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Money & currency

Money in Zimbabwe

Updated 2026-10-09

Money & Currency
$

Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG, since April 2024), U.S. Dollar widely used

Currency code: ZWL

Practical Money Tips

Two currencies: the US dollar and the ZiG

Zimbabwe uses two currencies side by side. The ZiG, Zimbabwe Gold, introduced in 2024, is the local currency of everyday Zimbabwean life, while the US dollar circulates widely, and safari camps, hotels, restaurants and activity operators quote and take their prices in dollars. For a visitor, the dollar is the working currency from arrival to departure.

Small US dollar notes

US dollars in small notes, ones, fives, tens and twenties, cover tips, crafts, park and activity payments and small costs, and torn or old notes are sometimes refused. Change is often given in a mix of dollars and ZiG, so it is worth keeping track of both, and in Bulawayo and the south the South African rand is also widely accepted.

Cash machines as a back-up

Cash machines in Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls can dispense US dollars, but they run out of cash, limit withdrawals and are few outside the cities. They are a back-up, not a plan: travellers arrive with the cash their trip needs.

Cards at the better hotels, cash elsewhere

Visa and Mastercard are taken at the larger hotels, lodges and city supermarkets, but acceptance is patchy elsewhere, and remote safari camps are usually paid in advance by transfer through the operator or in cash. Payment arrangements are confirmed with camps and operators before the trip.

Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.

Common Money Questions

What currency is used in Zimbabwe?

Two circulate side by side: the ZiG, Zimbabwe Gold, the local currency introduced in 2024, and the US dollar, the working currency of tourism and much of daily life. Safari, hotel and restaurant prices are usually quoted and paid in dollars.

Should I bring US dollars or get ZiG?

Bring US dollars in small notes, which cover nearly all of a visitor's spending. There is no need to buy ZiG; it comes as change and is useful for small local purchases.

Can I use international cards and cash machines?

With limits. Cards work at the larger hotels, lodges and city supermarkets but are unreliable elsewhere, and cash machines in the cities can run dry or cap withdrawals. Cash in dollars is the plan; cards and machines are the back-up.

Where can I exchange money?

At banks and registered bureaux in the main cities, through official channels only. Most visitors skip exchange by carrying dollars; travellers arriving with euros or pounds change a working amount into dollars before or on arrival, and the ZiG rate matters mainly for reading mixed change.

Is tipping expected in Zimbabwe?

Yes, in the safari and service economy: tips for guides, trackers and camp staff are a firm custom, usually given at the end of a stay, and leaving something for good service in restaurants is appreciated. The operator can advise on current norms, and small dollar notes are best.

What if I run out of cash?

Options narrow quickly outside the cities, so cash for the whole trip is planned before departure. Larger lodges can sometimes take cards or arrange payment by transfer, and cash machines in Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls may help.

Entry rules, visa types and practical notes live on the Zimbabwe overview.

Treat this Visaja page as your starting point: verify the current rules directly with the official source before you submit an application.