I have just returned from a couple of weeks in Zim. I hunted ele and etc in the Beitbridge West area with my friend Nigel Theisen. We spent some time in Vic Falls before and in the Bubye Valley Conservancy afterwards. Talked with some pretty in-the-know individuals...everyone is pretty worried about the future of the Save.

Thought it is back to "business as usual" this year after a couple of rough years due to permits / quota not being issued.

quote:

Originally posted by Safari2:
Thought it is back to "business as usual" this year after a couple of rough years due to permits / quota not being issued.

It's not the permits that they are worried about but the "re-distribution of ownership" of the various ranches that has everyone worried.

One of our trackers was ex-Humani staff. Said Humani was a mere shadow of what it used to be.

There are quite a few in foreign ownership that will not change as I understand it. Don't know about the others.

I just hunted with Mike Payne (Save Safaris) in May. They have an indigenous partner, and the ranches they hunt, Matendere and Gunundwe, are owned by Italians. It was very much back to "normal" there this year. Mike did mention that there were a few ranches who still do not have permits - no idea what the story is for those folks. I plan on hunting with Mike again in the Save in 2016.

Others in foreign ownership are:


Sango
Mokore
Ranch hunted by Brooklands Safaris

There may be others.

Humani has a 10 year concession going forward and a full book this year.

Of course nothing in life, especially in Zim, is guaranteed, but this might be a little bit of sour grapes from a former employee.

quote:

Originally posted by Safari2:
There are quite a few in foreign ownership that will not change as I understand it. Don't know about the others.

My understanding is that 2 are in foreign holdings and the rest will change.

quote:

Originally posted by Cazador humilde:
Humani has a 10 year concession going forward and a full book this year.

Of course nothing in life, especially in Zim, is guaranteed, but this might be a little bit of sour grapes from a former employee.

The former employee did not know anything about the politics...just describing what had changed on the ground in Humani. The fellow was a son of Roger's old tracker...Mgalla (sp?).

The people-in-the-know were influential indigenous whites whom I will not name. They very much new the scoop on what was going on and were very worried about the future of the conservancy.

My sincerest hopes are that it is fine. Just reporting what I was told.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

Originally posted by Safari2:
Thought it is back to "business as usual" this year after a couple of rough years due to permits / quota not being issued.

It's not the permits that they are worried about but the "re-distribution of ownership" of the various ranches that has everyone worried.

One of our trackers was ex-Humani staff. Said Humani was a mere shadow of what it used to be.

Yep, and it will happen sooner than we have ever hoped!

Mr Lane Easter,not all is lost and the SVC certainly is not "HISTORY"

I am not too sure what you are trying to achieve out of this post.

quote:

Originally posted by Guy Whittall:
Mr Lane Easter,not all is lost and the SVC certainly is not "HISTORY"

I am not too sure what you are trying to achieve out of this post.

Thought you and maybe some others would weigh in Guy. I'm sure some hunting reports from 2015 will settle the issue for the moment.

Mr Lane Easter,i am not sure where you got your information about the SVC but have a good idea.But maybe an email or phone call to either myself or active members of the conservancy would have been a better option b4 submitting this post.

Guy,
No harm meant. I am on your side. I feel for all of you guys. I want the Save to do well. My post was meant to raise awareness of what is happening in your country...nothing more. It was NOT meant to be offensive or cause any harm.

Please accept my apology if it did.

Lane did you get a good elephant?

Lane:

Not so fast. You're a good guy but-----

You started this and let some of us dangling and very obviously had some concerns, and information, that provoked locals to ask for more info, contact and phone calls.

With your kind indulgence can we cooperate with our friends there in that country, elaborate on the problems and examine potential solutions.

We are all a small community of brothers that need to work together and understand.

I'm just asking, please lets just expose all so that we can understand and tailor some helpful solution.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Lane did you get a good elephant?

We were hunting tuskless cows. Had a great hunt.

I certainly read and understood this post as did Guy. This is not constructive in any manner unless Lane would like to expand on "his inside knowledge' but to leave it hanging does more harm then good to an area that has had a hard time of it lately.

Fellows,
My sincerest apologies for dredging up coals in a fire that burnt some of you.

Campfire talk brought up the subject of the Save many times as I asked what was going on there.

No one ever said anything but the kindest of words for those who have fought the fight to hang onto what is their's and preserve the Save Valley Conservancy...and...I sincerely hope that they prevail...I would gladly help in any manner possible. My hat is off to them.

That said...this is what I was getting at:

I have not hunted in Africa near about as many times as lots of people here...not even close.

But my experiences have been spread over several years now and each time I go...things have deteriorated exponentially. Areas that were once the best areas are now depleted of game and most are shadows of what they once were. The reason of course is poor management and in Zim that usually means black Zimbabwean takeover management. It is is just sad to me.

Anyway...the jest of the thread was to shed light on the fact that the Save seems slowly but surely being taken over by the vertical termites...being black Zimbabweans. And, the takeovers are NOT willing by both parties and often times illegal.

To my mind...this is something that should be exposed and talked about openly in hopes that it will reverse. But I can understand where the subject can be raw for those involved day to day.

I leave the thread with these thoughts and hope it will be the last post:

1) I sincerely apologize for hurting any feelings as that was not my intent.
2) I sincerely wish prosperity on the Save Valley Conservancy and all the "good" folks there.

P.S. - I changed the original title to hopefully make it less offensive.