Zimbabwe Tourist Traps

 
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Victoria Falls Tours

by wrldtrvlr3341

A normal paid tour of Victoria Falls by the tour companies that go there is an extra $80USD when you can take a walk through the Victoria Falls Hotel property directly in back of the train station, and enter for $15USD which is the cost for the visa and entry. If you are living in Victoria Falls proper, and not at a distant located hotel (in such case you would need to pay for transportation into town anyway and there would not be much savings), the walk through the Victoria Falls Hotel property is refreshing as there is a great view of the Falls from the front of the hotel, benches in their gardens for sitting, resting, viewing, and patio restaurants where you can enjoy a great lunch with a view....and still come out paying half of what you would have paid for the tour alone. Touring the Falls on your own is non rushed, you have ample time to stop for photography, to just rest and...

MY GRANDFATHER’S BRACELET – VIC FALLS

by DAO

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! 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...

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THE SOUVENIR STALLS AT VICTORIA FALLS

by DAO

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

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Exploiting the driving tourist w/fuel tax

by hindu1936

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.

A sparse museum!

by TracyG

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. Look at everything there - it won't take you long. Have a walk around the town instead.

My Personal Thoughts:

by tini58de

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!

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Don't exchange money on the street

by kathyceo

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. 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...

by Bigs

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!!!

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"TRAPS? NOT TO WORRY!"

by safardreams

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 befriendsomeone that lives there. Thats what I did."NO PROBLEM" Just go enjoy the SUN-SETS.Have fun floating past some CROCS and HIPPOS!!

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Although Victoria Falls was...

by scooter3

Although Victoria Falls was beautiful, there are a lot of people trying to sell you things on the streets.. We didn't mind it because most of the things were things we would have wanted anyways, and for really good prices, but they can get a little annoying as they are very determined to sell you their products..

Tourist Attractions in Zimbabwe

Top 3 Hotels in Zimbabwe

Ilala Lodge  Victoria Falls

 3 Reviews and 175 Opinions  The hotel is really super, with very friendly staff. We are shown to room no. 26 on the same level... 

 Hotels in Victoria Falls

Holiday Inn Harare  Harare

 1 Review and 18 Opinions

 Hotels in Harare

Holiday Inn Bulawayo (Milnerton Avenue )  Bulawayo

 1 Review and 14 Opinions  service was allright rooms are very basic, clean but a little used the restaurant was a posivtive... 

 Hotels in Bulawayo

48 Hotels in Zimbabwe
 
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Reviews and photos of Zimbabwe attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Zimbabwe sightseeing.

Experience Zimbabwe
Tourist Traps: Cities in Zimbabwe
  1. Victoria Falls Tourist Traps
  2. Harare Tourist Traps
  3. Masvingo Tourist Traps

More Cities in Zimbabwe

 

Popular Regions in Zimbabwe

Matabeleland North Province Tourist Traps  Masvingo Province Tourist Traps 

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Questions and Answers

sicelos profile photo

Q:  What would you recommend for this forthcoming trip? I aim to spend a clubbing and fun period between Harare (28 to 30 Dec) and... 

IndianPacific profile photo

A: I haven't been to Harare but I have by accident ("The Blue Train" derailed there) stayed overnight in Bulawayo. It isn't a place I would go back to. As for the Victoria... 

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