I received mine yesterday. It is a two disk set, with the first comprised of video footage of several elephant hunts in Zim, Botswana and Tanzania. Ivan conducts most of the Zim hunts as well as one in Botswana.

The second disk is devoted to how-to topics related to preparing for the hunt and what to expect once you're there.

My thought while watching the first disk was, "Ivan, don't get stepped on!"
I thoroughly enjoyed the DVD. Anyone who is interested in how elephants are hunted and what to expect in planning an elephant hunt will benefit by getting a copy.

Ivan, congratulations on an excellent production!

David

I watched mine last night too. There are one heck of a lot of elephant kill shots on that thing! I found the production to be top notch as are all of Safari Classic productions works.

If I have on critical comment it would be that the number of kill shots on the video become a onerous after awhile. It has leanings towards a whack em and stack video. A very high quality one but it is one short hunt after another with numerous elephants being shot. A bit much in my estimation.

And with that in mind it was a well shot, coherent video with some spectacular scenes. Mr Carter definitely is a seriously experienced elephant hand.

I haven't watched part 2 yet but plan on doing so tonight.

I received mine yesterday too and watched disc 1 last night sort of.

There were too many kills and not enough hunting to get to taking of the elephant. I fell asleep half way through the disc and it was only 7:30pm. I awoke to the menu about 9pm and fast reversed to catch about the last 20 minutes for more of the same.

I plan on watching disc 2 tonight and hope it is more detailed.

I love Boddington's work. Buzz's elephant video is tough to beat for hunting clips, excitement and detail. Let's see what disc 2 brings.

quote:

Originally posted by gwhjack:
I received mine yesterday too and watched disc 1 last night sort of.

There were too many kills and not enough hunting to get to taking of the elephant. I fell asleep half way through the disc and it was only 7:30pm. I awoke to the menu about 9pm and fast reversed to catch about the last 20 minutes for more of the same.

I plan on watching disc 2 tonight and hope it is more detailed.

I love Boddington's work. Buzz's elephant video is tough to beat for hunting clips, excitement and detail. Let's see what disc 2 brings.

My impression as well. I actually couldn't watch the whole thing in one sitting.

Got mine on Friday, and is un-viewable, Safari productions will be getting it back and hopefully I'll be getting one I can watch! Lots of skips, and glitches in the matrix!

men ,
thanks for the comments on disk one ... contained therein are a lot of "huntlets". We didnt feel that putting a full hunt piece together on each guy was pratical as most people just fast forward to the kill anyway ...i am sorry if it put you to sleep , it was certainly not sleep making being there !!!!

The presentation is meant to be viewed as a set , you will find disk two is the opposite of disk one that purposely has very little information, disk two is ALL information , all narration and actually many chapters have very little or no hunting, disk two is the real meat and potatoes , with all the information, all the "how to" "where to" history etc.

Moreover we dont feel the need to compete with buzz .. he has done an EXCELLENT job on his video and this is not meant to replace or compete ...hopefully an elephant hunter who has seen our production AND Buzz's production will be well prepared for his hunt .

Our intended outcome was to put an informative, entertaining DVD in your hands, showing some of the what to do and what not to do as well as some exciting realtime video ...

As an elephant enthusiast i hungrily read and watch everything i can on elephants...not just hunting. Some is well written or filmed , some is not so well written and filmed but more often than not its the editing that makes or breaks a potentially great prduction...to this end we spent literally hundreds of hours in the editing studio.

Anyway , enjoy the parts you like , hit fast forward for the parts you dont thats what that button is for anyway !!!!

Hello Ivan!

I watched about 2/3rds of disc 2 last night and really enjoyed it. Your knowledge and love of elephants shows way beyond just hunting them.

Thank you for your dedication to elephant and putting together this very informative and well done video. I was definitely not asleep last night watching disc 2!!

Sincerely,
Jack

Ivan,

Having now gotten through both Disk 1 and Disk 2, in my opinion the set is very good. Lots of good information and certainly lots of footage of up close hunts. I think anyone planning an elephant hunt would be well served by buying the DVD. Coupled with Buzz's DVD and a copy of Richard Harland's book Ndlovu, someone preparing for an elephant hunt would be loaded with useful information.

I give up... Where did you purchase this DVD?
It sounds interesting.

Thanks to a selfless act by my father-in law mine just arrived, and come T-Day I think instead of watching the Lions (Detroit that is) get creamed, I'll pop disk 2 in, and let my turkey settle.

Perfect!

Mine arrived yesterday, and I'm really looking forward to watching it. Since we have booked with Chifuti for Aug '09, I hope to see a lot of familiar faces and learn a lot.

Hello all..

I have used the cristmas hollydays to watch both dvds.

Man, there are some realy spectacular scenes there..

Ivan, have you heard about nerves?? You are just crazy, or, you realy know what you are doing...

This dvd is like buzz`s dvd some of the best i have ever seen.

There is some nice music in this dvd.. Does anyone know whos playing??

A well-done production, I finished watching both DVDs this morning. Boddington is no fool, he sure picked the right person for the experience, Carter reminds me of many falconers- a true naturalist who happens to be a hunter, meaning someone who studies everything about his prey before he hunts it, it makes for a rewarding experience. I am truly impressed. Kudos.

I received these DVDs for Christmas and enjoyed them very much. Good job Ivan!

I finally got to watch my set, it's awesome.

If that intro doesn't get you fired up to hunt an elephant I don't know what would.

After reading this topic I decided that I will buy them. I was not sure because....PLEASE DON'T KILL ME....I don't like too much Buzz DVD.. ..I even give it away as a gift.

For me (I have never hunted eles) it was too much killing and those tuskless cows gathering around the dead one was a little bit special..I don't know, it took away from me my dreams of hunting an elephant someday.

If I do it, I will not have a problem to do it with Mr. Charlton, it will be an honour !!! he obviously is a pro, but the cow thing is not my cup of tea.

Please, understand that I am not trying to stir anything, just telling my experience, thanks God not everyone thinks like me so we can keep those cow numbers low

L

quote:

Originally posted by 9,3x74R:


There is some nice music in this dvd.. Does anyone know whos playing??

Come on....

Does any of you know whos playing this music??

I recieved mine for Christmas,very enjoyable
Ivan, you are the man

Ordered mine today. Ivan was in Chifuti's Chewore North area when I was there in June. My understanding is they were filming for this video and were having a good time playing practical jokes on one another. Hope some of those lighter moments made the editing cuts.

i appreciate all the great comments people ...yes we did have a great time filming ... as any of you who have hunted africa know , you get to be a team out there and its important not to take it all to seriously .. but even more important to know when to take it very seriously !

thanks again for the great feedback , its appreciated by the team ..

imc

I watched the DVD yesterday, great work Ivan really enjoyed the concept of two DVDs with different perspective and yes loved the music as well.

9.3x74R; patience.I spoke with Safari Classic Productions today and the producer is on vacation until 1/5/09. I will call and try to get the info on the vocal soundtrack segment on disc 1.

quote:

Originally posted by Head Trauma:
9.3x75R; patience.I spoke with Safari Classic Productions today and the producer is on vacation until 1/5/09. I will call and try to get the info on the vocal soundtrack segment on disc 1.

Thanks...
Happy New Year...

Good work Ivan. I started watching the first DVD and was having such a great time I called a few friends over. We had an elephant hunting,DVD watching party. Two of our group have hunted elephants, the rest of us have not. I really enjoy the time taken to explain the antomy of the elephant and the shot placements. Again good job.

My wife got me a copy for Christmas. Great work. Very enjoyable and informative as well. Really like the two disc format.

This dvd is about as instuctive as it gets.

Even though I personally never intend to shoot another elephant one never knows when he might be forced to do so while following a buffalo herd.

It shows not only where to shoot but gives a lot of examples of when to shoot.

Its well worth the money.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanna:
Ordered mine today. Ivan was in Chifuti's Chewore North area when I was there in June. My understanding is they were filming for this video and were having a good time playing practical jokes on one another. Hope some of those lighter moments made the editing cuts.

Bwanna:

I only wish I had gotten Ivan's "please check my prop" practical joke on Andrew Toza on film (at Tafika on the Zambezi). I was just a little too late with the camera for that. It was absolutely hilarious. Don't ever trust Ivan for anything to do with a boat; trust him only with elephant or Cape buffalo.

quote:

but the cow thing is not my cup of tea.

+1

I have met a few hunters, guides etc who aggree. From a bilogical point it is fine but it places huge stress on the herds and makes them flighty and aggressive - just like areas with poaching.

Not to detract from other's cow ele hunting, just nothing I would be interested in either Lorenzo.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanna:
I was there in June. My understanding is they were filming for this video and were having a good time playing practical jokes on one another. Hope some of those lighter moments made the editing cuts.

Practical jokes with some Australians?
Heard about it.

quote:

Practical jokes with some Australians?
Heard about it.

yup , actually great fun guys them aussies!!!!

I received the DVD as a Christmas present from my sons and really enjoyed it. I especially liked the section on shot placement. I have a red laser pointer and it was fun to shine the laser on the spot I would have aimed for and then see where the video located the brain.

SBT , thats a great idea ...one thing thats hard to keep in mind is (and you will have seen this mentioned in the dvd) is that the video is shot from a different angle to the shooters on film and remember you are always seeing it from the videographers perspective ...