Tourist Attractions in Zimbabwe

1 more image

You are looking at pictures of an idiot. This guy hangs around the Bungee Jumping station on the bridge between the borders of Zimbabwe and Zambia. He will show you a small cloth with a few copper coloured bracelets inside. He will go on to explain that he has hand-made them as his dearly departed Grandfather taught him as a child. He may even elaborate about how it took years to learn the craft. It is all lies. They are made by machines in factories. There are other idiots just like him all over Livingston. I had 2 of them together at one point in town when one of them starts with the ‘Grandfather taught me’ while the guy next to him had identical bracelets held out a few inches away!

Unique Suggestions:

I took pictures of this guy because he is the worst. He will start by sounding like he works with the bungee jumping people. He does not. He will follow you and will also follow you again when you return over the bridge. He is a major nuisance. Just keep saying ‘NO’ in a slightly loud manner. Most scurry away, not this guy. Do not even speak to him if you see him. And do not buy the bracelets unless you really want them and you should only pay $2-3.

Just across the road from the entrance to Victoria Falls is a free car parking area and a row of stalls all selling the same things. Mostly postcards and soft drinks from Zambia. They are all uniformly aggressive, high priced and unhelpful. They will happily overcharge you for everything and not negotiate.

Unique Suggestions: Buy only what you need and at least be rude. It made me feel better.

Fun Alternatives: If you really need postcards or other souvenirs, go into town and try and negotiate. Or better yet, go to the Zambian side and set the price and argue until you get it. The sellers have fleeced tourists for years and don’t seem to realise that there is a lot less on the Zim side now.

Zimbabwe has placed a tax on all tourists entering the country. Nothing so bad about that. They also tax the vehicle you arrive in. Okay. They also tax you Z1000 for each liter of fuel you have, a tax (carbon) for the size of the motor, a bridge tax, a road tax and a toll tax. You also must pay a sticker tax. You buy the sticker. It doesn't do any good, but you have to have it. For one person entering the country in a normal size car with a tank of fuel, this can easily hit 400 bucks just to get in and that does NOT include visa, carnet, insurance, or permit to drive in the parks. We are avoiding this by going up a bit farther into Mozambique and then into Zambia which has more relaxed taxes.

When Zimbabwe cannot get any more money from the citizens guess which cash box they turn to? The tourist. Recommendation. write them a letter and then stay away.

The Mutare Museum in Mutare (not so suprisingly!) Has a US$ 2 entrance fee and it simply isn't worth it, the museum was half empty when I was there but maybe it has improved.

Unique Suggestions: Look at everything there - it won't take you long.

Fun Alternatives: Have a walk around the town instead.

now this is a very personal thing and not really a trap:

we went to the Elephant Hills Hotel to change money, enjoy the resort and have dinner there. And I just didn't like it, because this resort was so high class and all the rich white people were relaxing there and it popped to my mind: just like in colonial times!!! That was just not my style!

These men and boys approach from all directions, they are very persistant and annoying. Granted, they are just trying to get by, like everyone. You can be arrested if you are caught exchanging money with them, not to mention anything else that could happen.

Fun Alternatives: The boys on the street selling carvings are willing to negotiate and have very nice items, as good as you will find any place else. We bought a few things from them, but they will keep coming back, whether you buy or not. They will negotiate for your shoes!

I think that the guy at the Zambian border (in Vic Falls) took to many dollars to let me in....I'm not quite sure about that....It took a while to get into Zambia, cause the guys loved to be important and they also loved to stamp your passport!!!

Just go and get into the safari!! I didn't have any trouble with any tourist TRAP! If you feel unsafe or unsure, have your guide or befriend
someone that lives there. Thats what I did.
"NO PROBLEM" Just go enjoy the SUN-SETS.
Have fun floating past some CROCS and
HIPPOS!!