Travelling in Zimbabwe and South Africa

With all the tumultuous events currently occurring around the world – ranging from political revolutions to tragic natural disasters – there are a number of countries or regions that are no-go zones at the moment.  So we are pleased to have a personal report from two countries that have seen (and are still seeing) tremendous upheaval and difficulties – Zimbabwe and South Africa.  Alison from our Sales Team has just returned from our ‘Waterfalls & Wildlife’ adventure tour which travels from Victoria Falls, through Zimbabwe to South Africa.

Her trip report will be published soon so watch this space for some fantastic stories and photos of her safari experiences.  For now, here are a few of her thoughts on these destinations from a traveller’s perspective:

“People have pre-conceptions of places before they get there - I know I did for South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Friendly Locals  My main concern was racism, but I was not a witness to this at all.  The locals I did speak with about this issue told me this was not a problem anymore. The locals we met were all very friendly and helpful.

Safety  I had been slightly worried about my safety but I honestly felt while I was over there I had nothing to worry about. There was certainly no stopping of vehicles by people demanding money, a picture occasionally depicted by the press.

Security  The campsites we stayed in were small and beautifully remote. We had no problem leaving our valuables (sensibly locked in backpacks) in our tents if we were out on a game drive or taking part in an activity.

Politics  We decided it was probably best simply not to mention politics in Zimbabwe - it is after all a fairly emotive subject in that country”.

More to come from Alison soon!

See our Waterfalls & Wildlife tour