PLUMTREE BORDER POST

ZIMBABWE

The information provided in this section was correct on 28 Feb 2011 and applies only to tourists.  Commercial vehicles must expect much longer delays and they pay much more.

Opening Hours: 06:00 to 20:00 daily 

Time needed for border crossing: This is a rather busy border post between Botswana and Zimbabwe near Francistown in Botswana and Plumtree in Zimbabwe.   Normally it will take you 90 minutes to cross the border. During peak periods such as Easter weekend, delays can be up to 3 hours. If your vehicle is registered in Zimbabwe the time crossing into Zimbabwe will be at least 15 minutes less and if your vehicle is registered in South Africa or Botswana, the crossing will be 15 minutes quicker when returning to Botswana with a Botswana registered vehicle. On average crossing this border will take half the time needed to cross Beit Bridge Border Post.

Vehicle cost involves with South African and Botswana registered vehicle to Zimbabwe: R600
Extra cost for a trailer: R80
Visa Fees when applicable: South African passport holders don't need visas for Zimbabwe USA $ 35.00 per person.
Cost involved for crossing the border into Botswana with foreign registered vehicles is BWP80.00 Extra cost for a trailer BWP 30.00.

Restricted goods: Any of the following alcohol beverages but not all of them:
Wine - 2 bottles per person
Beer - 12 cans per person
Spirits - 1 bottle per person

Resrticted foods:
No meat is allowed to cross the border in any direction. Absolutely no fresh produce is allowed to cross the border from Zimbabwe to Botswana.

Vehicle documents needed to enter Zimbabwe or Botswana:    Passports valid for 6 month after departure:   Certified copies or original of the vehicle's registration certificate.   Letter of owner stamped by the police if the vehicle does not belong to you.  If the vehicle belongs to a company, a letter on the company letterhead will be required.  This applies even if you are the only shareholder of the company and\or Close Corporation.

Vehicle requirement: All vehicles travelling on Zimbabwean roads must have a red reflector on both sides on the back of the vehicle and a white reflector on both sides in front of the vehicle. Reflector tape is perfect.

Trailers: All trailers on South African and Botswana roads must have reflective yellow tape on the back and on the side of the trailer. In addition trailers must have a Red T, which must be at least 30 cm high and 20 cm wide on the back of the vehicle in Zimbabwe. Red duct tape can be used to make the T.

Visa Cost USA $35.00

VISA Requrements to enter Zimbabwe
Nationals of the following countries may obtain visas valid for up to 90 days prior to arrival in Zimbabwe, and provide holding tickets and documents for return or onward travel and proof of sufficient funds for their stay: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA. 
SADC countries do not need visas for entering Zimbabwe for a period less than 90 days. SADC countries includes all Zimbabwe’s neighbours plus Tanzania and Malawi.
Citizens of all other countries must obtaine visas before arrival.

Cote Divoire
Croatia
Czech Republic
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Gabon
Georgia
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ivory Coast
Jordan
Kazakhtsan
Korea DPR
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan (Kirghizia)

Laos PDR
Latvia
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania
Macedonia
Mali
Madagascar
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar (Burma)
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Philippines
Poland
Qatar
Romania
Russia