For those Driving, a little help...

For those of you driving here are a few more border details that I could find: 

Entering from SA into Bots

South African side requires you to complete a customs document, and get your passport stamped.

Botswana side requires passport stamped, and driver to get a road permit, insurance and pay towards the road fund.

Total APPROXIMATE Cost 170.00 Pula or R182.00 (1P = R1.10)

Entering from Bots to Zim

Probable Vehicle Cost: incolved with South African registered vehicles is around R600 and an extra cost of R80-R120 for a trailer.  

Friday the 6th Jan - Wedding Warm Up!!! :)

Hi guys

I'm wanting to provide dinner (braai) for everyone on the friday evening before the wedding and I guess it could also double up as a recital dinner thingymabob as well :) Please come along and have a bite with us! 

Candz and I would love to spend time with everyone before the wedding as well and its also a great time for everyone to sort of meet each other and touch base before the big day! It think its also awesome for all our family and friends to all get to know whose who in the zoo :)

So please can you email me to confirm that you'll be there on Friday evening (04/01/13) at Musketeers Lodge? I will give directions and all sorts, also let me know how many people will be coming.

my email address is moodleyco@gmail.com.

Great guys, excited much hey!!!!!

Money matters and other things....

Okay well thankfully, unlike the chap in the picture, Zimbabwe now uses the US dollar. Seeing that they still in economic recovery, all the shops in Zimbabwe will willing accept Rand or Pula quite happily. 

So while it might make things a little easier to bring USD, bringing along rand is more than fine as well. I only ever take a few hundred dollars ($250-300) just in case there is a shop owner who forget the exchange rate and makes up his own.  The exchange rate it R9 = $1 

The main grocery shop is called "TM" and they are like your Pick n' Pay or Checkers here at home. 

They are usually very well stocked and have pretty much all the foods and products that we get here in SA. They are quite a trustworthy shop in terms of you paying in Rand or Pula. 

Also there's some good news for those you prefer to shop at a more familiar place. Candz told me that Bulawayo has just got a new Fruit & Veg city up there and she says that they are quite reasonable. I will try find out the exact address for those of you who want to know. 

Unfortunately, there are no card machines or facilities for you to pay be Card in Bulawayo, unless you have a Zim bank account. So cash, while not the safest, is the most advisable to carry. Travellers checks are also an option but again its NOT an absolute must have. If you are going to Victoria Falls then they have card facilities and accept international cards due to them having to be geared for all tourist. 

Another thing that people have been asking me is about the petrol situation. 

Petrol is about a rand or so more expensive in Zimbabwe and they only have your basic - petrol (LRP & Unleaded) and diesel! Unfortunately, there's no variety in terms of the grades of petrol (95 or 93) or diesel. 

So PLEASE PLEASE ask them exactly what fuel they are putting in before they start anything, I hate for them to put LRP into a car that takes unleaded. I'm also just taking a jerri can although Zim petrol stations are quite reliable nowadays, so if you dont have a jerri then you still be 100% fine. I would however suggest that you fill up in Bots before hitting Zim. Just as a matter of interest, there is a filling station and bureau de change as soon as you cross the SA-Bots border. 

Also when you get to the borders, if you unsure about where to go or what to do there's security at most entry points to the gates and the buildings so ask them, they usually more than willing to let you know where and what to do. For more on border details in terms of the papers you have to fill out there, check out the second blog post. 

Another travel tip, please ensure that everyone is wearing a seat belt when you approach roadblocks and tolls, even the passengers in the back of the car. Also please be aware of random pedestrians and animals on the road, as well the odd donkey kart. Please as mention in a previous post, keep your TIP (Temporary Import Permit) at hand, they will ask for it. 

Thats all for now folks! 13 and a half days until the wedding now....... yeah! :)

Last minute booking options

Just in case you haven already managed to find accommodation in Bulawayo then here is a list that I put together from some places that I found on the net, they all very different and vary in terms of the number stars they have (if any). Some are hotels, others B&Bs and then there's also backpackers for those choosing to rough it a little.

Just a word of advice before making a booking, use Google maps to check where exactly in Bulawayo these places are located, not sure if you want to be smack bang in the middle of the city or way out in the bush.

Also together with the list below, check out this site for Bulawayo, it has list of about 20 different places:

http://www.safarinow.com/destinations/bulawayo/hub.aspx

Accommodation List:

·         Holiday Inn Bulawayo: http://www.southtravels.com/africa/zimbabwe/holidayinnbulawayo/index.html#rooms

·         The Nesbitt Castle: http://www.southtravels.com/africa/zimbabwe/thenesbittcastle/index.html

·         Hornug Park Lodge: http://www.southtravels.com/africa/zimbabwe/hornungparklodge/index.html

·         Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel: http://www.southtravels.com/africa/zimbabwe/bulawayorainbowhotel/index.html

·         Southern Comfort Lodge: http://www.kwathabeng.co.za/travel/zimbabwe/destinations.html?location=Bulawayo&type=Bed+And+Breakfast&list=true

·         Garda Lodge: http://www.kwathabeng.co.za/travel/zimbabwe/destinations.html?location=Bulawayo&type=Bed+And+Breakfast&list=true

·         Tshulu Tasha Nabe Lodge: http://www.kwathabeng.co.za/travel/zimbabwe/destinations.html?location=Bulawayo&type=Bed+And+Breakfast&list=true

·         Turk Mine Lodge: (possibly hire whole thing out sleeps 29 self catering) http://www.kwathabeng.co.za/travel/zimbabwe/destinations.html?location=Bulawayo&type=Bed+And+Breakfast&list=true

·         The Bulawayo Club: http://www.kwathabeng.co.za/travel/zimbabwe/destinations.html?location=Bulawayo&type=Bed+And+Breakfast&list=true

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·         Victoria Falls (4.5 hour drive from BULWAYO) Also look at the link below to find Victoria Falls Accommodation: http://www.safarinow.com/destinations/victoria-falls/hub.aspx

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o   The Victoria Falls Hotel: http://www.africansunhotels.com/Index.cfm?fuseaction=hotels.info&name=the_victoria_falls_hotel

o   The Kingdom at Victoria Falls: http://www.africansunhotels.com/Index.cfm?fuseaction=hotels.info&name=the_kingdomat_victoria_falls

Almost there now! T-minus 25days and counting!

First up, I'm must apologize for being such a fail at blogging! Seriously the last post was so long ago that you probably forgot that there was even a wedding blog in the first place!

Everyone's probably hitting Christmas fever now, the malls was so busy on Saturday that I couldn't breathe but flip its great to see all the decorations up and to hear the carols playing in the background! So I hope that everyone is looking forward to special Christmas with the family!

So again I'm sorry for the neglect! Here we go here a few things that you should really have when driving up to zim:

1. Passports (If you dont have it yet, dont panic Home Affairs has become super efficient and you can get one in about a week now, no joke!)
2. Cross-border Letter - car insurance papers stating that they are aware that you will be leaving RSA. (Contact insurer)
3. If the car is not in your name, then you need a letter from the person whose name it is in stating that they have given you permission to take the car, also a certified copy of their and your ID should accompany this letter.
4. Finance Letter from your Bank if the car is not already paid off.
5. Log Book of the vehicle you will be driving. 
6. ALL OF THE ABOVE IS NEEDED FOR A TRAILER AS WELL! (over and above the car papers needed and you will have to pay slightly higher fees at the border when entering.) If you have a trailer then you also need to stick reflective "T" on a black background. Also you will need a strip of red reflective tape that runs across the width of the back of the trailer.

There's is no need for an international drivers license, just a valid South African License. Also, just as a reminder, please keep your TIP (Temporary Import Permit) on hand when travelling through Zim, this you'll receive at the border. 

Ok that all in terms of the paper work that is needed, and I'm so sorry that I'm putting this up now! 

In terms of the vehicle, Zim seems to bring out new laws whenever they feel like doing so, here are what you need to have in and on your car, because no doubt the police "road-blocks" will be trying there luck with every SA vehicle they come across. My advice to you is to just be as friendly and respectful as possible, they are way more likely to just wave you through. Ok, so here's the list, some items might seem a little crazy but they will ask...

1. Two reflective triangles (If you get stuck or a flat, one in the front and one at the back)
2. A reflective vest of some sort (oranje/yellow) so if you get out of the car while you stuck then you more visible, this item I reckon is quite a good must have. (Midas and Moosa's stock these)
3. A 1kg fire extinguisher for light vehicles (which you can get for about R120 at Midas) and a 1,5 kg one for heavy vehicles.
4. White and Red Relective Tape: Two small white rectangular size strips on the right and left side of the front bumper, as well as two small red square strips on the right and left side of the rear bumper.
5. A ZA sticker is not necessary, Candy assures me of this. 
6. Please also when approaching "road blocks" ensure that everyone in the vehicle has their seat-belt on, even those passengers sitting in the back. 

Ok this all seems like a huge lot to digest and to add to your checklist for Zim 2013! I will definitely be posting more often now, even if it just normal wedding stuff. 

Also, if you travelling to Vic Falls, then I have a friend there who works for Wild Horizons and she would more than willing to help you out with any touristy information that you need. Here name is Khema Nathoo and here contact details are khema.nathoo@facebook.com or khemanathoo on Skype. 

Uhm ya... I reckon that's all for now, I'm getting really excited now, 25days to go and I cant wait for the 5th to be here, especially since Candz is already in Zim now! :(  

Anyways, there's still lots of little things to do here and there so time to get busy again. Please I really want help make your Zim trip as easy and as enjoyable as possible. So if you need any assistance with anything please please call me or email me or facebook me! 

Also for those of you who have gone and done some research on the internet and you see that I've forgot to mention something, then please either add it in a comment or let know when you get chance, thanks! :)

Cool stuff!