Travelling to Zimbabwe with a toddler
 

I am travelling to Zimbabwe with a 3 year old. Has anyone ever done this or with any children? I am looking for any concerns, especially health and crime, and advice that anyone can give me.

Are you traveling for work? Where will you be (town). Or for safari? Visiting where?

Where will you be staying? Hotels or apartments if for work? If on safari at lodges/tented camps.

What are your specific concerns? Realizing that people travel with children (all ages) most everywhere; even in 3rd world countries people have babies that grow into toddlers, tweens, teens... all perfectly fine, regardless their ethnicities.

If for work, inquire of your employer what you should prepare for when it comes to meds, inoculations, weather, food, other baby/little one's 'stuff.'

If for safari, likewise inquire of your tour operator.

I don't know if I would take my child to a country that remains as lawless as Zim still is. Last week, Mugabe's thugs jailed a couple of Tsvangiri's guys on what certainly sound like bogus charges. I realize it's unlikely that you or your toddler would be jailed, but when raw power holds so much more sway than the law, anything can happen. If you do have problems, I don't think you can count on the law or the authorities to help you.

This is just my opinion, of course, and I admit that it's been many years since I've been in Zimbabwe; my opinions are based on what I read, not personal experience.

We were in Zimbabwe for about 10 days last fall and as we were mainly in Vic Falls and two safari camps, except for the long drive to Hwange, and a daytrip to Botswana, we saw little of everyday life. Certainly none of what we did see was threatening. There are parts of the country that have rationing of electricity and water, so I would not want to have to deal with that and a toddler, but if you are going as a tourist to the major safari/tourist areas, there should be no problems as long as children are allowed where you are staying.

Frankly, it is not the kind of trip I'd want until my child was old enough to really appreciate what they were experiencing. It was very VERY hot, and the sun is quite strong. Mosquitos can be quite a problem.

Travelling with a toddler is trying, as it is. Add to that heat, long trips, and fairly rough and ready tourism facilities when it comes to bathrooms etc. (in places like Vic Falls) plus the dangers of yellow fever and malaria, and you are taking the risk of an exhausting holiday. There are few threats to tourists as they are the lifeblood of the country and the locals tend to be very loving towards children, generally. But I agree iwth uhoh_busted. Very little reason to go there with a young child.