ZIMBABWE Safari Basics Guide for Zimbabwe, Southern Africa www.sunsafaris.com © Sun Safaris INTRODUCTION Zimbabwe is a land of spectacular scenery, diverse flora and fauna, and home to friendly, hospitable people. Zimbabwe boasts one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World - the Victoria Falls. It is also home to 4 World Heritage sites – Victoria Falls, Mana Pools National Park, the Great Zimbabwe Ruins and the Kama Ruins. Zimbabwe is also home to one to the largest manmade lakes in the world, Lake Kariba. Adventure activities and adrenalin pumping excursions pair with some of the best wildlife sightings in Southern Africa. Home to a diverse range of cultures, the predominant one is the Shona tribe. 2 GETTING TO THE START POINT OF A SAFARI IN ZIMBABWE There are international flights to Harare and Victoria Falls and by road through numerous border crossings with its neighbouring countries. By Air There are daily scheduled flights from Johannesburg International airport (O.R. Tambo) to Victoria Falls, the capital Harare and Bulawayo. There are also direct flights to Harare from Nairobi and Lusaka. Once in Zimbabwe there are numerous charter air companies that can provide inter camp flights to Mana Pools National Park, Lake Kariba and the Lower Zambezi, Hwange National Park, Matobo Hills National Park, Gonarezhou National Park. By Road Zimbabwe is accessible from all neighbouring countries. Fuel is now readily available and the roads are being updated. It is still not advisable to drive at night. Road transfers to Chobe National Park and Kasane in Botswana leave from Victoria Falls. PLANNING YOUR ZIMBABWE SAFARI When planning your safari, there are a few points to take into consideration: – When would you like to go on safari and for how long? – What is your budget? – What is your style of accommodation? – Which camp/lodge should you choose? When should I go? Zimbabwe is an excellent year round destination. Certain activities are better in certain months, like white water rafting which is best from August to December. Zimbabwe has a high altitude which creates a moderate climate with high temperatures in the summer months of November to April and in the winter months of May to October. There are seldom extreme temperatures. This is a summer rain fall country from December through to March. In the Zambezi and Limpopo River valleys it can get quite hot. 3 Summer The area is subtropical with hot rainy summers and startling thunder storms starting in October and ending around March. The dry bushland comes to life after the rains but game becomes harder to see as numerous waterholes fill up and the foliage becomes thicker. Hwange National Park in October is dry and the vegetation is grazed bare. The only sources of water are waterholes that the park rangers maintain. By the end of summer, the rains have come and the vegetation has grown. This does make game viewing a little harder! This is also the time to see the migratory birds like the Carmine Bee Eater. Winter April to September are the cooler winter months which have lovely warm days but cold nights. Traditionally, the best game viewing on safari is in winter as the vegetation becomes sparse and water is restricted to rivers and artificial waterholes. Which area should I choose? Various factors can play a role when choosing areas and camps for your safari. Your budget, your choice of activities and the areas you would like to visit will most probably determine your choice of camps. If game watching is your top priority choose a camp where your game drives are led by professional game rangers and trackers in open 4x4 landrovers, and where you have the opportunity of getting really close to big game. Mana Pools offers canoeing safaris where you can meander along the banks seeing the big game from a different perspective. There are wide ranges of accommodation options, and the best way for you to choose is to advise us of your dates and budget and then we will point you in the right direction. Do I need a visa? We suggest that you contact your nearest Zimbabwean Consulate as most nationalities do require visas. Most can obtain this on arrival for a cost of about US$50. Your Passport should be vaild for 6 months after you get home and have 2 consecutive blank pages. How TO GET THE mosT OUT OF your safari. We recommend a minimum of 3 nights on safari and depending if you can stay for longer, it is always good if you visit at least two different areas. Mixing Big game viewing with adventure excursions will create a once in a lifetime experience. Victoria Falls offers game viewing on its doorstep with the added bonus of white water rafting, helicopter flips, bungee jumping, cultural tours, rain forest tours, horseback safari, lion walks, sunset boat cruises, the list is endless. If you have the time you can add a few nights in Hwange National Park or Mana Pools National Park for a different wildlife experience. 4 ZIMBABWE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Is Zimbabwe a family destination? Absolutely! There are activities for the whole family. Visiting Lake Kariba and Victoria Falls will keep the whole family busy. Wildlife safaris’ are also a must, most lodges and camps will take children, just ask your safari expert for more info on which are the best for kids! What Languages are spoken in Zimbabwe The official language is English with local languages of Shona and Ndebele spoken as well. Can I shop in Zimbabwe? There are plenty of markets, galleries and workshops in Zimbabwe, all showcasing homemade handicrafts that are so beautiful. Zimbabwe is well known for their stone carvings. The Shona people have such an amazing talent for stone carving, you can buy large and small carvings! Batik Fabric is a local painted fabric that has many different colours and scenes, like wildlife or daily life. These make lovely wall hangings, cushions and many other uses. Can I use my mobile/ cell phone and what is the internet like in Zimbabwe? There are internet cafes in most cities in the country. Bigger hotels and lodges have internet access as well. There is cellular coverage in most cities, but only is some of the more rural areas. All camps and lodges will have access to telephones should you require. Can I drink the water? Tap water is not safe to drink. All hotels and lodges will provide clean safe drinking water. What is the local currency and can I use my credit card? The US Dollar is the official currency in Zimbabwe. The South African Rand will also be accepted at certain places. We suggest carrying low denominations of the Dollar for use when on your travels. The bigger hotels and establishments will accept Visa only. There are ATM’s in the big cities, but fewer in the rural areas. What plugs do I need in Zimbabwe? The “Commonwealth” plug Type G is the common plug. This is a 3 prong square pinned plug. There is also the odd rounded 3 prong plug point, so we suggest a multi adaptor. We also suggest spare sets of batteries for your equipment like cameras. Are there special health requirements and vaccines for a trip to Zimbabwe? There are no mandatory vaccines unless you are coming from a country where Yellow Fever is endemic. Make sure your usual vaccines are up to date and check with your local travel clinic for the most up to date information. If you plan to cross into Zambia you will need a yellow fever certificate. 5 Malaria is prevalent in Zimbabwe. Expert opinion differs regarding the best approach to malaria prophylaxis. It is important to bear in mind that malaria may be contracted despite chemoprophylaxis, especially in areas where chloroquine resistance has been reported. Both chloroquine-resistant and normal strains of malaria are prevalent in Africa. Please remember that the best precaution is the preventative kind: • Avoid being bitten by using mosquito repellents liberally. • Wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers/slacks in the evenings. • Please use the mosquito net over your bed where supplied/available. • If staying in a bungalow or tent, spray with a suitable insecticide to kill any mosquitoes that may have flown into the room. • Mosquito coils are also effective. Malaria is transmitted by a very small percentage of female Anopheles mosquitoes. They are mainly active in the early evening and throughout the night. Malaria transmission is at its highest during the warmer and wetter months of November through to April. From May through to October the risks of acquiring malaria are reduced. There is also less prevalence in remote areas where our camps are situated; nonetheless, you need to consider taking preventative measures. There is a six to seven day minimum incubation period before symptoms present themselves. If you become ill on your return, while still on prophylaxis or even once you have stopped taking them, ensure that your doctor does everything to establish that your illness is not malaria. Malaria can be prevented if you are sensible and take basic precautions. It is inadvisable for pregnant woman to visit malaria areas as malaria infection during pregnancy can be detrimental to mother and child. Is it safe to travel in Zimbabwe? As when travelling anywhere in the world you must be aware of your surroundings and not carry your valuables if plain view. If you are in your own vehicle you should not drive at night, this is because livestock and wild buck roam and you can’t see them! National Parks are generally safe.