Destination Update - September 2021

(Victoria Falls)

28 September 2021

September is known as the hot and dusty month of the year in Africa.

The grass is brown and the veld scarce and thin bringing with it the harsh but beautiful feeling of true Africa. The skies are clear and very often tainted with the smoke of bush fires as we wait longingly for the first and welcomed spattering of a mighty thunderstorm. The game viewing at this time of the year is fantastic with all the animals starting to move in their large numbers to the waterholes as the natural water sources dry out in the national parks.

Tony and I were privileged to go on a Game Drive last week with Charles Brightman from Discover Safaris to a small national park five minutes out of Vic Falls town called Chamabonda. Late in the heat of the afternoon whilst sitting at a water hole we saw 7 hyenas coming from various parts of the vlei and sitting in the water to cool off. In the many years I have lived in Africa, I had never witnessed this amazing and very special sighting – the afternoon was topped off with a visit to a Hyena Den with four little pups playing in the cool of the evening as the big red sun dropped into a dust filled horizon.
Why would you not want to visit and experience Africa in her full glory??

August/September, normally our peak season in Zimbabwe has seen small numbers of travellers enjoying Victoria Falls and the surrounding safaris areas. Sometimes being the only ones in their hotel or camp. The activities and even the much sought-after Livingstone Island and Devils Pool normally having to be booked months ahead struggling to get enough clients on the trips to run. Strange and surreal times – which we feel confident are certainly on their way out.

The plus side of this is that there are some great Special and Discounted Prices being offered by Hotels and Lodges both in Vic Falls and the surrounding game areas:
Specials for Internationals
Specials for SADC Residents
Specials for Zimbabwe Residents

Never has there been a better time to visit Zimbabwe and enjoy all it has to offer!! However, if you are travelling in 2022/23 don’t be fooled by this, we recommend you start your planning and get your bookings in ASAP. The reason being many itineraries have been postponed and referred from 2019/20 through and we are already struggling to find availability especially in the safari camps.

Germany has reopened travel with Zimbabwe and recognising it no longer as a high-risk country. Together with South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Eswatini. This means that travellers returning to Germany will no longer be required to quarantine. This is great news for our German visitors, and we trust that UK will be following them soon.

More Regional Flights links between Zimbabwe and South African are gradually opening in addition to those already offered by Airlink, Fastjet and now British Airways. Fast Jet and Air Zimbabwe have flights from Harare to Vic Falls.

The Government has agreed to the Kazungula (Botswana) and Livingstone (Zambia) Land Borders to open to double vaccinated travellers who still have to produce a Negative PCR test, but this has certainly made a big difference to tourists who have onward safaris to our neighbouring countries.

As agents, we have been kept on our toes with many questions and concerns regarding the Covid Regulations etc. I would certainly urge if you are travelling to the area that you do book through a friendly onsite agent who knows all the updated information (I even have the Port Health Officer on WhatsApp) to ensure that your trip runs smoothly and save you time and money. Booking online or directly with operators and hotels often ends in no one to talk to and a complete feeling of helplessness in what can be a stressful situation.

As the world opens and starts to remember the thrill of travel – we look forward to hearing from you and working with you to ensure that you have the most amazing adventure in our part of this Healing World.

Best wishes,

Boo and Tony