Rolats ships drums and barrels of groceries and household goods to Zimbabwe from the UK by sea freight via Durban or Beira, then road haulage inland to Harare and Bulawayo. We collect drums anywhere in the UK to our Dagenham depot and deliver door-to-door. Zimbabwe is landlocked, so transit runs longer than a direct-port route. Sea cargo starts from £70 per bag, so call or email for a drum or barrel quote.
Why drums and barrels for Zimbabwe?
Drums and barrels are the diaspora standard for sending groceries, dry foods, toiletries, clothing and household goods to family back home: they're sealed, sturdy, stack efficiently and protect contents over a long sea-and-road journey. The UK Zimbabwean community (strong in London, Luton, Leeds and Coventry) relies on them for regular care shipments. Rolats packs, manifests and ships your drums so they arrive intact and clear customs cleanly. We also handle barrels, boxes and "Ghana Must Go" bags in the same consignment.
How drums reach Zimbabwe - the routing
Zimbabwe is landlocked, so there's no direct port. We ship by sea to Durban (South Africa) or Beira (Mozambique), then move the cargo by road into Zimbabwe to Harare, Bulawayo and beyond. Durban is the larger, busier gateway; Beira is often the shorter road leg to Harare. We choose the routing that balances cost and speed for your shipment. Because of the sea-plus-road combination, transit is longer than a direct-port country - typically several weeks.
What you can send in your drums
Non-perishable groceries, mealie meal and dry foods, tinned goods, toiletries, clothing, bedding, and general household items are all standard. Zimbabwe applies import duty and an import declaration on arrival - we advise on what's allowed and prepare the paperwork so your drums aren't held. Tell us roughly what's going in and we'll flag anything to leave out.
Door-to-door to Harare and Bulawayo
We collect filled drums and barrels from any UK address (or you drop at our Dagenham depot, 494 Gale Street, RM9 4NU), ship via Durban or Beira, clear customs, and deliver to the recipient's door in Harare, Bulawayo and across Zimbabwe. Sea cargo starts from £70 per bag; drum and barrel pricing depends on size and quantity. Call +44 7735 369702 or email info@rolatsservicesdagenham.co.uk for a quote.
Why ship drums with Rolats?
Rolats Services has been a pan-African freight specialist since 2007, run from our Dagenham depot by founder Michael Imona. We offer true door-to-door (not just port-to-port), all-in GBP pricing with no charges sprung on family at the Zimbabwe end, and customs-savvy clearance across every corridor. We pack and manifest your barrels and bags so they arrive intact.