MakiraMarlena
It's a big black fish to you
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2005
Just read this report all in one sitting and it was wonderful. Loved all the pictures. Maybe this will end up on my bucket list of ABD trips. Need to complete the first one Dec 2018
As some of you have seen on the news, the President of Zimbabwe was overthrown by the military this week. So, probably not the best time to plan a trip there until things settle down. There's a long dark history with the (former?) President, but I think it's safe to assume he did not want to give up power even while Zimbabwe's people have been struggling. Hopefully it will be for the best as I can attest the people were lovely and country was well worth visiting. It's a little surreal though having seen it 3 months before a military coup.
In other political news, our Interior Department has started issuing permits for elephant trophy hunting in Zimbabwe and Zambia.... no words. It was told to us by 2030 there may be no elephants left in the wild. Awful.
Thanks you! Glad you enjoyed it!
As some of you have seen on the news, the President of Zimbabwe was overthrown by the military this week. So, probably not the best time to plan a trip there until things settle down. There's a long dark history with the (former?) President, but I think it's safe to assume he did not want to give up power even while Zimbabwe's people have been struggling. Hopefully it will be for the best as I can attest the people were lovely and country was well worth visiting. It's a little surreal though having seen it 3 months before a military coup.
Thank you for taking the time to write such a great trip report. My family (2 adults, DD 18, DS 16) are booked on this ABD for June/July 2018 (only 6 months to go), so we will definitely be using your tips.
For your post-trip to Victoria Falls, why did you choose the Zimbabwe side over Zambia? I’m still making arrangements for that portion of our trip. I had read that a lot of people fly into Livingstone, Zambia to see the falls and then do the Botswana excursion, but your trip via Victoria Falls Airport, Zimbabwe looks great, too.
Silly question for people that went oyo and with adventures by disney any safety hints or problems you faced.I chose the Zimbabwe side for a couple of reasons. I wanted to stay specifically at the Victoria Falls Hotel. And from what I read, the best views from of the Falls were on the Zim side. I can’t really compare as we didn’t have time to go to the Zambia side, but I can assure you we had a great experience. I’m not sure if the current political issues would change any of this. I would consider working with a local travel specialist to see what they recommend. I used Rhino Africa, but there are many.
Silly question for people that went oyo and with adventures by disney any safety hints or problems you faced.
Silly question for people that went oyo and with adventures by disney any safety hints or problems you faced.
We left our hotel (the Cape Grace) on foot after dark to head to the V&A shopping arcade on the recommendation of the concierge at our hotel (side note -- the pedestrian bridge adjacent to the hotel is closed so we had to walk the long way around to the shopping arcade). Getting there wasn't an issue. However coming back the area was completely deserted and we (my teenage daughter and I) had a pack of teenagers follow us most of the way up a dark passage between a vacant parking lot and the water. I have never, on all my travels, felt so vulnerable. Now I am an avid athlete and my daughter is also a competitive athlete as well, so when I realized we were being followed (or they just happened to be going the same way as us), I quickened our pace to an almost jog. When we got back to the hotel I realized how shaken I was as those kids didn't look like they belonged in the area. So, to answer your question, I would not recommend being in the waterfront area of Cape Town alone on foot after dark. Use hotel cars or cabs (like we did for the remainder of our stay). I will also add that I was very upset that the Cape Grace would give such poor advice to their guests and let them know.
All other areas of South Africa and Zambia we visited were perfectly safe (another side note -- we were never alone in Zambia -- we only left the lodge with a guide as were in a rather remote area).
We were not on the ABD South Africa tour - we did the tour on our own and it was AMAZING. Such a beautiful country.
I would send a letter to Cape Grace that is not good enough
I first started reading your trip reports because we are booked on the China ABD ne t month and between your 2 reports and the ones from Say Hello and Calyso I feel that I am very well prepared and excited. I enjoyed your 2 China reports so much I have been making my way through the rest of yours. I heard a lot about your trip first hand since Jennae flew right from SA to join us for our Prague extension after our Danube ABD last summer. She told us that SA was her top recommended ABD of all time and I can see why. Your photos were absolutely breathtaking and I have loved following along with you.
Enjoy the rest of your time in Spain! When you get a chance, I would love to hear your thoughts on the Spain ABD. Looking to book Spain ABD or Morocco Nation Geo. next year. How museum heavy is Spain? Is there a good mix of activity/adventure vs. whisperer time?