I’m researching a plains game hunt for 2010. I was in Zim a couple years ago and really enjoyed it. I hunted with John Sharp and had a great hunt and I’d like to return to Zim again. The only thing missing from my hunt with JS was the presence of DG in the area we hunted so I’ve added that to the list of must haves.

The SAVE seems like the perfect choice. Supposed to be great plains games and get to stalk past some buf, ele, and maybe the occasional lion.

I’m hoping someone can give me a rundown for the best operators to consider in the Save. I know there are no internal fences and the game roams free, but are there one or two outfits that have the best plains game or do a better job of providing just a plains game hunt? Do any of them offer a tented camp? This will be my 3rd safari and still looking for that stunner kudu so that’s a consideration. A nice eland will be a priority also and the rest I’ll just hunt what comes my way.

Outfitters on my radar are Roger Whittall, Mokoro, Zambezi Hunters, Shaangan, Brooklands, Jumbo Moore. Are there more?

So please give me opinions, recent experiences, pros/cons or anything you may know that would help me narrow my focus a bit. If I don’t book before DSC I plan to go there and shop around, but I’d like to be lined up before then. My Dad will most likely come with me and we will want to hunt 2x2. Having a camp to ourselves is preferred.

i don't know if jumbo is doing anything in zim anymore. i believe he's totally in mozm

I've hunted the Save with Roger Whittall Safaris. Good fun, lots of game, very nice kudu and nyala. Roger is a first class fellow.

Beware the elephants! They are cheeky in the Save!

If you have any specific Q's, ask them here or shoot me a PM, I'd be happy to answer them or provide any help I can.

JPK

It's been ten years since I was in the Conservancy but I will second what JPK says.

Roger Whittall is a class act and those elephants can be a bit cheeky.

He operates several camps and can give you a really nice "African Experience"

I hunted the Save in 2006 with Buzz Charlton and Peter Barnard in the Hammond and Mukwasine concessions. I had an excellent hunt with an abundance of both variety and quality of plains game available. Here is the link to my hunt report and pm me with any questions you may have... Whittal, Shangaan, Mokore Safaris, Jonathon Hulme are all excellent outfits and PH's you should consider! Do a search on my post "Hunt with Buzz Charlton in the Save Conservancy" for my hunt report. Couldn't get link to work... sorry!

quote:

The SAVE seems like the perfect choice. Supposed to be great plains games and get to stalk past some buf, ele, and maybe the occasional lion.

And cheetah and rhino too!

Towards the bottom of this report is some info/picts from my days spent there in 2005:

http://forums.accuratereloadin.../6321043/m/600105803

Here's a link to Russell's:

http://forums.accuratereloadin.../6321043/m/514107892

I hunted with Jonathan and www.zambezihunters.com last year.. Jonny have 3 different areas in the Conservancy and have biggest areas to hunt - Hammond - Sango and this year they took over ARDA/Mkwasine ?. (Jumbo had it before ??). Plenty of game. PM if you have any questions.
www.safaritrackers.com and Mark Young that post here book for them in US.

http://www.zambezihunters.com/...0News%20May%2009.pdf
Sango is a luxury tented camp.

I have done 2 hunts with Brooklands.

We hunted several different areas, including Deka, Chiowre[sp?] South and the SAVE.

I hunted the SAVE on both Brooklands Safaris.

It is covered up in plains game, BIG cape buff and elephants.
They have big leopards there as well.

I also saw both types of Rino.

I think the SAVE is one of the best places in Africa to hunt. I really like Brooklands.

One of my buddies just got back from there a few weeks ago. He had a great hunt, and is already booking another hunt with Brooklands.

There place in the SAVE even has a very nice swimming pool.

The food there is first class.

Great feedback so far guys. Thanks!

I've seen a map posted here before showing the SAVE blocks and maybe even who has hunting rights. Anyone have that or a link to the thread?

quote:

Originally posted by wyattd:

The SAVE seems like the perfect choice.

It is! I've hunted with www.shangaanhunters.com there.

I have to second shaangan hunters as well. We know Glenn and have hunted several years with Gordon and
feel perfectly safe in reccomending them for a first class hunt

Count me in as one of their patients as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Bryan Chick:
I have to second shaangan hunters as well. We know Glenn and have hunted several years with Gordon and
feel perfectly safe in reccomending them for a first class hunt

As long as the engine is running

That is one of the things I love about the SAVE.
There is a BUNCH of elephants, and they are pretty cheeky.

I hunted plains game on the Save last year with Roger Whittall Safaris and had a great hunt. PM me if you would like more info or pics.

I've got them on video doing the same trick.

quote:

I've got them on video doing the same trick.

You mean one like this?

quote:

Roger Whittall is a class act and those elephants can be a bit cheeky.

aaai hunted last year with Roger and Guy Whittal and the elephants were abit cheeky until I brought on down with my bow. Now he's living room furniture!
Loved my first African hunt and will be back to the East Cape later this year!
I guess you never stop wanting to come back, like Gene Hill writes.
Wonder where Jimmy is?

Is the "Save" a fenced in area?

Dale,

There is an exterior fence around the 850,000 acres. My understanding is that portions of it are down now. The area is so huge with no interior fencing whatsoever that the fence is irrelevant. I think on another thread that mrlexma said "The Save is fenced like the Grand Canyon is fenced" and I agree. Hunting there you have no sense of it being a fenced property like you would find in RSA or Namibia.

Mark

check FTW web site for services there rep. mant outfitters and have personaly hunted as paying clients with all of the ones the rep.

I can't say enough about Roger Whitall. Try to get Pete Wood as your PH. Very knowledgeable and a great conversationalist and a fantastic host. Remember you spend as much time with him as anyone else so he better be good, and he is. I learned a lot from him not only in the hunt but during the down times and in the sundowner times.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Dale,

There is an exterior fence around the 850,000 acres. My understanding is that portions of it are down now. The area is so huge with no interior fencing whatsoever that the fence is irrelevant. I think on another thread that mrlexma said "The Save is fenced like the Grand Canyon is fenced" and I agree. Hunting there you have no sense of it being a fenced property like you would find in RSA or Namibia.

Mark

I also agree.
The perimeter fence is designed to keep cattle out and form a "boundary" for poaching control.

The SAVE is a GREAT area to hunt.

I came in from the south - from Chiredzi - crossing Mkwasine river - I haven't see any fence at all.

Thought I’d raise this up and see if I could get some recent info re: Roger Whittall and the Humani area in the SAVE. Leaning towards a plains game hunt there with my Dad sometime in August/Sept if there are open dates.

Anyone have any knowledge on how the plains game hunting was there this past season?

I was in The SAVE last October but not with Roger.
I was with Zambezi Hunters. Lot of plains game where I was.

ZH spoke highly of Roger's area.

Where in Alabama are you?

I hunted the Save (Sango) in June 2009, also with Zambezi Hunters. Shot leopard, buff, eland, waterbuck, klipspringer, impala, zebra, two warthogs, bushpig, and bushbuck. I easily could have shot duiker, wildebeeste, kudu, and some others. Overall, I'd say the PG hunting was very good.

S-L, Live close to Tuscaloosa. Roll Tide!!

quote:

I hunted with Jonathan and www.zambezihunters.com last year.. Jonny have 3 different areas in the Conservancy and have biggest areas to hunt - Hammond - Sango and this year they took over ARDA/Mkwasine ?. (Jumbo had it before ??). Plenty of game. PM if you have any questions.

+1 they have some of the best areas and the best camps ...

Zambezi Hunters ran the single most organized and problem free safari I have been on in 15 trips over.

Hunted twice with Save Valley Safaris (Leon Duplessis), he and his wife run an unbelievable camp. Shot a giant leopard, buffalo and all of the plains game. PM me for contact info.

quote:

Originally posted by wyattd:
S-L, Live close to Tuscaloosa. Roll Tide!!

War Damn Eagle.

quote:

Originally posted by safari-lawyer:

quote:

Originally posted by wyattd:
S-L, Live close to Tuscaloosa. Roll Tide!!

War Damn Eagle.

+1 !