In the last edition of Travel Africa there is an article about a former hunting concession in the Selous called Lukula that in the future will be used only for photografic safaris. The place is run by two former professional hunters,Anton Turner and Ryan Wienand. They claim that "in terms of conservation, hunting simply doesn't work", and that hunting in the Selous hardly benefits local people and communities. They claim their operation will be more beneficial to the locals, although they will operate only four to five months a year.
Does anyone know anything about these people, and generally what hunting firms contribute to local communities?
Also, is this the first situation of this kind in Tanzania, or has an overtaking like this happened before? It reminds me rather eerily of the recent developments in Botswana.

I only know of the photo safari concessions in the northern end of the Selous..

Mike
http://forums.accuratereloadin...22101325/m/931109381

Hunting doesn't benefit the locals? How does a photographic area benefit the locals any more than a hunting area? I know the game scouts at the Nat'l Park were awfully grateful for a half buffalo last year. Seems like hunters would spend the same or more $$ and add some meat.

Is Lukula the name of the camp or of the area? All the Selous areas have area designations of letters and numbers such as LU1 and not names. If it has a name, it's a buffer zone and not inside the Selous. It could however, be the name of the camp.

That would be Ryan Wienand (who's one of the good guys) of Zuka Safaris and as far as I know he's still hunting. I could be wrong though. Of course, that isn't to say he hasn't gotten into the photo safari business as well. Journos have been known to get it wrong a time or two.

As for human populations, there are no permanent human populations in the Selous. The only people allowed to be in there are the concession leaseholders, their staff, their clients and Game Dept staff. That said, community development fees are still payable to the Game Dept.

This might help: http://www.shakariconnection.c...-selous-reserve.html

I've hunted with Zuka twice ('03 and '05). Both times I hunted in their Lukula (LU2)concession. I'm not exactly sure of the size of the block but I think it was around 500 sq. mi. The camp is located on the Luwegu river and is a wonderful place to spend your non-hunting time. The concession is loaded with elephant, buffalo, impala, hippo, waterbuck, etc.

I was originally scheduled to hunt there in 2003 with Jaco DuPlessis. After he went missing, Ryan took over the concession. As I understand, the concessions are leased on a five-year basis. In that case, their lease would have needed to be renewed after the 2008 season. Whether they got it or not I do not know.

I do know this, I am hunting with Zuka again this year however, I am hunting a different block leased by them and will not be going back to the Selous. Whether or not there is any correlation, I do not know.

IMO, Zuka is a first class operation. I have no reservations hunting any of their concessions but it would be a shame if LU2 was made "off-limits" to hunters.

Bull1

My info (not to say it is infallible) is that Ryan of Zuka has entered into a photographic arrangement for one of his Selous blocks with a Botswana operator. For those of you who follow African safari politics, the name Derek Joubert should send "shivers" down your spine.