It looks like big trouble in Harare right now. Anyone going soon? I leave August 12. Thinking about trying to reroute to Lusaka. Is there a service to help with guns there?

I leave in 13 days. Are there any updates?

My PH and his wife live in Harare, and I spoke with them this morning. They are not concerned. They indicated there will be demonstrations tomorrow, so they are staying out of the downtown area. They said the jist was taxi drivers were tired of getting shaken down at police roadblocks, so they are demonstrating. Bob will only put up with this kind of thing for so long, and then he will clamp down. I fly 6 Sept, and I am not the least bit concerned. As for a service to help with guns, you don't need one. Just fill out your importation form, and you will be fine. Half the time I have gone through customs there they did not even bother to check serial numbers against my form - mind you they will check them carefully on your way out of the country. It is far easier bringing guns and ammo into Zimbabwe than into Canada. My September hunt will be safari #8 there. I have never had trouble of any kind at the airport or any place else in Harare or out in the bush. Talk to your PH - he will probably give you good advice. Have a great hunt!

The issue is the roadblocks both sides are putting up. Not sure how I feel about getting caught in one of those.

Just checked On a charter flight into Sapi. 2400. Ouch.

I have personally experienced roadblocks every time I have been in Zimbabwe, and I have never been hassled. My PH, Mike Payne, speaks fluent Shona. He has always been able to let the police know that all our paperwork is in order and to let us be on our way. We have never had a problem driving into camp or back. I actually prefer the drive over flying as the charter flights have gotten so expensive. We will be driving to camp in the Save in Sept, and I have no concerns.

Rastaman,

Road blocks are just part of the adventure. Your PH will handle everything and more often than not you'll not even be stopped.

See my current posts on the African Hunting forum addressing the current conditions in Harare and the country. Basically it's business as usual.

Mark

What Mark said.

You always have road blocks in Zimbabwe. I would take extra caution and not leave expensive camera out. They may take you for a journalist and steal camera. Just saw an article on News 24 where they detained and harassed reporters. Your Outfitter is not going to tell you all of the details unless you ask specifics. You should be fine once you get on your hunting concession.
Four things I would do.
1. Make sure State department knows your travel dates.
2. Upgrade to the political unrest service on your Global Rescue.
3. Rent a sat phone.
4. Write down 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue
263-4-250593/4 US Embassy in Harare
If you call the Embassy they will tell you not to come. The State department has had travel warnings on Zim ever since the Bush Wars.

Zimbabwe truly needs a Revolution. The problem is that China is sitting back waiting to bring their money and implement resolutions.

quote:

Originally posted by subsailor74:
I have personally experienced roadblocks every time I have been in Zimbabwe, and I have never been hassled. My PH, Mike Payne, speaks fluent Shona. He has always been able to let the police know that all our paperwork is in order and to let us be on our way. We have never had a problem driving into camp or back. I actually prefer the drive over flying as the charter flights have gotten so expensive. We will be driving to camp in the Save in Sept, and I have no concerns.

+++1

The drive is part of the adventure! Admittedly rounding the bend and seeing two big trucks coming at you side by side can be somewhat exciting but landcruisers do OK off road at 80kph LOL!

The checkpoints are just part of the process - The ZIM PHs know the drill..

Was there in June, hunted on the Hammond in the Save. Unless you drive in the dark YOU WILL BE STOPPED. The cops drum up all kinds of crap to squeeze people for cash. Even if you speak Shona the cops know that the PH's want to get their clients on down the road, and they have nowhere they have to be any time soon. It is easier and more convenient to give them the $20-50 they want and get on your way.

I asked my Zim friends about any problems or issues that have come up in the past few days. They wrote me this morning saying there was a peaceful protest without any violence. They said cash was tight but did not see the potential for any problems for hunters traveling or staying in Zim.

quote:

Originally posted by drj:
Was there in June, hunted on the Hammond in the Save. Unless you drive in the dark YOU WILL BE STOPPED. The cops drum up all kinds of crap to squeeze people for cash. Even if you speak Shona the cops know that the PH's want to get their clients on down the road, and they have nowhere they have to be any time soon. It is easier and more convenient to give them the $20-50 they want and get on your way.

DRJ - not sure who your PH is, but the police at the roadblocks have never gotten a dime from us in driving to/from the Zambezi Valley twice and to/from the Save Conservancy 5 times. Sure, we have been stopped. It is part of driving in Zimbabwe. But we have never been hassled. By the way, if you DO drive in the dark in Zimbabwe, prepare yourself for quite an experience. Natives and livestock on the road, numerous other vehicles with no lights - it was described to me by a local as being "shocking", and it surely was!

As Scott Powell says above, the ZIM PHs know the drill. I spoke with my PH today, and he said there are far less roadblocks than usual. He was not the least bit concerned.

quote:

Originally posted by subsailor74:

quote:

Originally posted by drj:
Was there in June, hunted on the Hammond in the Save. Unless you drive in the dark YOU WILL BE STOPPED. The cops drum up all kinds of crap to squeeze people for cash. Even if you speak Shona the cops know that the PH's want to get their clients on down the road, and they have nowhere they have to be any time soon. It is easier and more convenient to give them the $20-50 they want and get on your way.

DRJ - not sure who your PH is, but the police at the roadblocks have never gotten a dime from us in driving to/from the Zambezi Valley twice and to/from the Save Conservancy 5 times. Sure, we have been stopped. It is part of driving in Zimbabwe. But we have never been hassled. By the way, if you DO drive in the dark in Zimbabwe, prepare yourself for quite an experience. Natives and livestock on the road, numerous other vehicles with no lights - it was described to me by a local as being "shocking", and it surely was!

As Scott Powell says above, the ZIM PHs know the drill. I spoke with my PH today, and he said there are far less roadblocks than usual. He was not the least bit concerned.

Last November we were stopped once or twice everyday on the Makuti - Chirundu (R3) highway going between the hunting areas and camp (Makuti Travel Lodge). Never had any hassles or paid any bribes. Most times they just waived us through.

As subsailor74 stated, it's a WILD ride at night!! Coming back one night we came around the bend and there were FOUR headlights coming at us - one truck passing another! Oh yeah!! Drank alot of scotch in camp that night...LOL!!!

All this discussion has me wanting to go back again this fall.. Hmm.. hunting in RSA last two weeks of September - wonder if I can sneak away for a week or so back to Zim.. eh eh eh :-)

The only scary roadblock I've encountered in Africa was at Etosha National Park in 2012. My wife and I were driving in our rented Toyota Land Cruiser about 20 miles west of Halali when our way was blocked by a large herd of elephants. We stopped the car to let them pass into the mopane scrub, but an aggressive bull charged us from less than 100 yards. I floored the Toyota in reverse, but the bull was gaining on us fast. He finally backed off when he was about 25 yards from us, but it scared the crap out of us. He remained blocking the road until a semi tractor driven by natives came along, honked their horn at him, and he retreated into the bush. Our little Toyota wouldn't have fared too well if he had caught us.

I was in Zim, hunting in Dande with CMS, July 3 through July 15 and had no problems in or out of the country. There are roadblocks, more than usual, and there were two "stay aways" (that's boycott in another location, but those did not affect the safari or CMS' operations. I would encourage hunters to air charter to camp rather than driving in order to avoid this hassle. There is a currency/cash crunch in Zim right now, but this should have little or no effect on your hunting trips.

Follow the advice of your PH, fly air charter if recommended, and enjoy your trip. And I declared all cash going in on the customs declaration form. I had no problems in this area. They did count every round of ammunition for both of my firearms, but that was no bother either.

As in all third world travel, stay alert, remain flexible, and keep a good attitude.