I Have watched this thread with a minimal ammount ouf input.

I AM IN HARARE.

I Start a lion hunt monday. Everybdody is talking but nobody is doing.

My Biggest concern is the local banking system-but that does not affect my client- only my bottom line.

For those that took fright at my intitial post- forgive me- I nurse three bullet wounds personally and my eldest brother fought through the congo fighting from 1960-66. I err on the side of nevious

Hello All

I just arrived in Pretoria, after leaving Tete, Mozambique at 4 O clock this morning, got too Nyamapanda Border Post and wen through no sweat, travelled very well till 50 K's from Harare, when the ZRP police stopped us and informed us that our new Land Cruiser VX was not roadworthy, and the runaround began, Walked away with a 9 Million Zim fine, I did not have ZD so paid 200 mETS,

Left very pissed off, 30 Kilometers before Harare after passing through several roadblocks, ZRP asked drivers license which was produced, he then proceeded to search vehicle and luggage in a very agressive and obnoxious manner, and wanting too conficate " get out of jail " fund which he found. After a 30 minutes of talking and threatining, said we could go,

Left feeling very Pissed off, In Harare found police every 300 meters at every junction and in between,

After Harare, no sweat, made it home at 20:00 after travelling 1500 kilometers. all safe and sound

First time in a year of travelling through Zim that we had any problems, and these guys were very agressive, one even claimed we were part of a army ????, 2 40 year old WM , and all

We did not feel comfortable, and our supply truck with one of the PH's will take the long way htrough Moz back, he is young and might not take the shit so good.

Thanks Walter for the report. I'm sure you were very irritated and understand your comments about the young PH. Good on you for keeping your cool as it would not have helped you to lost it!

quote:

Originally posted by yukon delta:
Thanks Walter for the report. I'm sure you were very irritated and understand your comments about the young PH. Good on you for keeping your cool as it would not have helped you to lost it!

yukon delta,

You are so 100% correct there! Always, but always keep your cool at any "official" roadblock.

Kwan,

I offer some rationale: In 198? I traveled from Joberg to the Okavango the very next week after the SADF raided the ANC headquarters in Gaborone. As some may recall the BDF took quite a humiliating beating in the process! Needless to say only 4 days later, anyone wearing "hunting clothes" and driving in a South African registered Land Cruiser was treated with open suspision and a good degree of aggression in many cases. I well remember a particular Botswana Defence Force road block near Francistown. We had to "...unpack EVERYTHING....!" Eventually, after a few thimes nearly loosing my cool, my son very calmly remarked, in Afrikaans so that the soldier could not understand: "Don't worry dad, he will have died of AIDS when we will still go hunting." That day, his keeping his cool helped me to keep mine. At many roadblocks thereafter I just smiled, thought of the guy now calling the shots dying of AIDS soon and so keep cool. Today, many years later, it is almost 100% sure that that particular nasty piece of s%$&t has long ago died of AIDS, and I'm still enjoying my hunting!

I advise that you keep on thinking about your bad experience and consider the % HIV positive Zimbabwe Police Officers! You will still likely be enjoying hunting in Zimbabwe when he/they have long passed on.

Again my best wishes, thoughts and prayers go out to all my known, and many unknown, friends in Zimbabwe.

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

quote:

Originally posted by Andrew McLaren:
. . . my son very calmly remarked, in Afrikaans so that the soldier could not understand: "Don't worry dad, he will have died of AIDS when we will still go hunting."

Wise young man, seeing the big picture even in a stressful situation. You should be proud of him.