egordon132

I just saw the travel advisory for Zimbabwe. My friends are I are thinking about renting a 4x4 and driving from Livingstone to Great Zimbabwe and back over the course of a week. How dangerous would it be for us to do that (1 man and 2 women)? Are there any unique sites/villages along the way that would be interesting to see?

Thank you!

RBCal

See
http://www.mozguide.com/fala/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=215

"'Zimbabwe border staff took my digicam'
April 28 2006 at 05:05AM
By Zeninjor Enwemeka

Be careful when crossing the border into Zimbabwe, you might just have your belongings taken from you, warns a resident of Wellington (South Africa). Patrick Zyster said he had his Sony digital camera, worth R6 700 (US$1100), taken from him by Zimbabwean border officials at Beit Bridge when he and his wife were crossing into Zimbabwe on their way to Zambia last month.

Zyster said they were also forced to pay ZIM$70 000 to carry the 70 litres of petrol they had with them into the country. Border officials wouldn't allow him to carry R7 000 into the country and wanted to take some of the money, he added."

matnikstym

Is this the bridge at Vic Falls? If not, does anything similar happen there?

katt58

I think this is northeast of Victoria Falls near Lake Kariba, the border crossing at Chirundu. Beit is the person who built the bridge.

luangwablondes

Beitbridge is the border crossing between SA and Zim. Maybe one of the busiest in Africa. The others are not subject to the many problems of Beitbridge.

katt58

Googling Beitbridge as one word leads to articles on "border jumpers" and various other problems. It also brings up articles on the scarcity of fuel in Zimbabwe. How might that affect driving from Livingstone to Great Zimbabwe?
Luangwablondes?????

luangwablondes

I have read some articles that indicate that fuel can be had by picking up fuel coupons with hard currency like Rand, $ or pounds in Bulawayo-. You should be able to get enough fuel from Livingstone and tour a tour from North to South in Hwange and continue on to Bulawayo.

I took a good estimate off off a map I have, and you would need enough fuel for 540kms if you didn't do any game drives. So, figure enough for about 775 kms to be safe. Thats roughly 120 litres, which should be close to what they have in 2 tanks. You can always take an extra 5 gal jerry can.

http://www.nowfuel.com/

Although this is one possible source, I do not know of anyone that has used them. Email Foleys, whom I believe you are probably using to rent the 4x4, and they can most likely give you better information. As I understand, fuel has recently become more readily available, but to the common man, it has gotten astronomical. Black market fuel is supposed to be available too.

Qwerty121

I know a lot of Zimbabweans in Australia and New Zealand using these NowFuel guys - and as they are online I don't see why other regions can't either - it's in Australian Dollars though, but that ight even be a bit cheaper coming from say the US or the UK.
I bought twice from them for my mum in Zim, and both times (100 litres and 300 respectively) my purchases on my credit card were available for a Harare pickup a couple of hours after. (I'm in Australia)