I am thinking about doing this, after my shoulder heals up, in 2008. I have already booked 21 days in the Selous in '08, but I am thinking about splitting my safari between the Selous and Masailand. My outfitter has excellent hunting blocks in both areas.

I have already taken much of the plains game and all of the big four (except for elephant) in the Selous. But I just love it. It is the best there is, IMHO. My focus this time in the Selous will be a long-tusked, East African elephant, another leopard and, if a mighty, full-maned simba can be found, another lion, in that order. And the usual three cape buff, of course.

What is driving this is that I have not yet hunted Masailand. I would love to - and God willing, I will - go after the East African species, such as lesser kudu, gerenuk, Grant's and Thompson's gazelles, fringe-eared oryx, etc., some day. So, I am thinking, why not in '08?

I know that the costs of splitting will be greater than the costs of hunting in the Selous or Masailand alone, i.e., extra charter, camp relocation costs, etc., but I think it may be worth it. I have also been thinking of extending the safari from 21 to 28 days, so as to make sure that I have enough time in the Selous for the dangerous game that are my primary quarry.

I would appreciate advice or input on this subject from anyone who has done this. Did you enjoy it? Were there any drawbacks? Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks.

Take me with you!!

mrlexma,

Really wish I had that problem!

Sounds like an amazing hunt...I am excited for you!

Regards,
Dave

Mike,

I was going to say the 21 days may not be enough time...But would say add a day for travel and not loose out on hunting..Forgot hippo for lion bait..
Anyway good luck with your plans...

Mike

MR:

I didn't split my time between the 2 areas you mention, but did split my time on my first safari between SA and Zim. 18 and a half hours after leaving SA I was having a drink in the Omay. Yes, you'll lose a couple of days, but no big deal if you can extend your time as you say. I'd do it.....best of luck.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer

mrlexma,

I am going to be doing exactly what you are thinking about in 07. 28 days with it split between Massiland and Selous. I chose to fly between the 2 since it is about a 2 day drive to the Selous. I chose to go to Massiland first since when we have gotten the northern species I'm interested in (lesser kudu etc) we can go south. If it takes less than 2 weeks, so much the better and more time in the Selous.

Best of luck,

Canuck32

What DR are you taking with you for this trip or did you pick one?

We find this option is fairly popular with our clients - and it's also very successful.

I also like doing them although I'd strongly recommend you charter between the two areas.

My only advice would be to consider making it a 28 day safari if you could swing it. You're trying to pack a lot into a 21 day trip and my (single) experience in Masailand was that everything took twice as long to accomplish as elsewhere.

The Masailand is a wonderful place and you owe it to yourself to experience it. For me, the positives were the classic East African panoramas, the unusual game available and (for the first few days) the Masai. The negatives were all the people around and the amount of time spent riding in a truck.

I'd love to hunt the highlands of TZ and the Rungwa area as well.

If you have the dough and the time, there's no downside to what you're considering - except that everyone here will hate you for it.

Very doable, my cousin just returned from such a trip. If you hunt hard, the Masailand portion of the trip can be done in under a week.

He then drove down (non-hunting days) to Selous where he bagged 3 buff, leopard, lion and passed on a legal elephant.

Why not do something different. Ethiopia. All the plains game in the Omo valley and Mt Nyala with Menlicks Bushbuck. I assume you haven't done this yet. Just my personal dream. I am hung up on the spiral horns.

I am with Forrest and others who say, If you are going to do it, make it 28 days.

I have a 21 day scheduled in 2009 in September to October with Phil Lazano. I plan on spending a few days in masailand to shoot a lesser Kudu then off to the Selous for elephant, buffalo, leopard, etc. I have talked to Phil about the timing and he feels it can be accomplished with a 21 day hunt and have a high probability of success.

28 days would be nice, but I think you can do it in 21. I got all of the species you mentioned wanting in Masailand in the first 3 of the 5 days I had alloted there, allowing me to leave early. That gave me plenty of time for things once I left there.
The unique opportunities and experiences in the Masailand is something that should not be misssed if you're going to spend time in Tanzania.

If you have the time and money go for 28 days and do the Charter flight. Do not miss the large Buffalo in Masailand. Much greater probability of seeing and getting an over 42" here than in the Selous. Safari Trackers has great blocks in Masailand(Lolkisale/Lobo) and Selous(LU5).
Crocidile on the Luwegu River is a blast.
Best of luck on your hunt and get that shoulder in shape.
Robert

I split Tanz in those two hunting areas in November '04. I didn't take the charter flight either. We drove and it was a wonderful trek, if you're really into touring Africa. The Masailand game is a must for anyone with the means and manner to go after it. The tsetse's are a little more pesky in Masailand than the Selous, but the buffs are far more superior. So are the lions, infact just about everything is better in Masailand! Of course there are no Lichtensteins, you get the Coke's in Masailand. I'd do Masailand first for 14 days and then a 7 day Selous hunt. Two buffs in Masailand and 1 buff in the Selous. For historical and nostalgic purposes a Selous hunt is fine, but once you've done it, you've done it. Masailand has much more to offer, with highly more diverse terrain. And the two big airports are much closer.

Moja

I've "split" TZ hunts on three occasions, twice because I wanted to and, just this past October, because the first area didn't pan out and we were in trouble! It is the best way to expand the game list. Ten days is enough time for most of the Masailand species, given a good area and a bit of luck. It is not the best way to hunt either cat. You do have two chances, one in each area, but in my experience ten days is a very short cat hunt, whether for lion or leopard--and you will start over in the new area, so it is no longer a 21-day hunt, but two too-short ten-day hunts back-to-back. Also too short for serious elephant hunting. On the other hand, I've had really rotten luck at both cats and elephant, most hunters do better sooner! 28 days, 14 (+/-) in each, as many of the correspondents suggested, is a much "safer" option if affordable. Problem is, even if affordable, a 28-day safari is a very long time to be gone for most of us in our fast-paced world. Some people like it, but in my experience most folks are more than ready to go home after two weeks, let alone four. Thanks to the TV show, I certainly reached that point this past year! You have the cats, you have good elephant, and you want the Masailand game, so it's worth reducing odds on cats and elephant to take some things you don't have. At least that's the way I would view it.
Good hunting, Craig

Craig, personally I'd like to say thanks for continuing to post on AR in spite of the muggings you've had to endure here at times.

Where were you hunting in October that didn't pan out?

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
I also like doing them although I'd strongly recommend you charter between the two areas.

Steve, why? For myself I actually like seeing the country by travelling overland. The rough roads can be a pain, but much better in a nice Landcruiser than the bouncy heap of junk I did it in.

Hi John,

I agree that the driving is really nice - but as the client is paying so much money per day - and most hunting clients (or at least most of our hunting clients) tend to err on the side of money rich and time poor - it's a better idea to spend the money and save the time by using a charter plane to transport between the two areas. - We usually fit in a full morning's hunting in Masailand, then do the charter to the Selous and then hunt the other area in the afternoon. - That way, you don't lose any hunting time at all........

Craig,

Welcome back!!!!!!

quote:

For myself I actually like seeing the country by travelling overland. The rough roads can be a pain, but much better in a nice Landcruiser than the bouncy heap of junk I did it in.

Driving between spots in an undeveloped country can sometimes take a lot of patience. When I was in Tanzania I hunted in Monduli (Massailand) and Moyowosi (western TZ). The distance between the two was about 350 miles. Before we got there the camp manager had made the drive. It took him 5 days and several sleepless nights in spots most would prefer not to call home. On the other hand, we flew, which took us less than 2 hours. With time being a premium, in my case I was glad to leave the driving to others.

Thanks, all.

For better or worse, my primary focus will be elephant. In previous elephant hunts in the Selous, it was always hapana mkubwa tembo! Needless to say, I am hoping for better luck this time. Plus, I just enjoy the adrenaline-charged excitement of elephant hunting. My elephant hunting safaris in the Selous and the Caprivi have been among the peak and most memorable hunting experiences of my life.

I would hope that a couple of weeks would be enough for a good elephant, especially in the excellent blocks I will be hunting, but I realize that that may be wishful thinking. Hence, my concerns about time.

Second and third on my list are leopard and lion, and fourth are buff. I have to remind myself that I have been pretty lucky with cats. I have killed two lions, both at close range and after much stalking, and one leopard in a combined total of only 18 days' hunting. As for my leopard, at the risk of courting jealousy, I must admit to spending only two evenings in leopard blinds and having seen two leopards and killed one as a result.

So, can you blame me for wanting more of that?

As for buff, old daga boys are what I want. Wide is good, but for me older is better. Old and wide are best, of course, but I love hunting the old, Selous daga boys and in that kind of hunting, inches are secondary.

So, I will start out after elephant and the cats in the Selous. I will shoot some cat bait early, and of course pay attention to the baits as necessary, but at the same time try to focus on elephant. Buff will be targets of opportunity.

I am thinking that 14 days of this in the Selous would be the absolute minimum for what I am after, even with good luck and good shooting.

With a charter, to save time, that would leave me only 6 or 6 1/2 days in Masailand. That would be cutting things close. Most seem to think that 10 days in Masailand would be better. I don't want to rush my way through the experience. And I definitely don't want what Craig Boddington described above as two, too short, ten day safaris.

So, I am thinking that I will go for 28 days and a split -- if I can work it out. It's a long time, I know. And it's expensive, but then again, I don't do this every year.

Mike,

Took a cuddie back camera with me help identify who comes to visit...infra red no flash

I also only spent 1 hour 20 minutes in the blind and my butt was sore...Got chui....

Mike

MR,

I think you have made a good choice with going for 28 days. The longer the better IMO, as long as you're able to finacially.

As for using a charter plane from one area to another, I also think in those limited 28 days and the distances involved, that this is the best idea. Also considering what you are after regarding game.

Had you had more time, for example if you set up an extra week to travel and see a bit around instead of blasting thru the country driving as fast as possible in a 2 day drive, it would be great, and I would have definately reccomended driving overland as the experiances and insight you get when it comes to Africa are often quite different than what one gets on a hunt. Including spending semi-sleepless nights in strange and sometimes seemingly unpleasant places. At a greatly reduced price of course compaired to the hunting daily rates. But then I'm a bit biased when it comes to driving overland vs flying, for obvious reasons.

I hope you have a great hunt!