I returned from my 2 week hunt in Zim in the first week of October of last year. To date my trophies have not been shipped out of Zimbabwe. Seems the country's Reserve Bank is creating lots of problems in clearing items like this for shipment. I initially followed up the missing shipment in mid-March. Mike Fynn, the person in charge of shipping for HHK, e-mailed me the following:

"Firstly our sincere apologies for the delay in sending your trophies. We are experiencing unexpected delays with customs clearance, bank clearance and National Parks clearance. Our shippers, Cargo Services, and HHK are doing their utmost to resolve these unforseen problems. At present your documentation is waiting to be cleared at the Reserve Bank.
Again our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused by these delays and we will endeavour to get your shipment on its way as soon as possible."

Then after following up that March e-mail earlier this week, today I received the following from the owner of HHK, Graham Hingeston: "...it has been an absolute nightmare getting trophies cleared by Reserve Bank this year..." They apparently are still trying to get things cleared so they can be shipped.
In Zim we all know of the issues facing the hunting industry. Hopefully this delay will only be a temporary inconvenience, but so far it is a situation that is still unfolding.

spring, just to let you know, you are not in the boat alone I have had the same problem with some of my clients trophies as well that hunted in Chewore last year. I have pushed and kept up to date with my outfitters every week, and the story is the same that you listed above. It is frustrating to say the least, but it is nothing that we can do over here to make anything go faster at all. I also honestly believe that all of the outfitters in Zim are having the same trouble since the new regulation of everyoe having to go through the one reserve bank. I just talked to one of my outfitters yesterday and it appears that things are getting sorted out and shippments should start moving now. So, hang in there and just realize that we are dealing with African time and politics and we just have to be patient, as hard as it is.

I went to Zim sept 2003. I had a hard time getting any info at all on my shipment no one could give me any info (where it was when it would ship how much$$). Then when I was about to give up last week I got a fax from F & F in NY city saying my crate was being cleared. Not where I wanted it to go but pretty fast and better than being lost.

Dean

Adam and Dean,

Your thoughts are indeed encouraging. I've never been particularly concerned that the stuff would never get here, it's just that the info I've received from Zim indicates an all-together new level of bureaucracy and inefficiency.

With their thirst for forex, and the government's recent focus on the safari industry as a new source for that elixir, I have been wondering whether or not the reserve bank was almost holding things hostage in exchange for more favorable terms from the industry. That said, I should have known that Mugabe's clowns don't negotiate for anything. If they want conditions in their favor, they just mandate them. Holding safari trophies "hostage" wouldn't be consistent with their recent "grab and take� bargaining techniques.

Glad to hear it must only be a temporary glitch!

Join the club guys,
I hunted Zim in July and got the same message from ZIMAFRICA Safaris. Said they would ship as soon as they can. Glad I'm not the only one.
Doug

Spring,
We hunted Omay with HHK August/September for crocodile/bushbuck. We went with two other friends. Mike hunted buffalo and plainsgame. He got his trophies about a month ago.
Gilberto shot leopard/crocodile/plainsgame.Neither Gilberto nor our trophies have been sent yet.


In 1996 we hunted Dande for bufalo. The trophies were not shipped for 13 months.

I guess that is just Zimbabwe. It is comforting to know we are all in the same boat.

Kathi

kathi@wldtravel.com

Thanks, Kathy! Guess I'll just have to be patient!

Spring,
Just received notice that my June 2003 Buffalo will arrive @ FAUNA & FLORA on May 2. The last wrinkle was a retro-active 2% levy on the total trophy fee by Parks & Wildlife.
Honestly,I'm suprised it got out of Zimbabwe at all.
Handsum Jed

t

As a follow-up to my earlier correspondence that I recived from Zim about my delayed trophies, I thought some of you might find today's mail about the Zim export situation of interest. Here's what I received:

Our sincere apologies for the delay in sending your trophies. Unfortunately many of our clients shipments including your own, are being held up by the minefield of red tape involved in exporting trophies. HHK and our shippers, Cargo Services, are presently holding meetings with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and other relevant authorities to try and resolve these issues. New documentation and was introduced last year which has led to much confusion and caused much delay. We apologise sincerely for the inconvenience these delays have caused and will endeavour to update you on your shipment as soon as we have further information.

I hunted Zim June 2003. I received my trophies in less than 120 days.

They were dipped and packed and sent from Bullowayo.

Regards, PG