn't use it). Payed $20 for Road Toll and Carbone fee ($10 each). They asked for Insurance Butiama we already have Comesa. Bring dollars for the Visas but they accepted Credit card for the road and carbone fee. First stamp your Covid test on the tent outside, then do Immigration inside on right counter and last go for Customs at left counter.

August 20th, 2021 by hello

To enter Zimbabwe you need an PCR Test and proof of your Covid-Vaccination. To cross the border was less than 1 hour including a photo stop. On Sambia side you have to stamp out your passport and CdP. On Zimbabwe side on the left in the Container they will see your PCR Result. Than you have to go in the building on the right. We paid 30 USD (cash only) for Single entry Visa. They check our vaccination 3 times. Next counter was Customs where our CdP stamp in and we had to pay 20 USD ( could be paid by Visa or cash) for our car. We have a comesa, but they offer us the insurance as well.

March 12th, 2020 by Miss Daisy

From Zimbabwe to Zambia
Don't use any agent you can do everything by yourself.
Zimbabwe side stamps your passport and the Carnet 15 min, not many trucks in the line.
Zambia side, 50$ for visa or 80$ for 2 entrance, only cash, you get visa just for 30 days and you can stamp it for more 30 days at any immigration office, up-to 90 days.
Toll road 20$ only cash.
Carbon tax 330kw for 90 days only cash.
Concil levy 25kw only cash,
As described before you can change any currency to Kwancha at the departure side at Bureau.
They asked us to do third part insurance also we had one from Alexander Forbes for all Africa.
We paid 500kw for 3 months.
Took us 1.5 hours

February 26th, 2020 by jcgvdb

From Zim to Zam.
Zim side 15min, no problems.
Zam, Visa no problem en fast (10-15min), paid $50pp.
Then getting the car in, that's little bit of a hassle and took us 2 hours. The staff wasn't polite and helpful. First you have to pay at several counters for Toll fee($20), Council Levy(25 kwacha), Carbon tax(240 kwacha if you staying in zam for a longer time, otherwise it will be 480 kwacha).
It is not possible to pay everything in US, you can change US at the other side of the building. (rates are better with higher notes).

About the third party insurance, we asked at the gate if we could drive trough into town to get the insurance and a Comesa. We told them we got an appointment with Nico insurance (recommended) and we were allowed to.

Third party for Zam for 30 days should be around 103kwacha in town.

September 29th, 2019 by javi.relancio

Zim to Zam:
50 USD for Kaza Visa for 30 days (which allows return into Zim)
50 USD for Zambia Visa (as well, bit silly)
Toll: 20 usd
Carbon Tax: 275kw (circa 20 usd atm, change bureau with good rates behind building)

Very quick and easy in Zim. Zam also ok. One of the fastest borders we have been through

Indeed few agents and "hasslers" which were a bit annoying

August 10th, 2019 by timburkephoto

$31 dollars for a motorcycle.

Carbon tax, road tax, and insurance for 3days.

Straight forward, relaxed border crossing. 10 minutes Zam side, 15 minutes Zim side.

July 27th, 2019 by williams4x4

leaving from Zambia they wanted a council exit fee, I refused and asked customs if this was right and politely told me it's out of their hands but agreed it's a problem as nowhere else charges twice, I will be emailing tourism and Livingston city council about this as there is no sign requiring exit payment.....

July 21st, 2019 by williams4x4

when you approach both border posts you'll be be hounded by touts, you DO NOT need them, say no and make sure they hear you, they will try and try but ignore, on the Zambia side their is a exchange bureau inside building where immigration is with very good rates, do not change with money handlers outside, both sides staff were great, if going to zim you are allowed to carry 40litres of fuel in correct fuel containers only

May 11th, 2019 by tschoe-wa.de

From Zam to Zim:

Border open until 10pm (custom and immigration on Zim side working)

Zam side 10 min to check out

Zim entering with CDP and Comesa:
We could enter Zimbabwe after answering some question with our temporary german passports.
visa Zim single entry 30$ppn for 30 days
10$ road tax (valid for one month but to be payed again once you exit)
10$ carbon tax (valid for 30 days)
no checking of our car

very nice people at the Zim border :-)

March 24th, 2019 by Our Pangaea

We went from Zambia to Zimbabwe with no hassles. On the Zam side you get passports and carnet stamped in on e minute very friendly. Get a gate pass to hand in at the boom gate where the guy checked the carnet. Then a random guy in an old faded uniform tried to get us to pay a Council tax, similar to when we entered Zam at Chipata. I flatley said no ans held my ground, I sensed this was a touch up. He finally gave up and the other guy opened the boom gate. ALSO NOTE, you can park bef6the border and leave a passport at the window and walk across the bridge for the views - recommended. then just return and collect your passport.

August 1st, 2018 by cchristinet

To visit the bridge and see the old locomotive

June 18th, 2018 by anna.pepper27

Going from Zimbabwe to Zambia

$50/500 Kwacha visa for 30 day (UK and NZ)
$80/800 Kwache multi entry visa

Car TIP
$20/200 Kwacha Carbon Tax
$30 Toll fees (payable in USD only)

They have an ATM and exchange bureau on the Zambian side