I just wanted to let anyone who is planning on visiting
Zimbabwe know that you really do have to be careful there,
especially females. I was staying at the Africa Sun
Backpackers Lodge in Bulawayo, when the owner of this
business drugged and raped me. This place is listed first
in the Lonely Planet guide! This man has done this several
times before, targets tourists because they won't usually
hang around like I did to press charges. But he paid the
police off anyway, so is still out there.
Please spread the word about this place, and the owner,
Sebastian Kruger. I don't want this to happen to anyone
else.
As well as that, Bulawayo is very bad in terms of theives.
They mainly target tourists at train and bus stops, but also
threw my mother to the ground in broad daylight in the city
to steal her handbag.
BE CAREFUL IN ZIMBABWE, and you'll have a great time.
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I admire you for being brave enough to pursue this guy (obviously others weren't for various reasons) and then pass this information onto all of us. And like you say, you do have to be very careful, no matter where you are. It is unfortunate that you have had such an experience but I hope it will not deter you from exploring other parts of the world. Thank you.
Thank you for your post. I will be taking a group to
Zimbabwe for two months and will keep your warning in mind.
It is hard to share but so important. Stay strong
I'm going to Zimbabwe in Sept and I appreciate the warning
on this place. Hope you are okay and thanks again for the
tip.
Its warnings like that unfortunate incident, that amkes
this board work effectivly. Thank you. I do not wish to
have a trauma story when I return, but if I do, I will be
sure to post it, as should others.
Cian
just to reiterate - bulawayo has a very high crime rate,
especially muggers and pickpockets throughout downtown,
gangs of folks with no $$ and lots of time to hang out
waiting for random tourists to come through. don't fall for
the "deceptively quaint small town" feel!
~
if by any chance your passport is stolen, it may turn up
about three hours later in a garbage bin in the men's room
at the train station. also, because so few people stick
around in the area there is little chance of a prosecution
going through all the way (SUPPOSEDLY they need your
presence in court and/or an eyewitness to id the
perpetrator). however, i should say that the cops at the
central station downtown are nice, don't do bribes, and are
generally alright - especially nana, the front desk officer
who takes reports!
~
bec, i'm really sorry that you had such a bad experience,
but THANK YOU so much for the warning. it's appreciated!
Narrow escape we all had then