Area Code 18 – Dete

Geographic Overview

The country calling code +263 is assigned to Zimbabwe under the ITU-T E.164 international numbering plan. The national destination code (NDC) 18 is a geographic area code that routes calls to the town of Dete, located in the Matabeleland North Province in the northwestern part of the country. Dete is a small railway and wildlife tourism hub, serving as a gateway to Hwange National Park. The area code covers the town and its immediate surrounding rural areas, including nearby settlements and game reserves.

Dialing Formats

To call a fixed-line number in Dete from within Zimbabwe, subscribers must use the national trunk prefix 0 followed by the area code and the subscriber's local number. The local numbers in Dete typically consist of five to six digits. The complete national dialing format is: 0 18 XXX XXX (or 0 18 XXXXX depending on the local number length).

For international callers, the Zimbabwean country code is dialed after the international access prefix (e.g., 00 or +). The international format is: +263 18 XXX XXX (or +263 18 XXXXX). Note that the leading 0 of the national trunk prefix is omitted when dialing from abroad.

Caller Instructions

• Local callers within Zimbabwe: Dial the trunk prefix 0, then the area code 18, followed by the local number. Example: 018 123 456.
• International callers from outside Zimbabwe: Dial your country's international exit code (e.g., 011 from North America, 00 from most European countries), then Zimbabwe's country code 263, then the area code 18 without the leading 0, followed by the local number. Example: +263 18 123 456.

Administrative and Regulatory Notes

The numbering plan for Zimbabwe is administered by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ). Geographic area codes are allocated to fixed-line services, and numbers under the 18 NDC are primarily used by fixed-line operators, including TelOne, the incumbent national operator. As of the latest updates, there are no overlay codes or mandatory 10-digit dialing in Zimbabwe; the national significant number (NSN) length for fixed-line numbers is typically nine digits, including the leading 0 when dialed nationally. However, users should verify the current dialing procedures with their service provider, as numbering plan changes may occur.

When calling from a mobile phone within Zimbabwe, it is common to dial the full national number including the trunk prefix 0. For international SMS or voice calls to Dete, the same international format applies. Ensure you have the correct local number, as geographic numbers are not portable across different area codes in Zimbabwe.