Current Consular Statement on Zimbabwe
 

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p.../cis_1063.html

"Victoria Falls is a major tourist destination and visitors are urged to use the same security precautions they would exercise in any urban area of the developing world. Two American citizens were robbed in their hotel room in Victoria Falls in 2004. A number of American visitors have been assaulted or robbed walking in Victoria Falls town."

RBCal,

Sounds almost as bad as Columbus, Ohio! ;)

I am the last person to defend CMH. However, the inflation rate in CMH is not over 1000% as in Zim.
Unforturnately, desperate economic times lead to desperation and crime. No matter if anyone wishes to believe otherwise. If you spend foreign currency in Zim, some of that money will end up supporting the continuation of Mugabe.

RBCal,

Do you really think you are doing a service for travelers considering Zimbabwe?

Do you realize how many tourists have likely been robbed in the USA since the 2004 incident you mentioned in Victoria Falls?

Guys,

Someone got robbed here in Belgium, in 2004 too. So I'd stay away! Don't come here! It's dangerous!

Sigh...

Anyone who feels they are doing a service to travellers by recommending they go to Zimbabwe is very, very, very misguided.

Besides seizing farms, Mugabe now has a plan to seize mines. The ZCTU is about to go on strike. A cholera epidemic has hit northern Zimbabwe. The opposition MDC party has had its leaders arrested.

Sounds like paradise. The only reason one might suggest that tourists go there might be if they had a financial interest.

While I am sure Rocco can adequately defend himself, there are myriad reasons that one may suggest a visit to Zimbabwe. In particular, I am very concerned about the plight of the animals and the parks, and I would prefer to help sustain Hwange or Mana Pools before giving money to lodges in some other well-funded parks. The parks and lodges need financial help -- if ignored, they will perish.

RBCal,

You are sadly mistaken. I have been urging travel to Zimbabwe for some time, long before I started a tour operation. On my own very first trip to Southern Africa, I stayed at what is widely celebrated as the #1 property in the world, Singita, located in the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve of South Africa, and I also visited Matetsi Water Lodge in ZIMBABWE, just a few days after Mugabe re-elected himself.

It is unfortunate that you have no compassion for the Zimbabwean people or wildlife and that you crusade against Zimbabwe without ever having seen it or its people & wildlife firsthand.

Have fun in Livingstone, but at the time of year you are visiting, the best views of the falls will be on the Zim side.

Since when does one make travel decisions based on how that will best help the local economy? If that is one's major concern perhaps a fun tour of North Korea would be justified? Maybe go to Iraq, Iran or Afghanistan for a relaxing vacation?
These are also not recommended by the State Department due to safety concerns but I am sure your dollars would be appreciated by tour operators there.

I do not hold in high regard the US Department of State's travel warnings, and in fact, I have looked into trips to Korea (they are permitting Americans to attend the Mass Games in September/October), and I would like to visit Iran.

I do hope that my travels impact the local population, and for that reason, I prefer to stay in locally owned hotels (or at least those that appear to be locally owned since its not always easy to ferret out that information) and I do not stay in chain hotels (Holiday Inns, Four Seasons, Ritz-Carltons, Hyatts, etc.), preferring local hotels. I also do not patronize chain restaurants overseas.

So, to answer your first question, I have taken local concerns into account since my first overseas trip.

I also do not discount valid travel concerns, and I generally don't value anything said by the current administration.

first sentence should read "North Korea". I have a friend visiting NK in September, and I would join but its just after I return from a trip to the former Yugoslav nations (one of which, Montenegro, voted yesterday for independence).

I also just now re-read your initial post, and I bet that a substantial multiple of "two" have been robbed in their hotel rooms in NY, where I live and feel safe. I'm sure a number have also been assaulted or robbed.

I have no regard for the US administration either. However, certainly Mugabe's administration is worse and I won't be supporting that administration through tourism.
I am sure that the US consul does not put every incident that occurs on the website and that the incidents mentioned are not the only ones.

Bush's approval level has certainly sunk when the only compliment we can come up with is Mugabe is worse ;-)

But its a bit petty for them to list two hotel robberies, which likely occur every week in every major city in the world.

From the Australia Consul

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-c...dvice/Zimbabwe

" We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Zimbabwe because of the high level of criminal activity and absence of the rule of law, especially in rural areas, resulting from deteriorating economic conditions and the ongoing political tensions throughout the country. Zimbabwe is experiencing chronic shortages of basic commodities, including fuel and food, hyperinflation and mass unemployment. These conditions are creating desperation, and have led to a sharp increase in crime.

Muggings, bag snatching, carjacking, and pickpocketing occur frequently, particularly in urban centres and tourist areas. Theft from vehicles is common. Armed robberies, carjackings, assaults and other violent crime are also common. Security risks are heightened at night, especially on city streets, and in or near parks and the city centres.

Tourists have been robbed and occasionally killed while visiting national parks. A comprehensive indemnity is often required by Safari operators before they accept clients. To help minimise the security risks we suggest that you travel in groups, preferably with an organised tour group, and check the security situation before visiting national parks and farms, including game farms, lodges and hunting areas. "

RBCal,

If you are striving to be elected "Troll of the Fodors Africa Forum", you are running an excellent campaign.

RBCal,

When the US State dept elevates threat levels at different periods at home......what do you do then? DO you go about doing your every day activities or do you hide in the living room???

Hari

RBCal,

Did you get a chance to read the other thread about visiting Zimbabwe? If you have'nt please do so, as it answers many questions that you may have....on that thread i did type a portion of Ian Michler's recent article from (Africa-geographic magazine) about visiting Zim.

Hari

There are plenty of great game viewing areas to visit. www.thehide.com

www.wilderness.co.za they still hv some camps in some prvt concessions.

couple other nice options.....

Hari

not to mention Somalisa camp, run by Bushcamps, in Hwange. I don't think Bushcamps would spend the money on a new camp if it was not well thought out.

http://www.relaischateaux.com/en/sea...ant/pamushana/

http://www.ndunasafarilodge.com/cont...stimonials.htm

(testimonials from recent guests to Pamushana)


www.campamalinda.com


http://www.ccafrica.com/reserve-1-id-2-9


http://www.africanbushcamps.com/camps/somalisa.htm

(as already mentioned by Matnikstym)


http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/ca...sp?map_id=2380

(Wilderness Safaris Zimbabwe country page, featuring their four Zim camps--Makalolo Plains, Little Makalolo, Linkwasha and Ruckomechia)


http://www.africanbushcamps.com/camps/vundu.htm

http://www.vfsl.com/

http://www.victoriafallshotel.com/

http://www.ilalalodge.com/


In any event, I predict that RBCal will prove to be a hypocrite once he is in Livingstone later this year and crosses the border when he sees that by September the best views of the falls will be on the Zim side...NOT that I expect RBCal to confess to as much.

Thit_cho wrote: <<<While I am sure Rocco can adequately defend himself, there are myriad reasons that one may suggest a visit to Zimbabwe. In particular, I am very concerned about the plight of the animals and the parks, and I would prefer to help sustain Hwange or Mana Pools before giving money to lodges in some other well-funded parks. The parks and lodges need financial help -- if ignored, they will perish.>>>

Indeed! I've seen Matopos NP, while it was burning up. Fires lit by poachers, apparently. It works in 2 ways; the animals tend to flock together, so they are easier to catch, and also: guards try to extinguish the fires, but in the meantime they cannot go after the poachers.

I can assure you; a terrible thing to witness.

Matopos NP gave me the greatest safari-moment of my life (at least; so far): I had to sit down in front of a rhino & calf (too late to run). They came up to 5 meters to check us out and then went their way.

It hurst me to think about their chances of survival. Who's actually the animal here? I mean; she let us (humans) live. Are we gonna let her live? I think not.

They're probably dead by now.

Yes, Mugabe is probably a 1st class a$$h0le. But that doesn't mean we should turn away from those in need. Be it human or animal; they're all victims of his regime.

I don't have all the answers. I don't know what the best strategy is to get rid of him. But I can tell you it is not helping his citizens starve to death.

RBCal - I am complelled to answer your post. It seems to me to be neutral. Did you put this up because you think we should all take the consular statement seriously? Or were you pointing out the absurdity of it?

As I've said before, good and logical people can disagree on strategy for dealing with Mugabe. I choose not to go to Zimbabwe - and it's not because of the State Dept.

Roccco would say I don't care at all for the people or wildlife of Zimbabwe. Absolute rubbish!!

Every unit of hard currency coming into Zimbabwe helps keep Mugabe and Co. in power. Had people taken a stand and stopped going to Zimbabwe I believe Mugabe would be out of power now. Instead of this slow slide towards chaos.

Zambia also needs our support as thousands of Zimbabwe refugees have landed there.

You may disagree with me on strategy, I have no problem with that, but check your arrogant view that you have the only answer and that your motives are superior.

Well said, pixelpower. Putting a face on these events always makes it clearer. I once again applaud those of you who are tying to promote Zimb. at a grass roots level. This, I fear as per usual, will be the only way to educate and lessen the apprehensions of those who are on the fence about visiting this country in need.
Waiting for governments to do the right/sensible thing or give us the proper info. just ain't gonna happen.
Peace;
Sherry

IMHO, trolling is posting false information in order to obtain a response. All the information I've posted is from governmental travel recommendations and referenced. Personally I believe those sites over tour operators with financial interests. Anyone recommending ignoring those warnings without disclosing vested interests is trolling (and this was the reason I posted the governmental warnings).

Hey folks, can we crank this down a notch or two?

I do not believe that Rocco's advocacy of traveling to Zimbabwe is motivated by his economic interests. Nor do I believe that people who argue that Zimbabwe is unsafe for travel and/or that spending tourist dollars there supports Mugabe are heartlees cruel people without sympathy for the Zimbabwean people.

There are reasonable arguments to be made on both sides of this issue and resonable minds can disagree.

Favor,

I'm not saying my view or any one else's views are the only solutions to the problem........we just feel like we can help the animals and some people.......that's more than Mugabe will do......

Ppl like him will find a way to exploit his ppl/resources, no matter what.......

Hari

And yes, although i personally hv never been to Zimbabwe (The closest i have been is Livingstone)......i will consider it strongly for my next safari in 2007.....i dont want to sound like a hypocrite giving out all this advice and not travelling myself.

Hari

As an Australian, I also look at the australian government policies on travel to Zimbabwe.

The following applies:

Destinations for which we (aust govt) advise you to reconsider your need to travel - 13 countries

and

We advise against all travel to these countries - 7 countries

and

Zimbabwe is not one of them, in either instance.

Kind regards,

Kaye

The visa fee that is charged in foreign currency goes directly to the Mugabe government.

RBCal,

I am sure that your own taxes pay much more to foreign dictators than visa fees provide for Robert Mugabe, while providing none of the benefits to the country's disenfranchised.

Really, isn't it time to take up a new crusade???

... and the Visa fees paid to any other country go to their governments, bad or good.

Time to move on or kill this thread!

There are much better ways to provide relief to Zimbabwe rather than through travel. See

http://www.zimrelief.info/

From travellerspoint.org

"Unfortunately, now is not an ideal time to visit Zimbabwe. Political tension and claims of corruption appear set to bubble over into widespread civil war. We recommend holding back for the time being and waiting till tensions subside."

RBCal,

And what, may I ask, is the U.N. doing for the wildlife???

(Okay, this is my last post...I will let you win by having the final word...I am exhausted)

Yep..it's time to move on!!!

Hari

I'll shut up too. No one likes Mugabe.

However, if people wish to support conservation of Zimbabwe wildlife they can give money to Wildlife & Environment Zimbabwe

http://www.zimwild.co.zw/