Beitbridge

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General Information

Beitbridge is the border town between South Africa and Zimbabwe located in the province of Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe. The border post is on the Zimbabwean side of the Beitbridge that crosses over the Limpopo River. It is a hot and dry area with minimum rainfall.

The main road leads approximately 321 km north-west away from the border to Bulawayo and 585 km north-east to Harare via Masvingo. The Beitbridge border post is the busiest road border post in Southern Africa.

The Alfred Beit Road Bridge is named after Alfred Beit, founder of the De Beers diamond mining company. The original bridge was constructed in 1929 and the new bridge was completed in 1995 and was built by the Zimbabwean Government. With the new bridge, much heavier traffic can be accommodated and the old bridge is now used for rail traffic only.

Accommodation in Beitbridge

There is not much accommodation options in Beitbridge, but there is a Motel Inn and a Holiday Inn near the border.

The town itself is not a tourist destination however, with the 2 roads leading away from the border : The Masvingo Road and the Bulawayo Road, there are some lovely accommodation choices further along these roads.

Please view our accommodation directory for more options on what is available.

Border Post Information

Allow two to three hours to cross the border between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The border is open from 6.00am to 10.30pm daily and remains open 24 hours a day during the Easter and Christmas holidays.
If you are driving, there are Toll Fees to cross the Limpopo River.
If you are entering Zimbabwe by car, third party insurance is compulsory.
Money can be changed from US Dollars or SA Rands into Zimbabwe Dollars, at the border post change bureau. You will get a better exchange rate than the official one used by immigration.
If you need petrol, it is recommended that you stop in Beitbridge to refuel - this town has the most petrol stations in one locale than anywhere else in Zimbabwe!
The driver of the vehicle needs to provide a valid drivers licence and passport.
Original or certified copies of the vehicle registration papers in the name of the driver.
Letter of authority from the registered owner if the vehicle if it is not owed by the driver.
If the vehicle is financed, you need to provide a letter of authority from the bank, which must include dates of travel.
There are various fees payable - Toll fee, border post fee, exit pass fee, carbon tax charges.
Warning Triangles: Two warning triangles on a metal plate.
ZA Sticker to be shown on the vehicle.