chimaera73

I booked with a tour company to South Africa and added on an extension to Victoria Falls. However, I have read reports about the political unrest which have made me very nervous about traveling to Zimbabwe.

I am supposed to be in Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls Aug 3 - Aug 7. The tour company has no plans to cancel the trip and there is no way to get my money back.

Changing flights on my own at this point will be incredibly expensive, but I have to consider my overall safety.

The US State Department recommends against all non-essential travel at this time, so clearly there is some threat to American tourists. I really don't know what to do.

How safe is it really if I will be with a tour group?

Claris

I will never encourage you to visit zimbabwe at the moment because the situation is very unsafe.

sniktawk

Ask your tour company why they consider that cancellation is not necessary? Who are they?
As far as I am aware there has been little if any problems with tourist safety during the current unrest, particularly in Victoria Falls.

divine54

i would wait a bit longer especially as you say re-arranging flights would be expesive. so you won't lose any if you wait a bit longer.

i have got no information on any threads towards tourists yet and american in particular.

i myself go end oct to zim and would not think of changing anything up to the very last minute.

scubatv

We're going to Mana Pools, Zimbabwe,(3rd. year in a row) at the end of July and a good part of August to join the 10+ million people already there.

The "goverment" doesn't seem to mind our visits at all$$ and the Zimbabweans are perfect hosts and qutie fun to be around.

traveltheworld55

We were in Hwange and Victoria Falls last week. No problems at all, quite the reverse, the park and Vic Falls were a highlight of a 3 week trip that included Botswana, Namibia and South African parks. The situation of course could change in a heartbeat, but we walked around Vic Falls with no sense of unease during the day time and flew in and out of Hwange, seeing few people other than those working at the lodge. Let me emphasize that all Zimbabwe local people that work in the tourist industry are desparate for your business and will treat you with great hospitality and welcome. Our worst problem encountered was that the Victoria Falls hotel did not have tomato juice for a Bloody Mary. So in a country coming apart at the seams, if that is the worst problem a tourist encounters... Not to make light of the horrific situation faced by the residents of the country, but tourism seemed unfazed when I was there.

divine54

ttw55
interesting post especially regarding security and hospitality.
i am also pretty positive towards our trip in late oct also to hwange and VFH.
(my favourite is G+T so no tomato juice needed ;-) )

regarding hwange:
did you stay at the hide?
would be interested to hear your experience also in view to the park itself and wildlife.

thy in davance.

div

kimac

We are thinking of traveling next May to Zim. Hwange, Mana Pools and then Vic falls. I would be interested in hearing where you have stayed and how you found the camps/lodges.

cybor

scuba,
DH and I will be at VF July 23, Mana Pools - Canoe trail - July 24- 27,
Somilisa July 27 -30.
Are you doing the canoe trip?

Sounds like we'll all be crossing paths.

travelthe,
I'd love to hear about your trip.

Claris & Divine,
Would appreciate why/how you came to your conclusions.

divine54

cybor
what "conclusions" do you mean?
i have not advised AGAINST travelling to zim. is that what you mean?
we leave our trip unchanged. if there is a kind of unrest or riots lat's say in mid oct - we might change the zim part in the favour of south africa or bot.

cybor

<<"i would wait a bit longer especially as you say re-arranging flights would be expesive. so you won't lose any if you wait a bit longer.">>

Divine,
Conclusion, advise, whatever - see above. Your posts give me a headache.

skibumette

Why the headache, Cybor? I don't have any trouble interpreting Divine -- OP doens't leave for a month. Why cancel now (if it will cost a lot) rather than waiting a bit to see how things develop? Last January everyone was bailing on summer trips to Kenya -- that seems pretty unnecesary now. Of course, I'm due in Vic Falls (Zim side) a week after the OP and I'm taking the wait and see approach...so I guess I'm biased.

Thanks, ttw55, for the most recent perspective right from "the front lines."

cybor

Headaches from other confrontational posts and pot stirring. That and the constant handle (name) changing to back herself up get old.

Sorry to others for bringing it up here and hijacking. Carry on as if this didn't appear.

zelphiacat

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This information is current as of today, Fri Jun 27 17:40:32 2008.

Zimbabwe

June 25, 2008


This Travel Alert updates safety and security concerns in Zimbabwe, and urges U.S. citizens to defer all travel to Zimbabwe at this time, and to consider relocating if necessary to ensure their security during the election period. The U.S. Embassy may periodically restrict the travel of U.S. government personnel outside the capital city or within Harare during certain hours. This supersedes the Travel Alert for Zimbabwe dated June 2 and expires on August 1, 2008.

U.S. citizens should defer all travel to Zimbabwe. U.S. citizens resident in Zimbabwe should carefully review their personal circumstances, avoid all travel after dark, and consider moving to a more secure location in advance of, and immediately following the scheduled June 27 runoff of the presidential election. Due to the uncertain security situation, the U.S. Embassy may periodically restrict the travel of official U.S. government personnel outside the capital city or within Harare during certain hours. Since the March 29 general election, Zimbabwean security forces, including some military and police, as well as so-called war veterans, have created a climate of intimidation and fear across the country. There have been numerous and widespread attacks on opposition supporters, renewed farm invasions, and arrests and beatings of election officials accused of vote tampering. There is a continued risk of arbitrary detention or arrest.

Americans should be particularly cautious when using still, video or telephone cameras in any urban setting or in the vicinity of any political activity, as this could be construed by Zimbabwean authorities as misrepresenting oneself as an accredited journalist, a crime punishable by arrest, incarceration and/or deportation.

American citizens traveling to or resident in Zimbabwe should register with the U.S. Embassy by completing a registration form online at https://travelregistration.state.gov. Registration enables the Embassy to contact American citizens in case of emergency and provide updates on the security situation. Important notices for American citizens are posted on the U.S. Embassy in Harare’s website at http://harare.usembassy.gov/warden2008.html.

As the Department of State continues to develop information on any potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its consular information program documents, available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

jackandann

ttt

kata1

I have been to Zimbabwe several times, and the US State Dept has always said it wasn't safe....the people are fabulous, I have alwasy felt very safe, and am going for three weeks in August, and my friends who live there, and my travel agent, say it is perfedtly safe. The wild life was great in Hwange two years ago, and as long as you do not plan to walk around Harare with a sign saying "down with Mugabe" I think you will be fine. Vic Falls is a small town, as as long as you are not wandering the streets alone at midnight, stay with your tour group, you will love it. I was there in 2006 when they devalued the dollar, there were police blockades every where, they stopped and checked your money...not once did they even hint at wanting a bribe, they were very polite....Kenya is much worse....I worry more about the cab ride into Nairobi from the airport than I do in Zimbabwe.....have fun and do not worry!

kata1

forgot to mention...on main road into Hwange is the Afican Painted Dog project...they love visitors, have a great visitor center, and have done wonders for the dogs (african wild dogs) and the local people for almost 15 years...there are a lot of dogs in Zimbabwe, the Mana pools area is fabulous, and there are not too many tourists...the people are kind and honest and desperate for our US dollars---everyone should go!!!

divine54

cybor
would you pls stop annoying and offending.
i woild neither expect you to consider my recommendations nor do i expect you to provide one for me.
so pls stop and leave me alone!

you are discrediting yourself by posting such a nonsense!
if you consider having an opposite opinion "pot stirring" and non-bla-bla-ppst "confrontational" you should rather post a a bridge club forum.
sorry - but o doubt you are acting as a benchmark here!

div