I will be visiting Zim next week, Harare then to Vic Falls. Although this will be my 8th Safari to that beautiful country but I realize that this will be the first with Old Uncle Bob not in office! Is there any concern or change since my last trip in 2017 that I should keep in mind? I will highly appreciate opinion / advise from those who are on ground or have been recently there, thank you.

Ahmed,

Just had a group return from Zim. They entered and exited through Victor Falls and all went perfectly. I think you'll find things to be peaceful throughout the country.

Mark

I went through Harare a couple months back and it went smooth.

The blokes in London were a bigger pain in my backside than Zim.

I am in constant contact with friends over there. From what I hear there is nothing to be concerned about. Economically things are not that great.

Good luck!

Just got back from a month there. Zim is just like always. Nothing to be concerned about. BUT.....if for any reason you go a grocery story, like the new Pic-n-Pay in Vic Falls, hang on to your shorts. The sticker price for food is unbelievable!!! Petrol is not much better. The economy is headed down the drain. But the people have not changed a bit. EXCEPT, the population of VF has doubled and traffic tripled. The quaint village community is gone. Not to mention the constant roar of helicopters.

Don't worry too much about the tales of doom and gloom, they're grossly exaggerated, as those of us who live here will tell you.

The police presence that prevailed during Bob's time has been seriously curbed, and the security forces are polite and professional these days, so travel isn't a hassle.

The electronic money and scrip the government issues are sliding against real money, but if you have USD, things are cheaper than they were before - and the fuel is cheap as well; people who bemoan the price of fuel don't seem to have clicked that the big increases have been against local "money", not hard currency, or they don't have access to hard currency.

Prices in the shops are a big jump in local currency, but to use the "Castle Principle", a bottle of Castle lager was anything between $1.50-2 when the currency was officially still in US. Now, it's around $8 in local, which makes it $1 in USD, so it's actually cheaper.

It would be wise to have a few hundred USD in smaller denominations.

.

Of greater interest - what are you hunting and with whom and do you promise to post a report !!??

Have a great trip and take take small denomination Usd - lots of specials if you pay Usd cash !!

Cheers

Charlie

.

Thank you so much for ur replies, all information is much appreciated and it looks promising.

quote:

Originally posted by Charlie64:
.

Of greater interest - what are you hunting and with whom and do you promise to post a report !!??

.

Hi Charlie, I will be hunting Croc with Lin Stanton while my son is shooting Leopard.

I have been posting my hunt reports here on AR for more than a decade and I see no reason to change that this time.

We found nothing surprising in Harare last week. I thought the prices were reasonable in the markets when paying in USD.

I may have felt differently if my income was paid in bond notes.

Have a great time and I look forward to your report.

I depart in a bit over three weeks but will hunt in SA an Botswana first. Friends there say all is fine except high prices for food and fuel.
Cal

Two weeks ago, we were hunting in the BVC. The hunt was fantastic and we had no issues at all in Zimbabwe.

.

Ahmed, Here's wishing you a monster croc and a great safari !! Looking forward to seeing the pictures and reading the story!!

Cheers

Charlie

.

quote:

Originally posted by Charlie64:
.

Ahmed, Here's wishing you a monster croc and a great safari !! Looking forward to seeing the pictures and reading the story!!

Cheers

Charlie

.

Thank you Sir.

Ahmed,

Lin can get you a huge croc and a daytime leopard. That should be a great safari. Best of luck!

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Ahmed,

Lin can get you a huge croc and a daytime leopard. That should be a great safari. Best of luck!

Mark

Thanks Mark sounds good.

Saw this on BBC yesterday:

Zimbabwe bans use of foreign currencies

8:48 24 Jun
SharedZimbabwe bans use of foreign currencies

Shingai Nyoka

BBC Africa, Harare
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
The Zimbabwe dollar was scrapped after it became almost completely worthlessImage caption: The Zimbabwe dollar was scrapped after it became almost completely worthless

Zimbabwe has banned the use of international currencies such as the US dollar, South African rand and British pound.

Zimbabwe has not had its own fully fledged currency since 2009, when the authorities abolished the Zimbabwe dollar because of hyperinflation.

The ban comes in immediately and has caught locals by surprise.

Shops and most businesses will only be allowed to accept the substitute currency, RTGS dollars.

The authorities are believed to have introduced this new measure to curb rampant black market currency trading.

Critics believe that this will slow the economy as businesses will not be able to operate with a volatile local currency.

The regulation does not affect foreign currency accounts, and airfares and customs duty for some items will still be paid in foreign currency.



Don't know anything beyond what the BBC reported.

Ahmed - I'm the party of Mark's that just got back from Vic Falls...we had no issues, except for twice:

The liquor store refused to accept a $10 bill because it was "too old" - it was a 1999 bill. I had to give her two $5s, which she took without question.

On one other occasion, buying bungee jumping pictures at the bridge, they refused to take a USD $20 because it had a quarter inch tear in it....

I bet US dollars are still accepted at the entry fee booth when you get off the plane !

quote:

Originally posted by Charles_Helm:
Saw this on BBC yesterday:

Zimbabwe bans use of foreign currencies

8:48 24 Jun
SharedZimbabwe bans use of foreign currencies

Shingai Nyoka

BBC Africa, Harare
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
The Zimbabwe dollar was scrapped after it became almost completely worthlessImage caption: The Zimbabwe dollar was scrapped after it became almost completely worthless

Zimbabwe has banned the use of international currencies such as the US dollar, South African rand and British pound.

Don't know anything beyond what the BBC reported.

Wow, I am still hoping that Benjamin Franklin will take care of all issues as he has been doing for so long, without him we will be lost.

quote:

Originally posted by Ahmed Sultan:

quote:

Originally posted by Charles_Helm:
Saw this on BBC yesterday:

Zimbabwe bans use of foreign currencies

8:48 24 Jun
SharedZimbabwe bans use of foreign currencies

Shingai Nyoka

BBC Africa, Harare
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
The Zimbabwe dollar was scrapped after it became almost completely worthlessImage caption: The Zimbabwe dollar was scrapped after it became almost completely worthless

Zimbabwe has banned the use of international currencies such as the US dollar, South African rand and British pound.

Don't know anything beyond what the BBC reported.

Wow, I am still hoping that Benjamin Franklin will take care of all issues as he has been doing for so long, without him we will be lost.

I'm betting old Ben is just as influential as ever!

I depart for Harare on Friday. Here is what Emirates' staff in HRE said:


"Kindly note, USD is still accepted as form of payment for a number of services.
These include but not limited to:
1. Airline tickets.
2. Visas.
3. Duty on goods.
4. Hotel accommodation."

Also, this is probably nothing new to folks on AR, but my travel agent instructed us to pay the visa in USD $55.00, and to have the exact amount because they will not give you change.

quote:

Originally posted by Nahtx:
I depart for Harare on Friday. Here is what Emirates' staff in HRE said:


"Kindly note, USD is still accepted as form of payment for a number of services.
These include but not limited to:
1. Airline tickets.
2. Visas.
3. Duty on goods.
4. Hotel accommodation."

Also, this is probably nothing new to folks on AR, but my travel agent instructed us to pay the visa in USD $55.00, and to have the exact amount because they will not give you change.

Great thanks, you are hunting with and for?

It seems there few hunters boarding that 29th June Dubai-Lusaka-Harare Flight.

Hey Ahmed. My dad and I are hunting buff/pg (maybe dry-land hippo if I can get one to cooperate) at Nyakasanga with CMS, Myles will be my PH.

I depart Houston tonight and board the Dubai-Lusaka-Harare flight on the morning of the 30th after a LONG overnight layover in Dubai. First time to Zim, can't wait!

quote:

Originally posted by Nahtx:
Hey Ahmed. My dad and I are hunting buff/pg (maybe dry-land hippo if I can get one to cooperate) at Nyakasanga with CMS, Myles will be my PH.

I depart Houston tonight and board the Dubai-Lusaka-Harare flight on the morning of the 30th after a LONG overnight layover in Dubai. First time to Zim, can't wait!

That will be a blast, I have heard it is a great area, all the best.

I am already on route overnighting in Dubai. Will be staying in Amanzi tomorrow then to Vic Falls the next day.

Best of luck to you! Looking forward to all of the future Zim reports.

Arrived Hararre on Mai 31st and departed June 9th after 8 days buffalo hunt in Makuti. Everything great, no problems with guns, visa etc. Payed visa with credit card.

Thanks for updates. Leave in two weeks for BVC and then Klaserie. Took out the 45-70 and 577 doubles for some shooting and all set out to 100 yds.

With a few exceptions Zimbabwe was kind to hunters as the money talks..I suspect the same will apply under the new regime..The problem is its still Africa and you can't depend on anything, just have to go with the flow, things can change in a heart beat..

Just got back from the Falls. Aside from the rolling power cuts in town...all is well there. The currency thing happened while there...no problems for me...but wasn’t around long enough after implementation to get much feedback. I believe it to be more of a hassle for the locals than tourists. The country is the most user friendly to tourists as I have ever seen it.

One great thing about Mnangagwa, he just gave the keynote address at some conference and gave a ringing endorsement for safari hunting in Zimbabwe. There is another thread on here about it. Apparently, he shut down the NGO's that were there before they got started.

Glad to see outspoken support from the top.