Booked Zim hunt 2013 - Safety Question

Hi All,

It has been 20 years since I was last in Zim, and a lot has changed since!

I have just book a hunt for July 2013, and wanted some feedback on safety for clients hunting in Zim - is there a reason to be concerned?

Any tips on how to navigate Zim in todays climate?

We will be with our PH for the entire time, and I have full confidence in them, but as I am taking my parents I know they will ask some questions once they see the government travel advisories, which currently list Zim as "Reconsider your travel"

Thanks for your advise,

Ado.

No concerns Ado. Your PH will take good care of you. Things have settled down quite a bit in the last few years. Have fun and be sure to post a report upon your return! Who will you be hunting with?

Africansky - hunted with them last year in RSA, and had a blast, so really looking forward to this hunt.

First time hunting buff so should be great. Hunt split into 7 days in Zim, and another 7 in RSA, so shopping list is getting longer by the day!

Also our PH Hennie du Toit was awesome, so looking forward top sharing some laughs along the way.

As long as you are hunting with a licensed Zimbabwe PH, I see no problems. On the other hand if you are not hunting with a licensed ZIM PH, I could see problems getting anything home after you leave Africa. And I would not consider it safe to hunt in Zimbabwe unless the PH was a Zimbabwe PH. Hunting with a SA PH in Zim without a Zim PH being present is a big "NO, NO".

One issue is money.

Not sure where you are from so answers are US based.

Zimbabwe uses US dollars so take a good spread that are 2006 and newer bill's with you.

Your PH would love there tip in small denominations.

You will not be able to use your credit card in Zimbabwe. I was informed of this when i called my cc company to let them know i would be in what country and the dates of travel. State Department thing.

Next check to see if you have all your immunizations up to date. Especially if you are going to the falls.

Check with your PH about tick fever and take a course or 2 of the med's with you. I left my supply with the PH when i left.

Malaria is present in parts of Zimbabwe so check on your location and take the meds to reduce your chances of getting ill.

If your PH has you going bare foot or in tour stocking to make stalks take some meds for hook worm or pin worm along. As my PH had hook worm from going stocking footed while stocking some game. So check this out.

Find out what airport you will be landing and obtain the instructions on what lines to go to first and so on.

Take all price tag's off of gifts to avoid paying the import tax. All baggage were check when i was there this year. And items in boxes and or having a price tag on them were taxes, (payable now some up to a 100% tax) your stuck and have no options but to pay the tax if caught.

Have your rifle permit filled out in triplicate prior to arriving to speed up your rifle and ammo process. My ammo was counted and shells looked at to see if they matched the paper work.

Have exact USD bills for customs when being processed, as they do not have to provide change.

Do not be in a rush and try to be as calm as you can be, it was about a 1 1/2 hours to make it through all the lines.

Remember your baggage claim tag's and know which one was for what bag and your rifle. Trick question as you will be asked and have to know.

If you fly out of Dulles you will be staying the night in joberg so relax and have a good dinner.

if you fly out of NY you will make your connection and not have to stay or do your rifle paper work in South Africa.

Returning, if your connections are through Joberg, SA have time between flight to get your next tickets as leaving Zimbabwe i was only able to obtain tickets to Joberg. however luggage was tagged all the way to your destination. (go figure)

Check state department on what and what not to do...

I agree with Enysse. Make sure you are with a licensed Zim PH.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by enysse

As long as you are hunting with a licensed Zimbabwe PH, I see no problems. On the other hand if you are not hunting with a licensed ZIM PH, I could see problems getting anything home after you leave Africa. And I would not consider it safe to hunt in Zimbabwe unless the PH was a Zimbabwe PH. Hunting with a SA PH in Zim without a Zim PH being present is a big "NO, NO".

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James having just been has given you one great list.
There have been issues with unlicensed PH's. Ask the question and ask to see the Zim paperwork.

I hope you have a great hunt.

As others have said Zim is safe. I have spent time in Bulawayo, Vic Falls, and Harare without a PH or guide and never felt unsafe.

As far as hunting in Zim here is some more information.

http://www.africahunting.com/hunting...g-clients.html

A licensed Zim PH must be on the hunt at all times.

One other thing. I have used my US based credit cards in Zim with no problems.

James G

Just a couple of questions

For all the worms, pins and hooks;

a) did you take albendazole for that possible problem

b) one guy I talked to with a concern about hooks said he used "stalking socks" which looked to me to be nothing more than a thin neoprene bootie...I will tell you they looked hot but probably effective, what's your thought there?


Tick fever: I have had two episodes of spotted tick fever in my youth and it wern't no fun, but at that time everyone had it at some point. Did your Dr. send you with doxycycline to take in case of symptoms or did he start you on it before you left (prophylactic)

value your input and hope to hear back

For all the worms, pins and hooks;

a) did you take albendazole for that possible problem

b) one guy I talked to with a concern about hooks said he used "stalking socks" which looked to me to be nothing more than a thin neoprene bootie...I will tell you they looked hot but probably effective, what's your thought there?
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Guys I am 54 and have lived here my entire life....and no, not naive!:0)...I have never seen nor heard of a case of hook or pin worm locally!
BUT - Word of advice...DO NOT take your shoes off to stalk anything except maybe to sneak down a very carefully prepared and cleared, swept path to a walk in Leopard blind. It would just take you to inadvertently step on one of our nice long thorns or even a sharp stone for that matter to ruin your hunt. Neoprene anything will not be any good against our thorns and will protect you from nothing at all here and may give you a false sense of 'protection'. I would just advise you not to walk anywhere bare foot.
Our countryside is very much like South Texas in most hunting areas. Just substitute the Mesquite for Thorny Acacia and you have it. We also have a couple of different types of thorny creepers that grow along the ground which will ruin your feet if you stand on them barefoot or with 'socks' on.

Tick fever is a threat when you're hunting early in the year and it lessens as the year and country gets drier and drier. Be sure to check your legs and the creases around your groin are daily for ticks. Should you find a tick that's bitten you, use yr nail clippers or a small scissors to just clip it in half and then leave it. It will die and fall off on it's own. In cases where there happen to be pepper ticks on you, ask the PH for a cloth with a bit of diesel on it and wipe your self down with it a couple of minutes before you shower. If you're going to be in country for any length of time then by all means bring an anti biotic like Doxycyclin to deal with it. Bringing a dose of antibiotics with is a good idea. As is anti diarrhea, head ache meds.
A lot of people have adverse reactions to Doxycyclin so do do be careful with it.

Ado I was last in Zim in 2009 and hunted there for 12 days. I flew into Bulawayo having done a Sydney-Perth-Jo'burg run. Bulawayo airpourt was a tin shed but the staff were efficient and knew what was going on. They counted shells and checked head stamps and checked the serial number and calibre on my rifles. I was in there for 15 minutes total - there were 3 others carrying rifes on my flight.

I wore my Scarpas at all times and when I did revert to sandles, it was a tough old pair of Keen Newport H2's; I use them to hunt our rough western country all the time and with a good sole and closed toe I consider them to be safe.

I've never bothered with malaria tablets in all of our travels as I have heard mixed reviews on how they work and the people I trusted most didn't bother.

Safety was not a huge concern. My PH got dates mixed up so I had to make my own way into town and find accommodation for the night; thankfully I bumped into one of the PH's from HHK and they hooked me up with the Craig & Lesley Hunt at the Southern Comfort Lodge where we had a braai and drank till the 'AM'. Lovely people.

We had no incidents in town but I was much more comfortable in the bush! We bumped a couple of anti-poaching patrols carrying semi-autos while out hunting and there was a bit of tension 'til we worked out we were all supposed to be there!

The risk associated with bumping dang.erous game when hunting in Zim is there, but that's part of why we go right? We encountered loads of elephant while tracking buffalo - great stuff!

I booked my Zim hunt through an outfitter I have used in South Africa; I did it once and I won't do it again. I have a hunt booked further up north and plans for another and they are all dealing direct with the utfitter in that country. To many unknowns, to many blurred lines, I felt like I was being misled a bit once in country but I rolled with it as there was no other option. You'll have to let us know what your experience is like.

Look forward to hearing about more of your plans Ado.

SW

I did not take any med's for the pin-hook worm as i did not go bare or stocking footed.

For tick fever i went with the recommended medicines from our south African group. Very inexpensive by the way . less than $10 for 10 day treatment.

Pepper ticks were on a few of the animals i was able to take. and my PH showed me what they looked like. Small little buggers

I also treated my clothing to repel or kill ticks, and other bugs and it worked great. The 2 ticks found on my sister were dead. treating supply for clothing were found at REI. treated everything the week prior to leaving socks, pants and shirts. Double prayed the cuffs inside and outside, stuff works for like 40 days.

Another safety item to pass along to our friend. Airline checked bags should be locked and strapped if possible. Do not take or check a bag with side pockets. I can not tell you the number of bags that had the side pockets on bags that were open and contents removed. The shrink warp does not deter the opening of the side pockets.

Also have a identifying marker on your bag. I had some clown try to take my rifle case both time i went through Joberg as he thought it was his case. My bright lime-yellow address tag holder was easy to spot and gather up my bag. Plus a red marker on the bag for a double marker made my case and bags easy to spot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Second Wind

James G

Just a couple of questions

For all the worms, pins and hooks;

a) did you take albendazole for that possible problem

b) one guy I talked to with a concern about hooks said he used "stalking socks" which looked to me to be nothing more than a thin neoprene bootie...I will tell you they looked hot but probably effective, what's your thought there?


Tick fever: I have had two episodes of spotted tick fever in my youth and it wern't no fun, but at that time everyone had it at some point. Did your Dr. send you with doxycycline to take in case of symptoms or did he start you on it before you left (prophylactic)

value your input and hope to hear back

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by James.Grage

Also have a identifying marker on your bag. I had some clown try to take my rifle case both time i went through Joberg as he thought it was his case.

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Please expand on this experience James. When going through Jo'berg I didn't think you saw your rifle case until you were in the SAPS office. Is this where this event took place?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PHOENIX PHIL

Please expand on this experience James. When going through Jo'berg I didn't think you saw your rifle case until you were in the SAPS office. Is this where this event took place?

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In Jo'berg I thought you picked up your case around carosell #8 then bring it to The police office to get your permit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blue Skies Hunting Adventures

In Jo'berg I thought you picked up your case around carosell #8 then bring it to The police office to get your permit.

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That is what I have done. Security officer picks the guns off as they come out the chute any then you grab them from him. I suppose if you dont show to get them he must take them to the SAP office.

In 2011 at Tembo we, as did about 20 other hunters, cleared immigration, picked up our regular luggage from the carousel, went to the SAP office where our firearms were delivered.

In 2010 we did the same thing. Flew Delta in 2011 and 2010.

In 2009 it was different as we flew SAA. We met the firearms at a carousel, identified them, and they were taken to a SAP office.

From Gracy Travel Site:

If you arrive on South African Airways or British Airways, you will need to sign for your firearms in the baggage area. Your rifles will be delivered to an office in front of baggage carousel #8. You will show your baggage claim ticket for your rifle case and sign for it there. Your rifle case will then be delivered by them to the South African Police Office. Currently if you arrive on any other airline you will not have to sign for your rifle case as it will be delivered to the SAPS office directly from the aircraft.

Thanks Mike, you're all over it. Good info to have as I'll be on SAA next year. It makes me wonder why it works differently on SAA though.

Thanks Dan.

You are off in four weeks on your next adventure - where are you heading to?

Ado.