Zimbabwe Airport Smoking Areas

By , Author, Air Travel Writer · Updated

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.

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 (Priority Pass or pay-in); 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. Connections to Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Dubai and London.

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; Priority Pass or pay-in), 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; there is no documented 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 Priority Pass or pay-in access
  • 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
  • Cigarettes are inexpensive in Zimbabwe; airport duty-free selection is limited

Zimbabwe Airports Compared: Indoor, Outdoor & After Security

AirportAfter securityIndoor roomOutdoor area
Bulawayo Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (BUQ)––Yes
Harare Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (HRE)YesYesYes
Victoria Falls Airport (VFA)YesYesYes

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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 Priority Pass / pay-in). 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 via Priority Pass or a pay-in lounge fee. Landside, smoke in the outdoor areas outside the terminal, away from the entrances. The airport handles flights to Johannesburg (dominant route), Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Dubai and London.

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 via Priority Pass or a pay-in lounge fee, and at the outdoor designated areas outside the terminal landside. The airport handles flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town and a growing list of direct international routes.

Are e-cigarettes and vapes allowed at Zimbabwean airports?

Yes — vapes are permitted at Zimbabwean airports and are treated like cigarettes. Zimbabwe has no vape ban; e-cigarettes are legal and were brought under an excise tax in 2024. 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 entrance. Harare’s elevation (1,490 m) keeps temperatures moderate; Victoria Falls is hotter and lower. Cigarettes are widely available in Zimbabwe; airport duty-free selection is limited.