Improvements make self-drive a great option
WHILE Zimbabwe
has always been
a popular selfdrive
destination, the
recent media coverage of
excessive roadblocks has
deterred a great number of
travellers, tour operators
have reported.
However, Francis
Ngwenya, President of
the Zimbabwe Council
for Tourism, says now is
the best time to take a
self-drive holiday in the
country. He says selfdrive
tourism is set to
improve considerably, as
the two key barriers – poor
road infrastructure and
roadblocks – are both being
addressed.
“Zimbabwe is a fantastic
country to drive yourself
around. Not only is it
beautiful and safe but,
barring the odd pothole,
the roads are pretty good.
Everybody can speak
English. Major towns
and areas of interest are
normally only a few hundred
kilometres apart and these
can easily be reached
within a morning’s drive.”
Fewer roadblocks
Francis says government
also ordered that, effective
June 25, only four
roadblocks may now be
mounted per province. This
is in response to the outcry
from international and local
tourists and motorists in
Zimbabwe.
Thomas Dhliwayo, tour
operations manager of
Jenman African Safaris
Zimbabwe, confirms that
the situation has improved
considerably. “Slowly, we
are experiencing fewer
roadblocks. When I drove
to and from Victoria Falls
and Harare this week, there
was a significant reduction
in the number of roadblocks
to the extent that some
roadblocks – which were
almost permanent at some
locations – were missing
from their usual spots. In
most cases, we were not
even stopped, and it was
satisfying that we drove
without a single fine or any
hassle from the police.”
Insider advice
Travel agents should reach
out to local suppliers and
tour operators for advice
and information, says
Francis. “I suggest that
travel agents use a locally
based tour operator who
can assist with the hire of
a suitable vehicle and help
plan a good route.”
Sally Wynn, director of
Wild Zambezi, agrees but
says travel agents can also
rely on a number of good
websites and Facebook
pages for information.
“There is a Facebook Group
called ‘Dear ZRP’, which is
worth joining because it is
filled with tips and advice
from people who live in
Zimbabwe and can be very
useful for advising clients
who are planning a self-drive
trip.” She adds that there is
also a useful Facebook page
for information and help
about crossing the border at
Beit Bridge: www.facebook.
com/crossingbeitbridge.
Road rules to keep in mind
Mareike Pietzsch,
digital marketing and
communication specialist
of Giltedge, provides
some useful tips for
travellers heading to
Zimbabwe.
Car requirements
Tourists who are entering
Zimbabwe with a rented
car need to make sure
their car has working
lights (indicator lights, tail
lights and hazard lights)
and working number plate
lights as the police tend
to check them at the road
blocks. Tourists also need
to have a fire extinguisher
and reflective triangle in
their car.
Documents
On arrival at the
Zimbabwean border,
tourists need to make
sure their passports are
stamped with the correct
number of days they are
intending to stay. It’s
always advisable to put in
an extra week in case of
any delays in the country.
Customs
At the Zimbabwean border,
tourists should proceed
to the customs counter,
Zimbabwe Revenue
Authority (Zimra), to get a
Temporary Import Permit.
It is also advisable to
allow for extra days so
there’s no inconvenience
should their trip take
longer than planned,
ensuring the permit
doesn’t expire before they
exit the country.
Tourists need to buy
local insurance for their
rented car and to pay road
access fees at Zimra.
The person who will
be driving the car must
have their name on the
Temporary Import Permit;
if tourists are going to be
sharing the driving then
they need to state this
when getting the permit.
How to react in case of a roadblock
SALLY Wynn of Wild Zambezi
says travellers should
stay calm and friendly and
avoid confrontation when
stopped on a self-drive trip in
Zimbabwe.
The key advice, according to
Sally, is for travellers to:
Make sure they know the
rules and regulations;
Always pay their fine if they
are in the wrong;
Make sure they know their
rights (and stand up for
them if they know they are
in the right);
Always be patient and polite
and never lose your temper;
Never resort to bribery. Says
Sally: “Unfortunately a lot
of visitors (especially from
South Africa) are intimidated
by the Zimbabwe police.
They do not stand up for
their rights and tend to try
to get out of the situation
quickly by resorting to
bribery instantly, which does
not help the situation.”
Try to avoid being in a hurry
Three great self-drive routes
1. Harare to Eastern
Highlands
Francis Ngwenya of the
Zimbabwe Council for
Tourism says driving east
from Harare to Nyanga
provides visitors with
an amazing self-drive
experience. This area
is known by some as
‘Little England’ due to the
cooler weather and green
vegetation. He says there
are many attractions to be
found along the three-and-ahalf
to four-hour drive. These
include botanical gardens,
trout fishing and hiking to
see some of the area’s
famous waterfalls.
2. Victoria Falls to
Kariba and Mana Pools
Sally Wynn of Wild Zambezi,
says she has many requests
from self-drive visitors to
Zimbabwe about the road
network linking Victoria Falls
and Hwange with Kariba
or Mana Pools, along the
southern edge of Lake
Kariba.
“We always warn that this
route is for adventurous,
self-sufficient travellers only.”
She says it is a long, slow
and very remote journey,
mostly along unpaved roads
that can be in poor condition,
especially after the rainy
season.
Says Sally: “Travellers
should be totally selfsufficient
(with food, water
and vehicle spares) in
case of breakdowns. It
is advisable to travel in
convoy with at least one
other vehicle, because of
the remote nature of this
journey.”
The distance between
Victoria Falls and Kariba
is roughly 770km; and the
distance between Vic Falls
and Mana Pools, is about
800km.
However, time is the real
problem, according to Sally,
and it’s not advisable to
attempt this trip in one day.
3. South-North self-drive
Zimbabwe Holidays offers a
south-north self-drive option.
On the first day, travellers
cross the Beit Bridge border
post to Masvingo and on
to Great Zimbabwe, where
they can explore the ancient
stone structure. On the
second day, they make their
way to Bulawayo and on to
Matobo Hills where they can
see ‘the View of the World’
at Cecil Rhodes’ grave. The
next day’s drive will take
travellers to Hwange for a
safari experience and on the
last day, they drive to Victoria
Falls.
Cresta Churchill undergoes refurbishment
CRESTA Churchill Hotel in
Bulawayo is undergoing a
major refurbishment. The
first set of refurbished
rooms was completed
in time for the recent
Zimbabwe International
Trade Fair and the second
phase will be completed in
time for the next big event
in the city, the Mine Entra
exhibition later this month.
The refurbishment
includes the complete
refitting of bathrooms,
introduction of electronic
keys, installation of flatscreen
televisions, new
bedroom floors, international
plug points, USB chargers
and other fittings, as well as
repainting.
Glenn Stutchbury, ceo of
the Cresta Hotels group,
said: “We are pleased with
the stylish and modern look
of the new bedrooms and
suites and we are confident
these will quickly earn a
reputation for being the best
in the market in Bulawayo.
What we have sought is
ease and convenience, as
well as a classy, clean look
that suits all travelling types,
both local and international.
Chinese investors secured for Vic Falls development
MEDIA reports from
Zimbabwe say the country
has signed an agreement with
Chinese investors to develop
land near Victoria Falls. The
development has been on the
cards since 2013, with an
estimated cost of US$460m
(R6bn). There has been much
speculation around whether
the development includes
the concept ‘Disneyland in
Africa’.
Tourism Minister, Walter
Mzembi, said the theme
park and conference centre
were part of the vision for
a US$6bn (R80bn) tourism
industry in Victoria Falls,
which is classified as a
Unesco World Heritage Site.
“We have signed an
overarching agreement with
some Chinese developers for
a master plan to develop 300
hectares of land between the
airport and the Masue River,”
said the Minister.
Despite rumour around the
proposed Disneyland-style
project, a source told TNW
that a theme park was not
being built. The allocated
area for the development
will see a ‘new Victoria Falls’
equivalent to a revamped
CBD for the area.
However, other stakeholders
believe the project is not
appropriate for the location.
Charlene Hewat, ce of
the conservation group,
Environment Africa, says: “I
am not really sure that this
is the right kind of project for
one of the seven wonders of
the world. The Victoria Falls
does need a conference
centre but it needs to be
done in a way that fits in
with our environment and the
surrounds.”
Book it!
Air Holidays is offering two-night Vic Falls packages, inclusive of return
flights between Johannesburg and Livingstone, cross-border transfers
and breakfast each day. Rates for The Rainbow Hotel start from R1 845,
Cresta Sprayview Hotel from R2 490, A’Zambezi River Lodge from
R3 050 and The Victoria Falls Hotel from R6 550. All rates are pps and
exclude approximate airport taxes of R3 265. Valid until October 31
