Smoking Areas at Zimbabwe Airports

English

Zimbabwe’s two main international airports have airside lounge smoking rooms. Harare Robert Gabriel Mugabe International (HRE) is the primary gateway, with a smoking room inside its Pearl Lounge; Victoria Falls (VFA) is the major tourist airport for the iconic falls, with a smoking room inside its Khami Lounge; Bulawayo (BUQ) serves Zimbabwe’s second city and is outdoor-only.

Zimbabwe Airports Compared: Before and After Security

Before security, you can always smoke outside: at a designated smoking area where there is one, or outside the airport property, beyond the terminal kerb and car parks. After security, Yes means there is a smoking area past security and a dash means none is listed. Each airport’s page has the details.

Airport	Before security	After security
Bulawayo Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo (BUQ)	Yes	–
Harare Robert Gabriel Mugabe (HRE)	Yes	Yes
Victoria Falls (VFA)	Yes	Yes

For travellers, the key airports are HRE for general international transit and VFA for falls-bound tourism. Both let you smoke after security inside their international-terminal lounges (pay-in or with a lounge-membership card); BUQ requires an outdoor break before security.

The Major Airports

Robert Gabriel Mugabe International (HRE). Harare’s main airport and primary international gateway, with an international terminal opened in July 2023. An enclosed indoor smoking cabin sits inside the airside Pearl Lounge (international terminal, Level 0, near Gate 5), plus outdoor areas away from the terminal entrances landside.

Victoria Falls Airport (VFA). Gateway to one of Africa’s premier tourist destinations. An indoor smoking room sits inside the airside Khami Lounge (international terminal, 1st floor at the top of the escalators; pay-in or with a lounge-membership card), plus outdoor designated areas outside the terminal. Stunning location.

Bulawayo Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International (BUQ). Zimbabwe’s second city airport. Smoking is at the designated outdoor areas outside the terminal, away from the entrances; the airport lists no airside smoking area, so smoke before you clear security.

Tips for Smokers at Zimbabwean Airports

Harare and Victoria Falls have airside lounge smoking rooms; Bulawayo is outdoor-only
The HRE Pearl Lounge and VFA Khami Lounge rooms are open to pay-in guests and lounge-membership cardholders
Harare at 1,490m elevation is cooler than Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls airport hot in summer (October-March), pleasant in winter
For onward Europe transit, route via Johannesburg or Addis Ababa

Last updated: October 24, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you smoke at Zimbabwe airports?

Yes. Harare Robert Gabriel Mugabe International (HRE) and Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) both have airside indoor smoking rooms inside their international-terminal lounges — the Pearl Lounge at HRE and the Khami Lounge at VFA (both pay-in or with a lounge-membership card). Bulawayo (BUQ), Zimbabwe’s second city, is outdoor-only, with smoking at the designated areas outside the terminal, away from the entrances.

Where can I smoke at Harare Airport (HRE)?

In the enclosed smoking cabin inside the airside Pearl Lounge in the international terminal (Level 0, near Gate 5), so you can smoke after security — entry is with a lounge-membership card or a pay-in lounge fee. Landside, smoke in the outdoor areas outside the terminal, away from the entrances.

Where can I smoke at Victoria Falls Airport (VFA)?

In the indoor smoking room inside the airside Khami Lounge in the international terminal (1st floor, at the top of the escalators), entry with a lounge-membership card or a pay-in lounge fee, and at the outdoor designated areas outside the terminal landside.

Are e-cigarettes and vapes allowed at Zimbabwean airports?

Yes — vapes are permitted at Zimbabwean airports and are treated like cigarettes. Use the same places as cigarettes: the airside lounge smoking rooms at HRE and VFA, or the outdoor areas.

What should I expect at Zimbabwean airports as a smoker?

Harare and Victoria Falls both have airside lounge smoking rooms in their international terminals, so you can smoke after security; Bulawayo is outdoor-only, at the designated areas outside the terminal, away from the entrances. Harare’s elevation (1,490 m) keeps temperatures moderate; Victoria Falls is hotter and lower.