I'm seriously considering a trip to AFRICA to hunt buffalo and other plains game. I'm not interested in shooting a lion or elephant.

If you could go anywhere and money wasn't an object, where is the best place to hunt in Africa? Who would be your outfitter?

Tanzania....Masailand area with Brian Van Blerk who hunts for http://www.SafariTrackers.com

Johan Calitz, Okavango Delta, Botswana.

But only if money were no object. Since money IS an object, I'll stick to Zimbabwe!

Another vote for the Okavango Delta.
I'd book with Mark Kyriacou or Clive Eaton, although you wouldn't go wrong with Calitz either.

TerryR

So much depends on your priorities. If price is your most important/deciding factor then Zim is a good choice. There's plenty of good PHs/Outfitters there, amongst whom are Buzz Charlton & Myles McCullum, Andy Hunter, Ian Gibson, John Sharpe, Ganyana & Roger Whittal to name but a few...... however, the political situation means it's not the right place for everyone. If you do choose Zim, it's very important you know exactly where your money is being spent. Esp if you're a US citizen.

Tanzania is a very good option also but the strict licencing system means you won't get the chance to hunt species that don't occur on the type of licence you've had issued...... it's also not the cheapest country in Africa. If you book Masailand then try to go for 10 days hunting rather than 7 and try to book late in the season as the Buff populations are a lot lower there than in the Selous.

Botswana is also good but low quotas mean you'll probably have to book further ahead than many other countries and again it's more expensive than some other countries.

Mozambique can be good, but camps are generally not as luxurious as some other countries and the Buffalo esp tend to be pretty spooky. (In most areas). So if you're not very fit or not prepared to hunt very hard for your trophies it may not be the best option.

Of the four I've mentioned, (I'm sure that other posters will mention other countries also) my personal favourite by a mile is Tanzania.....

CAR or Cameroon with Rudy Lubin or Alain Lefol.

NW buffalo, lion, and lord derby eland.

That would be my first choice.

Second would be Tanzania with Robin Hurt, but at $100K not many can afford that.

I hunted Africa the first time in Zim. Beautifull country, shitty hunting. I will never go back untill Mugavie is dead and the land squatting and poaching is over.

I went to Tanzania the second time. Want to know how I liked it? When I got back in 2003 from my "one time hunt of a lifetime hunt" I booked for 2007. Tanzania is where I would go every year if money was no object from what I have seen so far in Africa. I hunted the Usangu area near the Ruaha River and up north in Lake Natron and Masi land.

I have a few friends who hunt Namibia every year and I would not mind trying it. I was planing on going to Namibia next, but after the last trip to Tanzania I decided I would rather save up and go on one realy good hunt every 5 years or so than hunt on ranches for plains game out of a farmers house. Not tht there is anything wrong with that, that is how most of America hunts deer. Its just not what I want out of Africa. I like the wild and vast areas that Tanzania offers.

I am intrigued by the thoughts of hunting central Africa CAR or Cameroon for forest elephant, bongo and lord derby but that will probably never happen as long as I want to stay married.

I HAVE A QUESTION OF MY OWN ????

I have never been to Botswana but based on what I know what makes it any better than Tanzania???

All good replies, but one place you haven't mentioned is Zambia! The Buffalo are fine, and plentiful, Leopard, and lion are in good shape as well, and there are a couple of the plains game that are available no other place. Cost is not CHEAP, but it is better than TZ, and BOTS, and far more stable than Zim. Russ Broom, hunts near the Kafuwe Ntl Park along the Kafuwe River, with good populations of Buffalo, close by him is Dendro Park Ranch PHed by Dene Bird, on private property. Peter Chipman has the Lower Lupande concession in the Luangwa Valley, and has lots of lion, and Buffalo! I don't know who has the Upper Lupande concession today, but I've hunted that concession, and The bufflao, lion, and Leopard are in fine shape, there. The Luangwa is a place in Africa where it is common to see Leopard in day light while driveing around in the Bakki. Unless it has changed, in the last couple of years, you can take lion, and Leopard on a 14 day license, and Buffalo on as little as a five day hunt!

I agree with Mac. Don't leave out the Luangwa and Zambia in general. I had a couple of very memorable safaris there. John DuPlooy puts on a great hunt along the river at Chanjusi and in Tondwa in the north.

Barrie Duckworth is an old timer, does a great job in Zimbabwe and his buff on the Save this year averaged 40".

Of course I think the best buff hunt is with Bundu in Tanznaia. Our stats show just over 60% of our buffalo exceeding 40" with the smallest being 38" and the largest 48". A good part of our under 40" buff were shot for lion baits that had to go up quickly so little thought was given to size. All our clients shot buffalo. Unfortunately one gentleman wounded and lost his buff.

Mark

A second vote for Brian Van Blerk and the Lobo COncession of Tanzania Bundu. I had an excellent hunt there in August and we are all anxiuosly awaiting Bill C's long overdue full report on his hunt in early December . Brian is an incredible hunter and a pleasure to be around. The concession is outstanding and the Masai are quite interesting. Masailand is more populated than Selous or Rungwa, but lots less bugs and snakes. A better place if you want to take the wife and family. The diversity of game available in Masailand and the scenic beauty of Masailand only be rivaled by Okavango. Good Hunting.

How expensive is Zambia when you compare it to other countries?

Bulldog,

Zambia is going to be significantly more expensive than SA, Namibia or Zim. About the same as Botswana, less than Tanzania. I feel that Zambia will be a real up and coming safari destination and hopefully prices will improve with more volume of hunts. But then again it is Africa! Hugh

Hello from Peter in NZ / We will see in the New Year in about 1.75 hours Yeeeeeeha ..

Anyhow Zambia and costs ...

Zambia presently has a minor currency problem unlike Zimababwe where the forex is 83,000 to the US Dollar ZAMBIA'S Kwacha is strengthing against the US, presently it is around 3,500 when only a couple of months ago it was over 5000 to the US ...

Now of cource all the safari hunts are priced in US Dollars and all local purchases for Outfitters for fuel and othe related items are in Kwacha, Houston we have a problem ....

So prices are sure to be on the rise to cover for the currency strength against the US Dollar

Happy New Year

Peter

quote:

Originally posted by Hugh W:
A second vote for Brian Van Blerk and the Lobo COncession of Tanzania Bundu. I had an excellent hunt there in August and we are all anxiuosly awaiting Bill C's long overdue full report on his hunt in early December ...

Hey Hugh, just saw this...you are right, I am abnormally delinquent with my report, but with good excuse. I had a minor lifting mishap just before Christmas and tore my left bicep from the bone, which had to be surgically reattached. All fixed up now and should return to good as new in a few months, but it is hard hunt-and-peck typing with one finger instead of two!

Reg the question in the post, Lobo/Lolkisale (in Masailand) is a terrific area to hunt buffalo and neat plainsgame and offers a great all-around package including stress-free travel, incredible site-seeing and touring options, cultural experience with the Masai people, friendly and professional hospitality, superb infrastructure and camps, and East African service beyond compare.

That being said, I had great buffalo hunts too in the Zambezi Valley (Zim), Luangwa Valley (Zambia), West Caprivi (Namibia), and the Selous (Tanz)...it's hard to pick just ONE destination as each offers a unique experience, hunting style and associated trade-off's. And there are numerous other marquee destinations for buffalo and plainsgame as mentioned. IMO, the key is to book with a good company with whom you can work with - and hunt with a great PH who enjoys what they are doing, involves you in the hunt, and leave you feeling like you made a friend.

I'd suggest the first step is to make a list, quantifying and prioritizing what it is exactly you are looking for out of the hunt, and in particular how you want to hunt (short stalks after spotting from the truck, day-long treks tracking buffalo, or somewhere in-between), what type of camp and experience you need including if/for any observers, and if you have expectations reg trophy size and other plainsgame also available in the area and on your particular license. Then begin looking at specific areas and companies. Good luck!

Bill C, who did you hunt buffalo with in West Caprivi? Am starting research for buff hunting in Namibia. I really enjoyed my time there last summer and would like to go back again, but for buff this time.

Bulldog

Zambia is expensive but if you are talking a short buffalo hunt you could cover all expenses and one buffalo for $10,000. It also is the only place I know of where you can shoot a hippo and croc on a 7 day hunt.

Mark