ZIMBABWE Hunting Information

Hank2211, your comments above appear to be correct. I wrote a note to the Canadian Export controls office, explaining I may go on a multi-country Africa trip, starting in South Africa and going on from there. Asked if I needed an export permit to include subsequent countries, this was the answer I received:
"Whatever country you go from after SA is up to you but you take care of whatever requirements that country has on the export of FA and related materials to that other country and so on "
If someone feels comfortable with that explanation they could probably land in SA and go on to Zimbabwe and it's unlikely that they would be prosecuted. But I think I'm going to rent a rifle in Zimbabwe. Being convicted of international arms smuggling is not something I aspire to.
 
I cannot speak for Canada, but from the U.S.A. there is no problem temporarily exporting sporting firearms into Zimbabwe. Military style? camoflage is illegal anywhere in Zimbabwe and not recommended saying that I wear a camo baseball cap sometimes shirt, or shorts, if I had a camo backpack I would not be concerned! Here in Zimbabwe ten years ago, I would very much have shied away from any camo. Trust me your not going to be put in a position where National Parks is going to mistake you as a poacher. A few years back N.P. shot and killed two PHs standing next to their Land Cruiser wearing brightly colored T shirts, this took place by the boomgate at the entrance to Mana Pools, oh they were assisting N.P. on transporting a N.P. anti-poaching team.

We always have a fully charged Sat Phone in our camp, which can be charged by generator, solar or cigarette lighter.
 
I cannot speak for Canada, but from the U.S.A. there is no problem temporarily exporting sporting firearms into Zimbabwe. Military style? camoflage is illegal anywhere in Zimbabwe and not recommended saying that I wear a camo baseball cap sometimes shirt, or shorts, if I had a camo backpack I would not be concerned! Here in Zimbabwe ten years ago, I would very much have shied away from any camo. Trust me your not going to be put in a position where National Parks is going to mistake you as a poacher. A few years back N.P. shot and killed two PHs standing next to their Land Cruiser wearing brightly colored T shirts, this took place by the boomgate at the entrance to Mana Pools, oh they were assisting N.P. on transporting a N.P. anti-poaching team.

We always have a fully charged Sat Phone in our camp, which can be charged by generator, solar or cigarette lighter.

absolutley recommend Tokoloshe / Lon Denney.

if sh*t hits the fan you have high chances of survival with Tokoloshe. What they have: 2-3 PHs onsite with formal training in first aid and crisis management. 1-2 sat phones to call in for an emergency situation. Backup generators and primary generators. Multiple impeccably serviced vehicles with numerous spare tires.

all safaris and travel includes risk, but how that risk is mitigated matters greatly. Most PHs in Zim do not have half the contingency management abilities as Tokoloshe.

but what do I know? With other operations I’ve seen a thing or two. What’s the difference? Well, I’ve been stranded in the Zambezi with a PH who didn’t know how to troubleshoot a boat motor. (I fixed it) I’ve been stuck with flat tires where PHs couldn’t unlock the spares. (I showed him how to rope compress a tire and break a lock) I’ve been stuck on one side of a flowing river where they could not get most vehicles to the other side. No sat phones. No radios. Etc!

none of the nonsense above would happen with Tokoloshe.
 
In some areas of Zim, (Dangerous Game Areas) they have a policy to shoot poachers on site. In other areas, they can engage and shoot poachers that are armed. Poachers wear camo fatigues. Camo is illegal because it represents military and paramilitary activities in Zim. Anti-poaching patrols have been shot and killed in recent years by mistaken identity.

Adding up all those facts, why take a chance when it is A.) Illegal, B.) Will increase your odds of being shot/killed/mistaken for a poacher.?
And C) Is marginally better than Green Khaki
 
I have hunted two times in the last year and a half in Zimbabwe. What is being said is bogus! It is SAFE to hunt in Zimbabwe! Wore camo every hunt! NEVER felt unsafe!! Not one time. Folks at airport most kind and professional. Have 4 copies of your paperwork and they will smile! Have taken 2 buffalo, a leopard, an elephant, 2 zebra, 6 impala and a giraffe. IT IS SAFE TO HUNT IN ZIMBABWE!
 
absolutley recommend Tokoloshe / Lon Denney.

if sh*t hits the fan you have high chances of survival with Tokoloshe. What they have: 2-3 PHs onsite with formal training in first aid and crisis management. 1-2 sat phones to call in for an emergency situation. Backup generators and primary generators. Multiple impeccably serviced vehicles with numerous spare tires.

all safaris and travel includes risk, but how that risk is mitigated matters greatly. Most PHs in Zim do not have half the contingency management abilities as Tokoloshe.

but what do I know? With other operations I’ve seen a thing or two. What’s the difference? Well, I’ve been stranded in the Zambezi with a PH who didn’t know how to troubleshoot a boat motor. (I fixed it) I’ve been stuck with flat tires where PHs couldn’t unlock the spares. (I showed him how to rope compress a tire and break a lock) I’ve been stuck on one side of a flowing river where they could not get most vehicles to the other side. No sat phones. No radios. Etc!

none of the nonsense above would happen with Tokoloshe.
Are you out of business?

Your website Is a black hole

 
We want to assure Terminator and all AH members we are not out of business.

We have terminated our relationship with the 1 man company that maintained our Web site. We will soon have a new Web Site maintained by a more professional company in South Africa. Hopefully we will have better service with the new provider.

Cheers, Lon Denney
Tokoloshe Safaris,
Zimbabwe, Africa
 
We want to assure Terminator and all AH members we are not out of business.

We have terminated our relationship with the 1 man company that maintained our Web site. We will soon have a new Web Site maintained by a more professional company in South Africa. Hopefully we will have better service with the new provider.

Cheers, Lon Denney
Tokoloshe Safaris,
Zimbabwe, Africa
Cool

I thought maybe COVID got your business

Glad to hear you are still hunting
 
Travelling from Germany to Zimbabwe with sporting arms is definitely not allowed. There are just some articles in the newspapers about hunters trying to travel from Munich to Zimbabwe with guns. They’ve been caught up from police and are facing bigger problems now.
I had several phone calls today to check the details since I’m flying to Zim in October. Finally I had a call with the legal department of BAFA ( responsible for all embargo’s…). They checked the details and confirmed: there’s no chance to get a permission to temporarily bring sporting guns to Zimbabwe!
The friendly gentleman at the airport department that I phoned before didn’t no about that.
No good news at all!
 
Travelling from Germany to Zimbabwe with sporting arms is definitely not allowed. There are just some articles in the newspapers about hunters trying to travel from Munich to Zimbabwe with guns. They’ve been caught up from police and are facing bigger problems now.
I had several phone calls today to check the details since I’m flying to Zim in October. Finally I had a call with the legal department of BAFA ( responsible for all embargo’s…). They checked the details and confirmed: there’s no chance to get a permission to temporarily bring sporting guns to Zimbabwe!
The friendly gentleman at the airport department that I phoned before didn’t no about that.
No good news at all!

This is only coming from Germany ? Or from any EU destination ?
 
On my recent hunt with Mokore Safaris in the Savé we were supplied with very nice rental rifles. I chose a Winchester Model 70 .375. It had a good scope too. Even though I'd rather use my own, Renting is easy, relatively cheap, and convenient.
 
On my recent hunt with Mokore Safaris in the Savé we were supplied with very nice rental rifles. I chose a Winchester Model 70 .375. It had a good scope too. Even though I'd rather use my own, Renting is easy, relatively cheap, and convenient.
The problem could be a rental gun for my kids (9 and 12 years old). I asked the outfitter to check if he could organise a gun them. Hopefully he finds some…
Anyhow it’s annoying: I have guns to use them not to rent some. Bought lots of ammo in advance …
 
Boddington Claims there is a difference in Minimum Dangerous Game Cartridges for Zim. Between Private land and Federal land. One has a minimum of .375 and the other one is 9.2mm. I believe the 9.2mm is the minimum on Federal Land?
 
Boddington Claims there is a difference in Minimum Dangerous Game Cartridges for Zim. Between Private land and Federal land. One has a minimum of .375 and the other one is 9.2mm. I believe the 9.2mm is the minimum on Federal Land?
That is incorrect. The law covers all land and requires a minimum calibre of 9,2 mm and 5,3 kJ for elephant,buffalo and hippo. 7mm & 4,3 kJ for lion and 7mm & 3 kJ for leopard.

There are threads on the forum debating whether 9,3 x62 makes the energy but basically 9,3 x 64 and upwards is legal for everything.
 
Does anyone have a current matrix of operators by Matetsi Unit (incl. adjoining)? If not, I am willing to split the task with some folks in a side bar message, then post results.
 
Found old information about silencers not allowed in Zimbabwe. Do not see anything in this thread. Anybody got recent information?
 
Travelling from Germany to Zimbabwe with sporting arms is definitely not allowed. There are just some articles in the newspapers about hunters trying to travel from Munich to Zimbabwe with guns. They’ve been caught up from police and are facing bigger problems now.
I had several phone calls today to check the details since I’m flying to Zim in October. Finally I had a call with the legal department of BAFA ( responsible for all embargo’s…). They checked the details and confirmed: there’s no chance to get a permission to temporarily bring sporting guns to Zimbabwe!
The friendly gentleman at the airport department that I phoned before didn’t no about that.
No good news at all!

This is only coming from Germany ? Or from any EU destination ?

I think it’s an EU embargo but not treater in the same way in all countries.

It seems possible that some things might have changed, or are as mentioned, treated differently in different countries. I have also heard, and probably re-iterated, that "Zimbabwe is under EU embargo, so you cannot bring your gun". But out of curiosity I called the customs office here at home, as they are ones handling the forms that has to be filled in when traveling with firearms. They said that "We don't make the rules, we only implement what the other government offices come up with. You could try asking the police department, or the ISP".

Fair. So I then called the (literally translated) Inspectorate of Strategic Products to ask what they thought about it. These are the people to whom you submit applications for exporting grenade launchers, submarines and artillery shells etc. This was apparently not the type of question they get every day, and it took them a little while to find somebody willing to answer if it was allowed or not. So after explaining to the lady on the other end of the line that 'yes, it would be only one hunting rifle with 40-50 rounds of ammo', and 'yes, I plan to bring it back', and 'no, I will not be away for more than 24 months', she said that they saw no problems with that. To be fair, they quite clearly state on their website that their approval is not needed when traveling with guns for hunting/sporting purposes. But it feels better to ask, as there could be a conflict of regulations if planning to travel to a country where a weapons embargo is imposed.

So, I'm seeing this not as definite, but it looks a bit more positive. Might need to call the police department as well. But I'm not so sure that they would be better fit to answer. They issue the national firearms licenses, and should probably be more interested with what happens inside the national borders. But they are also the ones that can revoke said licenses, so I'd definitely not want to get on their 'naughty list'.

One thing that can be confusing is that the customs forms to fill out are the same ("Standard Document 718.3" - I'm guessing it's the same in all EU countries?), whether it's a for 100.000 grapfruits, or a single Sako. For the requirements of a hunting trip, you just get to leave ~80% of the form empty. And it is also actually two documents, one for leaving, and one for re-entering your home country (or EU?), and given the "import/export" wording, I believe that from a legal/technical point of view you are actually exporting and importing your own rifle. Maybe this is where the embargo has been interpreted differently in various EU countries?

EDIT: Just checked the website of the police department, and there they say that "If you hold a national firearms license and you plan to go abroad for hunting/sporting purposes, you do not need to apply for a permit from the police department, but you do need to report it to the customs". I'm thinking that this is customs document described above. Embargoes are not mentioned at all.
 
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