No place on Earth is being as closely watched this week as Zimbabwe. The world is on tenterhooks, eagerly waiting to hear whether Mugabe will be unseated.

GoTravel24.com speaks to Zimbabwe tour operator Brett MacDonald, who appears to be a lone voice of light amidst the doom and gloom of Zimbabwe's disintegrating economy.

In 1999, tourism in Zimbabwe was a thriving cash cow, with a reported 1.4-million tourists visiting the then bustling safari mecca. Mugabe's land reform policy was then implement in 2000, and its effects soon hit - hard. Figures of those visiting the country plummeted by half, the start of steady decline thanks to an environment of mega inflation, a crashing economy, fuel shortages and a serious case of negative publicity.

But like South Africa can Zimbabwe also escape what could be considered the African continents' version of democracy and the reported doom and gloom?

Perception is nine-tenths of the truth

"Zimbabwe is safe and always has been," says tour operator Brett MacDonald, one of the first farmers to fall victim to the land reform policy. He headed to South Africa as a refugee in March 2000 and since then he has been arranging tours between the two countries.

His comparison of safety in the country to be that of an average day in Johannesburg is up for debate, but what stands out most is what he claims is the heart-cry of the Zimbabwean people.

"As a people, Zimbabweans are placid and peaceful. They've had enough of politics and desperately want the situation to improve. "

A view to kill

Many tourists have avoided visiting the country out the fear created by negative perceptions and the moral obligation of not wanting to support Mugabe in any way. With the changing climate many more may want to plum its obvious advantage over Zambia when it comes to viewing world heritage site, the Victoria Falls. "I'd urge people to start visiting as soon as possible," says Brett.

He claims its one of the few places to have an isolated bush experience without being charged an arm and a leg. "In the Kruger you have at least three vans surrounding one leopard hunt. Not only that, at Hwange National Park we'll show you how to really put your 4x4 to the test."

The terrain is diverse as Brett points out. View the big five in total isolation at Whange, or spot them along the shoreline of Lake Kariba, as you enjoy a luxury cruise. Beyond that there's the Eastern Highlands, very similar to those of Scotland, where you can tiger fish to your heart's content or simply wander along the fields of heather.

Get it while the going's good

The stability of the political climate will determine the rate at which investors start moving back. The country has an unemployment rate 80 percent and tourism presents the opportunity of a quick turn-around.

But for entrepreneurs like MacDonald, the opportunity is now. "I had the pleasure of attending a breakfast with Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, and he considers Zimbabwe to be the best place for investment. To get in from the bottom up is the best approach."

"All said and done it can't get any worse when it comes to tourism," speculates Brett. His advice to South Africans wanting to visit the country is "come and learn from our mistakes. Land reform might be moving at a snail's pace in South Africa but it's inevitable. We've been through it and have loads to share, not electricity that is."

South Africans can't deny the trend of visiting Europe and Asia before exploring their own continent, but with the majestic splendour of Victoria Falls, Great Zimbabwe and Lake Kariba on our doorstep, an affordable adventure is just around the corner.

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