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camelman



Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3308

United Kingdom 
Zimbabwe
Just back in from 3 weeks in Zimbabwe. Arrived the day after the elections but were out in the bush so no dramas.
We ended up with a Ford Ranger 3.2 Auto and a Hilux. The Ford returned 30mpg the whole trip, not bad considering the amount of kit onboard.


At Mana Pools we had Lions, Hyena, Elephants and Hippos wandering around our camp each night! Had to keep a close eye on the kids....

Took the ferry the length of Kariba as the alternative drive is a total pain.

Cage diving with Crocs was a first for me Smile.

Camping in Mana Pools

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Don't want to fall in the water around here!

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Victoria Falls

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The Milky Way seen from Hwange

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Ele's crossing from Zambia to Zimbabwe

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Sunset over the Zambezi

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Sunrise over the Zambezi

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Lunchtime....

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Post #724348 20th Aug 2018 11:42am
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williamthedog



Member Since: 29 Dec 2012
Location: south wales
Posts: 3441

2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 PU Tamar Blue
Awesome pictures especially that of the night sky Thumbs Up
Post #724365 20th Aug 2018 1:20pm
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Grenadier



Member Since: 23 Jul 2014
Location: The foot of Mont Blanc...
Posts: 5765

France 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Corris Grey
Lucky, lucky boy. Great trip by the looks of things. Thumbs Up Monsieur Le Grenadier

I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list.....

2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey
Post #724372 20th Aug 2018 1:47pm
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familymad



Member Since: 13 Dec 2011
Location: Bucks
Posts: 3459

 2016 Defender 130 Puma 2.2 HCPU Santorini Black
Looks awesome. That’s our plan for 2019 but hadn’t thought of Zim until this post. Have been there twice before but that’s when BA flew direct from LHR and times were better.

Which hire company did you use? Rough costs for three weeks? We have 5 in total and suppose we would have to take 2 vehicles ? Was it self guided? Are you buying a ranger Whistle 1951 80" S1 2.0
1995 110 300TDI
1995 90 300TDI
Post #724375 20th Aug 2018 2:06pm
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Eduardo



Member Since: 28 Aug 2008
Location: Región Metropolitana
Posts: 2108

Chile 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Stornoway Grey
Nice trip Camelman. Eduardo

MY 2007 110 SW PUMA 2.4: Big Fog of 64'
MY 1994 Jayco 1207 Folding camper: "El Tremendo"

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Post #724380 20th Aug 2018 3:01pm
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JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7866

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
Great photos and sounds an awesome trip! But you can keep your cage diving with crocodiles Shocked James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers
Post #724381 20th Aug 2018 3:03pm
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kmac



Member Since: 07 Oct 2009
Location: Middlesex
Posts: 1294

United Kingdom 2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
Simply awesome!! Would love to do this one day (apart from the cage diving).
Post #724384 20th Aug 2018 3:07pm
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strang



Member Since: 16 May 2012
Location: Happy Valley
Posts: 1361

United Kingdom 2009 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Galway Green
Great pictures - those African sunsets are amazing! Euro-Leafing to infinity and beyond.....
Post #724418 20th Aug 2018 5:24pm
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camelman



Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3308

United Kingdom 
familymad wrote:
Looks awesome. That’s our plan for 2019 but hadn’t thought of Zim until this post. Have been there twice before but that’s when BA flew direct from LHR and times were better.

Which hire company did you use? Rough costs for three weeks? We have 5 in total and suppose we would have to take 2 vehicles ? Was it self guided? Are you buying a ranger Whistle




We had a family of 5 and 1 of 4 and fitted in 2 trucks between us.

Booked flights in and out of Lusaka as Zim was looking a bit iffy at the point of booking.

Truck Hire was around £2500 for 17 days per car, fuel is around £1/litre. We used a local company called 'Citydrive'. They also supplied another truck (the Toyota) from www.thewildlifeafrica.com who seemed a bit more clued up.

Was all self guided, mostly booked online before we left as the parks can get busy. A few nights we'd left flexible and sorted camps out on the fly.

Zim is a great place to visit, people very friendly and loads to see and do, not just the game parks.

The Ranger was great, loads of Power and good on the juice, Autobox just got on with it.... 
Post #724432 20th Aug 2018 5:51pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 7664

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
great pics and looks to have been a great trip. i am looking into this for next year, we have been to Namibia, now looking for something else. any hints on where is good to start looking for park bookings etc? Cheers

James
110 XS Utility
130 Puma Station wagon/camper (in the making)
90 Puma Hardtop
Post #724519 21st Aug 2018 7:36am
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camelman



Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3308

United Kingdom 
jst,
we booked all of the parks directly via email, we did come across a company when we were out there who, for US $125, would arrange all bookings, park entries , lodges, private campsites etc if you just tell them roughly what you want. I'll dig their details out and put the link up as we spent a fair amount of time over a number of months sorting all that out.


Zim is great and very different to Namibia (where I lived for a couple of years Smile ) , as is often the case, 2 or 3 weeks isn't enough to see everything! 
Post #724531 21st Aug 2018 9:35am
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familymad



Member Since: 13 Dec 2011
Location: Bucks
Posts: 3459

 2016 Defender 130 Puma 2.2 HCPU Santorini Black
Amazing info thanks. We had considered shipping the 130 to Namibia next year but figured the costs would outweigh the benefits and it would probably be stripped to its component parts but the time we get to it!

I have saved the thread and the links. Need to get home from a Morocco first! One day left Big Cry 1951 80" S1 2.0
1995 110 300TDI
1995 90 300TDI
Post #724532 21st Aug 2018 9:38am
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camelman



Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3308

United Kingdom 
Yep, the time you factor in shipping both ways, insurance, carnet etc you are into silly money, only really worth it if you're going on an extended trip for a couple of months or more. I did that way back when but shipped to Namibia and drove home Smile.

We did Namibia with the kids a couple of years back, rented a couple of fully kitted out Landcruisers and I think it was around £2700 for 2 weeks (depending on rand exchange rate). We got them through www.bushlore.com who were very efficient.

Some photos from that trip here: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic48577.html?highlight=namibia

There was plenty space in the cruisers but to be honest, I think the hilux / ford ranger double cab type set up is probably better as they're better on the juice and quicker on the long tarmac sections. Not quite as much space in the load area at the back but enough for supplies and 4 decent sized kit bags.



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Post #724535 21st Aug 2018 10:02am
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 7664

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
thats all great info, thank you, any links would be great. will revisit Namibia and look through your links too, thank you. Cheers

James
110 XS Utility
130 Puma Station wagon/camper (in the making)
90 Puma Hardtop
Post #724545 21st Aug 2018 10:58am
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camelman



Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3308

United Kingdom 
A couple of more pics from the trip.....

Close encounters

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Buffalo Herds


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Don't go raking around in the bushes!


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Crocs everywhere....


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The border crossing at Vic Falls


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Kudu, best served medium rare Smile


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Watch out, I'm coming through!!


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Post #724586 21st Aug 2018 2:24pm
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