Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia have no sea ports, so the real decision is which coastal port to land your cargo at. Beira, Dar es Salaam, Maputo and Durban each have a role. This guide explains which one we use for each country, and why.
Shipping to Zimbabwe from Dubai usually goes by sea to Beira in Mozambique and then by road to Harare, about 30 to 40 days in total. Malawi cargo usually lands at Dar es Salaam (about 20 to 25 days), and Zambia cargo goes through Dar es Salaam and on by road via Nakonde (about 40 to 50 days door to Lusaka or the Copperbelt).
Which port for which country
| Country | Usual port | Typical transit | Air |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | Beira, or Maputo or Durban, then road | About 30 to 40 days to Harare via Beira | 2 to 4 days to Harare |
| Malawi | Dar es Salaam or Beira, then road | About 20 to 25 days via Dar es Salaam | 2 to 5 days to Lilongwe or Blantyre |
| Zambia | Dar es Salaam, then road via Nakonde | About 40 to 50 days door to Lusaka or the Copperbelt | 2 to 5 days to Lusaka |
| Mozambique | Maputo, Beira or Nacala | About 14 to 20 days | 2 to 5 days to Maputo |
The best port depends on the delivery town, the cargo and congestion at the time. For Harare and eastern Zimbabwe, Beira is the shortest road leg. For Lilongwe, Dar es Salaam is often the more reliable choice. We plan the port and the road leg together.
Zambia: our own offices
Zambia is one of the countries where we have our own offices, in Lusaka, Ndola and Kitwe. They clear and deliver your cargo directly. We also run groupage to Lusaka and Kitwe, so you can send a few cubic metres without paying for a full container. See LCL and groupage from Dubai.
For a full guide to the route, read our Zambia shipping page. If you also supply the Congolese Copperbelt, see shipping to DR Congo.
Not sure which port to use?
Send us the delivery town and the cargo. We will tell you the best port, the road leg and the total cost.
Transit papers and the road leg
Cargo landing in Mozambique or Tanzania for a neighbouring country moves under transit documents for the port country. Our partner offices prepare them, arrange the trucks and track the cargo to the border and on to your door.
Final clearance takes place in the destination country: ZIMRA in Zimbabwe, the Malawi Revenue Authority in Malawi and ZRA in Zambia.
Shipping a car to Zimbabwe, Malawi or Zambia
All three countries drive on the left. Duty depends on the vehicle, and older vehicles cost more to import:
- Zimbabwe: duty, surtax and VAT assessed by ZIMRA, and older vehicles attract a surtax.
- Malawi: duty, excise and VAT assessed by the Malawi Revenue Authority, and older vehicles may pay higher duty.
- Zambia: ZRA sets duty by vehicle type, engine size and age band, vehicles over 5 years old fall in a different band, and a carbon emission surtax is charged by engine size.
We ship cars by RoRo and in containers, up to 6 cars in a 40ft. See RoRo shipping from Dubai.
Why ship with MegaSpeed Cargo
We have 40+ years in the industry and a long record on the southern and eastern African corridors. We have our own offices in Zambia, and network partner offices in Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania, so one team handles the sea leg, the transit and the delivery.
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from Dubai to Zimbabwe take?
Sea cargo to Harare via Beira takes about 30 to 40 days. Air cargo reaches Harare in 2 to 4 days.
Which port is best for Zimbabwe?
Beira is usually the shortest route to Harare. Maputo and Durban are alternatives when they suit the delivery town or the sailing.
Which port is used for Malawi?
Usually Dar es Salaam, with Beira as an alternative. Sea cargo via Dar es Salaam takes about 20 to 25 days.
Do you have an office in Zambia?
Yes. We have our own offices in Lusaka, Ndola and Kitwe, and we run groupage to Lusaka and Kitwe.
Do you offer groupage to Zimbabwe or Malawi?
Our groupage runs to Lusaka, Kitwe, Mozambique and other selected African cities. For Zimbabwe and Malawi we ship full containers, vehicles and air cargo.
What is the air freight minimum?
Our air freight starts at 45 kg.
Get a quote for southern Africa
Tell us the delivery town and the cargo. We will plan the port, the transit and the delivery.
