I read today where Mugabe has threatened to throw US Ambassador James McGee out of the country for allegedly providing advice to the MDC.

I leave for Chewore South on June 22, and will be hunting on the 27th when the runoff election takes place.

Are there any thoughts or predictions on what the political situation and safety of foreign (especially US) hunters will be like during that period? I understand the situation during the prior election this spring was pretty inane. I'm hoping this one will be as well.

GOOD LUCK ! the only way i would go during that time frame was if i had an evac policy with Global Rescue and a damn iron clad trip cancellation insurance policy( a lot of which provide specific exclusions for "social unrest"). it will be the several day period after the election when problems grow, as Bob will almost certainly delay release of results if they are bad- as they hopefully will be!

I'm a day ahead of you Bwanna. If it hits the fan I will make like a duck and get the flock out. Otherwise, life goes on.
LDK

I will be leaving Zim on the 30th we'll see, it's politics in Africa at it's best. Maybe Ganyana can tell us a little about the time frame after election day that the results usually get posted, that's when things might get a little exciting.

Dirk

I'm not leaving Harare until the 10th of July. I expect the results will be easily posted by then. I have no plans to spend any time in any city, so hopefully we'll in and out with no problems.

Dirklawyer, are you leaving Zim on the 30th of June, or leaving for Zim on the 30th of May?

We will be arriving in Vic Falls about the time the results are announced, and then hunting with Ticky until the middle of July. So if there is going to be any fun, we will be in the middle of it.

I can't see Mugabe winning unless he rides roughshod over the process....beating people up and burning their houses is no recipe for success.

I wonder whether there isn't some coordination with events in RSA...sending a bunch of folks back to Zim is not going to help Mugabe...they didn't leave because they love the way things are going in Zim.

Of course, how stupid of me, the Americans and the British are behind the violence in RSA!

I will offer a evac service at Beitbridge. All you need to do is get there. My rates will be about $900.00 per person per day. All inclusive, except for booze. I can only take about 10 people(two in front and 8 on the back of the cruiser) at a time, and the password to get the ride is "Accurate Reloading.......dot com".

My selling point is....."Hamburgers and chips, with your choice of cold coke/beer for every person that books, BEFORE it goes to hell"....

Only baggage allowed is your rifles, passports and money. You must also then thank me, by leaving your rifles and money as a tip.

My number is 0027 78 444 7661.



In all seriousness, if you do run into any problems, in the middle of no where, and you or some people need help, ring and we will see what we can do to help......the number is genuine.....

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanna:
I'm not leaving Harare until the 10th of July. I expect the results will be easily posted by then. I have no plans to spend any time in any city, so hopefully we'll in and out with no problems.

Dirklawyer, are you leaving Zim on the 30th of June, or leaving for Zim on the 30th of May?

Actually I'm leaving Zim on the 29th of June and be in the states on the 30th.

If y'all need rescuing I'll be there to get you in September.

Bwana et al

Hunting in a parks area will be fine - especially a place like Chewore - there are no people who need to celebrate/be intimidated.

Besides, Zambia is closer than any point of trouble in Zim so if (and it's unlikely) there is real trouble you can always fly from Lusaka to jo'berg rather than Harare.

Same applies to Vic falls.

Well organised places like save conservancy are also very unlikely to experience any trouble.

Communal lands...Most will be fine- in some there will be trouble

Please note though, that there have been more farmers killed in SA since the begining of this year than there have been in zim since the farm invasions started in 1999. Also, there are more dead in SA in the current riots than in all the political fall out since our last election.

What will happen here? My guess is that with Mbeki's suport Bob will simply continue to rule.

When Bob was asked when he was finally going to say "good by" to the zimbabwean people, he asked "Why? Where are they going"

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
Bwana et al

Hunting in a parks area will be fine - especially a place like Chewore - there are no people who need to celebrate/be intimidated.

Must agree, parks areas are fine, we are in and out of them at least once a week at this point in time.

Sengwe hunting corridor above kruger and below GonareZhou is very quiet. Just had a client take a 93 pound ele, 44" buff, 30 something Njala, 14ft croc. He had the time of his life.

Ditto Infinito, if you guys want to get out and need help, if we are in your area Im sure we can make a plan or three

.458 Aubs, that sounds like a fantastic hunt. Where did you shoot a 93 # ellie, a 44" buff and a nice croc all in the same area?

quote:

if you guys want to get out and need help, if we are in your area Im sure we can make a plan or three

And that gentlemen, is one of the best safety nets you could possibly ask for. - Anyone hunting Zim in the relevent period would be well advised to keep a note of the relevent phone numbers etc in the unlikely event you do encounter trouble............

I'd also recommend good safari insurance!

Just keep in mind that the people who say Zim is safe are probably making money there or they're doing a TV show (getting freebies) and don't want their Golden Goose killed. I won't go there and end up the unlucky one who thought it was "SAFE" The country is so unstable that in as quick as a day the whole place could explode. Uncertainty can kill you.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanna:
.458 Aubs, that sounds like a fantastic hunt. Where did you shoot a 93 # ellie, a 44" buff and a nice croc all in the same area?

Bwana

Unfortunately I did not shoot the ele.... he he he... A client we chartered into Zim shot it, he was hunting with SafariBound in the SOuth East of Zim, Sengwe hunting corridor. Yes the area is untouched and hardly any human habitations nearby. The continually produce top quality trophies. Ele ave at about 50 - 65 pounds, buff between 40 - 46", Njala plus 30". So it is a one stop hunting destination.

Chris E Nelson

Correctly so, most outfitters do have interests in unstable African Countries, Africa in general is not stable. Would I go into Zim? Yes, the more remote areas and I would charter in and not drive. I go into Zim at least twice a week and I will be hunting buff in October.

Certainty can be a deadly oversight.

Steve

Could not agree more. BTW I now bank with Nedbank. Though you would like to know.

My contact number for emergencies is + 27 (0)82 695 5327.

Regards

Aubrey

I got back form Zim yesterday.

I had a crappy hunt. The conditions in the bush right now SUCK! I was hunting Dande North. Make no mistake about it the bush is to thick at the moment for decent hunting.

The guy going out before me was major pissed he didn't get anything and on my way out I shared a charter with two folks who were leaving after 4 days of a 14 day hunt because the hunting conditions were so poor.

But here is a little something to stick in your hat when considering the political situation in Zim. All of these operators and booking agents say oh yeah it's safe, no problem just charter in. WELL..........

When I was walking form the main terminal over to the charter terminal guess what? Can you? Yep a mob was gathered in between the two terminals chanting stomping their feet and shouting something or another. It turns out that they were actually soccer hooligans cheering on their team but it got me to thinking.

I didn't have any problem with them but if the 60 or so guys would have wanted to stomp whitey to death what could I have done about it?

My advice would be to stay the flock out of Zim right now! Unless you are chartering straight form RSA to the hunting areas. We had no troubles at all out in the Dande it is Harare where you are the most likely to have a problem in my opinion.

But here was the kicker for me. On the way to Dakar form joberg I sat next to a French guy who works for the UN. He is a refugee coordinator out of Senegal. The UN sent him down to border countries of Zim to find suitable areas for prospective refugee camps for Zimbabwean refugees as the UN is expecting a major situation in Zim any day now.

For what it's worth. Y'all be careful now.

I've come to trust most of these African outfitters about as far as I can throw them. Use your own judgment and don't let the want of your hunt cloud your decision. If the shit hits the fan while you are there it won't be pretty. PERIOD end of story.

SureStrike

Sorry to hear about your unsuccessful hunt up in Dande North, had a russian who hunted up there two weeks ago and also had a tough time of note. He eventually got his ele but after plenty of blood sweat and tears.

Who did you hunt with? I spoke to the guys from just south of Gonarezhou and they say the bush is so thick it is tough going, but they do work hard.

Some guys are luckier than others

.458,

I hunted with Lance Nesbitt. And he hunted his ass off for me I have no complaints about the service I received from my hunter or the camp staff it was all primo.

Between the full moon and the thick bush we simply had our hands tied. It was almost impossible hunting conditions.

We also had a screw up on a buff and shot the wrong one. I am not to happy about it but that is the way it goes sometimes.