HUNT-2016 Zambia—Report

Concession: Nyamvu
Hunt: August 1-21, 2016
PH: Andrew Baldry
Visiting guest PH: Jay Leyendecker
Doer of jobs no one else would do and tree climber extraordinaire: Tom Baldry

I celebrated my 70th birthday on the banks of the Luangwa River in the Nyamvu Concession of Zambia, under the guidance of Andrew Baldry for 21 days! I was in heaven!


However, my apologies to Andrew for breaking his 100% track record for Africa’s top predator. I am not a lucky hunter and have always had to “pay my dues” by hunting harder and more often than most. I’m not sure that is such a bad thing as I have learned much and seen much more than the hunter that takes his/her trophy the first day of a hunt. Plus, I just love the hunting part of a safari, (mind you, game viewing and campfire lying sessions are high on my list too.) I warned Andrew about my curse, but he bravely took on the challenge. So sorry, Andrew!



As a preface, shortly after the cat ban in Zambia, I told Andrew (Fairgame here) that if he ever was able to obtain a “top predator” tag again, I was in! He did and it was booked for 2016, the year of my 70th birthday. And, despite and after USFW importation ban, I elected to hunt anyway. I’ve taken lion successfully before, albeit on the 19th day of a 21 day safari in Tanzania…there is that cursed lucky streak again! But that lion was many years ago and I was hoping for an old “boomer”!

Besides Andrew’s superior guidance, I enlisted the expertise of my friend and PH, Jay Leyendecker, to travel with me since my husband is no longer able to make the trek. It made it a different sort of safari, but my husband’s and my friendship with Jay goes back to the days when he was an “appy” for Johann Calitz. So selecting Jay was my traveling companion, body guard, and personal PH was a no brainer.











Nyamvu is a spectacular concession. We stayed in a newly constructed camp site. We were the first to enjoy the beautiful, upscale chalets. I think I was told that the owner was making improvements in anticipation of a very high ranking, local dignitary. So we were some very lucky Guinea pigs!





We were amongst lions every day. The first morning a “boomer” actually did come roaring into camp during breakfast. Andrew told me to grab my rifle and we tracked him as he left camp and headed for the thickets. The next day we encountered a young lion and lioness on the road as we sought a hippo for bait. Every bait we hung was either hit by lions or leopards. We had prides and young lions and lionesses regularly at our baits. We even robbed two 5 year old lions of their sable kill, which we rehung in another location. One morning while following tracks we were actually in the middle of a roaring contest (and the contestants were very near). But we just couldn’t get an old timer on bait.

Sable, roan, impala, bushbuck, waterbuck, hippo were plentiful. Buffalo were too, but they wouldn’t leave the forest, probably because of the pressure they were under from the lions. We did manage to catch and old dugga boy (my lucky number 13th) out in the open as well as a zebra.




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By day 19, I reassured Andrew I was having a wonderful time and no other trophy could improve the safari. Then we got a radio alert that poachers had killed two elephants in the concession and there was a big lion feeding there. While I waited in the truck, Andrew, Jay, and the tracker verified that at last we had a mature lion. Plan A: The next morning we constructed a blind at the first elephant. The mature cat came in briefly and posed broadside and then went to feed on the other elephant. Plan B: We moved the blind to the second elephant. That evening two other, bigger lions came into feed at last light. I had a brief shooting opportunity at the ginger maned lion, but Andrew had me hold off. The other lion had a big, black mane but stayed low in the grass. We returned to the blind early the next morning, but they didn’t return. Plan C: We built a new blind at a different vantage point and sat for several hour that afternoon. We returned the next morning, ready and waiting, and nothing came in. We later found out, there was a third poached elephant and apparently that is where the action happened as my 21 day clock ran out!




I have hunted long enough to know why it’s called “hunting”. I’m very proud of the hard hunting we all did and I’m never disappointed when spending time in the bush where lions roar. I thank the guys for catering to my every need and making this old gal’s birthday something I’ll never forget...the champagne every night didn’t hurt either. But the story doesn’t end here though, thanks to Steve416, plans for another “go” are in the works for my 71st birthday!!!!

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As a side note: Everything everybody has written about Emirates Airlines is the truth. The most luxurious air travel I have ever experienced. LAX to Dubai non-stop (17 hours), 11 hour layover in Dubai, Dubai non-stop to Lusaka (7 hours). Thank you Kathi Klimes of Wild Travel for perfect planning and rifle documentation!

A fine old hippo and a cracker buff aren't bad 70th birthday presents! Plus, putting a smile on a young man's face you couldn't wipe off with Chlorox for allowing him to shoot your hippo for bait. I say "well done" and glad you are planning another safari!

WohOOOOOO!!!

WEll done but I want more pictures.....

Welcome back!!!!


PS- Super buffalo!!!!

Thanks for posting. A wonderful trip, beautiful camp, solid friends and hunting. Happy birthday!

What a birthday celebration! Really great trophies you took but your Zebra just jumps off the page, what a striking photo. Congrats on your hunt, and for the report. Happy belated Birthday!

Great hunt - nothing like living like to its fullest.

Mike

Been waiting for this report. Well done to all. Look at it this way Darin, if you shot your Lion would you be going back in 2017?

The silver lining!!

Hugs,
J&J

Super. Congrats.

Congratulations on a very special birthday celebration! What a wonderful adventure. More pictures, please.

Darin it was a privilege to spend 3 weeks with you hunting the king of beasts. The big male that we just could not get onto would have been a very fine trophy indeed and was everything we were looking for. I would have bet my last dollar that he would have returned to feed and even shaved for the pending photos!

You have many stills and some fine video that requires processing and I cannot wait to see some of those images. The Lion charge was awesome.

Jay and I dragged you through thickets and sand in pursuit of dangerous game and considering you are now 70 you are indeed one tough bird.

What a thrill it must be to be amongst all those lions.I hope next time you will connect with the right one.

Great report.

Sorry about the lion.

The only downer in my opinion was the elephant poaching. Did you see many live elephants?

21 days that will fill your soul forever. Congrats D and Andrew!

well done and what a spirit !!! may our hunters of tomorrow learn from your incredible example.

I would have expected Andrew to be at the other end of the zebra :-)

Congrats Darin.

It never ceases to amaze me the lengths to which some hunters will go to in order to come up with an excuse for just one more trip.

Fantastic Darin! I was waiting for you to get back. Unfortunately, I was working out of town for the couple of weeks before you left town so I missed seeing you. I'll be going to Wyoming in two weeks but I'll be working out of town before and after that trip. I promise you that I'll get you some antelope.

Superb in every aspect!

BH63

End result you get to hunt lion AGAIN I'm deeply envious.

Mark

Two Lions in this picture. One in the grass below the other. They killed a large Sable bull.



The lesser of two big males that we were after. The big boy was feeing on another carcass.



These snapshots were taken from video.

One of the best 70th Birthdays I know of! Congratulations

Congratulations, well done! However, my favorite picture is the cake, the bubbly, and the young girl in the background.

What a great way to spend a birthday!!

That was a dress rehearsal for next year's big birthday bash.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
I would have expected Andrew to be at the other end of the zebra :-)

With Blazer in hand?

What a great place to spend a Birthday!!! Happy B-Day by the way.

quote:

With Blazer in hand?

DOH!!! :-)

Congratulations Ma'am! Looks like a wonderful safari, and Happy Birthday. Good choice of PH too...

congrats to you and andrew on a great hunt, and happy birthday (apologies the champagne smiley wouldnt appear....) what a way to spend it

Congrats on another fine hunt, and good on you for back next year!

Happy belated birthday Darin and thank you for a long awaited report which did not disappoint.
What a blast and what an adventure. You were in great company.
Congratulations.
Seems like a sound idea to return next year for that big boy!
Kind regards
Jytte

That was a wonderful report. Best wishes on your future hunt next year.

Don

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
WohOOOOOO!!!

WEll done but I want more pictures.....

Welcome back!!!!


PS- Super buffalo!!!!

I'm waiting for more pictures from Jay!!! (Are you listening Jay?)

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Congrats Darin.

It never ceases to amaze me the lengths to which some hunters will go to in order to come up with an excuse for just one more trip.

Mike; I'm shameless!!!!

Best regards, Darin

quote:

Originally posted by Safari2:
Great report.

Sorry about the lion.

The only downer in my opinion was the elephant poaching. Did you see many live elephants?

Safari2;

There were lots of elephant in Nyamvu. In fact, they were very cheeky and would charge the truck at any opportunity...chase the truck too! The down side is they don't carry large ivory. Poaching 3 young bulls for tiny ivory! Very sad!

Best regards, D. Nelson

Well played Darin! Like you I'll be celebrating my 70th Birthday with an African hunting trip. I'll be heading to Namibia in April 2017 going after an old eland bull and a few other critters. Before I revert to room temperature I'd like to hunt buff with Andrew. Maybe for my 75th Birthday.

quote:

Originally posted by Bud Meadows:
Well played Darin! Like you I'll be celebrating my 70th Birthday with an African hunting trip. I'll be heading to Namibia in April 2017 going after an old eland bull and a few other critters. Before I revert to room temperature I'd like to hunt buff with Andrew. Maybe for my 75th Birthday.

Do it Bud!!!!! Andrew is very gentle on us senior citizens!!!

Best regards, Darin

quote:

Originally posted by D. Nelson:

quote:

Originally posted by Bud Meadows:
Well played Darin! Like you I'll be celebrating my 70th Birthday with an African hunting trip. I'll be heading to Namibia in April 2017 going after an old eland bull and a few other critters. Before I revert to room temperature I'd like to hunt buff with Andrew. Maybe for my 75th Birthday.

Do it Bud!!!!! Andrew is very gentle on us senior citizens!!!

Best regards, Darin

Including myself.

You're an inspiration Darin! Congratulations on a great safari. Nyamvu is a terrific spot, I took a wonderful buffalo there last year with Thor while hunting leopard on Munyamadzi.

Congratulations to everyone. Well done.