I'm going to keep this topic seperate from my Angola report so that it will be easier to view instead of missing it somewhere in the report post.

First of all yes the Giant Sables do exist and as far as they know they have a very small population left over. What they have also found is that the giant sable has mixed with the common sable as well. Then the Angolan people cherish the sable as a special animal and you will find a lot of logos depicting a sable in an Angola. The sables and most of the game that is left is on the eastern side of Angola bordering Zambia and the Caprivi. It was difficult to know or find out if the game population is better the further north you move to the DRC but from what I have heard is that the country is mostly untouched there.

Angola is run mostly by coastal towns very little farming is done as well even if they have very rich soil that you could dump any seed in and it will grow. So most of the population stay in and around the major cities and next to the coast leaving the eastern side void of a lot of population. Maybe someone with knowledge of Zambia's western borders would know more.

Ok now onto hunting I'm sure that on ceratin spots between Zambia and the Caprivi the game numbers would be more than adequate to allow hunting but with no Hunting infrastructure I cannot see that hunting will take place there anytime soon.

This is the reasons what I could think of while in the country.
- Firearm import there is no laws and no proper communication between police and police offices. So been stopped at a roadblock and a firearm been found I can see a lot of "sh#t" if you do not know a High ranking officer or two and can reach him by satelitte phone.
- Secondly if you do get a good concession it will mean that you will have to have a very big logistic team to setup camp and hope that the mines are cleared in your area.
- Charters will be the only way to get in and out otherwise you would be looking at wasting a couple of days in and out.
- There is no major airports close to the eastern side of the country so charter flights are going to be long and expensive. I'm not sure if they could manage from other countries flying in shortcut over Botswana, Zambia or Namibia.
- The the biggest problem I can see for the hunting is the trophies how to get them out of the country without any proper infrastructure that exists for Nature conservation and policing. So even if you do bring a bow and bag your trophies how to get the trophies out of the country would be a nightmare.
- Yes there are people who are talking about opening hunting again but without the right contacts and I mean the top, top guys in your pocket nothing would get done.
- So give it a few more years and we could see a new Hunting paradise, maybe they are just playing their cards right and will open when we has hunters need it the most.

Frederik,

One of my neighbours is part of the team that located the GS a while ago and whilst I haven't spoken to him recently, they have found at least 3 seperate populations and are (or at least, were) keeping the locations quiet. FWIW, he told me that they thought there would be huntable populations within 5 -10 years. - Although whether they'll ever be hunted is a different matter.

I posted a few pics of the GS thay'd managed to take with trail cameras a while ago and I'll try to find the pics.... if I can find them, I'll post them.

There you go....

About four years ago when I opined Mozambique would be the next, great destination for safaris, I was pretty much in the minority. Today, while Mozambique has nowhere near the hunting infrastructure of say Tanzania, Zambia or even Zimbabwe, it is most definitevely an up and coming destination. I predict the same for Angola if the politics remain stable. In five years time, it will be back I think. jorge

If you are interetsed in Giant Sable read 'A Certain Curve of Horn' by John Frederick Walker...its a recent publication (2004 I think) so is up to date. I bought a copy for $2 on www.abebooks.com

Loads of info on the taxonomic history, hunters who have pursued it, local folklore, genetic diversity (with some surprising 'evidence')etc...its a great book.
Cheers

AR Guests




This is a (Zambian Sable) taken on our Private Dendro Park Ranch this season ..

mrlexma / DONT know the exact size BUT it is over 40" ... Best taken on the Ranch is 46.75

We are located in the Southern Kafue Park region bang on the National Park border., could the (Angolan Giant Sable) possibly have migrated East into Zambia and mixed up with some Zambian Sable/Barotseland Sable !!! Who knows ???

Cheers, Peter

Marvelous....jorge

Awesome sable. What is the length of horn?

I could be wrong on this but I recently read/observed in an African Game book that the true Giant Sable had very little to no white on its face -- that is what I recall.
GW

quote:

We are located in the Southern Kafue Park region bang on the National Park border., could the (Angolan Giant Sable) possibly have migrated East into Zambia and mixed up with some Zambian Sable/Barotseland Sable !!! Who knows ???

Peter, in the book I referenced above they discuss this issue. It is part of the biological 'downfall' (according to some) of the Giant as distinct subspecies. Some of the western Zambian sable are visually and (externally) physiologically almost identical to the Giant yet show no genetic distinction from the 'regular' southern African Sable populations. It provides quite a conundrum...and not one that GS proponents like to hear. From what I remember, the tests done at Tuks that Walker discusses show more genetic variation between East African Sable and Southern African sable than between GS and the the South populations. However they then begin to question the samples used in these tests...

I read it a while back so some deatisl ellude me...given the question ask...its a good read!

kayaker

I came across this information about a private reserve in (North West Zambia) owned by the Fischer Family, it mentions the Giant Sable.

FYI .... this reserve is close to the SOURCE of the ZAMBEZI River


Cheers, Peter (consultant/facilitator)
Sable-Sands ( Leisure ) Investment
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Nchila Reserve - Northern Zambia, Zambia

Nchila Reserve is tucked away in the far northwest of Zambia, and is best reached by flying from Lusaka or northern Kafue. Dr Walter Fisher founded a mission here in 1889, and the estate (known as Hillwood Farm) is still run by his descendents. It's an amazing place, including an orphanage, a school, a farm, and the reserve.

Looking at Nchla on a map, you'll realise that it's close to the rainforests of the Congo Basin. Hence ornithologists know it as a place to spot numerous birds which are either rare in, or absent from, the rest of southern and East Africa. Enthusiasts can find black-collared bulbuls, Angola larks, blue-breasted kingfishers, blue-headed and green-throated sunbirds, Forbe's plovers, red-bellied paradise flycatchers, white-cheeked bee-eaters, white-spotted flufftails and many other rare species.

Aside from the birds, the reserve is one of Africa's best places to see roan and large, relaxed herds of eland and sable antelope (including the rare Angolan giant sable). You'll also find Kafue lechwe, Lichtenstein's Hartebeest, Oribi, some very relaxed sitatungas, and a variety of other more common antelope.

Accommodation is in one of three beautiful thatched chalets - stylish and comfortable. Come for three nights to explore; it's an unusual place to visit, but well worth the trip.

Getting to Nchila usually requires us to charter a private plane from Lusaka, or at least northern Kafue. Hence getting there is costly. It's a destination for those who are serious about their birds, and we recommend that if you visit, then you stay for at least 3-4 days.

Thanks Peter,

I have never been to Western Zambia...hear it is amazing! I owe to myslef to get to the source of the King of Rivers

Thats the conundrum in the book..the W Zambian Sable often resemble the Angolan Giant, as I remember, but are genetically indistinct from regular sable..., except those in E Africa...which look the same as regular sable...go figure!

He also mentions that some private reserves had an eye on getting these 'Zambian Giants' on their properties and selling them as genine giants (not to sat this is what these guys are doing)...its all very interesting!

Thanks for the info.
Cheers

kayaker,

BTW I was thinking of you maybe thinking of doing a trip downriver the Cunene river to the mouth in the atlantic. Should be quite a trip.
As far as I know Spyker said it hasnt been done succesfully yet.

The road we followed comes and goes closer to the river and so camp can be setup from point to point. With some camps that you will have to setup yourself vehicle cannot get close to the river. Check it out on Google earth it looks like fun.

quote:

Originally posted by kayaker:
Thanks Peter,

I have never been to Western Zambia...hear it is amazing! I owe to myslef to get to the source of the King of Rivers

Thanks for the info.
Cheers

kayaker ..

Here is a link to an 18-day source of the Zambezi trip (Livingstone to Livingstone)

Source of the Zambezi trip

I would say that trip might be a magnificient experience particularily for those with an interest in Zambia

Cheers, Peter