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controlled_feed
.300 member


Reged: 23/05/08
Posts: 227
Loc: NSW, Australia
Zimbabwe safety
      #129029 - 08/03/09 09:49 PM

Hello all

Heading to Zim in August for 21 days. Gotta love the SCI auctions, added another 7 days for next to nothing.

Wondering if anyone who lives there or has been recently can give some insight as to the current situation there.

My travel agent tells me one has to almost sign your life away to get flights to Zim. I know of several who where in Zim last year and said they didn't feel unsafe at any stage.

What travel insurance do those that travel to locations like Zimbabwe use?

Regards

controlled_feed

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Ripp
.577 member


Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: controlled_feed]
      #129041 - 09/03/09 12:47 AM

Was there last May and part of June of '08---no problems what so ever..Have been there 3 times in the last 5 years..no problems on any --actually preliminarily planning a bull ele hunt there for next year...

Had a friend and PH here last month from Zim--visit with him on a weekly basis via email..so far, so good..personally, I would have no problem heading there and going hunting..please remember, while there, 99% of your time is spent out in the bush..far removed from the politics...

Just be smart while in the city and use common sense..

As to trip insurance, when I went last year it was offered to me and I did not take it--each to their own..but the price was insane..and I am in the insurance business...

Ripp

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..

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ozhunter
.400 member


Reged: 18/08/04
Posts: 1692
Loc: Sydney, Australia
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: Ripp]
      #129069 - 09/03/09 09:03 AM

Been over every year for many years now. Yes you can see the slow decay of the infrastructure but I feel I have never been in danger due to the Zim situation, infact felt safer than when in SA.
With the AU$ being as poor as it is at the moment, I doubt I will make it over this year but that has nothing to do with the Zim situation.

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ozhunter
.400 member


Reged: 18/08/04
Posts: 1692
Loc: Sydney, Australia
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: controlled_feed]
      #129070 - 09/03/09 09:05 AM

Quote:



What travel insurance do those that travel to locations like Zimbabwe use?

Regards

controlled_feed



SSAA for "southern Africa".

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thorshammer
.300 member


Reged: 27/12/08
Posts: 150
Loc: USA
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: ozhunter]
      #129075 - 09/03/09 12:32 PM

Your safer in Zim then south africa just use common sence and all will go as planed

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tophet1
.400 member


Reged: 15/09/07
Posts: 1873
Loc: NSW, Australia
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: thorshammer]
      #129083 - 09/03/09 01:45 PM

I use standard QBE travel insurance as offered through my Travel Agent. I am useing it this year and used it last year when I took my family to SA and Zim. We used the second top level of cover.

Travel agents in Australia usually get a 70% mark up on the insurance they sell.

Spoke to friends of mine born in Rhodesia who now live in Perth, last night. They confirm the above, they felt safer in Zim than in SA, as we did last October. They moved so they could plan a future. A good day in Zim was when you could buy petrol and bread in the same day.

Safety in Zim, not a problem. Go and enjoy. Listen to your P/H.

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albertan
.333 member


Reged: 13/06/06
Posts: 432
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: thorshammer]
      #129084 - 09/03/09 01:49 PM

With the recent events concerning the Prime Minister, something is going to give. If that head on crash is determined to be less than accidental, Mugabe might just be removed. I do not believe that if Mugabe is removed there will be civil war, but I do believe that things will be unstable for a while.

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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39245
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: ozhunter]
      #129095 - 09/03/09 03:38 PM

Quote:

Quote:

What travel insurance do those that travel to locations like Zimbabwe use?

Regards

controlled_feed




SSAA for "southern Africa".



Agree. I used the SSAA Insurance Agency as well for my African travel insurance needs. Good insurance cover for firearms and cameras (etc) as well.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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controlled_feed
.300 member


Reged: 23/05/08
Posts: 227
Loc: NSW, Australia
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: controlled_feed]
      #129175 - 10/03/09 08:42 AM

Thanks for all the advice. I will look into the SSAA Insurance.

controlled_feed

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JPK
.375 member


Reged: 31/08/04
Posts: 734
Loc: Chevy Chase, MD
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: controlled_feed]
      #129365 - 12/03/09 03:57 PM

I was most recently there in November. It was actually better then than in May when I was also there, with more goods on the shelves and more fuel available.

I have never felt threatened or unsafe regarding the people there. But I wouldn't go traveling about Harare without a trusted local guide. No different than any big city, especially a thrid world city.

Once in the country side, no issues. Police and everyone else were pleasant.

I would go and have fun, but I would have a Plan B for getting out of the country in the event of real disturbance. When I went in May, it was between the fist election and the run off, when all of the violence was happening - I saw none, nor any evidence of it. My Plan B was over the bridge into Zambia or across the Zambezi into Zambia by boat. Same plan in November.

JPK

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controlled_feed
.300 member


Reged: 23/05/08
Posts: 227
Loc: NSW, Australia
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: JPK]
      #129381 - 13/03/09 12:16 AM

JPK

Would a Plan B, be something that should be asked of the PH once in country or get it sorted before?

cf

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tophet1
.400 member


Reged: 15/09/07
Posts: 1873
Loc: NSW, Australia
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: controlled_feed]
      #129399 - 13/03/09 07:31 AM

controlled feed.

When you get back from Zimbabwe, I am going to ask you to go back over this thread and revisit your concerns.

I would suggest that any prudent traveller is careful, however there are many more, far more difficult places for a hunter to visit on this planet than Zimbabwe.

Edited by tophet1 (13/03/09 12:00 PM)

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ozhunter
.400 member


Reged: 18/08/04
Posts: 1692
Loc: Sydney, Australia
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: JPK]
      #129436 - 13/03/09 03:45 PM

Quote:

I would have a Plan B for getting out of the country in the event of real disturbance. When I went in May, it was between the fist election and the run off, when all of the violence was happening - I saw none, nor any evidence of it. My Plan B was over the bridge into Zambia or across the Zambezi into Zambia by boat. Same plan in November.

JPK



Over by boat would be a plan. Straight to a fishing camp with a pocket of US$$ and a couple bottles of Amarula.

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tophet1
.400 member


Reged: 15/09/07
Posts: 1873
Loc: NSW, Australia
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: ozhunter]
      #129442 - 13/03/09 04:58 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I would have a Plan B for getting out of the country in the event of real disturbance. When I went in May, it was between the fist election and the run off, when all of the violence was happening - I saw none, nor any evidence of it. My Plan B was over the bridge into Zambia or across the Zambezi into Zambia by boat. Same plan in November.

JPK



Over by boat would be a plan. Straight to a fishing camp with a pocket of US$$ and a couple bottles of Amarula.



After a couple of bottles of Amarula, you won't have any problems, at all.

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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39245
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: JPK]
      #129443 - 13/03/09 05:00 PM

Quote:

I would go and have fun, but I would have a Plan B for getting out of the country in the event of real disturbance. When I went in May, it was between the fist election and the run off, when all of the violence was happening - I saw none, nor any evidence of it. My Plan B was over the bridge into Zambia or across the Zambezi into Zambia by boat. Same plan in November.



A few extra US$ as a emergency reserve is usually prudent.

The thing about any African country is quite a lot of them can be unstable politically, but safaris are still conducted and clients never have any major problems. Then one day the sh*t hits the fan, and there are problems, so a bit of pre-thought doesn't go astray.

When I travelled through Zambia in 1988, just before I was there the borders had been closed for several weeks. The Zambian gov't changed its currency, and closed the borders, in and out, so people were stuck there. Maybe some palm grease would have smoothed an exit, I don't know.

My thoughts about Zimbabwe is that it will continue like it is, until one day there is a change of gov't/leader. Potential for violence whenever that happens. Crossing the border via Vic Falls, or Kariba, or anywhere on the river, or South, probably wouldn't be impossible if the worst happened.

Meanwhile the good and established Zim outfitters continue doing a good job and providing fun and enjoyable safaris, so while some planning is a good idea, personally if I wanted to, I would still consider booking a safari there.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39245
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: ozhunter]
      #129444 - 13/03/09 05:05 PM

Quote:

Straight to a fishing camp with a pocket of US$$ and a couple bottles of Amarula.



Actually that is sort of what I did in 2002. Did not leave the country, no need to. When there was a rash of warvet activity in the North West parts of Zimbabwe in August 2002 and we had to vacate the Gwaai Valley farm we were on, I relocated to a fishing/tourist camp on the Zambezi owned by Ron White for a few days and did some boating, and game photography. Until a new safari location could be organised.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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EricD
.416 member


Reged: 27/02/04
Posts: 4636
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: NitroX]
      #129466 - 14/03/09 01:20 AM

My impression from a Zimbabwean friend who visited me a week ago is that tourists are most definitely safe, as long as they use common sense. Having a "Plan B" is obviously a good idea, but then that goes for most African countries IMO. I personally would not hesitate to plan a hunt there at the moment.

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Indy
.224 member


Reged: 23/04/04
Posts: 22
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: Ripp]
      #129523 - 14/03/09 12:50 PM

"My travel agent tells me one has to almost sign your life away to get flights to Zim."

I don't know what this means. I was there in September and there were a lot of flights from J-burg to the three cities in Zim on SAA.

I flew to Vic Falls. A porter with a card bearing my name escorted me through customs to a charter plane. Everyone was polite, a lot more so than the TSA goons in Atlanta or the porters in J'burg. On the way back, the guy at the airline suggested I wait in the coffee shop and he would come get me when it was time to board. There were a lot of American tourists with their families at Vic Falls.

One of the easiest places to visit I have ever been to.

Don't fly British Air into Zim. They have some asinine rule about your not being allowed to take "weapons" into Zim because the govt. is oppressive in their view.

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EricD
.416 member


Reged: 27/02/04
Posts: 4636
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: Indy]
      #129579 - 15/03/09 04:04 AM

Quote:



Don't fly British Air into Zim. They have some asinine rule about your not being allowed to take "weapons" into Zim because the govt. is oppressive in their view.



I'd go so far as to say don't fly British Airways ANYWHERE! Their attitude towards hunters/shooters leaves a lot to be desired...

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bigmaxx
.375 member


Reged: 13/06/07
Posts: 660
Loc: Bowling Green KY U.S.A.
Re: Zimbabwe safety [Re: EricD]
      #129596 - 15/03/09 05:38 AM

I was in Zimbabwe last September. I was met at the airport by a member of Roger Whittall's staff and driven to his home for the evening. I left for the Zambezi Valley the next morning. After hunting dangerous game in the valley we trekked by vehicle for a several hour drive involving police checkpoints, cities, and fly control stations. I felt safe the entire time. I didnt spend any time (intentionally) in cities or populated areas. I cant wait to go back, and would do so without hesitation. Common sense dictates movements in Zimbabwe. This was my first trip there and the guys on Nitro really were helpful. You will have a blast! Enjoy.

--------------------
One day at a time...

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