Folks

If you are planning on arriving Zim in the near future DO NOT WEAR ANY ARTICLES OF CLOTHING WITH CAMOFLAGUE PATTERNS the police are arresting folks even with a camo hat, shorts etc. This any camo and not just armed forces patterns.

It seems this applies to anywhere in Zim and everybody. Locals are not exempt.

This is from a very reliable course in Bulawayo just a few minutes ago.

Mark

Mark this has been for a while, i remember when i met our great Ganayana there it was already the case and he told me while i was still in Bangui to not bring any camo in town

quote:

Originally posted by medved:
Mark this has been for a while, i remember when i met our great Ganayana there it was already the case and he told me while i was still in Bangui to not bring any camo in town

Yeah, this has been the rule for a while BUT, in my 7 Zim safaris over 14 years, I can't count the number of guys in camp and in the field I've seen wearing camo. Looks like this is a new crack down on an existing law.

I've never taken any camo over, including hats.

Guys,

I'm not trying to say this a new rule but they are enforcing it now. Do not wear camo while in Zim. This is straight from people that are experiencing this in real time.

Mark

Seen lots of hunters with a little or a lot of camp clothing. Maybe the local police have realized a “new” income stream .

In 2007 they were on the look out for people trying to make purchases with US dollars, when the “official” currency was Zim dollars, or Rand. I heard about several hunters having to pay a “fine” back then.

I read on Whats App the same thing Mark said. Even a PH's tracker was detained for wearing a Bass Pro hat. Some of the outfitter's kin was harassed. Seems like the police have decided this is a new way to show off their power. So, don't wear any camo, no need to ask for trouble.

I doubt it’s that organized.

While I didn’t wear camo while in the airport, in Bulawayo and going to the hunting camp I did.

Went through at least a half a dozen police checkpoints between Bulawayo and Shangani. Waved through every time.

The PH was wearing a camo shirt, and the trackers all had some camo on.

It may be localized or individual issues.

I was there from the 31st through yesterday.

This happens in places other than Africa. 3 years ago my wife and I went to Barbados. My carryon bag was a small camouflage duffel. The customs guy gave me holy hell and was going to confiscate it. I was told in no uncertain terms that camouflage anything was illegal. Luckily his supervisor overruled him and allowed me into the country with a warning to keep it out of sight going home.

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
This happens in places other than Africa. 3 years ago my wife and I went to Barbados. My carryon bag was a small camouflage duffel. The customs guy gave me holy hell and was going to confiscate it. I was told in no uncertain terms that camouflage anything was illegal. Luckily his supervisor overruled him and allowed me into the country with a warning to keep it out of sight going home.

And imagine you having one spent 22 shell, you might still be there
Those countries are exactly what they are…shit hole places to avoid
I’ll put up with Africa because of hunting but have no patience for all the others with their nitwitted rules and laws

Always thought and was told. No camo in airport or travelling in Zim.

But 99% of time its fine once out hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by M.Shy:

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
This happens in places other than Africa. 3 years ago my wife and I went to Barbados. My carryon bag was a small camouflage duffel. The customs guy gave me holy hell and was going to confiscate it. I was told in no uncertain terms that camouflage anything was illegal. Luckily his supervisor overruled him and allowed me into the country with a warning to keep it out of sight going home.

And imagine you having one spent 22 shell, you might still be there
Those countries are exactly what they are…shit hole places to avoid
I’ll put up with Africa because of hunting but have no patience for all the others with their nitwitted rules and laws

I guess there are some shit hole airports in other parts of the world as well.
Transiting through Minneapolis on my way to Vegas I got stopped at the hand luggage scanner and my briefcase was turned inside out and upside down; I was just waiting for the lining to be ripped when I asked the guy what he was looking for.
He said the scanner "sniffed" the presence of explosives and after telling him I sometimes carried my handgun in the briefcase that explanation seemed to convince him and allowed me to proceed.

Quite a few African countries have regulations where only military personnel are permitted to wear camouflage in public and maybe travel and/or booking agents should be aware of such policies and advise their clients accordingly.

In America you can purchase a firearm with the backing of a social security card; not so in Africa or Europe and maybe a reason as to why we don't have so many (if any) shooting rampages in malls, schools, etc.

Just official re-instatement of a neglected money-making opportunity.

Oldest game on earth.

Make something that’s popular and sometimes even sensible illegal.

Then extort bribes to let it continue unabated.

I thought the rule was only applicable to military camo, not commercial. Not that it matters to me, I don't wear camo only carhart jeans in olive, solid green shirts, green/olive sweaters and an old OD field jacket. I don't think camo helps all that much, especially the smaller patterns. And, I won't hunt Zim for just these sorts of reasons.

I remember being told this many years ago.

I don’t use camo anyway.

Cargo trousers and cotton shirts work great.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I remember being told this many years ago.

I don’t use camo anyway.

Cargo trousers and cotton shirts work great.

Same here, I was provided the information to not bring any camo clothing by my PH.

Again, I hunt like many on here do wearing, black or blue jeans and olive or green shirts.

.

Why wear camo when you can wear blue shirts! Larry swears by blue


.

While few mammal species can see red, a great many can apparently see blue very clearly. White tail deer and Roe deer for instance. Domestic cattle are supposed to see blue too so perhaps buffalo do.
Does anyone know of any proper experiments to see what colours African species can see?

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I remember being told this many years ago.

I don’t use camo anyway.

Cargo trousers and cotton shirts work great.

Well, there is a God. Saeed and I agree on something...
Camo is not needed. I never wear any anywhere anytime.

Now, if Saeed would support Trump.... then I would know there is a kind God.... this is kind of like Gideon and fleece...

I generally fly to Tanzania via Amsterdam, but back when I hunted in Namibia, I flew South African Airways and went through Joberg. Can't believe the number of people on the plane in camo. Not smart in my opinion. I never travel in hunting clothes. We have enough issues with the antis. Why advertise that you are a hunter, although the flight attendants figure it out pretty quick.

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I remember being told this many years ago.

I don’t use camo anyway.

Cargo trousers and cotton shirts work great.

Well, there is a God. Saeed and I agree on something...
Camo is not needed. I never wear any anywhere anytime.

Now, if Saeed would support Trump.... then I would know there is a kind God.... this is kind of like Gideon and fleece...

I have an instinctive dislike to politics and politicians.

I have seen so called hunters at airports who would give Rambo a run for his money too!

Saeed,

I share your dislike of politicians. It always comes down to the lesser of two evils. I choose: Not Communist.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
I generally fly to Tanzania via Amsterdam, but back when I hunted in Namibia, I flew South African Airways and went through Joberg. Can't believe the number of people on the plane in camo. Not smart in my opinion. I never travel in hunting clothes. We have enough issues with the antis. Why advertise that you are a hunter, although the flight attendants figure it out pretty quick.

Agreed, I dress as a “civilian” while traveling. That consists of comfortable Kuiu type pants and a dress or polo type shirt. I do keep a change of underwear, socks and a suitable hunting shirt in my carry on in case my checked bag does not make it on time. I always travel with a khaki Orvis jacket that has seen as many miles as my Toyota despite the season.

I keep a collection of clothes at the lodge in Argentina, but that option is rare to most. I do cringe at times when I see “Bwana Joe” and crew at the airport, but can’t judge. I will often strike up a conversation with them and many times they are our clients.

In 1991, Walter was our video camera man.

We had a girl with us, who was a bit chubby.

She wore a camo pair of trousers, and nicknamed her Schwarzkopf!

Walter had one of the latest, at the time, video cameras.

All the bells and whistles!

It was VHS.

At the end of the safari, I managed to get a few minutes of hunting video.

The rest was totally unusable!

The camera had so many effects one can add.

Black and white.

Slow motion.

In and out rolling, sideways, upside down.

Walter used all of them.

He was attempting to be the new Hollywood film master.

In addition, he had a liking to Fiona’s rear end.

He had hours of where all one could see was Fiona’s wobbling backside!

We shot a sable.

Walter was taking a video of us next to it.

To get a good shot, he was moving backwards.

Behind him was a 30 foot drop.

Roy “Walter! Stop! There is a drop behind you!”

Walter looks behind and Carry’s on, a few feet to go.

Roy “ Leave the camera here if you are going to fall!”

Our usual friendly inter action!

The only camo I own is a DSC Life Member vest and I would not have that if It was not a free-be. I try to dress like a bum when traveling, but just well enough not to get kicked out of a lounge. I try to draw as little attention as possible and look like the poor tourist that I am.

Folks,

Agreed! I travel and recommend to my clients to travel in inconspicuous street clothes. I don't see any need to advertise that I'm going on a hunt. That includes non camo "safari" clothes that make you look like you're an ad for Cabelas/Bass Pro etc.

Mark