What's Zimbabwe like these days?
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Joined: Jan 2000
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What's Zimbabwe like these days?
I've heard that the trains don't run, Air Zimbabwe doesn't fly, and the roads are deathtraps. I've also heard that foreign airlines offer reliable access to Harare, Bulawayo, and Victoria Falls, that some tourist hotels are not only open and running but are a superb experience, and that the people are as friendly as ever.
What's the reality? Has anyone been there recently?
What's the reality? Has anyone been there recently?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: UK and Italy
I haven't been there since 1986, and then only to Harare, which was as clean and neat as a pin, and everyone was really friendly. Vic Falls is on my bucket list.
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: in a field
Went to Vic falls last year. Friendly people. The falls and the Vic Falls hotel (definite bucket list) did not seem to have changed much since 1980 - apart from the continuous noise of helicopters flown noisily and the hotel price.
Walked from the hotel to the falls as we did in 1980. No hassles just people selling crafts trying to survive.
I recall we did a flight over the falls in an Apache - not disturbing anybody.
Airport has changed tooooo. Viscount in those days - this time SAA A320. Nice new terminal quite efficient.
Roads good - the whole tourist experience is done well. Transfer to Kasane easy.
Walked from the hotel to the falls as we did in 1980. No hassles just people selling crafts trying to survive.
I recall we did a flight over the falls in an Apache - not disturbing anybody.
Airport has changed tooooo. Viscount in those days - this time SAA A320. Nice new terminal quite efficient.
Roads good - the whole tourist experience is done well. Transfer to Kasane easy.
Last edited by sheepless; 4th June 2025 at 04:00. Reason: erditorial
mostly harmless
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: axis of chocolate
Was in Harare a few days late last year, though did not visit city centre. Zimbabweans marvellous as always, making the best of a bad situation. e- Visa system works very well, as does airport from pax perspective. Roads not great. Hotel very good.
Son of Slot
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Before entering the country, make sure that you have cash and by that I mean US$, for which I could not blame them. They all want $! On arriving at the Vic Falls Airport VFA, we were ready to pay the fee with plastic. The passport folks said that the machine was broken and cash only. There did appear to be a power failure in the terminal but that might just be saving electricity. Fortunately, they liked the ££ we had.
