Zimbabwe - Sliding Around the Falls

Visitors are still able to go to Victoria Falls, but conditions in much of Zimbabwe are dreadful for locals. If you want to see wildlife in the national parks, there is a way to have a good safari, and help the local people. Here is a report from a colleague who lives there:

Regarding �food and fuel shortages that sadly plague the country. As the tourism industry earns hard currency, hotels and other tourism suppliers are able to import all the commodities they require to maintain their operations to a standard expected by international visitors. Consequently tourists do not feel the pinch of food shortages and the lack of fuel, and continue to enjoy the high standards of service in our camps and elsewhere.

Wilderness Safaris recommends all guests fly into Victoria Falls from Johannesburg. After enjoying all the varied and superb experiences Victoria Falls has to offer � we FLY our guests from camp to camp, all of which are in totally safe National Park areas far removed from any urban hotspots. Our guests do not venture into the cities or farming areas at all, so are completely safe. Wilderness Safaris has continued to operate successfully in Zimbabwe since the advent of the current political situation. Wilderness Safaris will not operate any itinerary if there is the remotest concern of potential danger to our guests.

Living in Victoria Falls, with my husband and children, I feel I can give an honest assessment of our security, etc. Our town revolves around tourism and has always been a haven of tranquility. There is no doubt that our country is in a state of crises, however, this really only affects the people living in the larger cities of Harare & Bulawayo�. as a resident of Vic Falls, I can personally assure you that the town is an area of peace and tranquility.

The National Parks in Zimbabwe desperately need visitors. The revenue earned from tourists is currently keeping the Parks alive. Without tourists the Parks� infrastructure will deteriorate and collapse. Right now we are seeing that tourism = conservation. We are playing a vital role with the Parks to assist in problem animal control, and we sponsor the diesel to operate the water-pumps in Hwange National Park to keep the waterholes functioning, and the game alive!� June, 2003

As an alternative, ask us about nearby Zambia, where you can see Victoria Falls from Livingstone Island, a World Heritage site, where David Livingstone first saw what locals called �the Smoke That Thunders.� You reach the island via canoe, maneuvering among hippo and crocs, as described on the cover of J. Peterman�s autobiography.

To read more about John Peterman�s adventures