Trip to Zimbabwe

[dto]

Hi All,

I'm planning a trip to Zimbabwe next year and just looking for some feedback from
people that went to the same camps, used the same outfitter or just have
some general information about the location. Just trying to get as much info
as possible. Here are some details that maybe someone can weigh in on:

Options are Chifuti Safaris or HHK Safaries.
Possible camps are
ILALA LODGE, VICTORIA FALLS
RIPPLE CREEK CAMP, LEMCO RANCH
BUBYE CONSERVANCY
TAFIKA CAMP, SAPI SAFARI AREA
SAPI/CHEWORE/DANDE NORTH HUNTING CONCESSION

Sijarira/Chete
Riverside Ranch

We're planning to fish and hunt. The hunt will probably include BUFFALO, KUDU
IMPALA,Waterbuck,Eland etc

Possible dates are end-April-mid-May or mid-Sept-beg-Oct.

Anybody has any experience with the outfitters, locations or suggestions about dates
it would be greatly apreciated.

 

[jjhack]

Are you aware that the US government is suggesting against travel to Zimbabwe right now due to the policies of Robert Mugabe?

A number of hunters have had problems with getting fuel for Safari vehicles and flights. Some folks have no problems at all and others have been afriad for their lives.

I would not hunt Zimbabwe now unless with John Sharp or HHK safaries, they are the only operations right now that I know is surviving the mess in that country. If you choose to persue this I would not send them any more money then absolutely needed for the deposit. I can tell you from first hand experience that we lost the deposits of several hunters going when they paid 5K each for a Buffalo hunt and Mugabe told all the white people to leave the country a couple years ago. They chose not to enter for the hunt and lost all the money they put down.

These guys ended up with a great Plains game hunt, but not the hunt they booked. I was using several consessions in ZIm for all my big five hunts. However as of 2001 I will no longer operate at any level in that country. Not til Mugabe is out of office, and the White farmers are given back their lands to support the people of that country.

 

[bigguns]

Hi DTO
JJHACK HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD, IT IS WAY TO RISKY IN ZIMBABWE, YOU CAN HAVE A GREAT SAFARI IN SOUTH AFRICA,WHICH IS ALLOT SAFER, IM FROM SOUTH AFRICA ORIGINALLY, I HAVE FAMILY IN ZIMBABWE, AND YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE THE STORIES YOU HEAR OF WHAT IS GOING ON OVER THERE, IT IS JUST TO MUCH OF A RISK, YOU CAN HUNT ANY OF THE ANIMALS YOU MENTIONED IN SOUTH AFRICA, AND THERE IS GREAT FISHING TO, IF YOU NEED ANY INFO ON SOUTH AFRICA EMAIL ME
THANKS BIGGUNS

 

[GordoTZ]

DTO,
Zim isn't easy for those operating there but Paul Smith and his partner at Chifuti Safaris are still able to do it and provide a great time. Safaris so far, remain as one of Zimbabwe's few main sources of foreign currency and Mugabe is still busy with taking the farms so the risk is low. The biggest problems is supplies but that is company's problem. The game concessions may be next but it will probably be a couple of years so if you want to go, go now and enjoy while you can.

See ya,
Gordon