Zimbabwe on the Up and Up

Finally, it looks like Zimbabwe is getting out of its terrible economic slump. The coalition, forced on Mugabe after last year's elections, has helped stabilize the country and tourism is on the rise. According to a recent AP report, "The number of tourists visiting Zimbabwe this year has more than tripled". The initial number was so low, this probably sounds better than it is, but at least the trend is in the right direction. With the forced power sharing agreement many foreign governments have lifted their travel warnings, which has undoubtedly helped tourism. Zimbabwe was never very dangerous to visit, even during its worst times, but perception is everything and tourists are quite risk averse, after all they want to enjoy their holiday.

Mugabe's regime itself also put a lot of people off from visiting. The idea that your tourist dollars may end up in his pocket is not very appealing. But, of course, it's the ordinary man and woman in the street that really suffers when tourists don't come. No one to buy their crafts or stay at hotels where they work. Zimbabwe is blessed with the magnificent Victoria Falls, excellent national parks, beautiful landscapes, great fishing, golfing, rafting ... (you name it) and very friendly people. It has always been one of the safest countries to visit in Africa and one of the best to explore independently. Hopefully this recent upward trend will continue and Zimbabwe will be back on every tourist's Southern Africa itinerary. And hey, they're using the US Dollar as their currency now, you won't even have to change money when you get there.

_{Zimbabwean Pottery, Waiting For Buyers -- Getty Images/Neil Beer}