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| One of Us |
I am looking to plan a 2012 Safari. I did Namibia in 2007 and had a great time but I have interest in Zimbabwe for the next trip as I understand that the hunts there are good values, and offer the potential to split up hunters who want to focus on Plains game as well as those who might want to look for a buffalo. My concern with Zim is the political unrest. What are the thoughts on travel to Zim for a safari? Feel free to point me to another thread if one exists. Thanks! | ||
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Been there in '07, '08, and '10, Harare, Chiredzi, Bulawayo, Goekwe. Never had a hint of a safety concern. Will probably keep going back every year till they bury me there. ______________________ RMEF Life Member SCI DRSS Chapuis 9,3/9,3 + 20/20 Simson 12/12/9,3 Zoli 7x57R/12 Kreighoff .470/.470 We band of 9,3ers! The Few. The Pissed. The Taxpayers. | |||
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As safe as anywhere can be. Being a foreign hunter on hunting concessions you will be isolated from the majority of day to day life in Zimbabwe and your PH will escort and guide you the whole way. I've self driven my family across Zimbabwe at its worst in 1988 (my fifth trip) and had no problems. There is a lot of good old BS posted about Zimbabwe, often I believe from people with biased perspectives and certain agendas. You can always find a horror story in Africa, but you can also find the same stories in modern western countries. | |||
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Wife and I spent more than a month there in 09 and 10. We plan to spend almost a month in 2011 and almost another month in 2012. We've not had a single problem save not wanting to leave when the trip was over. Will J. Parks, III | |||
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I went in 2009 and booked directly with the outfitter. After the hunt flew to Harare and visited a friend from high school. Not a single problem. My wife and I hunted this year. Great time, no problems. We are going back in 2011 also. Use a little common sense and everything is fine. | |||
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This is good to hear. Somehow I had it in my mind that it was a bad idea to travel to Zim. | |||
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Hey "Safari-lawyer": Reading your having attended Auburn, brought back many memories of my own time there. I LOVED it! I was treated so very well by the faculty while doing a doctorate. The campus food was fantastic. The girls were gorgeous. The surrounding woods were loaded with big deer. I rented a house 3 blocks from campus that cost me 90./month....and I picked up and ate pecans on my way in each morning during Autumn. There was a Friday eve country auction (Hope Lynn) near Talisi (sic?) that was a blast, and the Sunday chicken dinners at the Hotel there were mythic. It was an experience I will always treasure. | |||
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I am going in 12. I am far more worried about living here until then. | |||
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your going to be carrying a big bore  safety should not be a problem. a friend of mine took his 70 yr old wife last yr no problems | |||
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Went to Zim in 2006 and 2008. Planning to go again 2012. I'd go every year if I could as long as they have buffalo. No worries. Paul Smith SCI Life Member NRA Life Member DSC Member Life Member of the "I Can't Wait to Get Back to Africa" Club DRSS I had the privilege to fire E. Hemingway's WR .577NE, E. Keith's WR .470NE, & F. Jamieson's WJJ .500 Jeffery I strongly recommend avoidance of "The Zambezi Safari & Travel Co., Ltd." and "Pisces Sportfishing-Cabo San Lucas" "A failed policy of national defense is its own punishment" Otto von Bismarck | |||
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The unrest from the election strife of 2008 is past and things are as back to normal as normal can be in Zim at the moment. I'd say you are good to go with little more than normal concern any time you are traveling in a third world country. In 2008 there was tons of potential for a flare up which never occurred but the tinder was there the fuel was there all that was needed was the match, which fortunately was never thrown. It was close enough in 2008 that the UN had people in and around Zim locating possible areas for refugee camps if the tide were to start rolling. It was a very near total collapse. However out in the concessions you are much safer than in towns. I used to work for a company that did lots of state department stuff in different hot spots around the world including Africa. I've seen with my own two eyes what a "flare up" can look like at ground zero. With that in mind I tend to look at these potential situations with a bit more intensity and less innocence than some. | |||
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I've hunted in Zim in '99, '05, '07, and '10. 'Going back in '11. Sometimes, at the worst, camp looked a little "dog-eared", limited generator at night, etc., but your PH and staff will always "make a plan" and take care of you. Tremendous spirit exhibited by the people (of all skin colors) and a civility that some say doesn't exist in other surrounding countries, which may contribute to why there wasn't a complete melt down recently. | |||
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Great info, thanks! Overwhelming support that Zim is as safe as most of the other countries. Appreciate the info! | |||
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Rob I have been doing some research currently re a trip in 2011. I agree with all the above however there are elections slated for 2011. There is talk that Bob is sick of the dual government and has not agreed on any reforms. The police and army are gearing for an election and the word is that this time they will destroy the MDC prior to the election. The hunting areas are remote and safe but we have to transit somewhere....? My word of caution for 2011 - by 2012 we will have a better view unless they postpone the election in order to carry out all their bad deeds!! | |||
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Hunted in Zim in '08 shortly after the election problems and was quite anxious to tell the truth. Never had a second where I felt unsafe and it brought a tear to me eye when I had to leave. Zimbabwe's people are second to none. I will go back again someday! Jeff | |||
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Indeed! The Loveliest Little Village On The Plains is a special place. It's jam up with turkeys too! Will J. Parks, III | |||
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Myself and Hunter's Wife to Be spent 15 days there in July 2010 and felt safer there then when in Atlanta,transited through Harare and overnighted. No worries. Wesley | |||
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Most PH's will include MARS so in case of emergency, you can get out as quickly as possible. However, I wouldn't worry about it. I've been in many places through out Zim with no problems. Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333 Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com NRA Benefactor DSC Professional Member SCI Member RMEF Life Member NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor NAHC Life Member Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262 Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142 Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007 http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409 Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941 10 days in the Stormberg Mountains http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322 Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232 "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running...... "If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you." | |||
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It's obviously important to go with a good outfitter but you should also bear in mind that (theoretically at least  ) 2011 is scheduled to be an election year and that or course will cause tensions to rise. As far as I know, no dates have been announced and if they're not, that might also cause tensions to rise.  | |||
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War Eagle from another Auburn alum. "Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult." | |||
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I was there in '07, '08 and again in '10. No problems with safety. Things were more expensive in '10 due to the dollar's position on the world currency market and also with it becoming the basis of Zim currency. Prices quoted for '11 are up too, at least from the pricing info that I have received from my last PH. I might sit out '11 or wait for a discounted hunt to rear its ugly head!  The elections in Zim this time around might be more uncomfortable than the last go around in 2008, with the Zanu-PF wanting to put it to the MDC. But who really knows? | |||
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Never had an issue at all and I have driven a lot of the country in a less stable time. Enjoy it | |||
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The problem with Zimbabwe as well as many other destinations is political stability. Your physical safety is probably fine the bigger issue in my mind is a ruined trip. Safaris are typical planned at least a year in advance and a lot can change in that time. You can invest a lot of time in making plans etc and then things can become unstable very quickly. I would strongly advise using a booking agent in the US and instructing the booking agent that no funds are to be sent to Africa until after you finish your safari. You can send him an authorization on the last day of your safari. As of about 2003, you could not buy vacation insurance for trips to Zimbabwe. I am not referring to the medical insurance issue. The risk you run is one of potential disappointment, lost deposits (hence my advice above), and lost time. Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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I wasn't aware that 2011 was another election cycle. I'd avoid Zim in 2011 for sure. Mainly for the reasons outlined above. peace of mind is an important factor to having a good time on a hunt. | |||
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I have been travelling regularly to Zimbabwe since 1995. This year I spent the entire month of September there. I drove from Victoria Falls all the way to the Save Valley Conservancy in the South East. Never did I feel as though I was at risk at all. I had to put up with endless roadblocks where we payed tolls, or sometimes were simply looked at and waved on. Not a threat just a minor nuisance. My first trip to Africa next year is in April and I plan on taking my seventeen year old daughter to Zimbabwe with me. As someone mentioned above. If you use a booking agent your money, more than likely, will remain in the States. In case of some kind of civil unrest you will be in a better position to reschedule or, if need be, possibly cancel your safaris. | |||
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It better damn well be, cause me and the boy are going hunting with Marty Pieters, the 1st of August, next year! Mad Dog | |||
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Mad Dog, My partner and I will see you and your son in camp w/ Mart! We're booked at that time for our first trip over there and looking forward to it. Best of luck to you both. Brittman | |||
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