Australian Tourist Missing in Zimbabwe for Over a Week

An Australian tourist reported missing in Zimbabwe near Victoria Falls had been missing for nearly a week before that, according to new information released by national park officials.

An Australian tourist reported missing late last week near Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe had already been missing for nearly a week before that, according to new information released on Monday by national park officials. The 67-year-old tourist, whose name has not been released, was reported missing on Friday in the area near the Zimbabwe Victoria Falls National Park. Officials initially said a search with sniffer dogs was underway.

Missing Tourist Last Heard From on February 17

Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesman Tinashe Farawo revealed on Monday that the missing tourist is male and was last heard from on February 17. The tourist, who was traveling alone, was staying at a luxury lodge about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from the rainforest park. He informed the lodge management on February 17 that he was heading into the park, according to Farawo.

No Record of Tourist Entering the Park

However, Farawo stated that the man was not seen entering the park on CCTV footage reviewed later, nor was he among those recorded as entering the park, as is standard procedure for accountability and security purposes. Despite extensive searches, including reviewing CCTV footage, checking physical records at the entrance, and deploying search teams in the rainforest, there is no sign of the missing tourist.

Authorities Investigating Other Leads

Farawo refrained from disclosing any further details, citing ongoing investigations. Such incidents are rare in Victoria Falls, a popular tourist destination known for its majestic waterfall that plunges over 350 feet (108 meters) from the Zambezi River, creating a mist visible from miles away.

Search Efforts Underway

The parks agency deployed a team comprising police officers, rangers with sniffer dogs, professional ground trackers, and drones to track the Australian tourist on Friday. Farawo mentioned that similar cases have occurred in other parks, such as a German tourist who went missing in Matusadona National Park last October but was later found alive and well three days later.

The search for the missing Australian tourist continues in Zimbabwe, with authorities exploring various leads and utilizing advanced tracking methods. While such incidents are uncommon in Victoria Falls, they highlight the importance of safety measures and accountability in tourist destinations.