Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa How stable will Zimbabwe be Summer 2011?

A friend and I are booked for DG hunts in Zim in August 2011. As this will be his first trip to Africa he's been keeping tabs on the political situation there through the US press. He sent me this NYT article which seems pretty ominous Mugabe to Consolidate Power in 2011.

I trust my PH and have contacted him for an assessment of the situation - awaiting a response. I know some here have reliable sources and experience in Zim. What is your take on the conditions? Are we headed for a replay of the last elections? Would you hunt in Zim in Summer 2011?

This same topic was brought up, over on AR. Most feel that safety for hunters will stay the same. Hope so, cause my son and I will be in Zim., early August, hunting with Martin Pieters boys.


maddog

I would hunt in Zimbabwe in 2011. In fact, i am sending a couple guys over. I feel that by and large the people of Zimbabwe are wonderful. The same rule of thumb applies as over here: stay out of situations that could cause problems. As long as you aren't hanging around the major cities for any significant amount of time everything should be just fine. In fact, i believe the situation is gradually improving from just a couple years ago.

I have been hunting and sending clients to Zimbabwe since 1996 without having any issues. Most recently I spent the whole month of September 2010 in Zimbabwe hunting with clients. We hunted ten days at Matetsi and then travelled to Bulawayo to pick up the next group. From there we travelled to Mokore Safaris in the Save Valley. We basically travelled the entire length of the country. We ran into several roadblocks along the way. These were not threatening, just police checking for proper vehicle registrations etc a nuisance at most. The conversion to the US dollar a little over a year ago has worked wonders. Fuel, which was a problem to buy previously, was readily available and the grocery stores were once again fully stocked. The only exposure you will have to the cities are when you are arriving and departing your safari. I plan on taking my seventeen year old daughter and her best friend to Zimbabwe with me next summer.
I hope this gives you a little piece of mind.
Zimbabwe is one of my favorite hunting destinations in Africa and the people are some the most hospitable you will find anywhere.

100% spot on. Zim is totally safe. jorge

I had a fantastic hunting opportunity lined up for leopard in both 2006 and 2008. Both times, I got cold feet and backed out due to fears and concerns. Seems I would have had an uneventful trip (aside from the hunting of course) either year.

Made the commitment (no backing out) for 2011 and 2012. Looking forward to my trips to Zimbabwe.

Same $hit, different year. Just go and have fun. I'm heading back for another crack at Mr. Spots in '12.

Mike

Who's going to believe you? You think crashing aircraft into boats is safe. Sheesh!

Hey, it's a "controlled" crash!

PS: did you see my latest target on my DR thread here on the Africa Forum? Oh, and the Sabbati-bashing is getting really ugly over on AR

First, NEVER believe ANYTHING you read in the NY Pravda.

Second, you'll be fine, the safari/tourism industry is about the only source of foreign exchange Mugabestan has left. He's not about to let anything endanger that.

Pete

Heard from my PH today. His take is that if there were risk with election time violence, it would be pretty much confined to those politically active and involved in rallies and similar activities.

I tend to think he's right, so August should find is in Zim, after elephant for me and Cape buffalo and PG for my hunting partner.

You had better not go...very dangerous. Let me go in your place.;)
Dollarization has made a difference. I had no issues while in Matetsi spring of 2010.

Too late, all arrangements booked, so I'll take my chances.

Probably no riskier than it's been the last 10 years, based on what I've found out. Honestly felt less safe in Maputo than in Bulawayo when I was there 2 years ago. Life's about risk anyhow.

I would go in a heartbeat (and would feel safe taking my infant son and wife)

I am headed over in the middle of September for a few weeks. I am more nervous about my guns not showing up then problems in Zim. It should be a fun time.

Greg

More stable then Belgian Congo, less stable then Rhodesia.

???

Thought Zim WAS southern Rhodesia.....or did you mean Zambia[northern rhodesia]


maddog

I think he meant it's less stable than when it was Rhodesia??

Mike

Here is a handy tool to keep bookmarked:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/zi.html

ooh la la, and while you are trusting that link the rest of Africa has to contend with the truth.