Dear Hunting Friends,

You may, or may not, have seen the official US Govt. warning below.

Whilst not wishing to mislead you in any way or appear to be at odds with your Government, may I just say that the likelihood of you coming into contact with any of the mentioned incidents is extremely unlikely.

We do recommend you hunt with reputable, registered, licenced Zimbabwe Hunting Operators, and NOT with any fly-by-nights who may be offering you a reduced price or other incentives. Our membership list may be found on www.soaz.net. We are about to upgrade our website and apologise if it is not as user-friendly as it might be.

Please do follow the advice given to contact your Embassy in Harare, but above all, take the advice of your reputable Operator. You are welcome to contact us, the Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe, on e-mail soaz@mweb.co.zw, as well if you wish, or the African Hunting Magazine on e-mail fishunt@zol.co.zw.

We wish you a happy hunt in Zimbabwe for 2007.

Yours sincerely

Sally Bown (Still living here!!)

Administrative Officer

Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe

18 Walter Hill Ave., Eastlea, Harare, Zimbabwe

Tel: 263-4-702402 Fax: 263-4-705046

e-mail soaz@mweb.co.zw

What is the warning they refer to in the e-mail?

Dear Sally

Thanks for the update and hope life is not too difficult in Zim's.

Seeing you mentioned that you are upgrading your website and you mentioned (fly-by-nighters) it might be nice if you whom are best placed with your vast local knowledge were to consider integrating into your website a (name and shame) or BEWARE list of the sharks whom are either operating illegally and/or fleecing unwary hunters. That would be quite helpful to weed out the undersireables and increase hunters numbers travelling to Zimbabwe

Cheers, Peter

Hello,
Go to U.S. State Dep't on the web, pull up Consular report on Zimbabwe (dated May 9 I believe) and it goes into a rather lengthy description of the numerous problems in that country. Mostly urban related problems as well as thievery and crime at tourist locations. Does warn,admonish those wishing to hunt in the country to use those outfitters w/ proper "papers" and legitimate firms. The report does not paint a good picture at all of the place.

Why are so many PHs and Outfitters missing from the lists on the SOAZ website?

John

I don't think that membership is compulsory..... perhaps Ganyana could let us know if this is the case......

There are some valid ethical objections to beloning to SOAZ- although I cannot believe that it is reasonable to function in this country as a safari operator without being a member.

The only reason people are not members or associate members of ZPHGA is if we don't want them.

Interesting! Members of two long established companies in Zim are conspicuosly abscent from the list of hunters. These also are companies that seem to be conducting business quite successfully. Hmmmm!

Mark

Hi Mark

There are several very reputable companies absent. - Considering who is the chairman I can quite understand (Ask Nitro X who's farm he has taken).

The other side is that without SOAZ, you have to fight off government extortion attemps on your own - and several guys have been squeezed for money they din't owe, simply because they couldn't phone the association to phone the head of police or reserve bank and get the goons (who are only after a bribe really) to go away. Shangaan hunters had the bank officials hanging round their offices for three weeks and it still isn't finished - the bank guts now need a letter from the association

It makes moral principals very expensive

quote:

Hello,
Go to U.S. State Dep't on the web, pull up Consular report on Zimbabwe (dated May 9 I believe) and it goes into a rather lengthy description of the numerous problems in that country. Mostly urban related problems as well as thievery and crime at tourist locations. Does warn,admonish those wishing to hunt in the country to use those outfitters w/ proper "papers" and legitimate firms. The report does not paint a good picture at all of the place.

Are we talking New Orleans, Detroit, LA???

Fact is, go to where the trouble is and you will find it. I'd take my chances in Zim. long before I'd venture into certain areas in the US cities mentioned above.

The only thing I can say is that I WILL be going back to Zim.

JW

Hey Jeff, on your way over to Zimbabwe stop in the State Department and tell those people just how the two places, Zimbabwe and the U.S. are so similar. I think that anyone who is remotely aware of events in Zimbabwe would not have high hopes for a future in Zimbabwe under the current program that exists there. Perhaps South Africa and others applying pressure on the President can bring about positive changes.
As for your quote of my answer to the person inquiring what report was referenced, it was only for informational purposes and if you happen to like Zimbabwe that is just fine with me and sure many others. For me, no way, no how, no period!

I checked about a dozen names and several outfitters with a strike rate of 100%.