Anyone hunted or have knowledge of these hunting areas?

Lunda, Kinyangesi, Kilombero, Rungwa, and Lukwika

Info I have found online has been pretty limited. One better than the other for Elephant? Buffalo? Lion?

thanks

I hunted Lunda south in 07. You can do a search here and find my report.

We killed a couple of massive leopards. I failed to score on lion.
Buff was difficult. They were there but often in very thick stuff. It was very dangerous . We saw lots of elephants. I was not successful largely because the PH was not experienced with elephants.

We took some outstanding plains game. For example, a 44.5'inch sable .

Bobby, I personally, and my clients too - have been to several of these areas. They are vastly different, and would certainly offer much different hunts all together.

Lukwika for example is Harpreet's area, but before that was operated by Miombo Safaris (Michel Manthiakis) and I booked alot of hunts for them several years ago. I know several guys who have taken good elephants there (clients too) as has AR member - Ahmed Sultan. Elephant would have been its best draw IMO by far, but things have changed rapidly there in recent times. Even Harpreet tells me the elephant poaching there has been very bad. As you can see, it lies in the very south of the country.

The Kilombero flood plains (west of the selous) have lots of buffalo, but mostly 36" - 38" bulls. I shot 3 buff, and a grand old lion in the Kilombero a few yrs ago - but the lion's mane is not generally of great quality here, however the lions here are BIG bodied things. Loads of hippo, and the biggest crocs I've personally ever seen in Africa. I know Willie is running or owning one of the blocks there now. He's a nice guy, and in the past has guided several of my clients - they all enjoyed him alot.

Rungwa, of course several blocks are here too - but I've seen / hunted some very nice buff and lion in Rungwa. Definitely better lion/buff here than in Lukwika or the Kilombero. But again, several areas, with several operators here too - so who its with exactly could matter.

Larry answered Lunda already, and I am not familiar with Kinyangesi??

I hunted the Kilombero in Oct/Nov 2008 for lion, cape buff, puku, waterbuck, bushbuck, zebra. Buff and Puku were plentiful and we saw lions about everyday. Temp. was around 110 F. every day and very dry. The topography was very flat with tall grass in abundance. Saw lots of snakes, mostly poisonous, this time of the year.

Dutch

You can look at my report from Lukwika from last year. It is on the Mozambique border, across from the Niassa reserve.

The concession is small for lion.

Good leopard numbers, but they were unwilling to eat bait while I was there for 21 days. Probably poaching/poisoning related.

The elephant are really clobbered. I was there for 21 days and we saw 2 bulls, both sub legal, and one was blind. Saw EXTENSIVE evidence of poaching.

Sable are very good.

Kudu are excellent.

There are some hippo, but in rivers exclusively- no dry land chances for them, and relatively few in number.

If Tanzania has fixed its issue with permits, the place has lots of Harvey's Red Duiker; should be easy to get a good one.

Buffalo are good, but not Masailand sized- expect right around 40"

Impala are plentiful, but on the small side.

The absolute most bushpig I have ever seen. I had several daylight chances at them.

So, if you are looking at a PG/Buff hunt, good area. Elephant... you could always get really lucky and have one walk across, but I would suggest there are much better places for elephant. Cats, well not the best, but if Harpreet has been able to stop the poaching issues, I think Leopard is a reasonable shot.

I hunted Kilombero several years ago with Miombo Safaris.The most easy buffalo hunting there I have seen. Kilombero has a lot of buff, I took 42" and 40". Kilombero has numerous puku, hippo and croc also, some lions and great antilops as well. Elephants are everywhere but to meet shootable so difficult. I got several days fantastic fishing for tigerfish. I saw snake there only once, it was huge piton.

quote:

Originally posted by G D F:
I hunted Kilombero several years ago with Miombo Safaris.The most easy buffalo hunting there I have seen. Kilombero has a lot of buff, I took 42" and 40". Kilombero has numerous puku, hippo and croc also, some lions and great antilops as well. Elephants are everywhere but to meet shootable so difficult. I got several days fantastic fishing for tigerfish. I saw snake there only once, it was huge piton.

GDF:

To have taken a 42" & 40" buff in that concession several years ago was pretty lucky.
What other great antelopes did you see or shoot?
Tiger fishing on that stretch of the Kilombero has recently gained international recognition and fishing safaris from an exclusive camp has been established.

I had a feeling that these places would also be getting hit hard by poaching. damn shame

What would be the best areas in Tanzania for elephant currently?

I hunted 10 days and took only two buff and puku.42" was bigger for that season , I saw some sables and eland there .

quote:

Originally posted by G D F:
I hunted 10 days and took only two buff and puku.42" was bigger for that season , I saw some sables and eland there .

Then you must have been hunting at Mlimba. The Sable are very few with no trophy bulls, same applies to Eland - the area is "under reconstruction" due to excessive poaching.

You are right, I have hunted Mlimba , Mgeta was closed already.

quote:

Originally posted by bobby7321:
I had a feeling that these places would also be getting hit hard by poaching. damn shame

What would be the best areas in Tanzania for elephant currently?

I think best for ele is South part of Selous.

Saw Buff in the salt that averaged 40-44 from the Kilombero although mine measured 36, 37, 38. More bait for lion. A fellow hunting just before I arrived took a monster Eland. Saw no Sable but several Waterbuck as well as Reedbuck. Lots of buff.

Dutch