Would You Take your Mini 4 Pro to Zimbabwe next week?

[Dale D]

As I write this, on Labor Day (USA) September 1,2025, I am embarking on a 21 day safari to Zimbabwe September 11th, 10 days from now.

After weeks of back and forth correspondence (many mails) last November,2024, I was finally able to achieve this document, but the sender put in the (wrong) November dates (current time at that time), not the September 2025 days Sept 11-29. dates, I just noticed this yesterday in preparing and packing.

Many of you already know my story of my Mini 2 being confiscated at the Nairobi airport scanner , and the hours it took to retrieve it at the end of the trip. I only plan to fly over the two camps I am staying at and a run down the adjoining river. I have no plans to fly during the game drive, or over animals.

I am now considering putting the drone in my cargo pants instead of letting it go through the scanner on the entry to Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls Airport. I am extremely nervous about this.

Read this letter. from the CAAZ. Would you take the drone or leave it home? I am also bringing my Trust certificate, my EASA (European) certificate, all proof of ownership papers, and proof of insurance with me.

 

[Landshark99]

If that is all you will be using it for I would leave it at home.
My only trip to Kenya many years ago to do some special photography on a film, out in the Maasai Mara. When my assistant and I arrived at Nairobi airport we almost had all of camera equipment impounded, even though I had a carnet, a work permit and all the docs, the only thing that saved the day was I had arraigned for a customs broker who talked them out of it. I know people bring in cameras all the time, you just never know who you will get at entry. I used to travel all around the world for work and this was the first and only time anybody threatened to keep my equipment
Even stranger was when we left, I was shooting film back then, a few hundred rolls , the TSA like guy, at first refused to hand check my film, insisted it go on the belt. He finally consented and checked my film by putting one roll in each hand to see if there was any difference in weight for any of them.

 

[mavic3usa]

Hard to say but if it's only the drone you could lose as opposed to being detained or jailed then I would risk it. Would give you a good excuse to get a Mini 5 Pro.

 

[MS Coast]

I am now considering putting the drone in my cargo pants instead of letting it go through the scanner on the entry to Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls Airport. I am extremely nervous about this.

I can see no way that going through airport security with a drone in your pants could possibly end well.

If you want only photos and video around the camp, I suggest a DJI Neo. It will shoot video good enough for all social media uses and most common web uses. It's tiny, flies well at short range with a phone, and losing it is a relatively minor financial bite compared to the Mini 4 Pro.

 

[Johnmcl7]

Your full name is in the letter in case that concerns you.

I'm quite a risk averse person and given your minor planned use of the drone if it was me I'd leave it at home. You say you're nervous about it and I know I would be too so it's one less issue to worry about.

 

[Cafguy]

I wouldnt.... First you need insurance for the Drone that will cover you in Zimbabwe I would think you would only find that there at a huge price. You also need importation paperwork that could take months for approval. you will also need to permit every flight, NO nightflying allowed. You say you want to Hide it? There is a journalist who did the same thing...He is in a prison in Zimbabwe for the next 2 years!

not quite as luxurious as the Chitungwiza Hilton is it?

 

[AnzacJack]

i would be always leaning toward staying under the radar in that part of the world.
Getting caught with something that may cause an issue, in your pants, would not be a good idea.

 

[AeroJ]

Hell no to sneaking it in ! You don't want those guys suspicious of what is going on in your trousers !
Did we learn nothing from Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap ?!
I would instead try and legitimately bring in a cheap action cam and a long selfie stick !

 

[Dale D]

Hell no to sneaking it in ! You don't want those guys suspicious of what is going on in your trousers !
I would instead try and legitimately bring in a cheap action cam and a long selfie stick !

So far the cons are winning. I'd still like more of your great replies. It is making more sense to me now.

 

[Dale D]

Hard to say but if it's only the drone you could lose as opposed to being detained or jailed then I would risk it. Would give you a good excuse to get a Mini 5 Pro.

I would immediately buy the Mini 5 Pro if it were available now and for sure take the Mini 4 Pro to ZimbAbwe. The problem is, the availability of the Mini 5 Pro when it is released.

 

[Dale D]

John

Your full name is in the letter in case that concerns you.

I'm quite a risk averse person and given your minor planned use of the drone if it was me I'd leave it at home. You say you're nervous about it and I know I would be too so it's one less issue to worry about.

I have noted your observance, "Your full name is in the letter in case that concerns you."

I did black out my passport number but had no real concern that my full name was there. Thanks but I am not going to worry about that.

 

[mavic3usa]

I would immediately buy the Mini 5 Pro if it were available now and for sure take the Mini 4 Pro to ZimbAbwe. The problem is, the availability of the Mini 5 Pro when it is released.

I suspect the availability of the M5P to US residents will be easier than the M4P largely due to the higher priced M4P which is a bigger risk for sellers which is probably why only Japanese and Koreans sellers are willing. However, I suspect the M5P will sell like hotcakes and anyone and everyone who can get their hands on one and turn a small profit by selling into a country where the demand for a so-called "unregistered DJI drone" will be tremendous. Plus the price is expected to be right given there is some margin for profit and there are a lot of M3P holdouts (like me) who are waiting to jump over one model.

My advice is put on your eBay hat and make sure you eBay details and PayPal, etc are in order and get familiar with that platform (how to search for a good deal, who's good and who's bad, how to know if tariffs are applicable, exactly where goods are shipped from, how to talk directly to the seller, etc) and put Amazon scamazon dysfunctional website completely out of your mind and prepare for the imminent M5P launch.

Take the risk and if the government wants to take your M4P plus $500 to stay out of Chikurubi, small price to pay; consider that a win. /s

 

[AnzacJack]

whats the possibility of purchasing a drone when you get there?

 

[GadgetGuy]

My advice is put on your eBay hat and make sure you eBay details and PayPal, etc are in order and get familiar with that platform (how to search for a good deal, who's good and who's bad, how to know if tariffs are applicable, exactly where goods are shipped from, how to talk directly to the seller, etc) and put Amazon scamazon dysfunctional website completely out of your mind and prepare for the imminent M5P launch.

How do you talk directly to the seller, outside of eBay, where they are more likely to be candid about how they plan on "helping" you with tariffs?

 

[mavic3usa]

How do you talk directly to the seller, outside of eBay, where they are more likely to be candid about how they plan on "helping" you with tariffs?

That is probably against the rules but I'm sure you can use the messaging system to get their contacts details. K-Wave reached out to me and said they were available to talk using eBay messaging, Instagram, or WhatsApp. I didn't ask about tariffs because they freely disclose their methods thru the eBay messaging but I wanted to know if they could get drone accessories not just the drones in particular M4P OEM filters. They promptly sent me an eBay link for the filters but as you know, tariffs are effective for small items now. Ebay will scan those messages but I'm not sure they'll take action unless you try to do business outside of eBay. Comparing it to Amazon, I'm not even sure how you can reach out to these foreign sellers and how can you be sure who you are talking to? How do you talk to Skyrover about extra accessories, on the website it says customer service is thru Amazon.

 

[GadgetGuy]

That is probably against the rules but I'm sure you can use the messaging system to get their contacts details. K-Wave reached out to me and said they were available to talk using eBay messaging, Instagram, or WhatsApp. I didn't ask about tariffs because they freely disclose their methods thru the eBay messaging but I wanted to know if they could get drone accessories not just the drones in particular M4P OEM filters. They promptly sent me an eBay link for the filters but as you know, tariffs are effective for small items now. Ebay will scan those messages but I'm not sure they'll take action unless you try to do business outside of eBay. Comparing it to Amazon, I'm not even sure how you can reach out to these foreign sellers and how can you be sure who you are talking to? How do you talk to Skyrover about extra accessories, on the website it says customer service is thru Amazon.

Exactly my concern. Even on eBay, the same seller's responses varied radically from day to day. They are either manic depressive, or very different people were answering with different attitudes about what the prior person had stated.

MidoShop was the worst. On a Friday, I was told that, because of the weekend, my "in stock" unit cannot ship out until Monday because the local FedEx Office is closed on the weekend, but they will ship via FedEx on Monday and immediately send me a FedEx scan with a tracking number. Monday came and went with no FedEx tracking or scan. When I followed up Monday night, I was sent a USPS tracking number which was supposed to be proof of shipping. I asked what happened to the promise to ship via FedEx Monday and send me the FedEX tracking number showing the scan. That's when she stepped in and canceled the order, telling me she was not comfortable shipping to me, which was an admission that she had been lying all along, and still hadn’t shipped the item yet! The nice apologetic guy on Friday had turned into the evil witch on Monday night.

 

[RT23]

"Subject to approval, and any directives the Authority may issue from time to time..." I wouldn't trust them as far as I can throw them! One "Authority" may tell you "yeah, you're good to go", and as soon as you round a corner, another "authority" wants to throw his weight around and say "No, I just changed that directive and you're now in violation for having it". It looks like they're wishy-washy even in their written correspondences. In other words "nothing will be promised or guaranteed". No life guard on duty, swim at your own risk. Good luck

 

[David Metcalf]

After some stickiness, I got it through Mexican customs. Going to Ireland, no issues what so ever. Didn't bother with France. So, Zimbabwe sounds like a whole other level of stickiness. Leaving Mexico and Ireland I was not bothered or asked about it while it was in my bag at all coming back. Not sure I'll do it again with Mexico. I am rather found of the Mini 4 Pro.

 

[MaxPowers]

So far the cons are winning. I'd still like more of your great replies. It is making more sense to me now.

Hey Dale, I was just wondering if you got the drone into Zimbabwe. I will go there in December and am wondering about importing a drone.