Private jet to Zimbabwe
Two kinds of trip bring private aircraft to Zimbabwe. Leisure guests fly to Victoria Falls for the falls themselves, the Zambezi and the national parks of Hwange and Mana Pools; business and government delegations fly to Harare, the capital, whose airport is listed as open round the clock.
Both airports take long-range jets from Europe without a stop. Neither has a separate business aviation terminal, so a supervising agent arranges handling, fuel and the passage through customs, and the landing permit is filed before departure. Lodges and parks are served by turboprops on shorter strips.
Send the dates, the lodges and the number of passengers, and we plan the jet and the onward flights together:
From Europe: time in the air and price
All prices are for the entire aircraft on a one-way trip, with the jet based near the city it leaves from; handling, the landing permit, any fuel stop and passenger charges are added in the offer. A Gulfstream G550 flies Nice - Victoria Falls in 9:01 h and London Farnborough - Harare in 10:25 h. A Praetor 600 stops once for fuel from the western hubs; from Larnaca it reaches Harare without a stop, close to its range limit.
From Europe
| Route | Distance | Flight time | Super midsize Praetor 600 |
Long range Gulfstream G550 |
Ultra long range Global 7500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Farnborough - Harare | 8,629 km | 12:47 h, 1 stop | EUR 87,000 | EUR 130,000 | EUR 140,000 |
| Paris Le Bourget - Harare | 8,278 km | 12:21 h, 1 stop | EUR 84,000 | EUR 125,000 | EUR 135,000 |
| Geneva - Victoria Falls | 7,721 km | 11:39 h, 1 stop | EUR 79,000 | EUR 115,000 | EUR 125,000 |
| Zurich - Victoria Falls | 7,791 km | 11:44 h, 1 stop | EUR 80,000 | EUR 115,000 | EUR 130,000 |
| Milan Linate - Victoria Falls | 7,551 km | 11:26 h, 1 stop | EUR 78,000 | EUR 115,000 | EUR 125,000 |
| Munich - Harare | 7,921 km | 11:54 h, 1 stop | EUR 81,000 | EUR 120,000 | EUR 130,000 |
| Frankfurt - Victoria Falls | 8,074 km | 12:06 h, 1 stop | EUR 82,000 | EUR 120,000 | EUR 135,000 |
| Vienna - Victoria Falls | 7,716 km | 11:39 h, 1 stop | EUR 79,000 | EUR 115,000 | EUR 125,000 |
| Amsterdam - Harare | 8,543 km | 12:41 h, 1 stop | EUR 86,000 | EUR 125,000 | EUR 140,000 |
| Madrid - Victoria Falls | 7,477 km | 11:21 h, 1 stop | EUR 77,000 | EUR 110,000 | EUR 125,000 |
| Nice - Victoria Falls | 7,410 km | 11:16 h, 1 stop | EUR 77,000 | EUR 110,000 | EUR 120,000 |
| Larnaca - Harare | 6,113 km | 8:08 h | EUR 55,000 | EUR 94,000 | EUR 105,000 |
Non-stop in the G550, Victoria Falls costs EUR 110,000 from Madrid or Nice and EUR 115,000 from Geneva, Zurich, Milan or Vienna. The Praetor 600 starts at EUR 77,000 with a fuel stop from Madrid or Nice; Larnaca - Harare is EUR 55,000 without a stop, but on that sector the operator confirms the payload for the date.
Regional flights within Africa
| Route | Distance | Flight time | Turboprop Pilatus PC-12 |
Light jet Phenom 300 |
Super midsize Challenger 350 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg - Victoria Falls | 928 km | 2:24 h | EUR 9,500 | EUR 12,500 | EUR 17,500 |
| Johannesburg - Harare | 959 km | 2:27 h | EUR 9,500 | EUR 12,500 | EUR 17,500 |
| Johannesburg - Bulawayo | 682 km | 1:54 h | EUR 8,500 | EUR 11,500 | EUR 15,500 |
| Cape Town - Victoria Falls | 1,906 km | 4:23 h | EUR 13,500 | EUR 17,000 | EUR 25,000 |
| Maun - Victoria Falls | 328 km | 1:10 h | EUR 7,000 | EUR 10,000 | EUR 12,500 |
| Windhoek - Victoria Falls | 999 km | 2:32 h | EUR 10,000 | EUR 13,000 | EUR 18,000 |
| Lusaka - Harare | 403 km | 1:19 h | EUR 7,500 | EUR 10,000 | EUR 13,000 |
| Nairobi - Harare | 1,954 km | 4:29 h | EUR 14,000 | EUR 17,500 | EUR 26,000 |
Johannesburg in South Africa is 1:44 h from Victoria Falls in a Phenom 300, at EUR 12,500. Maun in Botswana is less than an hour away by light jet, which makes the falls the usual first or last stop of a safari circuit, often together with Namibia. On departures from Europe, France adds a solidarity tax that increases with distance, about EUR 2,100 per passenger here and about EUR 420 within Europe, Italy EUR 200 per passenger on flights of this length, and the UK its Air Passenger Duty according to the aircraft.
Business jet price per flight hour
Two trips and their price
Price per passenger
| Route | Aircraft | Whole aircraft | 4 passengers | 6 passengers | 8 passengers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid - Victoria Falls | Praetor 600 | EUR 77,000 | EUR 19,300 | EUR 12,800 | EUR 9,600 |
| Geneva - Victoria Falls | Gulfstream G550 | EUR 115,000 | EUR 28,800 | EUR 19,200 | EUR 14,400 |
Calculator
The calculator returns a first estimate by e-mail:
Airports for business jets in Zimbabwe
| Airport | Codes | Runway | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Falls | VFA / FVFA | 4,000 m | The falls, Zambezi lodges, Hwange |
| Harare | HRE / FVRG | 4,725 m | Capital, business, Kariba and Mana Pools by turboprop |
| Bulawayo | BUQ / FVJN | about 2,600 m | South-west, Matobo Hills |
| Kariba | KAB / FVKB | about 1,650 m | Turboprops for Lake Kariba |
| Hwange National Park | WKM / FVWN | long runway, few services | Charters to the park, services checked per flight |
The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe issues landing and overflight permits on working days; no fixed lead time is published, so we file as early as possible, and an overflight permit is typically valid for 72 hours around the schedule. Fuel is arranged through the flight support company. Crew usually receive visas on arrival for a short stay. Photographing airports needs permission, so ask before filming the arrival.
Jets from Europe, turboprops to the parks
A Gulfstream G550 or Global 7500 flies from Europe without a stop; a Praetor 600 costs about a third less and lands once for fuel. Inside Zimbabwe, local operators fly turboprops such as the Pilatus PC-12 from Victoria Falls to Hwange and from Harare to Kariba and Mana Pools, where the strips suit light aircraft only. Over the falls, helicopters fly scenic flights of about 12 to 25 minutes every day, weather permitting.
Leave your number if you would like to talk through Victoria Falls versus Harare:
Which airport for the falls, the parks and Harare
Seasons at the falls and in the parks
Two calendars run side by side. The Zambezi is highest around April, when spray can hide parts of the falls from the ground and a helicopter shows them best; the water is lowest in October and November, the best months for rafting. The parks are best in the dry months from June to October, when game gathers at water. Zimbabwe holds about two thirds of the width of the falls, with water all year. Empty Legs to Europe are most frequent at the end of August and in September, and after the Christmas holidays.
Empty Legs
The most frequent leg is a long-range jet returning to Europe after a drop-off at Victoria Falls or Harare; regional legs move between Johannesburg, Harare and Victoria Falls. A few days of flexibility help; write to empty-legs@jets.flights.
Entry rules, money and pets
Flying with a dog or cat
- An import permit from the Director of Animal Health, valid for six months; only animals coming from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini or Malawi are exempt.
- Rabies vaccination 30 days to 12 months before arrival for an animal older than three months, a 15-digit microchip and a health certificate issued within 10 days of entry and endorsed by a government vet; Zimbabwe asks for no titre test and no quarantine.
- The listed entry point for animals is Harare, so an arrival at Victoria Falls with a pet is confirmed in writing before the flight; the operator must approve the animal in the cabin.
- Back in Europe: Zimbabwe is not a listed country for the EU or Great Britain, so plan a rabies blood test at least 30 days after the vaccination and three months before the return flight lands; dogs for the UK also have tapeworm treatment 1 to 5 days before arrival.
How to book
- Send the route, dates, passengers and lodges.
- We choose Victoria Falls or Harare and compare a non-stop jet with a one-stop option.
- Our offers show operator, model, flight time and price, and the local turboprop legs.
- We file the permit, book the agent and agree the arrival time with the airport.
- The contract says whether the jet waits in Zimbabwe or returns to collect you.
Questions about private flights to Zimbabwe
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- How much does a private jet to Zimbabwe cost?
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From EUR 55,000 one way for the whole aircraft from Larnaca to Harare in a Praetor 600. From the western hubs the G550 to Victoria Falls starts at EUR 110,000 non-stop.
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- How long is the flight from Europe?
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Non-stop in a long-range jet from 7:32 h out of Larnaca to about 10.5 hours from London, for example 9:47 h from Frankfurt to Victoria Falls. A stop for fuel adds a little over two hours.
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- Victoria Falls or Harare?
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Victoria Falls for the falls, the Zambezi lodges and Hwange; Harare for business, Kariba and Mana Pools. Harare is listed open 24 hours, Victoria Falls from 06:00 to 18:00.
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- Do we need a visa?
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Yes. EU and UK citizens get a visa on arrival or an e-visa; the KAZA visa also covers Zambia and day trips to Botswana.
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- Can the jet take us on to a lodge?
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Generally no. Lodge and park strips suit turboprops, so the jet stays at Victoria Falls or Harare and a local operator flies on.
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- When is the best time to see the falls?
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March to May for the fullest falls and heaviest spray, best seen from a helicopter; August to December for low water, rafting and the dry-season parks.
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- Can I bring my dog?
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Yes, if the import permit, the rabies vaccination and a vet certificate endorsed by a government vet are in order. Animals are listed to enter through Harare.
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- Can we see the falls from the Zambian side too?
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Yes, with the KAZA visa. Livingstone is across the river; Livingstone Island and the Devil's Pool there are open only in the low-water months.
The aviation expert will answer all your questions about business aviation and private flights. We will help you to compare and choose the best business jet for your flight.