African Sojourns - Zimbabwe - Victoria Falls and Mana Pools - A Zambezi River Adventure

Zimbabwe, a landlocked country in south-central Africa that is slightly smaller than California. It is bordered by Botswana on the west, Zambia on the north; Mozambique on the east, and South Africa on the south.

Zimbabwe now provides excellent value and has acquired relatively increased stability, due to the dollarization of the economy. The geographical nature of Zimbabwe allows one to visit many different areas without long travelling times. 

The country offers some of Africa’s finest walking and canoeing safaris alongside the Zambezi River in the Mana Pools National Park; cruise on a house boat on Lake Kariba, enjoy magnificent big 5 viewing in Hwange National Park; the World Heritage Site of Victoria Falls where some of the best white water rafting experiences can be enjoyed whilst on the Eastern side some fantastic golf and trout fishing opportunities are on offer in the mountains.

Harare in the capital city whilst Victoria Falls in the west of the country is one of the main tourist hubs.

The remains of early humans, dating back 500,000 years, have been discovered in present-day Zimbabwe. The land's earliest settlers, the Khoisan, date back to 200 B.C. After a period of Bantu domination, the Shona people ruled, followed by the Nguni and Zulu peoples. By the mid-19th century the descendants of the Nguni and Zulu, the Ndebele, had established a powerful warrior kingdom. The first British explorers, colonists, and missionaries arrived in the 1850s, and the massive influx of foreigners led to the establishment of the territory Rhodesia, named after Cecil Rhodes of the British South Africa Company. In 1923, European settlers voted to become the self-governing British colony of Southern Rhodesia. After a brief federation with Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) and Nyasaland (now Malawi) in the post–World War II period, Southern Rhodesia (also known as Rhodesia) chose to remain a colony when its two partners voted for independence in 1963.  The white minority finally consented to hold multiracial elections in 1980, and Robert Mugabe won a landslide victory. The country achieved independence on April 17, 1980, under the name Zimbabwe. Mugabe eventually established a one-party socialist state, but by 1990 he had instituted multiparty elections and in 1991 deleted all references to Marxism-Leninism and scientific socialism from the constitution. Once heralded as a champion of the anticolonial movement, Mugabe is now viewed by much of the international community as an authoritarian ruler responsible for egregious human rights abuses and for ruining the economy of his country.

The country accepts payments in US Dollars (mostly accepted) but at certain camps and hotels they will also accept Pounds Sterling, Euros and South African Rand.  Please bring cash in small denominations (eg: USD 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20’s) as change if very limited. Visa and MasterCard credit cards are accepted in most hotels and camps.  ATM’s are found at most banks in Zimbabwe, but they do not always work.

Note: There is an extreme shortage of cash in Zimbabwe so we suggest that you do not rely on drawing cash from the ATM’s. Please bring sufficient cash to cover your visa entry fees, any park fees which are not included in your prepaid trip, for shopping in the markets and for any tips.  Please also note that Zimbabwe has the Zimbabwe Bond notes which appear to be denominated in USD but have no value outside of Zimbabwe. We suggest you try to pay for things in exact cash to avoid change in Zimbabwe Bond notes.

Access:

Most camps are accessed by light aircraft flights.  There is a luggage restriction of 20kgs (44lbs) per person in soft-sided bags (no hard framed suitcases) on these flights.  If

For all light aircraft flights luggage is restricted to a total of 15kgs to 20kgs(44lbs) per person in soft-sided bags (no hard framed suitcases, wheels or frames). If you have to bring more luggage we may be able to store it for you (additional charge) or charge you for an additional seat (depending on availability of seats). The maximum dimensions of the soft bags are as follows: 25 cm (10 inches) wide x 30 cm (12 inches) high and 62 cm (24 inches) long. Please keep in mind that the baggage compartments on the light aircraft are only 25 cm high (10 inches), so the pilots must have the ability to manipulate the bag into the Passengers travelling on light aircraft:

Due to Aviation regulations and aircraft safety we need to be advised if any passengers are over 100kg (220lb).  We may ask for all passengers’ weights in order that charter companies can plan in advance prior to your arrival.

Health Precautions:

There are a few basic health matters that require care and attention. We are not medical practitioners so please consult with your doctor on what the latest requirements are for travel to Africa.

Malaria:

Many places in Southern Africa are classified as having a malaria risk.  Malaria is transmitted by a very small percentage of female Anopheles mosquitoes. They are only active in the early evening and throughout the night. If you come down with flu-like symptoms either during, or within four to six weeks after, your visit to a malaria area, seek a doctor's advice immediately. The best insurance against contracting malaria is to try to prevent one from being bitten:

• Use mosquito repellents liberally.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers/slacks in the evenings.
• You should spray your room prior going to dinner with an insecticide (many camps do provide this service).
• Mosquito coils are also effective.
• Take the malaria tablets recommended for the region you're travelling to, and keep taking them until the course is complete.

Yellow Fever:

Yellow Fever is a viral illness for which there is no cure, however, there is an effective vaccine that will prevent it. It is transmitted by a daytime biting mosquito. The Yellow Fever virus is found in certain areas of Africa, Central and South America. The illness develops within six days of being bitten by an infected mosquito, and the onset is usually sudden: fever develops, with headache, body pains, and most often nausea. Jaundice develops with a bleeding tendency, coma and death. Please check with us if you require a Yellow Fever inoculation certificate prior to travel.

• Inoculations must be taken at least 10 days before travel and the vaccine provides immunity against the disease for 10 years.
• You will receive a Yellow Card, which you have to carry with you when you travel. Failure to produce the card during travel could result in penalties by immigration or refusal to enter the country.  
• Pregnant women, very young babies, HIV-positive, anyone undergoing chemotherapy or with a suppressed immune system may be exempt with a letter provided by a certificate medical practitioner.

Tick Bite Fever:

Ticks are found throughout Southern Africa and tick bite fever is an infection caused by bacteria from the Rickettsia family, transmitted by infected ticks to humans in their saliva when they bite.  Tick bites most often occur when hiking, walking or camping in wilderness areas, particularly where there is long grass. The incubation period is 5-11 days. Symptoms vary but typical features include the presence of a black mark at the site of the bite, a fever, severe headache, swollen lymph nodes near the bite site and sometimes a rash. Treatment is with the antibiotic doxycycline. Try to avoid tick bites by wearing long sleeved shirts, long pants and shoes when you walk in the bush; apply insect repellent to exposed skin and always check yourself after you have walked in the bush.

Tsetse Flies:

Tsetse flies do occur in some parts of northern Botswana, Zambia and Mana Pools in Zimbabwe. Some of them are the carriers of trypanosomiases, causing sleeping sickness in humans that can be fatal, however, is easily treated and cured. In many areas great strides have been made in their eradication. They are regarded more as an irritation (the bites are sharp) than as a serious threat. Symptoms can present a few weeks to months after a visit and begin with fever, headaches and pains in the joints followed by dramatic swelling of the lymph nodes. Dark coloured clothing is generally more attractive to tsetse flies since the majority of their host species are dark coloured large mammals such as buffalo. Wearing long-sleeved neutral coloured clothing is probably the best approach.

• AIDS:

The HIV virus and AIDS are serious health issues in many African countries. Use the same precautions while in Africa as in your home country to protect against contracting this virus.

Sun:

Always take precautions against the persistent overhead sun. Proximity to the equator makes the African sun particularly strong so ensure you use a high level of protection.

Water:

It is very important that you drink plenty of water especially during the warmer months. Dehydration is possibly the single biggest cause of ill health on safari.  It is generally recommended that guests drink at least 2 to 3 litres of water per day to limit the effects of dehydration. This excludes tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages, which act as diuretics and can, actually contribute to dehydration.

Security:
Safety and security is a matter of common sense. It's sensible to take the same precautions in major cities as you would in any of the world's metropolitan areas.

• Never leave luggage unattended in public areas or entrances to hotels.
• Deposit your valuables in the safety deposit box.
• Do not walk around the city looking like a tourist and keep your camera concealed.
• Be aware of who is around you, even in busy areas and when drawing cash at ATM’s. 

Food:
Please do inform us if you have any special dietary requirements. Use common sense when it comes to food and beverages. If you're unsure of their origin, don't touch them.

Drinks policy:

Many Southern African camps include all local drinks in the fully inclusive rate, while premium imported brands are excluded, in which case you are required to settle your drinks bill prior to departure. Drinks policies do differ from camp to camp so please check with us if you are unsure of what is included.

Climate:

You can do a safari all year round in most parts of Zimbabwe but the Mana Pools area on the Lower Zambezi is closed from November to April due to the rains.

The summer is from October to March.  This is the hottest time of year with the most rain falling in February and March. This period is a haven for all types of migrant birds and wonderful butterflies and flowers. 

The winter is from May to September. This is the dry cooler season. Temperatures in winter can drop quite dramatically at night and in the early morning, particularly when on safari in the open vehicle, so we suggest that you pack accordingly with very warm clothing including a warm winter jacket, a beanie, scarf and gloves. However, daytime temperatures are pleasantly warm.  This period tends to see the higher concentration of game at the waterholes and larger herds of animals.  The bush is dry and thin and very dusty towards the end of the dry season!

 The in-between periods – April/early May and mid September, still tend to be dry, however, the days are cooler than in summer and the nights are warmer than in winter.

Casual, comfortable clothing is generally suitable throughout the year. Apart from light cotton tops and trousers, the following items of clothing are recommended for various reasons. Shirts with long sleeves are useful in summer as protection from mosquitos and the sun. T-shirts, shorts or a short skirt provide heat relief in summer, while sweaters, jeans or safari trousers may be necessary for those cooler evenings and days. A heavy jacket is useful for game drives, and essential in winter. A hat, comfortable walking shoes or boots, sun block, sunglasses and insect repellent are essential to enjoy the many activities. A swimsuit is recommended, as is a light raincoat during the rainy months. Layers are recommended for the fluctuating day and night temperatures. Hardy, durable clothing in neutral colors is recommended, rather than unpractical white items.

Internet availability is very limited especially outside of the major cities. 

Most holiday accommodation venues offer internet and/or WiFi (free or paid) to their guests but there are often disruptions in service.

Power:

Electricity is supplied at 220/240v. Square and wall plugs are used. Most camps run on generators and supply international adapters.  Expect to experience power cuts in the cities due to extreme power shortages in the country. Most city hotels do have back up generators.