quote:

Originally posted by surefire7:
Good job Thor! Thanks for the information and the uplifting tone of your post. It’s great to hear that Zambia is still in the game. I’ve hunted there many times and always plan to return.

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
Thor,
Thanks for the facts. We have been seriously short on facts to understand what is going on in Zambia.

Question = is Pete Fisher still hunting his private area = "Nchila" near Kalene school in northwest Zambia?

quote:

Originally posted by Safari2:
Thank you Thor.

I was hoping someone would do this.

Any word on West Musalangu?

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Ahrenberg:

quote:

Originally posted by surefire7:
Good job Thor! Thanks for the information and the uplifting tone of your post. It’s great to hear that Zambia is still in the game. I’ve hunted there many times and always plan to return.

Great post and I agree. When anyone asks me what my favorite African hunting country is, I don't even need to think about it. Zambia, without question.

I've been fortunate to hunt some of it's absolute best GMA's, Nyaminga, Chamjuzi, Tondwa, The Kafue Flats, Nkala-Namwala, Bangweulu and more I can't think of right off.

quote:

Originally posted by gunslinger55:
What’s the best way to travel there with your own guns? I’d be interested

quote:

Originally posted by Thor Kirchner:

quote:

Originally posted by gunslinger55:
What’s the best way to travel there with your own guns? I’d be interested

Through Dubai with Emirates or Through Doha with Qatar

quote:

Originally posted by 470EDDY:
-gunslinger55

Contact TRAVEL WITH GUNS for your airline reservations. They know all of the details and hurdles for taking your own guns, and getting them back into US on return!!

quote:

Originally posted by gunslinger55:
Aren’t they currently unfriendly to hunters and their guns? Phoenix would be great

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
The issues with BA were more issues with Heathrow airport than BA per se.

The times I flew BA it was fine. I thought the British cabin crew much more friendly than the US ones.

Qatar is even better… but it adds hours in a seat to go on Qatar or Emirates. I’d rather use my vacation time in the bush than on a plane or in an airport, regardless of how pleasant.

quote:

Originally posted by Thor Kirchner:
After all these negative post and comments on and about Zambia I feel it is time I step in and make some clarity.

Firstly, there are many areas in Zambia that are open to trophy hunting and have quotas. Ill post a list further down.

The fiasco with Chanjuzi and Ibi is very unfortunate. I hope it gets resolved. I have known Andrew, and he has been a very close friend since I came back to Zambia in 2007. I can guarantee he would never try to cheat or steal from anyone intentionally. This subject has been covered sufficiently in the other posts so I would like everyone who has an opinion on this to keep it on the other posts.

This post is to inform everyone on what areas are open and to explain Zambia is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

We have 3 associations in Zambia in the hunting industry.

• Professional hunters’ association of Zambia (PHAZ), which is mostly for PH’s.

• Safari hunting outfitters association of Zambia (SHOAZ) which is mostly defunct.
o Currently these two associations are working on amalgamating to create a stronger organization that hopefully will be able to achieve more and help protect and strengthen the hunting industry in Zambia.

• Wildlife Producers association of Zambia (WPAZ). This organization deals mostly with game farms and open game ranches like Munyamadzi. This is currently the strongest organization within the wildlife and hunting industry in Zambia. It has achieved big goals to protect wildlife and hunting and is doing a lot to reduce the illegal game meat trade which is the biggest threat to wildlife in Zambia. I am Vice Chairman for WPAZ.

There are 3 different types of hunting areas in Zambia where foreigners can do trophy hunting.
• Game Management Areas or GMA’s. These are government/community owned areas and leased out to hunting outfitters for periods of 7 to 15 years. In some instances, more. Here the government owns the wildlife and issues a safari hunting quota to the outfitter every year. This is where most hunting in Zambia takes place.

• Open Game Ranches or Reserves. These are large pieces of land that are privately, or community owned in wildlife areas and they area NOT fenced. They are in general extremely well protected as the owners have security and long-term management plans where you can afford to invest in your area and have security that you won’t lose your investment. In open game ranches the wildlife is owned by government, and they can issue an annual trophy hunting quota if requested.


• Game Farms, these are privately owned areas that are fenced, and the landowner also owns the wildlife. These are typically 2,000 to 10,000 acres. Slightly similar to the south African model, however not as intensely hunted as south Africa. They have some good hunting and feels more real than what you normally would get in SA. But they still fenced.

In 2020, 19, I think it was, of the GMAs where up for tender, bids were made, and winners were announced. However, the hunting agreements were not signed, and then we had elections and there was a change in government. The new government were not happy about the winners and cancelled the whole deal and readvertised the areas. Some previous winners of the areas took government to court and government kept losing. Finally the government gave in and have issued and signed out 4 of these areas for this year and hopefully more will come.

As most of you know Zambia is in Africa. And things work differently here whether we like it or not. Shit happens and counterproductive decisions are made. While Zambia has not had a great record with the management of government concessions and hunting agreements, it is still working to some extend and it will improve in future. These types of issues can happen in any country in this part of the world, and I have heard bad stories from every country. Including western countries. The issue with Ibi is not a common one in Zambia. Most outfitters are honest and would refund you if something like that happens. So don’t paint the whole country with one brush.

No matter where you go hunting or any other form of travel in the world you are always taking a bit of a risk. But there are many things you can do to avoid things going wrong, like do proper research, go with someone that has a clean record, and don’t always chase the cheapest deals. This has been said many times before.

So here is the list of areas that are open for hunting in Zambia this year. I will not include game farms as there are many and may not be the that relevant in this case. They own their game so you should be safe. If anyone has questions about these, you are welcome to write to me directly.

On the GMA’s it varies how long their leases are and I’m not sure when each area expires. However, feel free to write to me directly and I shall answer to best of my knowledge or if I don’t know I’ll will happily contact the operator directly to get clear and truthful info.

On the open game ranches there is no expiry to ownership of land and therefore should have quota indefinitely if they behave themselves. These areas would not sell something they don’t have as they have long term interests and would be counterproductive to sell and not deliver.

GMAs in Zambia that are open to hunting and will have quota in 2024

• Bilibili Mulobezi
• Chisomo
• Kasempa Lunga Lushwishi
• Lunga Busanga
• Kasonso Busanga
• Lower Luano
• Lower Lupande
• Lundu
• Luembe West Petauke
• Chikwa
• Mukungule
• Mwanya
• Mufunta
• Nyaminga
• Rufunsa
• Sandwe
• Sichifulo
• Tondwa
• TEMBWE Kambombo

There may be more that I’m not aware of and this is not an official list. This is just what I know and can stand for. Again contact me if you have questions to a specific area.

Open Game Ranches that are operating

• Munyamadzi Game Ranch
• Kazumba Game Ranch
• Nyamvu Game Ranch
• Nkalamu Game Ranch
• Nyakolwe Game Ranch
• Mbizi Game Ranch
• Ilinda Game Ranch
• Mushingashi Game Ranch, but they only hunt privately.

I believe PHAZ is intending to publish a list on AR with pretty much the same info but with operators and contact info for each area, so I won’t do this. If anyone has questions, please message me directly.

So, there are several options for Zambia. There is some extremely good hunting to be experienced here and if you choose right, you will have a fantastic safari in Zambia.

Many think Zambia is dying out. I can promise you it is not. I live of hunting in Zambia, and while it doesn’t make me rich, you will still see me hunting for many years to come in Zambia.

I hope this is some useful information to anyone that may have interest.

quote:

Originally posted by Dev Moring:
Thor,
Can you tell me what has happened to Luawata? Between the 2 Parks on the Luangwa. Hunted there 3 times in the early 2000's with Athol and Adrian
Dev Moring

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Ahrenberg:

quote:

Originally posted by Thor Kirchner:

quote:

Originally posted by gunslinger55:
What’s the best way to travel there with your own guns? I’d be interested

Through Dubai with Emirates or Through Doha with Qatar

I use to fly BA Phoenix-Heathrow-Lusaka, and return. Super easy route. Best part was, landing domestically in your home town and not having to recheck firearms.

Not sure if BA serves Lusaka anymore?

quote:

Originally posted by Dev Moring:
Thor,
Can you tell me what has happened to Luawata? Between the 2 Parks on the Luangwa. Hunted there 3 times in the early 2000's with Athol and Adrian
Dev Moring