Supermarkets in major cities are well stocked, but supplies can be limited in more remote areas

Zimbabwe's cumbersome hyper-inflationary money situation is over. It is now easy. US dollars and South African Rands are acceptable currency throughout the country, and all prices are quoted in US$. Cash is the preferred method of transaction, although International Credit Cards are now accepted for some payments. Small change can be a problem. Bring plenty of small denomination US$ or Rand notes, and some coins.

Food supplies in Zimbabwe are readily available now that the currency situation has eased. Supermarkets are well stocked, but, as many goods are imported, prices can be quite high.  Shop opening hours are generally: Weekdays: 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Saturdays: 8.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays. Some supermarket chains have longer hours and remain open every day including Sundays.
Note that apart from in Kariba town, there are no shopping facilities in the middle Zambezi valley at all.
Restaurants offer a wide variety of food choices. Be aware that in the evening people eat fairly early: between 6.30 p.m. and 8.45 p.m. If you arrive later, you may find the kitchen has closed.

TIPPING

If you want to show your appreciation for good service, a modest tip is customary, and much appreciated. Some restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill, and some lodges or camps have a sensible tipping facility at the reception desk which is shared among all staff. Please do NOT tip if your service has been bad. It will be more helpful to the future of tourism if you politely inform the management.

Kariba town has souvenirs and crafts stalls along the main road and at various visitor spots including on top of the town's highest hill, The Heights, and at the Dam Wall Observation Point. In the Zambezi valley crafts are more difficult to find unless your lodge or camp has some arrangement with a local community.  In Binga, at the western end of Lake Kariba, there is a thriving co-operative crafts industry (ask locally). Bargaining is standard. A high price will be demanded at first. Some negotiation is expected, but be fair. Many craftspeople are skilled and deserve a fair price for their handiwork. Remember, their cost of living in Zimbabwe is now comparable with the rest of the world.

ICE

Cold drinks are a must in the Kariba and the Zambezi Valley. Ice for your coolbox can be bought in blocks from the larger garages and supermarkets and from most of the harbours in Kariba. Cuts in electricity supplies make ice availability a bit erratic in some smaller towns, so it is advisable to collect ice in Harare at the start of your journey, if you are going straight through into the remote Zambezi Valley.

No fisherman can embark on a trip to Kariba or the Zambezi without a box full of fishing worms for those delectable bream! There are side-of-the-road worm sellers all along the main road between Harare and Karoi, the most enterprising being those selling "Anaconda Worms" just south of the town of Banket. Prices are negotiable and bargaining is standard. Make sure you keep your precious worms regularly watered, fed with vegetable peelings and kept cool out of the hot sun. If you don't have a smart wooden bait-box, get the kids to make one out of a cardboard shoebox! It will be just as effective. Reinforce the bottom with a layer of corrugated cardboard from a supermarket box and punch some small breathe-holes in the lid. HAPPY FISHING!