Were you there?

'Travels to Zimbabwe' was blogging for Zimfest!

Did you make it to Zimfest in London 2010? It was a massive success with talented Zimbo's performing like Henry Olonga taking the stage. If you were there and would like to share your stories and pics. Please let me know!

Check out the website for all the details http://www.zimfestlive.com/

Travels to Zimbabwe is Tweeting!!

'Travels to Zimbabwe' is tweeting!! Find and follow on http://twitter.com/travelstozim

Travel to Zimbabwe

'Travels to Zimbabwe' is a blog for anyone who is thinking of going to Zimbabwe on holiday. I put it together after travelling to Zimbabwe for Christmas 2009 mainly because I could not find any information on going to Zim anywhere on the internet!

I am a born-and-bred Zimbo so this blog is probably going to be most useful to the Zimbabwean diaspora but I hope that it will encourage all adventurous travellers to ignore the bad press and fly off to visit a country full of vibrant and loving people in one of the most beautiful locations in the world!

Read through my posts or have a look through the archives to find out all you need to know about Visas, what to take, what to buy (and where to buy it) and where to go!

Unfortunately my Christmas trip was not long enough to make it possible for us to go everywhere and see anything in beautiful Zimbabwe so this blog does not list restaurants etc but I hope it is enough to give you a pretty good idea.

Please leave comments or drop me an email at marketingzimbabwe@googlemail.com to let me know what you would like to see more of or to let me know if you would like to contribute to the blog!

Our beautiful Zimbabwe...

Many thanks to Amanda for sharing her wonderful pictures with all the rest of us homesick Zimbos.

Photos of Zimbabwe

Give yourself a treat and check out some really special pictures of Zim. Just click on the link below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42246187@N07/sets/72157623168752678/

If you would like to share your photos of Zimbabwe please email me on marketingzimbabwe@googlemail.com

What to pack

Everything is done in US $ in Zimbabwe now and you can pretty much buy anything you like - including petrol. That said, if you are looking for ultra-modern high-tech gadgets you are going to the wrong place.

I was recently told that ATM's in Zimbabwe are VERY unreliable so I think it is really worthwhile to take all the cash you think you will need when you go to Zim!

WHAT YOU NEED TO PACK

• Running water is a real luxury in Zimbabwe and imported goods are expensive so if you like having clean hands take a BIG bottle of alcohol gel/rub to keep you clean and sparkly on your travels.
• While we are on the subject of water a couple of water sterilization tablets in your baggage wouldn't be wasted space.
• Incidentals like Darrolyte, pens, paper, torches, batteries etc are low quality and three times as expensive in Zimbabwe as in the UK so it's worth taking as much as you can with you-they make great presents too!
• If (like me) you only remember Zim as being lovely and warm you need to think again! We arrived mid-December and hadn't packed a single jumper between us. For the first few days it rained continuously and it was really cold, so, if you feel the cold take something warm and snuggly for those climate change inspired days ;-)
• A change of knickers in your hand luggage can be more valuable than gold; a lesson hard learnt by us after a 17 hour delay!
• Pain killers - paracetamol tablets are nearly US $2.00 for 20
• Coffee - a 200gm of Nescafe can cost up to US $20.00
• It's not worth taking insect repellant / bug spray with you because the stuff you get in Zim REALLY WORKS!

If you think of something that needs to go on the packing list please email details to marketingzimbabwe@googlemail.com

The Journey

INSPECT YOUR BOARDING PASS WHEN YOU CHECK IN AT HEATHROW (or whichever airport you are departing from)

We had a nasty surprise when we arrived in Kenya and took a look at our boarding passes. A stop over that was meant to be under two hours turned into a 17 hour nightmare. Between us booking our tickets in July and leaving in December Air Kenya had changed their flight times and decided not to let their passengers know.

To cut a long story short no one could tell us what time we would arrive in Zimbabwe - not even the Air Hostess we questioned during the flight from Nairobi to Harare - so check your boarding pass at Heathrow and get glitches sorted out before you board!

Take your phone charger and LOTS of credit. Trying to get through to Zimbabwe from Kenya was disastrous! The only thing that worked was mobile to mobile calls and they cost a fortune (£1.50/minute)

SMOKING - our flight left from Heathrow and went via Amsterdam and Nairobi.

You CAN NOT smoke in Heathrow once you have gone through passport control

You CAN smoke in Amsterdam Airport (in designated smoking zones of course)

You CAN NOT smoke in Nairobi Airport

If you would like to post a comment on your journey to Zimbabwe please email details to marketingzimbabwe@googlemail.com