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#1
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Going Cape Town to Victoria Falls?
My wife and I will be in Cape Town in December and we would like to
see Victoria Falls. It would be just a quick trip to see the falls and return. My questions a How is the best way to do it? Independent or tour? Which tour company? Is Zimbabwe as unsafe as the reports imply? How do I maximize our safety? Thanks in advance |
#2
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Going Cape Town to Victoria Falls?
"Bob" wrote in message ... My wife and I will be in Cape Town in December and we would like to see Victoria Falls. It would be just a quick trip to see the falls and return. My questions a How is the best way to do it? Fly, don't drive. Any travel agent in CT will be able to book your flight(s) and accomodation for you. Make sure they arrange transport from the airport to town for you. Independent or tour? Independant. The falls are easily accessible and in plain view from anywhere in VicFalls (the town). You don't need a tour guide to show you which falls are the Vic Falls and where they are. The Victoria Hotel (or is it Vic Falls Hotel?) is close by and within easy walking distance. If not booked in there, there are taxi's. Which tour company? n/a Is Zimbabwe as unsafe as the reports imply? In Vic Falls itself you should be safe enough. My last visit to the rest of Zim was over 10 years ago - which then was a totally different kettle of fish. That beautiful country just ain't the same anymore - apparently. That alone is sufficient reason to have Mugabe strung up by the knackers. How do I maximize our safety? All normal touristic precautions should be applied. Beware of pickpockets, etc, etc. |
#3
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Going Cape Town to Victoria Falls?
Hallo Bob,
If you do not fly, this is no quick visit for it is a long way from CT to Vic Falls. If you would like to drive, hire a car and drive via Namibia to the Zambian side of the Falls. Koos Greeff Bob wrote in message ... My wife and I will be in Cape Town in December and we would like to see Victoria Falls. It would be just a quick trip to see the falls and return. My questions a How is the best way to do it? Independent or tour? Which tour company? Is Zimbabwe as unsafe as the reports imply? How do I maximize our safety? Thanks in advance |
#4
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Going Cape Town to Victoria Falls?
Is someone in Cape Town handling your
arrangements there? if so, they would have access to the best values for your Vic Falls trip. Newspapers always have deals advertised in the Travel Section. All you need: 1. r/t airfare - best fare I found today for a random set of December dates (10th to the 13th) was $550 USD p.p. But cheaper fares do come up from time to time. 2. accommodations - the Kingdom in Vic Falls is the best value. Big, splashy place and closest to the Falls. Victoria Falls Hotel is the grand old elegant hotel, and much more expensive - also very close to the Falls. Out of town, the Elephant Hills (which burned) has been beautifully restored. Free shuttle to town. 3. airport transfers - which are not cheap. You should be able to find a 'packaged' 2 night tour that combines all of these, plus (probably) a sunset cruise on the Zambezi (known usually as the 'booze cruise') and a tour of the Falls for about $ 700 - $800 p.p. from Cape Town. Maybe less.. Vic Falls, Zimbabwe is not really unsafe. Just hang on to your camera, purse, etc., when you are out and about. It is more depressing than unsafe, if you come to understand how hard life is there these days. Tourism is down - the government has ruined the economy - the Zim dollar is worthless - the people are helpless to do anything. In any case, get AS MUCH PREPAID in any package you buy, so you don't have any more out-of-pocket expenses than necessary. The exchange rate for western currency is one thing on the street, and extraordinarily less when you use a credit card. |
#5
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Going Cape Town to Victoria Falls?
"Bob" wrote in message
... My wife and I will be in Cape Town in December and we would like to see Victoria Falls. It would be just a quick trip to see the falls and return. My questions a It has been 6 or 7 years since we visited Victoria Falls, but based on our experience, these are my comments. (My wife grew up in Rhodesia.) How is the best way to do it? The ideal trip would take three of four weeks in a rented vehicle. Travel up the west coast of South Africa and Namibia and across the Capivi strip to Victoria Falls. Return through Botswana and Chobe and Okavango National Parks (this part requires a 4x4 - the alternative is to drive south through Zimbabwe and visit Hwange Park) and finally south through South Africa. For a quicker trip, fly. Last time we flew South African Air to Johannesburg and Zimbabwe Air to Bulawayo, Zim. where we rented a car and drove to Victoria Falls, visiting features like Matobos and Hwange parks. You could fly directly to Victoria Falls. Independent or tour? The people speak English and it is relatively easy to get around with a rented car (driving on the left and donkey carts on the highway are the main concerns). I would be more inclined to book local trips such as rafting on the Zambesi or a guided game tour, than a whole tour that limits you freedom of choice. In Victoria Falls, the small park along the top of the gorge at the falls is easily accessable on foot, but you could hire a local guide. Other attractions are "The Big Tree" and bartering with craftsmen for beautiful stone and wooden carvings and woven baskets. Tea on the terrace of the Victoria Falls Hotel overlooking the Zambesi gorge and the beautiful bridge to Zambia is an African classic you don't want to miss. Which tour company? We booked our accomodation through Zimbabwe National Parks. We visited the office in Bulawayo, but it would have been better to book in advance through the main office in Harare. At Victoria falls we had a chalet in a small park just out of town. We overlooked the Zambesi River and there were hippos grazing on the grass out front during the night. Facilities were spotlessly clean, but a little worn and patched. Cost was about $25 per night. We ate in restaurants, although the chalet had full cooking facilities and an attendant to do the dishes. Is Zimbabwe as unsafe as the reports imply? Most people in Zimbabwe know the coutry needs tourists to come and spend money and will treat you well. As with any country, there are a few people who will cause problems. I had a friend who was shot to death visiting the USA when he stopped to offer assistance to a motorist with car problems. Zimbabwe is not likely to be that risky. How do I maximize our safety? I got some great, motherly advice from a sales clerk in Bulawayo my first day in Zimbabwe. When I opened my wallet at the till she gave me a lecture to the effect that most of the people of Zimbabwe are very friendly and proud to show us their country, but many people are very poor. Please don't put temptation in their way by overt displays of wealth or by having more than just enough money to make the purchase visible in your wallet when making a purchase. It took me a while to learn to relax and slow down to "African time", but when I did I really enjoyed the people I met and had a great time. I hope your trip works out as well as ours did. Thanks in advance The current government is not encouraging to foreign visitors and is even worse for most of the people of Zimbabwe. I hope that the government would change within the next few years and try to delay my trip until after that happens, if possible. If I only had one chance to visit, I would take it regardless of the government. Scott Kelowna, BC, Canada |
#6
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Going Cape Town to Victoria Falls?
Bob,
Airfares: For airfares, try Nationwide Air as they fly direct Johannesburg - Livingstone (Zambia side of the Vic Fals) http://www.flynationwide.co.za Book a flight - Select Johannesburg to Livingstone Cost $290 Return, you will then still need to Book a flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg Cape Town to Johannesburg : $235 return Livingstone Lodge ($30 per night) http://www.livingstone-lodge.com/rates.html Tour Company: http://www.flamelily.co.za/pricelist.htm They have been doing this for the last 10 years plus and our company use them to book our flights through Africa. Email for up to date pricing Regards Justin Miles Live surfcam at Vic Bay on the Garden Route of South Africa http://www.midafricam.co.za/4/ "Bob" wrote in message ... My wife and I will be in Cape Town in December and we would like to see Victoria Falls. It would be just a quick trip to see the falls and return. My questions a How is the best way to do it? Independent or tour? Which tour company? Is Zimbabwe as unsafe as the reports imply? How do I maximize our safety? Thanks in advance |
#7
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Going Cape Town to Victoria Falls?
Justin,
Many thanks for your suggestions. I am going to be flying through JNB and can stop and fly to Livingstone. Bob On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 11:23:58 +0200, "Justin Miles" wrote: Bob, Airfares: For airfares, try Nationwide Air as they fly direct Johannesburg - Livingstone (Zambia side of the Vic Fals) http://www.flynationwide.co.za Book a flight - Select Johannesburg to Livingstone Cost $290 Return, you will then still need to Book a flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg Cape Town to Johannesburg : $235 return Livingstone Lodge ($30 per night) http://www.livingstone-lodge.com/rates.html Tour Company: http://www.flamelily.co.za/pricelist.htm They have been doing this for the last 10 years plus and our company use them to book our flights through Africa. Email for up to date pricing Regards Justin Miles Live surfcam at Vic Bay on the Garden Route of South Africa http://www.midafricam.co.za/4/ "Bob" wrote in message .. . My wife and I will be in Cape Town in December and we would like to see Victoria Falls. It would be just a quick trip to see the falls and return. My questions a How is the best way to do it? Independent or tour? Which tour company? Is Zimbabwe as unsafe as the reports imply? How do I maximize our safety? Thanks in advance |
#8
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Going Cape Town to Victoria Falls?
Bob wrote in message . ..
My wife and I will be in Cape Town in December and we would like to see Victoria Falls. It would be just a quick trip to see the falls and return. My questions a How is the best way to do it? Independent or tour? Which tour company? Is Zimbabwe as unsafe as the reports imply? How do I maximize our safety? Thanks in advance If you have a choice of hotels, Ilala Lodge is wonderful. Close to the falls, not as expensive as Vic Falls Hotel, but nice, comfortable and tasteful. Big rooms, nice terrace restaurant in the hotel, too. But do have tea/drinks at the Vic Falls Hotel...it's lovely. As previous posters mentioned, DO NOT use a credit card. The exchange rate for CC transactions is ridiculous. Don't change money at the hotels either...same ridiculous rates. ON the other hand-- and this is essential-- do not change money on the street, with the guys who accost you wherever you walk. They will offer a great rate, but you will get ripped off. Best places to change are the little moneychanging stalls in the marketplace. The rates when I was there were 5 or 6 times the official rate, and they are honest. Walk around and ask them for their rates...or if you are making a purchase in a store, sometimes the manager will accompany you to change money at one of these stalls. I got good rates this way, and saved some time. Obviously, you need a moneybelt to carry around your cash this way, but using it I had no problems. However, the zim dollar is so worthless, that my hundred dollars turned into a very large pile of zim dollars--wouldn't fit in my purse!! The change booth lady gave me a small plastic grocery bag to carry it back in...so if you have a medium sized, strong and opaque shopping bag, take that along for the zim dollars! |
#9
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Going Cape Town to Victoria Falls?
I would just like to say, anyone going to cape town , its worth your
time.i am from cape town and its beautiful, just keep street wise and you will be fine.Going with a tour group is the best advice i can give you, that way you will be safer and get too see more to. Have fun, amanda |
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