Hello all.

Hope som here can give me some tip/help regarding my first Leopard hunt.
I am looking to book one in 2016.
But, where to go?
Who to hunt with?

Tanzania is to expensive for me, sadly.

Thanks for a great forum

Keep an eye on Zambia as the word is that Leopard will be back on quota. Most operators here will offer you an array of plains game and other desirable animals to hunt alongside your cat.

There are a few places in Zim that consistently produce monstrous cats and have a look through the hunt reports.

Jim and Joyce are soon to going for two Leopard in Niassa and they will be posting a report on their return.

As said above I think your best bet would be in Zambia for 2016 if they get the quotas. Zim has a few good areas, mainly Bubye, Nuanetsi and the Save Valley Conservancy. Trouble is for good areas like this you will probably be looking 2-3 years out for available leopard quota unless a cancellation comes through.
Niassa has a lot of leopard but they are smaller bodied cats (like Zambesi Valley cats of Zimbabwe),not like what you will find in Southern Zimbabwe or Zambia.
My advise would be do your homework on operators and areas and put a deposit asap as leopard in good areas sell like hot cakes.

Leopard is never a sure bet.

I have been after them 5 times and got one (in Tanzania, but not because anyplace else is "worse")

Most southern and eastern African countries have them on quota, but whether you can import them is a different matter. If I could, I would try Ethiopia, but that is even more spendy than Tanzania...

I would think Zimbabwe is probably the best chance for the dollar (Kroner?) but really it is a combination of good area, good cat PH, and a bit of luck. Hunting educated cats makes it even more luck, which is why I would not be inclined to hunt them in South Africa (that and they have kind of a strange quota system... if they have the quota for sale the year before, really be careful- the good places in SA are probably booked for several years in advance.)

In the places that allow it, hound hunting is more likely to have success, but it still is not a sure thing.

As Fairgame stated, the expectation is that Zambia is likely to reopen next year...and the Leopard haven't been hunted there for a while, so I would expect success rates will be high- but from what I understand, their prices will be higher than Zim, maybe on par with Tanzania's...

Zim without doubt will be the most cost effective.
Contact CMS as I think you will find that their success rate is excellent. I have taken two leopard in two hunts with them. The Zambezi valley cats aren't as big as southern Zim, but availability shouldn't be an issue.

Sorry guys, just som advice in Norwegian as Myles from CMS is attending the hunting show in Oslo ending today.

If you want a massive cat and don't mind using a light then I would go the lowveldt of Zimbabwe with someone like Lindon Stanton BUT if you want a wilderness safari and don't mind that it might not be as massive then an area in Zim's lower Zambezi, Zambia or Northern Mozambique would be my pick of choices.

http://www.huntingreport.com/t...s_details.cfm?id=783


Ethiopia, massive cats and a great population.

Check with Rich Elliott who posts here and represents Ethiopian Rift Valley Safaris.


Best of luck on your hunt.

Hello and thank you all for helping me.

Well, I like to hunt without the aid of light, also it does not have to be a massive cat, to me any Leopard i a massive trophy.
How is the Leopard hunting in Namibia?

In 2011 I hunted with Muchinga Hunting Adventure (Johny Du Plooy, well respected name in Zim), shot 2 Leopards during safari, well organized and very impressive in running show, highly recommended for Leopard and other plain games.....
Regards.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Norway_Moose_hunter:
Hello all.


Tanzania is to expensive for me, sadly.


pls go to "outfitters offered & discount hunt section". we have very affordable offers on leopard, buffalo, PG hunts: (14 days/$22K and 21 day/36K full bag) for 2015, but we can give you a similar price on 2016 hunt.
IMO: No place like Tanzania! all clients who wanted a leopard in past 5 years have got their nice male leopard with us.

One of my best hunts ever was leopard in Namibia with Thaba Mmoyo Safaries. This was with hounds. Don't listen to anyone who says hound hunting is not sporting. It is not by any means a guaranteed success, and it is physically demanding. I'm not sure if hound hunting is still permitted there.

quote:

Tanzania is to expensive for me, sadly.

Granted that TZ may not come cheap but with times being lean, there are "win-win" deals that could be made.

I'm pretty sure there's someone out there who would negotiate a 10-14 day deal (you wouldn't need more) on Leopard and some plains game (for bait) at affordable prices (without a success fee involved).

The only setback with TZ is the 21 day royalties which cannot be avoided.

I believe that hunting leopard with hounds is illegal In Namibian I thinki that Zimbabwe is the best bang for your buck for Leopard

quote:

Originally posted by Brice:
One of my best hunts ever was leopard in Namibia with Thaba Mmoyo Safaries. This was with hounds. Don't listen to anyone who says hound hunting is not sporting. It is not by any means a guaranteed success, and it is physically demanding. I'm not sure if hound hunting is still permitted there.

I went with Chifuti in 2013. Shot a 138lb 6'8 leopard in daylight in Chewore South. The PH was Rex Hoets. I would recommend him and the Zambezi Valley if you don't want to use a light.

I'm going with Thierry Labat PH, to Sango (SAVE Conservancy) after reading so many

good hunt reports here on AR about him & this area. Although the Ethiopia hunt sounds

intriguing? Also would love to hunt Zambia some day as well. I got my first leopard

in Tanzania about 4-5 yrs ago. So many choices!

Good luck with your decision!

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Norway_Moose_hunter:
Hello and thank you all for helping me.

Well, I like to hunt without the aid of light, also it does not have to be a massive cat, to me any Leopard i a massive trophy.
How is the Leopard hunting in Namibia?

The leopard hunting in Namibia is excellent! I hunted in 2013 with Sebra Safaris and Jan du Plessis, as did two other hunters who post here, and two out of the three of us got our cats.
The desert leopards aren't as big as some, but mine was 7' and 130#, which is fine with me.
It was also a great experience.

With Zambia reopened....I would look there. Leopard quota has not been finalized yet but it looks very good for this year.

quote:

Originally posted by Jungleboy:
I'm going with Thierry Labat PH, to Sango (SAVE Conservancy) after reading so many

good hunt reports here on AR about him & this area. Although the Ethiopia hunt sounds

intriguing? Also would love to hunt Zambia some day as well. I got my first leopard

in Tanzania about 4-5 yrs ago. So many choices!

Good luck with your decision!

Jim

+1.


Headed back to hunt with TL in June. Shot a big cat 2 yrs ago with Thierry as well

His success rate on BIG cats is unbelievable.

I'd highly recommend him without reservation.

Namibia no longer allows Leopard hunting with Hounds.
Namibia has a high and healthy population of leopard.In the commercial farming areas though the leopard are "educated" as farmers have over the years, poisoned and or trapped them after losing livestock.
In the communal, national parks and other government areas leopard are not as weary and your chance of getting a shot in daylight over bait is a lot higher.

quote:

Originally posted by IH:
In 2011 I hunted with Muchinga Hunting Adventure (Johny Du Plooy, well respected name in Zim), shot 2 Leopards during safari, well organized and very impressive in running show, highly recommended for Leopard and other plain games.....
Regards.

Agree and the top Luangwa blocks could boast close to 100% on Leopard. These valley cats tend to be sleeker/smaller and did not attain the weights of the Kafue Leopard which as this photo proves can grow to immense proportions.



However due to the great concentration of plains game and especially Puku these Leopard could be picky and difficult to get on bait.

Wow, that is a big leopard!!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Wow, that is a big leopard!!

Or a wee little man?

Martin Pieters in Zim.

High success rate fantastic camps and good PH's.


.

Wow, what a Leopard...Oh my.

Thank you all for all the tips and helpful information.
I have send mails out to some of the mentioned names.
As sad here, so many choices.....

quote:

Originally posted by mmassey338:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Wow, that is a big leopard!!

Or a wee little man?

It is the current Zambia record so a big Leopard.

Thanks for the information.
Has Zambia reopened for Leopard?

Tanzania is not too dear. You read about someone who hunted 5 times before he was successful. What did those 4 unsuccessful hunts cost?

Hunt in Western Tanzania and you are likely to get your cat. PM if you'd like a recommendation. Won't be the cheapest on a one off basis, but might be cheaper in the long run.

Sitting in the Nairobi airport waiting for our flight home after a

very successful leopard hunt with PH Thierry Labat in Sango/SAVE

Conservancy. Got a great cat & will post a hunt report in the next

few days. Sango is loaded with game, including leopard! As I posted earlier

in this thread, pick a good area & a good PH!

Jim

IF I ever get the chance to hunt leopard, it will be with Thierry (Legend) Labat.

quote:

Originally posted by Norway_Moose_hunter:
Thanks for the information.
Has Zambia reopened for Leopard?

We hear it is about to?

quote:

Originally posted by Jungleboy:
Sitting in the Nairobi airport waiting for our flight home after a

very successful leopard hunt with PH Thierry Labat in Sango/SAVE

Conservancy. Got a great cat & will post a hunt report in the next

few days. Sango is loaded with game, including leopard! As I posted earlier

in this thread, pick a good area & a good PH!

Jim

Sounds awesome.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by mmassey338:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Wow, that is a big leopard!!

Or a wee little man?

It is the current Zambia record so a big Leopard.

Congratulations to all. It is a fine looking cat with a nice big head.

Congratulations Jim!!!

Everyone has their preference of country and PH , but the truth is , there are great leopard hunts to be had in a number of African countries and seeing that you are not from the US , you have an even greater selection to choose from.

Its really not about the country you hunt in but rather the combination of Outfitter / PH and specific area you hunt within that country. Namibia , South Africa , Mozambique , Zambia , Tanzania and Ethiopia all have some great Outfitters and good cat PH's hunting in quality cat areas that can produce the goods. A good Outfitter will not hunt leopard in a marginal area. Do not choose the cheapest one just because its cheap. Sure , hunters get lucky and shoot a huge cat on day 2 in a marginal area on a dirt cheap hunt but the odds were not great.

Choose a reputable outfitter that consistently produces quality cats for his clients ( within your budget ) . There are some on this forum and many more who are not members of AR. Ask for multiple references. If you're opting for a hound hunt in Zimbabwe, ask who the houndsman will be and ask to talk to him. If its Warrick Evans from South Africa , you're in good hands.

Good luck .

Happy hunting

Have to agree with the above post. For leopard, it is best to find the best outfitter (with the best cat man) in the best area of whatever country you choose. Even if it means saving some money for an extra year or two to do it right, you will be MANY dollars ahead relative to going on three or four hunts (or even two) in less optimal areas or with less experienced PHs before you "get lucky" on a cat. Spend the money up front and look at it as buying insurance against the $$$$$ you could spend later when unsuccessful if you to try to spend a few bucks less today!

Given that, I think my first choice would be a hound hunt where legal as I hate watching meat rot. Sure, it costs more, but I think these hunts are just as exciting (more so?) as other hunts and probably offer a success rate that is much higher. If one insists on baited hunt, I think Zim probably offers the best value for money. I would look at BVC first I think.

Warrick evans + matupula safaris is a win & win combo

Zambia!